What was the shortest war in recorded history, fought between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896?

The Anglo-Zanzibar War was the shortest war in recorded history, lasting about 38 minutes.

The conflict began on 27 August 1896 after Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini of Zanzibar died and his cousin, Khalid bin Barghash, seized the palace and declared himself sultan without British approval. Britain supported another claimant, Hamud bin Mohammed, and issued an ultimatum demanding Khalid’s surrender.

When the ultimatum expired at 09:00, British warships opened fire on the palace and nearby forces. Khalid’s position collapsed rapidly, and he fled to the German consulate. Hamud then became sultan under British influence. Estimates of the duration range from roughly 38 to 45 minutes because historians differ over the precise end point.

The war took place during the period when Britain exercised strong control over Zanzibar’s foreign affairs. It was not the Six-Day War, which lasted six days in 1967, or the Falklands War, which lasted about ten weeks in 1982.