38 Minutes of History: The Incredible Story of the World's Shortest War

The Incredible Story of the World's Shortest War" explores the brief but impactful conflict between the British Empire and the Sultanate of Zanzibar on August 27, 1896.

ENGLISH LANGUAGES

1/16/20256 min read

Introduction: The Shortest War in History

In the 19th century, people witnessed a war that lasted not 10-20 years, but just 38 minutes! It was the first time in history that a war ended before the news even reached anyone. The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought in Africa, holds the Guinness World Record for being the shortest war in the world. But the question is, which two countries were involved in this historic conflict, and how did it get decided in less than an hour? Let's dive into the details again!

The Strategic Location of Zanzibar

Welcome, listeners! This historic battle took place on an island that used to be known as Zanzibar, located in the Indian Ocean just 40 kilometers off the coast of East Africa. Zanzibar was under the control of the Sultanate of Oman, and everything was running pretty smoothly. But then, a new power entered the scene, trying to assert its dominance over Zanzibar and East Africa through politics. Yes, we're talking about British rule. The British Empire had been eyeing East Africa and Zanzibar for quite some time, looking to take advantage of the strategic location and the valuable resources here.

British Ambitions and the Rise of Zanzibar

The British were determined to bring resources under their control, believing they were far superior, especially compared to Eastern countries like India, Africa, and various Arab nations. However, their dream couldn’t be realized as long as Zanzibar Island was under Omani control. At the time, Sultan Said bin Sultan of Oman was in power, and he was known for being quite tough and never compromising. This is why they were often referred to as the "Yemen of Oman."

The Politics of Power in Zanzibar

Clearly, with them around, it was impossible for the British Empire to take control of any part of Oman. In 1856, the eldest son, Thuwaini bin Said, took the throne of Oman, while the younger son, Majid bin Said, separated Zanzibar from Oman and established it as a new country. Zanzibar, which had been a part of Oman for many centuries, faced refusal from several Arab sultans to recognize it as a new nation due to Majid bin Said's decision. However, the British Empire saw a golden opportunity and quickly threw their support behind Majid bin Said, officially recognizing Zanzibar as a new country.

The Slave Trade: A Historical Context

Somehow, the British Empire had managed to get involved in the politics here. Zanzibar's main source of income was the last slave market in the world, where slave trading took place. Slaves were brought from the African mainland to Zanzibar Island, often tied up with ropes. Many slaves would jump overboard into the Indian Ocean to escape, while others would get sick, and some would even drown during the short journey of just 40 kilometers. Their bodies were callously thrown into the sea.

Tensions Rise: The Extravagant Sultan's Palace

In the market, they used to be sold off in small batches, with hundreds of slaves crammed in without food or water. The bidding for slaves was brutal; they would line them up and tie them to trees, then whip them loudly. Those who could endure the pain without crying or screaming fetched a higher price. Years went by, and the sultans of Zanzibar changed, but their main source of income remained the slave market, heavily supported by the British.

In Zanzibar, an extravagant palace was built right on the beachfront. This palace had every facility you could imagine for the Sultan, things that were beyond belief at the time. Most notably, it was the first building in East Africa to have an electricity connection. The palace was heavily made of wood, and all the buildings were connected by bridges. At this point, the British were getting a pretty bad reputation around the world for Zanzibar's slave market, especially since they were the ones supporting the Sultan of Zanzibar.

The Catalyst: A Change in Sultanate

They pressured the Sultan of Zanzibar to shut down the slave market. After a lot of attempts and agreements, the last slave market was permanently closed in 1873. One thing was clear: the British control over Zanzibar was getting stronger. Fast forward to August 25, 1896, and the pro-British Sultan suddenly dies. He was poisoned by his own cousin, Khalid bin Barghash, who then took the throne without the British's approval, because they wanted the next Sultan to be someone they favored too.

The Final Stand: The Battle of Zanzibar

They did it their way, and for this job, they chose Hamood bin Mohammed. When the British found out about Khalid bin Bargas's plot, they sent a message to his palace with a straightforward threat. The message warned that the palace had to be vacated by 9 AM on August 27. The new Sultan of Zanzibar, Khalid, gathered his forces and locked himself inside the palace. Along with the threat, British Navy ships surrounded Zanzibar Island from all sides. The next two nights were pretty tense in the palace. On the morning of August 27, at 8 AM, just one hour before the ultimatum was up...

The 38-Minute War: A Detailed Account

About an hour ago, a message came from the Sultan to the British Council saying he’s ready to end things through talks. The British Council replied that talks can only happen if he agrees to our demands. At 8:30, Khalid sent another message saying he has no plans to leave the throne of Zanzibar and doesn’t think the Brits have the guts to fight us. The British Council responded that they don’t intend to attack either, but that doesn’t mean they can’t if they want to. Right now, the grand palaces of Zanzibar are at stake.

There were 2,800 guards outside, including some civilians, palace guards, and quite a few of the Sultan's servants and slaves. To challenge the Royal Navy, a ship was also stationed in the Indian Ocean outside the Sultan's palace. It was the HHS Glasgow Royal Yard, worth £32,000, along with 18 smaller boats to take on the British Royal Navy. At exactly 9:00, when the ultimatum given to the Sultan expired, two British Navy cruiser ships, three gunboats, and 150 marines set sail towards Ireland. Keep in mind that these 150 people..

Aftermath: The Dawn of British Rule

The showdown was with the Sultan's 2,800 guards at exactly 9:02. The three gunboats—Raccoon, Thrush, and Sparrow—opened fire on the palace without holding back. In the first attack, they destroyed a 12-pounder cannon inside the palace. They also took out the Sultan's royal yard, the HHS Glasgow, in a single blow. But since it was docked in shallow water, only the upper part was above water. The crew of the Glasgow quickly raised the British flag and surrendered. The Brits planned to arrest Sultan Khalid bin Bagz.

Conclusion: A New Era for Zanzibar

They're going to take him to India, but before that, the Sultan sneaked out of the palace with his other Arab buddies. Out of his 2,800 troops, 500 soldiers were killed due to heavy bombardment. The British Navy fired a total of 500 shells, 4,100 rounds of machine gun ammo, and 1,000 rounds of rifle ammo. By 9:37, British soldiers had already entered the palace, and the remaining palace guards surrendered. Just a minute later, at 9:38, the British Marines tore down the Sultan's flag from the palace roof, and that’s where it all lasted for 38 minutes.

Final Thoughts

This war is a matter of control; in the entire conflict, 500 of the Sultan's men were killed, while only one sailor from the British Navy got injured. Later, it was discovered that Sultan Khalid bin Barghash had sought refuge in German East Africa. At that time, there were two major powers in East Africa: the British and the Germans. Right after the British took over the palace, they appointed their preferred Sultan, Hamoud bin Mohammed, as the new Sultan of Zanzibar on the very same day. This 38-minute battle, noted in history, marked the beginning of heavy British rule in Zanzibar.

A new chapter began, and Zanzibar continued as an indirect colony under Sultan Hamoud bin Mohammed. Over the next 10 years, 17,200 slaves were freed, and the slave culture was completely uprooted from every corner of Zanzibar. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the British took control of various countries and turned them into colonies. Do you think this benefited or harmed human civilization? I hope you all enjoy this blog and make sure to like and share it! Thank you so much for your lovely comments!