Jean-Bédel Bokassa crowned himself Emperor of the Central African Republic in a lavish ceremony on 4 December 1977.
He'd already been president for several years since taking power in a military coup - but he wanted more.
In 2018, Janet Ball spoke to his son Jean-Charles Bokassa.
(Photo: Jean-Bédel Bokassa at his coronation. Credit: Pierre Guillaud / AFP via Getty Images)