--- title: "The world’s shortest war lasted an incredibly brief 38 minutes" description: "The Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896 was an unfair fight from the time the first shots were fired." date: "2022-03-31" modified: "2026-03-09" authors: - name: "Stephen Ruiz" job_title: "Editor, Writer" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/stephen/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/this-was-the-worlds-shortest-war/" categories: - "History" tags: - "Europe" - "Military History" - "Wars" --- # The world’s shortest war lasted an incredibly brief 38 minutes ![Anglo-Zanzibar War]() *The Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896 left the sultanate's palace in ruins. (Wikimedia Commons)* Thirty-eight minutes. The Anglo-Zanzibar War on August 27, 1896, was fought in less time than it takes to watch the [much-discussed combat scene]() from “Lone Survivor.” It was the shortest war in world history, which spans, you know, a bunch of years, so that is saying something. **Related:** [**Why Patton’s predecessor in North Africa proved so useless against the Nazis**]() British warships fired upon the royal palace shortly after 9 a.m. As far as mismatches go, this was a colossal rout, which begs one question: What were the Zanzibaris thinking? ### Zanzibar Was a British Protectorate ![Anglo-Zanzibar War]() *The Anglo-Zanzibar War began in 1896 when a would-be sultan falsely claimed power over the East African archipelago. (Wikimedia Commons)* Long before Zanzibar [merged with Tanganyika]() to become present-day Tanzania in 1964, it served as a protectorate of the British Empire. That relationship began in 1890 after the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty specified areas of German and British influence in East Africa. As part of that deal, Britain [received formal recognition]() of its control of Zanzibar. Britain was willing to preserve Zanzibar as a sultanate while simultaneously trying to render its sultan compliant to its wishes. What the British primarily wanted was [for slavery to be abolished]() on the archipelago in the Indian Ocean. Although some protested more than others, sultans generally acquiesced to British pressure. During the 1880s and 1890s, Zanzibar endured a series of changes in leadership as [four sultans died](). ### A Death Under Mysterious Circumstances https://youtu.be/kH44MZV3hik The last in that line, Hamad bin Thuwaini, died suddenly on August 25, 1896. Some believed his cousin, Khālid bin Barghash, [poisoned him](). If he did, Khālid wasn’t wracked with guilt. Far from it, in fact. The power-hungry Khālid moved into the palace and assumed authority. The son of longtime sultan Barghash bin Said, who reigned from 1870 to 1888, Khālid already tried [to assume power twice before]() without the British's required approval and was rebuffed. At 3 p.m. on August 25, mere hours after Sayyid Hamad’s death, Khālid [issued a formal declaration]() appointing himself sultan. A 21-gun salute accompanied the proclamation. Khālid’s bold move did little to deter the British. They still wanted him out and were willing to do anything to achieve that. ### Would-Be Sultan Refuses to Leave Palace ![British Rear Adm. Harry Rawson]() *Rear Adm. Harry Rawson commanded the British forces in the short-fought Anglo-Zanzibar War. (Wikimedia Commons)* Diplomat Basil Cave tried to reason with Khālid, trying to get him to leave on his own accord. Doing everything he could to retain whatever power he thought he had, Khālid repeatedly refused. Meanwhile, he prepared for a potential conflict by consolidating about 2,800 Zanzibari Askari soldiers, palace guards, and civilians. The day after Sayyid Hamad died, the British government [gave its consent]() to Cave and Rear Adm. Harry Rawson of the HMS St. George to use military action, writing: “You are authorized to adopt whatever measures you may consider necessary, and will be supported in your action by Her Majesty’s Government. Do not, however, attempt to take any action which you are not certain of being able to accomplish successfully.” As Rawson established a 9 a.m. deadline on August 27, Khālid remained belligerent. The ultimatum didn’t sway Khālid in the least; he even sent word [shortly before the deadline]() that “we have no intention of hauling down our flag, and we do not believe you would open fire on us.” ### 500 Died in Short War ![Anglo-Zanzibar War cannon]() *A cannon stands on the site of the palace that was destroyed during the Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896. (Erasmus Kamugisha/Wikimedia Commons)* The British weren’t posturing. Equipped with two cruisers and three gunboats, the British had much more firepower than their opponent despite having a smaller fighting force. At 9:02 a.m., Rowson ordered three of his vessels to open fire on the palace, and it soon became engulfed in flames. Khālid’s forces stood no chance. By the time the British stopped firing, 500 Khalid loyalists were dead. On the British side, only one soldier sustained severe injuries. It didn’t take long for the British to appoint Sayyid Hamad’s successor. With the palace likely still smoldering, they installed Hamoud bin Mohammed as the new sultan of Zanzibar. Khālid managed to escape to German East Africa, but the British didn't forget about him. They finally caught the fugitive and arrested him during World War I. Zanzibar remained a British protectorate until 1963, a few generations after a little-known war that was over in less time than a three-mile ruck. ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty ##### **• [This 80-year-old minuteman took on a column of British troops by himself]()** ##### **• [The British military actually had an effective plan in 1776]()** ##### **• [Here’s what happens when the US starts a military draft]()** ## Author Stephen Ruiz is an editor and writer at We Are The Mighty. His writing revolves mostly around military history and sports stories, but it can branch into other areas. Stephen has more than 35 years of journalism experience. His career began with stints at The Ledger newspaper in Lakeland, Florida, and The Kansas City Star in Missouri, but most of his time was spent on the copy desk at the Orlando Sentinel. After accepting a buyout from the Sentinel in 2020, Stephen worked at Military.com for 4½ years as a content editor and writer. He joined the We Are The Mighty staff in December 2025. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()