What happens when a global empire squares off against a small island sultanate? In 1896, the answer came in just 38 minutes. The Anglo-Zanzibar Military conflict between the UK and Zanzibar Sultanate erupted as a direct response to Sultan Khalid bin Barghash seizing power following the death of the pro-British Sultan Hamad.

So why was this the shortest war in human history? It all came down to who sat on the throne — and whether the British approved. The figure they favored was Hamoud bin Mohammed, not Sultan Khalid bin Barghash, who had bypassed a critical requirement: under the 1890 British Protectorate agreement, he needed permission from the British consul before ascending to power, and he never sought it.

The fighting itself was devastatingly one-sided and shockingly brief. British forces reduced the palace's artillery to rubble, set the entire palace ablaze, and brought the palace flag crashing down. The toll was staggeringly lopsided — the Sultan's forces sustained about 500 casualties, whereas the British side suffered just a single injured sailor.

Terrified by the overwhelming assault, Sultan Khalid abandoned his position and sought asylum at the German consulate, eventually escaping to present-day Tanzania. With Khalid out of the picture, the British wasted no time installing Hamoud as the head of what was essentially a puppet government. This swift regime change effectively extinguished the Zanzibar Sultanate's sovereignty and ushered in an era of deeper British influence.

Fun Facts:

  • The British authorities preferred Hamoud bin Mohammed; they saw him as a preferable successor who could coordinate British interests as Sultan.

  • Sultan Khalid did not obtain permission from the British consul before accession, as was the requirement.

  • The battle for Zanzibar lasted a brief 38 minutes- the shortest war in history! By contrast, the Reconquista war between the English Christian and Muslims (Moors) lasted 781 years, the longest in history.

  • About 2,800 Zanzibaris defended the Palace, including civilians, palace guards, and enslaved people and servants.

  • After 38 minutes of fighting, the Brits shot the palace flag down, ending the war.