Coronation of Bokassa I and Catherine
The coronation of Bokassa I and Catherine as the Emperor and Empress of Central Africa took place on 4 December 1977 at a sports stadium in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Empire. It was the only coronation in the history of the Empire—a short-lived one-party state and self-proclaimed monarchy—which was established in 1976 by Jean-Bédel Bokassa, military dictator and president for life of the Central African Republic.
Emperor Bokassa wearing the Imperial Crown of Central Africa | |
| Date | 4 December 1977 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Bangui Stadium |
| Location | Central African Empire |
| Participants | Emperor Bokassa I Empress Catherine Crown Prince Bokassa Jr. Other participants and guests |
The coronation—which was almost an exact copy of the coronation of Napoleon as Emperor of the French in 1804—and related events were marked by luxury and pomp. Despite substantial material support from France, expenses amounted to over US$20 million ($100 million today) and caused serious damage to the state, leading to a huge outcry in Africa and around the world. After the coronation, Bokassa stayed in power for less than two years. In September 1979, in his absence he was deposed through Operation Caban. As a result, the monarchy was abolished and the country became a republic again.