The Shortest War in History: The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896

The Shortest War in History: The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896

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A Shortest War That Lasted Less Than an Hour

The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought on August 27, 1896, holds the unique record of being the shortest war in history, lasting just 38 minutes. Despite its brief length, this event is filled with drama, colonial rivalry, and surprising details that often get overlooked.

Fun Facts and Lesser-Known Details, The Shortest War

  1. The Exact Timing
    • The war officially started at 9:02 a.m. when the British ultimatum expired.
    • It ended by 9:40 a.m., making the total time of active conflict 38 minutes. Some historians stretch it to 40–45 minutes, but the commonly accepted duration is 38.
  2. British Firepower vs. Sultan’s Defenses
    • The British brought five modern warships into the harbor, including HMS St George and HMS Philomel.
    • Khalid’s forces had around 2,800 men, but most were poorly trained palace guards and civilians with outdated weapons. He also had about several artillery pieces and even a small yacht armed with guns. The yacht was quickly sunk in the opening bombardment.
  3. Casualties
    • Despite the war’s short length, around 500 Zanzibaris were killed or wounded.
    • The British, on the other hand, had only one injured sailor. This massive imbalance showed the overwhelming might of the British Navy at the time.
  4. The Flag Wouldn’t Fall
    • During the bombardment, the Sultan’s red flag of Zanzibar continued to fly even as the palace crumbled. It only came down when palace staff cut its rope at the end of the conflict.
  5. Khalid’s Escape
    • After realizing he had lost, Sultan Khalid fled the palace through a back exit and took refuge in the German Consulate.
    • The Germans refused to hand him over to the British. Later, he was smuggled out of Zanzibar in a German warship.
  6. The Palace in Ruins
    • The royal palace and nearby harem (women’s quarters) were destroyed in less than an hour. The ruins were left as a symbol of Britain’s dominance.
  7. A New Sultan Installed Immediately
    • Within hours of the war ending, Britain installed Hamoud bin Mohammed as the new Sultan. He was cooperative with British policies and later introduced reforms, including measures against slavery.
  8. The War Cost
    • The destruction of the Sultan’s palace was estimated to have cost about £300,000 at the time (millions in today’s money). Khalid never returned to power, and Zanzibar became even more firmly under British influence.
  9. The Sultan’s Yacht
    • One unusual fact is that Sultan Khalid’s royal yacht, HHS Glasgow, opened fire on British ships at the start of the war. It was quickly sunk, and its wreck lay in the harbor for years.
  10. Still in the Record Books
  • The Anglo-Zanzibar War remains the Guinness World Record holder for the shortest war in history. No conflict since then has come close to being shorter.

Legacy of the Shortest War

The Anglo-Zanzibar War may seem almost comical because of its brief duration, but it reflects the reality of the colonial age. A powerful empire like Britain could decide the fate of a nation in less than an hour. For Zanzibar, this marked the end of true independence and the tightening grip of European colonial control.

This unusual war continues to fascinate historians and trivia lovers alike—proving that sometimes, history can be stranger than fiction

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