Britain Wins the Shortest War in Recorded History

On the morning of 27 August 1896, British naval forces opened fire on the waterfront palace complex in Zanzibar Town. The sudden conflict erupted following the death of Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini two days earlier. Under an 1890 protectorate agreement, candidates seeking succession to the throne were required to obtain permission from the British consul. Instead, the late sultan's relative Khalid bin Barghash, a young member of the ruling family, occupied the palace and proclaimed himself ruler without British approval, directly challenging the authorities who favoured Hamoud bin Muhammed.

The British consul, Basil Cave, tried to persuade Khalid to leave the palace, but the prince did not comply. Around 3,000 supporters, including about 700 soldiers, assembled to protect the palace, including armed palace guards, royal servants, enslaved persons, and volunteer townspeople. Their defensive lines along the shore mounted several artillery pieces and machine guns oriented toward the water. In the harbour, Khalid's forces also manned his royal yacht, the wooden armed vessel HHS Glasgow, alongside two steam launches.