1977

1977 - Coronaton Emperor Bokassa

Coronation of Emperor Bokassa - the head of state of the Central African Republic proclaims himself emperor of the nation and throws a lavish ceremony designed to earn the world's respect (...it didn't)

Jean-Bédel Bokassa was a military officer and the head of state of the Central African Republic from his coup d’état on 1 January 1966. But being President wasn’t enough so in 1976 he proclaimed himself emperor of the nation, which renamed the Central African Empire. Bokassa attempted to justify his actions by claiming that creating a monarchy would help Central Africa “stand out” from the rest of the continent, and earn the world’s respect.

The enthronement was scheduled on December 4, 1977, the 173rd anniversary of Napoleon’s coronation, which is why Bokassa chose this date. Meanwhile, the empire was mustering every resource to ensure the success of the coronation. Special committees were established to supervise various aspects of the work.

Streets were scrubbed, building painted, and beggars driven out of sight. The empire’s textile industry was kept busy producing hundreds of new suits for local guests. Strict rules of protocol dictated the colors: white for schoolchildren, navy blue for middle-management people in the private and public sectors, and black for cabinet ministers and senior officials.

French craftsmen produced a regal splendor for the first coronation of an emperor on the African continent since the late Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was crowned in 1930. Bokassa’s coronation ceremony had to faithfully replicate that of his favorite figure, Napoleon Bonaparte, with staggering attention to details. Paris sculptor Olivier Brice was invited to do the throne and the carriage as well. A team of thirty french artisans was hired to fashion the two-tonne gold-plated bronze throne in Normandy worth $2.5 million. Brice bought an antique coach in Nice and refurbished it in the Napoleonic style.

Eight white horses were found in Belgium to pull it, and a few dozen Normandy greys were acquired to carry the escort of “hussars” that was to accompany the carriage. In order to ensure that all went well on the day, a troop of Central African soldiers spent the summer of 1977 in Normandy to learn how to ride horseback European style and to balance on the back step behind the Emperor’s carriage.

The 200-year-old firm of Guiselin, which had embroidered Napoleon’s uniforms, was called on to create Bokassa’s coronation attire in association with Pierre Cardin. A total of thirteen outfits was ordered for a total cost of $145.000. Lanvin made the empress’s coronation gown for a $72.400 bill. The imperial crowns were the work of the House of Arthus Bertrand, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés jeweler, founded under Napoleon’s reign. Along with the imperial sceptre, sword, and other bits and pieces, the total jewelery bill reached around $5 million.

Finally, in order to take the guests around Bangui in style and comfort, 60 brand-new Mercedes-Benz were ordered from Germany. The cars were shipped to Cameroon, from where they were air-freighted to the land-locked empire. The air freight charges alone amounted to $5 000 per car.

As preparations progressed, Bokassa’s major concern was to ensure a respectable turnout of international dignitaries. His fellow emperors, Japan’s Hirohito and Iran’s Shah Reza Pahlavi, were the first to be invited, but they declined. The rest of the world’s reigning monarchs were also on the official guest list, and one by one they too refused, as did the president's of all the nations invited.

In all 2,500 international dignitaries were invited and 600 accepted. Those guests will be lodged for several days in the best hotels or in specially constructed housing and fed and watered at considerable expense to the country. They included 100 journalists. Media coverage of the coronation was thus assured.

The coronation was a folie de grandeur for which he will always be remembered. When everything was added up the total cost of the two-day ceremony came to around $25 million. Some even said $30 million. This was an enormous sum considering the state of the national economy. It approximated one-quarter of the empire’s annual budget. France paid for most of it, as it had promised to do in return for Centrafrique’s break with Libya and for its rich uranium deposits. The coronation cost the equivalent of all French development aid for that year.

Bokassa had wanted to be noticed, and he certainly had been. The world press diligently reported his moment of glory, though without the accolades or acclaim that he expected. His crowned image was flashed around the globe, usually accompanied by mocking commentary.

SOURCE: RareHistoricalPhotos.com