On this day - 4 December
Historical items of interest as featured in the papers of the day.
Jean-Bédel Bokassa crowns himself Emperor of the Central African Empire
Jean-Bédel Bokassa was a prominent figure in the history of the Central African Republic. He was president from January 1st 1966 when he took control in a coup d'état. In 1976 he decided to transform the Central African Republic into the Central African Empire and named himself Emperor.
On December 4th 1977 he was coronated and ruled as His Imperial Majesty Bokassa I until September 1979 when he was overthrown and the Republic was reinstated. His coronation cost 1/3rd of the Central African Republic's annual budget and was inspired by Napoleon.
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