| Career Highlights: Born in 1921 in the Central African Republic, Bokassa was a career soldier serving in both the French and, following independence, the Central African Republic national army where he was appointed Chief of Staff in 1965 by his cousin, and then President, David Dacko. 1966: With the country in turmoil Bokassa siezes the presidency from his autocratic cousin in a swift coup, voids the 1959 constitution, declares himself president and head of the country's sole political party Movement pour l'évolution sociale de l'Afrique Noire. 1966-1976: Bokassa consolidates power and, following a 1969 coup attempt, cracks down on opposition declaring himself President for Life. A series of coup and assassination attempts lead to further crackdowns and deepening repression of internal opposition. Following a visit to Lybia, Bokassa converts to Islam and changes his name to Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa. 1976-1979: Bokassa dissovles the government and declares the CAR a monarchy. He is crowned Emperor Bokassa I in an elablorate coronation ceremony in December and quickly appoints himself Imperial Prime Minister. Except for the heavy crown and ermine cape, Bokassa continues to rule true to form for the next three years 1979: Following a student protest over school uniforms, several hundred children are arrested and about 100 are killed. Bokassa is rumored to have personally participated, killing the initial victims with a club. Whatever his personal involvement, the incident alienates his French sponsors who in turn sponsor a successful coup by Bokassa's cousin and predecessor David Dacko who siezes power while Bokassa is on a state visit to Lybia. 1979-1996: Despite a death sentence issued by the Dacko government, the ousted emperor spends six years in French exile. Bokassa returns to the CAR in 1986. He is promptly arrested, tried and convicted on charges of treason, murder, embezzlement by Dracko's successor Andre Kolingba. He is aquitted of charges of canabilism but sentenced to life in prison. With a return to dmocracy in 1993, Bokassa is released in as part of a general amnesty issued by the retiring Kolingba. 1996: Bokassa dies of a reported heart attack. He is survived by 17 wives and over 50 known children (none of whom appears likely at present to assume the ermine mantle of Bokassa II). | 
