Thirty-Eight Minutes

The shortest war in recorded history lasted less than the time it takes to watch a sitcom. On 27 August 1896, the British Empire and the island of Zanzibar fought for roughly 38 minutes.

The trigger was a throne. When Zanzibar's pro-British sultan died suddenly, his cousin Khalid bin Barghash seized the palace and declared himself ruler. Britain had not approved him. It demanded he step down.

He Said No

Khalid refused to leave and barricaded himself in the palace with about 3,000 defenders and a single aging royal yacht.

At 9:00 AM the British ultimatum expired. Two minutes later, five warships in the harbor opened fire. The palace, built of wood, was shattered almost at once. By roughly 9:40 AM it was rubble, the yacht had been sunk, and Khalid had slipped out a back door to seek asylum at the German consulate.