Q & A: The shortest war

Q: What war lasted less time than a TV episode?

A: You’re thinking of the Anglo-Zanzibar War—famous for being the shortest war in recorded history, lasting somewhere between 38 and 45 minutes, literally shorter than a TV episode.

Here’s what happened:

Background

In the late 1800s, the island of Zanzibar (off the coast of present-day Tanzania) was a wealthy trading hub, known especially for spices and ivory. It had become a British protectorate, meaning it wasn’t fully colonized but Britain had heavy influence over its politics.

When the pro-British Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini died suddenly on 25 August 1896, his cousin Khalid bin Barghash seized the palace and declared himself the new sultan—without British approval.

The British strongly preferred another candidate, Hamoud bin Mohammed, who was more cooperative with their interests.

The Ultimatum

The British believed Khalid’s takeover violated their treaty rights. They issued an ultimatum:

Either Khalid step down by 9:00 a.m. on 27 August 1896, or the British would use force.

Khalid refused. He barricaded himself inside the palace with roughly 2,800 defenders, including palace guards, servants, and a small artillery force.

Meanwhile, Britain positioned several warships in the harbour.

The War

At 9:00 a.m. sharp, with no surrender, the British opened fire.

What followed was:

• Naval bombardment of the palace

• Destruction of Khalid’s artillery

• A fire that swept through parts of the palace complex

• Rapid collapse of organised resistance

By about 9:38 a.m., Khalid’s forces were overwhelmed. He fled the palace through a back exit and later sought asylum in the German consulate.

Total duration: 38–45 minutes (sources vary).

Aftermath

• The British installed Hamoud bin Mohammed as sultan.

• Approximately 500 Zanzibaris were killed or wounded.

• British casualties: 1 injured sailor.

• The British tightened their control over the island.

• The war became a strange historical footnote—more of a brief clash than a traditional war.

Why It’s So Short

A combination of factors:

• Vast British military superiority

• A strictly enforced deadline

• A palace that couldn’t withstand naval bombardment

• Khalid’s disorganised defence force

It’s often joked that the war could fit between commercial breaks—but it was still a deadly event for those involved.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model