THE SHORTEST WAR IN HISTORY was between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896, lasting only 38 minutes

The shortest war in history, the British-Zanzibar War of 1896, is a fascinating and somewhat comical tale that took place on August 27, 1896. The story begins with a political crisis in Zanzibar, a small island off the coast of East Africa, where the Sultanate was facing internal struggles over succession.

As the crisis deepened, the pro-British Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini passed away, and his successor, Khalid bin Barghash, quickly declared himself the new Sultan. The problem was that Britain had a preferred candidate, and when they demanded that Khalid step down, he defiantly refused. The British government, a dominant colonial power at the time, was not one to be trifled with.

In an incredible display of force and efficiency, Britain dispatched warships to Zanzibar's harbor, while positioning their forces strategically around the island. The ultimatum was clear: Khalid must abdicate immediately, or face the consequences.

As the minutes ticked by, the tension escalated, and the world held its breath. Finally, after only 38 minutes from the moment the British warships opened fire, the Zanzibari palace lay in ruins, and the war was over. Khalid's forces were no match for the advanced British weaponry, and the Sultan was forced to flee.

The absurd brevity of the war has since become a historical oddity, but it also reveals the overwhelming power imbalance between colonial empires and smaller nations. For Zanzibar, it was a poignant reminder of the limited sovereignty they had under foreign rule. Nevertheless, this peculiar conflict remains a testament to the unpredictability and swiftness of history's most concise military encounter.