The Anglo-Zanzibar War Is the Shortest War in History!

When you think of war, you definitely mention the year-long struggles people had to go through to survive. But, what happens when that is not always the case?

Have you ever heard of a war that lasted less than an hour? Surprisingly, the Anglo-Zanzibar War holds the title of being the shortest war in history, lasting only 38 minutes.

In the late 19th century, tensions between Britain and the Sultanate of Zanzibar were escalating, leading to a brief but intense conflict that forever cemented the war’s place in the history books. The Anglo-Zanzibar War may have been short-lived, but its impact reverberated far beyond its mere minutes. This is what went down.

The Anglo-Zanzibar War

The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 is famously known as the shortest war in history, lasting only 38 minutes. It arose from the signing of the Heligoland-Zanzibar treaty in 1890, which divided East Africa into spheres of influence between Britain and Germany. Zanzibar fell under British control, and a puppet Sultan, Hamad bin Thuwaini, was installed in 1893 to oversee the region.

When Hamad died unexpectedly in 1896, a succession dispute erupted, and Britain supported a candidate favorable to their interests. The opposing candidate, Khalid bin Barghash, refused to step down, leading to the British bombarding his palace. The conflict ended swiftly with Khalid’s surrender, solidifying British control over Zanzibar.

Hamad ruled the relatively peaceful protectorate for just over three years until his sudden death on August 25, 1896, in his palace. While the exact cause of his death remains uncertain, it is widely believed that his cousin, Khalid bin Barghash, orchestrated his poisoning.

The Shortest War in History

Local British diplomats, particularly Basil Cave, expressed strong disapproval of Khalid’s refusal to stand down after Hamad’s death. Cave promptly demanded Khalid’s resignation, but Khalid ignored these warnings and began amassing his forces around the palace. Despite the surprise at Khalid’s well-armed forces, it was noted that many of their weapons were diplomatic gifts given to the former Sultan over the years. By the end of August 25th, Khalid had fortified his palace with nearly 3,000 men, several artillery guns, and even a modestly armed Royal Yacht in the nearby harbor.

Simultaneously, the British had two warships, HMS Philomel and HMS Rush, stationed in the harbor. Troops were deployed ashore to safeguard the British Consulate and prevent local unrest. Basil Cave, seeking additional support, called for backup from the nearby British ship, HMS Sparrow, which arrived in the harbor on the evening of August 25th.

What Happened Next in the Anglo-Zanzibar War?

Despite having a substantial armed presence in the harbor, Basil Cave understood that he lacked the authority to initiate hostilities without explicit approval from the British government. As a precaution, he sent a telegram to the Foreign Office that evening. He asked: “Are we authorized, in the event of all attempts at a peaceful solution proving useless, to fire on the Palace from the men of war?”. While awaiting a response from Whitehall, Cave continued issuing ultimatums to Khalid, but these efforts were fruitless.

The following day, two additional British warships, HMS Racoon and HMS St George, arrived in the harbor. HMS St George was commanded by Rear-Admiral Harry Rawson, the leader of the British fleet in the region. Concurrently, Cave received a telegraph from Whitehall, but the content of the message is unspecified.

The Shortest War in History Continued

On August 26th, the final ultimatum was issued to Khalid. They were demanding his departure from the palace by 9 am the following day. That night, Cave ordered all non-military boats to vacate the harbor in anticipation of conflict. At 8 am the next morning, just an hour before the ultimatum expired, Khalid responded to Cave. He affirmed his refusal to lower the flag and expressed disbelief that the British would open fire. Cave, in a typical 19th-century British diplomatic fashion, replied that he had no desire to initiate violence. However, failure to comply would result in military action.

At 9 am, with no further communication from Khalid, British ships in the harbor commenced bombardment of the palace. By 9:02, the majority of Khalid’s artillery was destroyed. The wooden structure of the palace began to collapse, trapping 3,000 defenders inside. Approximately two minutes into the bombardment, Khalid reportedly fled through a rear exit of the palace, leaving his servants and fighters behind to defend it. By 9:40, the shelling ceased, the Sultan’s flag was lowered, and the shortest war in history officially ended after only 38 minutes.

The Last Minutes

Despite its brevity, the Anglo-Zanzibar War resulted in a surprisingly high casualty rate, with over 500 of Khalid’s fighters killed or wounded, primarily due to the impact of high explosive shells on the palace’s fragile structure. Additionally, one British petty officer sustained severe injuries but ultimately recovered after receiving medical treatment.

Following Khalid’s removal, the UK installed the pro-British Sultan Hamud as the ruler of Zanzibar, under the authority of Her Majesty’s Government, for the ensuing six years. Khalid, along with a small group of loyalists, sought refuge at the local German Consulate. Despite British requests for his extradition, he was clandestinely smuggled out of the country by the German navy on October 2nd and transported to present-day Tanzania.

It was not until British forces invaded East Africa in 1916 that Khalid was apprehended and subsequently exiled to Saint Helena. After a period of incarceration, he was permitted to return to East Africa, where he passed away in 1927.

Zanzibar Today

Today, Zanzibar is an integral part of Tanzania. The island’s history intertwines with that of the mainland. In December 1961, Tanganyika gained independence from British colonial rule. Subsequently, in April 1964, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, later renamed Tanzania. This union was partly strategic due to geographical considerations and the need for Zanzibar’s security, aligning with its larger neighbor.

Notably, Zanzibar’s identity has evolved over time. While it is now recognized as an African entity, its historical ties span diverse cultural influences, reflecting its unique position in the Indian Ocean trade routes and its rich history of trade, conquest, and cultural exchange.

Did you know about the shortest war in history? If not, did you expect it to be this short?

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