What war was 38 minutes long?

The Shortest War in History: 38 Minutes of Fire and Fury

When we think of war, images of long, drawn-out battles often come to mind. But history holds a surprising exception: the Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896, which lasted a mere 38 minutes—making it the shortest recorded war in history.

It began on August 27, 1896, after the death of Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini, a British ally. When his cousin, Khalid bin Barghash, seized power without British approval, tensions flared. The British, who controlled Zanzibar’s foreign policy under a protectorate agreement, demanded he step down. When he refused, an ultimatum was issued—and ignored.

At precisely 9:02 a.m., the Royal Navy opened fire on the Sultan’s palace in Zanzibar Town. A handful of outdated cannons, a wooden warship, and a few hundred defenders stood no chance against five British warships and modern artillery. By 9:40 a.m., the palace was in ruins, the Sultan had fled, and the British had installed their preferred ruler.

The conflict, though brief, was devastating. Over 500 Zanzibari defenders and civilians were killed or wounded, while British casualties were minimal. The war ended before many residents had even finished breakfast.

Today, the Anglo-Zanzibar War is remembered less for its scale and more for its astonishing brevity. It remains a strange footnote in military history—a clash of empires resolved in less time than a modern sitcom. But beneath the trivia lies a sobering truth: even the shortest wars can leave lasting scars.