The shortest war on record was fought between Zanzibar and England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.
The 38-Minute War: When Zanzibar Fought Britain
On the morning of August 27, 1896, the Zanzibar Sultanate went to war with the British Empire. By lunchtime, it was over. The entire conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes, making it the shortest war in recorded history.
The war wasn't about territory or resources. It was about who got to sit on the throne.
A Succession Crisis Turns Violent
When pro-British Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini died suddenly on August 25, 1896, his cousin Khalid bin Bargash seized the palace and declared himself sultan. There was just one problem: the British hadn't approved him.
Britain had other plans. They wanted Hamoud bin Mohammed, a more cooperative candidate who would maintain their influence over Zanzibar's lucrative trade routes. The British delivered an ultimatum: vacate the palace by 9:00 AM on August 27, or face the consequences.
Khalid refused. He barricaded himself inside the palace with nearly 3,000 defenders, several artillery pieces, and the royal yacht HHS Glasgow anchored nearby. He believed the British were bluffing.
Thirty-Eight Minutes of Bombardment
They weren't bluffing. At precisely 9:02 AM, five British warships opened fire on the palace. The bombardment was devastating and one-sided.
- The wooden palace caught fire almost immediately
- The sultan's artillery was destroyed within minutes
- The HHS Glasgow was sunk in the harbor
- Approximately 500 Zanzibari defenders were killed or wounded
British casualties? One sailor injured.
By 9:40 AM, the sultan's flag had been shot down and the palace was in ruins. Khalid fled to the German consulate, where he requested asylum. He eventually escaped to German East Africa, living in exile until the British captured him during World War I.
The Aftermath
Britain installed their preferred candidate, Hamoud bin Mohammed, as sultan later that same day. Zanzibar would remain under British influence until gaining independence in 1963.
The Anglo-Zanzibar War holds the Guinness World Record for the shortest war in history. It's a stark reminder that sometimes overwhelming military superiority doesn't just win wars quickly—it prevents them from being wars at all.