Jean-Bédel Bokassa

Jean-Bédel Bokassa
Bokassa in 1970
Emperor of Central Africa
Reign 4 December 1976 – 21 September 1979 (1976-12-04 – 1979-09-21)
Proclamation	4 December 1976
Coronation	4 December 1977
Overthrow	21 September 1979
Preceded by	Himself (as president)
Succeeded by	David Dacko (as president)
2nd President of the Central African Republic
In office 1 January 1966 – 4 December 1976 (1966-01-01 – 1976-12-04)
Coup d'état	31 December 1965
Preceded by	David Dacko
Succeeded by	Himself (as emperor)
Personal details
Born	(1921-02-22)22 February 1921 Bobangui, Ubangi-Shari, French Equatorial Africa
Died	3 November 1996(1996-11-03) (aged 75) Bangui, Central African Republic
Political party	Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa
Spouse(s)	Catherine Denguiadé Marie-Reine Hassen and 15 others
Relations	David Dacko (cousin) Barthélemy Boganda (nephew)
Children	Jean-Serge Bokassa Jean-Bédel Bokassa Jr. Kiki Bokassa
House	Bokassa
Civil awards	Order of Central African Merit
Military service
Allegiance	France Central Africa
Branch	Colonial French Forces Free French Forces Central African Forces
Service years	1939–1966
Rank	Colonel
Wars	World War II First Indochina War
Military awards	Légion d'Honneur Croix de Guerre

Jean-Bédel Bokassa ([ʒɑ̃ bedɛl bɔkasa]; 22 February 1921 – 3 November 1996), also known as Bokassa I, was a Central African political and military leader. He was the second president of the Central African Republic and as the emperor of the Central African Empire, from his Saint-Sylvestre coup d'état on 1 January 1966 until overthrown in a coup in 1979.