Uploaded August 2023 | Updated September 2026, 52 minutes ago
What was the BRIEFEST WAR IN HISTORY and how was it one of the results of British colonialism?
It was begun and won on 27 August 1896 and has entered the Guinness book of world records for being the shortest war ever, taking less time than a flight from Edinburgh to London, but what caused the conflict, who fought in the shortest war ever, who won the shortest war ever and just how quick was it? Today on History Calling, I give you all the answers as we look at the Anglo-Zanzibar war, otherwise known as the 38 minute war. That’s right; it took the British (who were the victors) less than three quarters of an hour that morning to depose the would-be Sultan of Zanibar, who had ruled for only two days and whose name was Sayyid Khalid bin Barghash. The death toll stood at around 500 (almost exclusively Zanaibari soldiers and other supporters of bin Barghash), but the ex-Sultan escaped to the German embassy and went into exile, ultimately dying in 1927.
The fight arose because of the colonial nature of the history of Zanzibar at the time. Britain had claimed control over the island and there was a law in place saying that they had to approve any new Sultan. Sayyid Khalid bin Barghash ignored this rule when he tried to take the throne after the suspicious death of the previous Sultan, Hamed bin Thuwaini and when he refused to capitulate after receiving warnings from the British to surrender, they opened fire on the royal palace from the harbour, causing huge damage, which you’ll see pictures of in the video. They also sank the Sultan’s personal yacht, His Highness’ Ship Glasgow, the mast of which remained sticking up out of the water for decades to come.
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THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF BENJAMIN BATHURST
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GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
DJI Drone: amzn.to/38h1vXr (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/39hROZm (US LINK)
Go-Pro Hero 10 camera: amzn.to/3EPIK9U (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rTWScL (US LINK)
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Memory Card: amzn.to/36QvcOQ (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3KeLZZs (US LINK)
Microphone: amzn.to/3MFtoaK (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rYtjH8 (US LINK)
LEARN MORE:
[FREE] BBC profile of Zanzibar
bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14115176
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
THUMBNAIL: Flickr, Richard Mortel, CC BY 2.0 (detail)
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
What was the BRIEFEST WAR IN HISTORY and how was it one of the results of British colonialism?
It was begun and won on 27 August 1896 and has entered the Guinness book of world records for being the shortest war ever, taking less time than a flight from Edinburgh to London, but what caused the conflict, who fought in the shortest war ever, who won the shortest war ever and just how quick was it? Today on History Calling, I give you all the answers as we look at the Anglo-Zanzibar war, otherwise known as the 38 minute war. That’s right; it took the British (who were the victors) less than three quarters of an hour that morning to depose the would-be Sultan of Zanibar, who had ruled for only two days and whose name was Sayyid Khalid bin Barghash. The death toll stood at around 500 (almost exclusively Zanaibari soldiers and other supporters of bin Barghash), but the ex-Sultan escaped to the German embassy and went into exile, ultimately dying in 1927.
The fight arose because of the colonial nature of the history of Zanzibar at the time. Britain had claimed control over the island and there was a law in place saying that they had to approve any new Sultan. Sayyid Khalid bin Barghash ignored this rule when he tried to take the throne after the suspicious death of the previous Sultan, Hamed bin Thuwaini and when he refused to capitulate after receiving warnings from the British to surrender, they opened fire on the royal palace from the harbour, causing huge damage, which you’ll see pictures of in the video. They also sank the Sultan’s personal yacht, His Highness’ Ship Glasgow, the mast of which remained sticking up out of the water for decades to come.
BUY MY BOOK (Find Your Irish Ancestors Online): amzn.to/3Z2ChnG
Website (with 2 FREE DOWNLOADS): historycallingofficial.com
Patreon: patreon.com/historycalling
Amazon storefront: amazon.com/shop/historycalling
Instagram: instagram.com/historycalling
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
THE STORY OF THE AMBER ROOM: LOST TREASURE OF WORLD WAR 2
youtu.be/DGvq4N1OhyE
EYAM: WHEN THE PLAGUE CAME TO TOWN IN 1665
youtu.be/qTmAqbo4wVw
THE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF BENJAMIN BATHURST
youtu.be/1sHq8c81NPY
THE MYSTERY OF SKELETON LAKE
youtu.be/FYI8eRhI1Bk
GEAR USED
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop (for video editing): amzn.to/3S6IoRK
DJI Drone: amzn.to/38h1vXr (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/39hROZm (US LINK)
Go-Pro Hero 10 camera: amzn.to/3EPIK9U (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rTWScL (US LINK)
GoPro 3-Way 2.0 (Tripod/Grip/Arm): amzn.to/37CdC1r (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3vaVxjU (US LINK)
Memory Card: amzn.to/36QvcOQ (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3KeLZZs (US LINK)
Microphone: amzn.to/3MFtoaK (UK LINK) OR amzn.to/3rYtjH8 (US LINK)
LEARN MORE:
[FREE] BBC profile of Zanzibar
bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14115176
NB: Links above may be affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I earn a small commission. It in no way affects the price you pay.
THUMBNAIL: Flickr, Richard Mortel, CC BY 2.0 (detail)
Open Street Map copyright information
openstreetmap.org/copyright
Creative Commons licenses used see creativecommons.org/licenses
