Jean-Bédel Bokassa, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Jean-Bédel Bokassa

Central African head of state

Date of Birth: 22-Feb-1921

Place of Birth: Bobangui, Lobaye Prefecture, Central African Republic

Date of Death: 03-Nov-1996

Profession: politician, military officer, criminal

Nationality: France, Central African Republic

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

Jean-Bédel Bokassa ([??~ bed?l b?kasa]; 22 February 1921 – 3 November 1996), also known as Bokassa I, was a Central African political and military leader who served as the 2nd President of the Central African Republic and as the emperor of its successor state, the Central African Empire, from his Saint-Sylvestre coup d'état on 1 January 1966 until overthrown in a subsequent coup in 1979. Of this period, he served about 11 years as president and three years as self-proclaimed Emperor of Central Africa, though the country was still a de facto military dictatorship.
His imperial regime lasted from 4 December 1976 to 21 September 1979.
Following his overthrow, the CAR was restored under his predecessor, David Dacko.
Bokassa's imperial title did not achieve international diplomatic recognition. In his trial in absentia, he was tried and sentenced to death.
He returned to the Central African Republic in 1986 and was put on trial for treason and murder.
In 1987, he was cleared of charges of cannibalism, but found guilty of the murder of schoolchildren and other crimes.
The death sentence was later commuted to life in solitary confinement, but he was freed in 1993.
He lived a private life in Bangui, and died in November 1996.