Central African Empire

The Central African Empire (French: Empire centrafricain) was a short-lived, self-declared "constitutional monarchy", but in reality an absolute monarchy under a one-party military dictatorship, that replaced the Central African Republic and was, in turn, replaced by the restoration of the Republic. The empire was formed by and under the command of  Marshal Jean-Bédel Bokassa, president for life of the Republic, who declared himself Emperor Bokassa I on 4 December 1976.