Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

The Shortest War in History Lasted Just 38 Minutes

By Michelle Ranken 3 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
Via Wikimedia Commons

Throughout history, there have been a lot of very foolish wars, often started over petty things. For instance, we told you all about the pettiest wars ever – one of which was started over a pastry shop. Now we’re bringing you the tale of the shortest war in history: The Anglo-Zanzibar War, which lasted a mere 38 minutes. Here’s what happened…

In the late 1800s, Europe was on a mission known today as the Scramble for Africa. In 1890, Great Britain and Germany signed the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty, which gave the two nations claims over different parts of East Africa. More specifically, Zanzibar went to Great Britain. Nowadays Zanzibar makes up part of what is now modern-day Tanzania, but at the time it was an island nation under the control of the Sultans of Oman, and had been since 1698. 

Advertisement

shortest war in history

In the wake of the Scramble for Africa, Zanzibar became a protectorate of Great Britain, who then placed a pro-British puppet sultan named Hamad bin Thuwaini (pictured, above) into power as a way to allow the British to carry out their ever-growing imperialistic aspirations. However, when the Sultan died suddenly on August 25, 1896, things started to go very awry. The British expressed their preference for Hamoud bin Muhammed to take power, as they viewed him as being more amicable to British interests, but Khalid bin Barghash (Hamad bin Thuwaini’s cousin) quickly moved into the palace and declared himself the new sultan before anyone could object.

The British very much did not approve of Khalid as Zanzibar’s new leader. When the top-ranking British diplomat in Zanzibar, Basil Cave, heard about the news he ordered him to step down, but instead of doing that, Khalid fortified his palace and called for 3,000 men to help protect him from the British. On August 26, Great Britain sent a telegram to Cave stating that he was authorized to use force against Khalid and his men if they did not comply. And so Cave gave Khalid until 9 am the next day to leave the palace, or risk being attacked. 

shortest war in history

Instead of leaving the palace, Khalid assumed that the British were not being truthful and that they wouldn’t actually attack, so he stayed put. Only, the British certainly weren’t playing around, and they gathered up three cruisers, two gunboats, 150 marines, and 900 Zanzibaris in preparation for battle. Not long after 9 am came around (9:02 to be exact), British ships in the harbor nearby began open-firing, and the palace was set on fire. Khalid’s defending artillery was quickly rendered useless, so it wasn’t long before he fled the scene through a back exit.

After approximately 38 minutes of firing, Khalid’s flag at the palace was shot down and the Zanzibari people were forced to admit defeat to the British. And so the British were finally able to place their preferred puppet leader, Hamoud bin Mohammed, into power. This very short war marked the end of the Zanzibar Sultanate as a sovereign state, and the beginning of a period of heavy British control.

shortest war in history

So, whatever happened to Khalid bin Barghash, you ask? Well, he was able to seek asylum at the German consulate, and then escaped to German East Africa (what is present-day Tanzania), somehow managing to avoid being captured by the British until World War I.

So what did we learn from the story of the shortest war in history? Firstly, That an enemy of your enemy is your friend, and secondly, that you should pretty much always assume that the British are prepared to destroy everything around them in their quest for imperialism.

Advertisement - Continue reading below

Average Travel Cost Statistics For 2023 According To Forbes Advisor
Travel
Ethan Blake 6 min read

Average Travel Cost Statistics For 2023 According To Forbes Advisor

Texas death sentence for accessory challenged by defense lawyer
News
Reuters 2 min read

Texas death sentence for accessory challenged by defense lawyer

Obama administration expects to close Guantanamo prison: White House
News
Reuters 1 min read

Obama administration expects to close Guantanamo prison: White House

Mondelez abandons pursuit of U.S. chocolate maker Hershey
News
Reuters 4 min read

Mondelez abandons pursuit of U.S. chocolate maker Hershey

U.S. seeks Latin American help amid rise in Asian, African migrants
News
Reuters 6 min read

U.S. seeks Latin American help amid rise in Asian, African migrants

Coroner said death of Baltimore detainee Freddie Gray an accident -witness
News
Reuters 2 min read

Coroner said death of Baltimore detainee Freddie Gray an accident -witness

Accused Michigan Uber shooter to use insanity defense: prosecutor
News
Reuters 2 min read

Accused Michigan Uber shooter to use insanity defense: prosecutor

Deserted Government Facility In The Woods Is Eerily Disturbing
Trending
David Clarke 2 min read

Deserted Government Facility In The Woods Is Eerily Disturbing

Prosecutor to announce decision in Cincinnati Zoo gorilla case
News
Reuters 2 min read

Prosecutor to announce decision in Cincinnati Zoo gorilla case

Marketing Firm Gives Non-Smoking Employees Six Additional Vacation Days, but It’s Not Why You Think
Business
Brad Kallet 2 min read

Marketing Firm Gives Non-Smoking Employees Six Additional Vacation Days, but It’s Not Why You Think

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers