The shortest war in history: Zanzibar's 38-minute conflict

The annals of military history record a conflict so brief it lasted mere minutes: the Anglo-Zanzibar War of August 27, 1896. This astonishingly short war began when Sayyid Khalid ibn Barghash, harboring ambitions for power, seized the Sultan's palace following the mysterious and sudden death of his cousin and predecessor, Sultan Hamad ibn Thuwaini. Zanzibar, an East African island off the coast of Somalia, had been a British protectorate since 1890. While Hamad ibn Thuwaini's rule was tolerated, Khalid's ascent was not. He had previously attempted a coup in 1893 and was thwarted by British intervention, which led to Hamad's installation as Sultan. The swiftness of Hamad's death, with suspicions of poisoning directed at Khalid, fueled the tension. Khalid, bolstered by support from some of the palace guard, declared himself Sultan. However, the British Consul, Sir Basil Shillito Cave, immediately issued an ultimatum demanding his abdication. When Khalid refused, citing his claim to the throne and possibly expecting German support, the British Prime Minister, Robert Cecil of Salisbury, authorized Cave to take "all necessary measures." What followed was a swift and decisive naval bombardment of the Sultan's palace and surrounding fortifications by the British Royal Navy. The resistance, led by Khalid, crumbled within 38 minutes. Khalid fled, and the British installed a new Sultan, Hamoud bin Mohammed, who was more amenable to their interests. This brief but dramatic event cemented British dominance and remains the shortest war ever recorded.

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The silence that hung over Zanzibar was terrifying. Normally, one heard drumbeats and the cries of babies, but on this night, there were no sounds at all.