How the British defeated the Sultanate in 38 minutes: The war that hit the Guinness Book of Records

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The British were the ones who fought the shortest victorious war in human history. Their opponent - the Zanzibar Sultanate - managed to hold out for a little more than half an hour. This record is officially enshrined in the famous Guinness book, and the way events developed is of undoubted interest.

Zanzibar Sultanate: The Force Awakens

Two centuries ago, Zanzibar was part of the Sultanate of Oman. The local government, with the support of Muscat (the capital of the entire sultanate), spent money wisely. And there were many, very many, since the slave trade brought a colossal income. Zanzibar has blossomed. And it blossomed so beautifully that the Omani sultan decided to move the capital of the entire state there. But the idea was realized only for a short time. In 1861, an uprising suddenly broke out in Zanzibar. The city, together with the island of the same name and the adjoining archipelago, became independent.

The sudden craving for freedom can be explained simply: the British advised. At that time, Britain intensified its colonial policy in East Africa and could not pass by the main pearl - Zanzibar. At the same time, the city retained not only independence, but also did not fall under the heel of the protectorate. The British, on the other hand, acted as a wise mentor helping the newly-made sultanate to take the first timid steps in the world.

The idyll did not last long. In the mid-1980s, the Germans became more active in East Africa. Having joined several "no-man's" territories, they ran into Zanzibar. Capturing him was easy, but the mighty patron was intimidating. The Germans did not want to start a war with Britain. But the desire to get to an economically and politically important coast made Germany negotiate with the Sultan. And in 1888 the Germans took the territory they needed for rent. Soon the British made a retaliatory move, occupying another part of the coast. And in 1890 the European countries entered into a mutually beneficial agreement. Zanzibar fell under the British protectorate, and Germany bought the previously leased land from the Sultan. The zones of influence were divided peacefully and calmly.

Six years have passed. Nothing, as they say, foreshadowed trouble. But the Zanzibar Sultan Hamad ibn Tuwayni, who was a protege of Britain, died unexpectedly. He was young enough and in good health. Despite the shadow in the form of England, Ibn Tuwayni led a relatively independent policy, having managed to win respect not only from his patrons, but also from the Germans. As proof - the British Order of the Star of India and the German Order of the Red Eagle.

The death of the Sultan raised many questions and suspicions. There was a rumor in the sultanate that he was poisoned by Khalid ibn Bargash, a cousin. And that the Germans were behind him, who decided to take over the entire sultanate. A coup d'état caused by an internecine war was a reliable and proven way to give power to the right person. Whether this is true or not is unknown. But Ibn Bargash acted as if he were really ruled by the Germans. Because of this, most historians are confident that Khalid was a full-fledged German puppet.

The death of Ibn Tuwayni had a stunning effect. The people and numerous officials froze in horror, with horror imagining what awaits the country next. And the coming of Bargash awaited her. He boldly rushed to seize the throne. The British, who closely followed the development of events, gently warned him of the possible dire consequences. But Bargash's thirst for power was many times stronger than the voice of reason.

War caricature

Khalid captured the Sultan's palace and began to await a response from the British. At his disposal was an army of three thousand people, who very vaguely imagined what a war with one of the world's leading powers would be like. Bargash did not understand all the danger either. He was sure that it would not come to a conflict, because the Germans were behind him. It was more expensive for us to contact such an enemy.

The British once again politely asked Bargash to renounce his claims to the throne and leave the palace. Then an ultimatum followed. On August 27, 1896, at 9 a.m., the palace was to be empty, and Bargash himself was obliged to relinquish power by this time. For failure to comply with the requirements, the British threatened to use force.

The Sultan ignored it, ordering his soldiers to prepare for defense. The balance of forces initially did not leave Bargash a single chance for the success of the adventure. Against the British armored cruisers, gunboats and other ships, the Sultan was able to put only the yacht "Glasgow", built, by the way, in Britain. The coastal guns included several machine guns, a pair of 12-pounder guns, and one bronze cannon, which was last fired almost in the 17th century.

On the morning of August 27, Bargash realized that he was alone with the British. The Germans did not appear, and his calls for help went unanswered. The Sultan tried to negotiate with the enemy, but failed. The Europeans demanded the fulfillment of all points of the ultimatum without any "buts".

At 9 am the first shots were fired. This is how the Anglo-Zanzibar War began. The Sultan's soldiers did not even think to defend themselves. A minute after the start of the battle, they fled from their positions. With the first volleys, the English flotilla destroyed the coastal guns, then began shelling the city. And a few minutes later the yacht "Glasgow" went to the bottom.

After 10 minutes, Bargash realized that the war was over. And he ran away. The soldiers followed suit. In fact, the British could even then calmly land and capture the city. But they did not know about the flight of the Sultan and his soldiers. The fact is that the Bargash flag continued to flutter over the palace, in the confusion no one thought to lower it. The shelling of the city continued until one of the shells nevertheless demolished the flagpole.

38 minutes passed. The British took the city. The war is officially over. During this time, about five hundred Zanzibar soldiers died. There were no losses on the British side.

Panic panic, but the defeated sultan did not want to fall into the hands of the British. He understood that execution would follow captivity, and parting with life was not part of his plans. In fact, he did not have so many options for salvation. More precisely, there is only one - the German embassy.

Leaving the palace, Bargash rushed to the building. The Germans accepted Khalid and promised to defend themselves. Soon the British approached the embassy. They demanded to hand over the enemy to them, but were refused. The British did not go to the assault. They hoped that Bargash would surrender. The wait dragged on for a couple of months. In the end, the Germans cheated. They quietly delivered their puppet to a ship that sailed to Dar es Salaam. Here Khalid settled. But in 1916 the British took over the city. This time Bargash failed to escape. The British did not execute him, asking for old grievances. They sent the former sultan to Mombasa, where he rested in 1927.