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Lasting just 38 minutes, the Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896, is regarded as the shortest war in history.

Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.

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On the morning of 27 August 1896, the British Empire fought what is widely regarded as the shortest war in history.

In the space of just 38 minutes, a crisis in the island sultanate of Zanzibar escalated into a dramatic naval bombardment that destroyed the Sultan’s palace, sank the royal yacht, and forced a regime change.

But how did a war start so suddenly… and end so quickly?

In this episode of The History Chap, we explore the extraordinary story of the Anglo-Zanzibar War — a forgotten episode of imperial history that unfolded on the East African coast at the height of Britain’s global power.

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