List of wars involving the United Kingdom

This is a list of wars and humanitarian conflicts involving the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its predecessor states (the Kingdom of Great Britain, Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Scotland and generally the British Isles). Notable militarised interstate disputes are included. For a list of wars that have been fought on the United Kingdom mainland, see the list of wars in Great Britain.

Historically, the United Kingdom relied most heavily on the Royal Navy and maintained relatively small land forces. Most of the episodes listed here deal with insurgencies and revolts in the various colonies of the British Empire.

During its history, the United Kingdom's forces (or forces with a British mandate) have invaded, had some control over or fought conflicts in 171 of the world's 193 countries that are currently UN member states, or nine out of ten of all countries.[1]

  British victory
  British defeat
  Another result (e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum, result of civil or internal conflict, result unknown or indecisive, inconclusive)
  Ongoing conflict

England, Scotland and Wales to 1707

Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1801)

Conflict Britain & allies Britain's opposition Outcome
The Great Northern War
(1700–1721)
Tsardom of Russia

Cossack Hetmanate
Denmark–Norway
 Electorate of Saxony
Poland–Lithuania
 Prussia
Hanover
 Great Britain

Swedish Empire

 Ottoman Empire
 United Provinces
Brunswick-Lüneburg

British Allied victory:
The War of the Spanish Succession
(1701–1714)

including

Austria

 Dutch Republic
 Savoy
 Great Britain
 Prussia
Portugal

 France

Spain
Bavaria

British Allied victory
  • Treaty of Utrecht:
  • Philip V recognized as King of Spain by the Grand Alliance
  • Territory in Canada and the West Indies ceded from France
  • Territory in Europe ceded from Spain
Civil war: Post-Spanish Succession Caribbean Piracy
(1715–1726)
 Great Britain Anglo-American-Caribbean privateers
Republic of Pirates
British victory
  • Piracy outlawed by Treaty of Utrecht
  • Anti-Caribbean Piracy campaign by Royal Navy
  • Disestablishment of the Republic of Pirates in 1718
  • Defeat of Edward Teach in 1718
  • Defeat of Calico Jack in 1720
  • Defeat of Black Bart in 1722
  • Defeat of Edward Low in 1724
  • Most outlawed Caribbean privateers captured or killed by 1726, marking the end of the Golden Age of Piracy
Civil war:
(1715–1716)

Jacobite rising of 1715
including

 Great Britain Jacobites British victory

Jacobite restoration attempt defeated

The War of the Quadruple Alliance

including

 Holy Roman Empire

 France
 Dutch Republic
 Savoy

Spain

Jacobites (against the British Crown and government only)

British Allied victory:
  • Royal navy won a battle; a small-scale Jacobite invasion was defeated
  • Treaty of The Hague:
  • Spanish attempt at expansion fails.
Dummer's War
(1721–1725)
New England Colonies
Mohawk
Wabanaki Confederacy British victory
  • Britain recognises the rights of the region's indigenous inhabitants.
The War of Jenkins' Ear
(1739–1748)

Location: New Granada, Caribbean, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pacific and Atlantic

 Great Britain Spain Inconclusive/Other Outcome
The War of the Austrian Succession
(1740–1748)

including

Austria

 Great Britain
Hanover
 Dutch Republic
 Saxony
 Sardinia
 Russia
East India Company

 France

 Prussia
Spain

Bavaria
 Saxony
Naples and Sicily
 Genoa
Sweden
French East India Company

Inconclusive/Other Outcome
Civil War:

Jacobite rising of 1745
(1741–1745)

 Great Britain Jacobites

 France

British victory

Jacobite restoration attempt defeated

The Second Carnatic War
(1749–1754)
East India Company

  Forces of Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad
  Forces of Mohamed Ali Khan Walajan

French East India Company
  Forces of Chanda Shahib

  Forces of Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat

British Allied victory

Treaty of Pondicherry:

Seven Years' War
(1756–1763)

including

 Great Britain

 Prussia
Hanover
Iroquois Confederacy
Portugal
Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Hesse-Kassel
Schaumburg-Lippe

 France

 Holy Roman Empire
 Russian Empire
 Sweden
Spain

 Saxony
 Sardinia

British Allied victory

Treaty of Paris:

  • Extensive North American lands (incl. all of
    Canada) ceded from France
  • Caribbean colonies ceded from France
  • Senegal River colony (excluding Gorée) ceded
    from France
  • Florida ceded from Spain
  • French trading posts in India administered by British
  • Sumatra ceded from France
Anglo-Cherokee War
(1758–1761)
 Great Britain Cherokee British victory

Pro-British Attakullakulla becomes Cherokee leader

Tacky's War
(1760)
 Great Britain
Jamaican Government
Jamaican Maroons
Ashanti Slaves British Allied victory
  • Slave defeat
  • Death of Tacky
  • Tacky's men commit suicide
Pontiac's Rebellion
(1763–1766)
 Great Britain Confederation of First Nation Tribes Inconclusive/Other Outcome
  • British policy change
  • British suzerainty over First Nation Tribes
  • Niagara Falls area ceded from Seneca Nation
First Anglo-Mysore War
(1766–1769)
East India Company

 Maratha Empire
Hyderabad State

Kingdom of Mysore Mysore victory

Hyderabad cedes territory to Mysore

First Anglo-Maratha War
(1774–1783)
East India Company  Maratha Empire Indian victory
 Great Britain

Iroquois
Cherokee
Hanover
Loyalists

 United States
 France

Spain
 Dutch Republic
Vermont Republic
Kingdom of Mysore
Oneida tribe
Tuscarora tribe
Watauga Association
Catawba tribe

American Allied victory

Treaty of Paris:

  • 13 North American colonies recognised as the independent United States of America
  • Territory in North America ceded to the newly independent United States of America
  • Senegal River colony returned to France
  • French recognises British suzerainty over the Gambia river
  • Territory in India returned to France
  • British retention and creation of British North America
  • Menorca ceded to Spain
  • East & West Florida ceded to Spain
  • Territory in India ceded by the Dutch
2nd Anglo-Mysore War
(1780–1784)
East India Company

 Maratha Empire
Hyderabad State

Kingdom of Mysore

 France

Inconclusive/Other Outcome
Northwest Indian War
(1785–1795)
Western Confederacy  United States American Allied victory

Treaty of Greenville

3rd Anglo-Mysore War
(1789–1792)
East India Company

 Maratha Empire
Hyderabad State
Travancore

Kingdom of Mysore British Allied victory

Treaty of Seringapatam:

  • Half of Mysore territory ceded to East India Company
French Revolutionary Wars
(1793–1802)
Austria

 Great Britain
 Prussia
French Royalists
 Dutch Republic
Spain
Kingdom of Portugal
 Kingdom of Sardinia
Naples and Sicily
Italian states
 Ottoman Empire
 Russia

French Republic

Polish Legions
Spain
Sister republics:

French Allied victory

Treaty of Amiens:

  • General French victory
  • Britain recognises the French Republic
  • Cape Colony returned to the Batavian Republic
  • British withdrawal from Egypt
  • French withdrawal from the Papal States
  • Tobago ceded from France
  • Trinidad ceded from Spain
  • Ceylon ceded from the Batavian Republic
Ibn Ufaisan's Invasion
(1793)
Kuwait
 Great Britain
Emirate of Diriyah British Allied victory
  • Saudi retreat from Kuwait.
Second Maroon War
(1795–1796)
 Great Britain
British Jamaica
Jamaican Maroons British victory
  • Maroon defeat
  • Treaty signed established that the Maroons would beg on their knees for the King's forgiveness, return all runaway slaves, and be relocated elsewhere in Jamaica
  • Breach of treaty caused deportation of several Maroons to Nova Scotia and later to Sierra Leone in Africa
Hawkesbury and Nepean Wars
(1795–1816)
Burrberongal Tribe
 Great Britain
from 1801: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Dharug
Eora
Tharawal
Gandangara
Irish-convict sympathisers
British victory

Displacement of Aborigines from their land

Anglo-Spanish War
(1796–1808)

Location: Newfoundland, English Channel, Straits of Gibraltar, Balearic Islands, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata

 Great Britain from 1801:  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Spain
French Republic
Inconclusive/Other Outcome
Kandyan Wars
(1796–1818)
 Great Britain
from 1801:  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Kingdom of Kandy British victory
  • End of 2357 years of Sinhalese independence
Irish Rebellion of 1798
(1798)
 Kingdom of Ireland


 Great Britain

United Irishmen

Defenders
French Republic

British victory
  • Rebellion defeated
  • 1801 Act of Union
4th Anglo-Mysore War
(1798–1799)
East India Company

 Maratha Empire
Hyderabad State

Kingdom of Mysore British Allied victory

Complete annexation of Mysore by Britain and allies

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922)

Conflict Britain & allies Britain's opposition Outcome
Temne War
(1801–1807)
Susu tribes Kingdom of Koya British Allied victory

Northern shore of Sierra Leone ceded by Koya

Second Anglo-Maratha War
(1802–1805)
East India Company  Maratha Empire British victory

Extensive territory in India ceded by the Maratha Empire

First Kandyan War
(1803–1805)
Kandy British victory

Territory captured from Kandy

Civil War:

Emmet's Insurrection
(1803)

Forces of Robert Emmet British victory

Rebellion defeated

British Expedition to Ceylon
(1803)
 Dutch Republic
 United Kingdom
Chiefdom of Vanni
 Kingdom of Kandy
British Allied victory
  • Vanni region lost to the British
  • The last Tamil resistance against colonial rule was crushed.
War of the Third Coalition
(1803–1805)
 Austrian Empire

 Russian Empire
Naples and Sicily
Portugal
 Sweden

French Empire

Batavia
Italy
Etruria
 Spain
Bavaria
Württemberg

French Allied victory
War of the Fourth Coalition
(1806–1807)
 Prussia

 Russia
 Saxony
 Sweden
Sicily

French Empire

Confederation of the Rhine

Polish Legions
Italy
Naples
Etruria
Holland
Swiss Confederation
 Spain

French Allied victory

Treaties of Tilsit:

  • French victory
  • Half of Prussia ceded to French allies
  • Russia exits the war
  • Anglo-Russian War begins
Ashanti–Fante War
(1806–1807)
 Ashanti Empire

Dutch Empire

Fante Confederacy
 United Kingdom
Dutch victory
Anglo-Turkish War
(1807–1809)
 United Kingdom  Ottoman Empire Turkish victory

Treaty of the Dardanelles:

  • Turkish military victory
  • Commercial and legal concessions to British interests within the Ottoman Empire
  • Promise to protect the empire against French encroachment
Gunboat War
(1807–1814)
 United Kingdom Denmark–Norway British victory

Treaty of Kiel:

  • Denmark and Norway split up
  • Heligoland ceded from Denmark
Anglo-Russian War
(1807–1812)
 United Kingdom  Russian Empire Inconclusive/Other Outcome
Peninsular War
(1807–1814)
 Spain

Portugal

French Empire British Allied victory

Treaty of Paris:

  • Bourbon dynasty restored
  • Tobago, St. Lucia, Mauritius ceded from France
  • All other French possessions restored as per 1792 borders
  • Abolition of French Slave Trade
  • Swiss independence
Travancore rebellion
(1808–1809)
East India Company  Travancore
Kingdom of Cochin
British victory
Persian Gulf campaign of 1809
(1809)
 United Kingdom Al Qasimi British victory
War of the Fifth Coalition
(1809)
 Austrian Empire

Tyrol
Hungary
Black Brunswickers
Sicily
 Sardinia

French Empire

Warsaw
Confederation of the Rhine

Kingdom of Italy
Naples
Swiss Confederation
Holland

French Allied victory
Merina Conquest of Madagascar
(1810–1817)
Merina Kingdom Rival tribes British victory

Merina control of Madagascar Merina pro-British policies

4th Xhosa War
(1811–1812)
 United Kingdom Cape Colony
Xhosa tribes British victory

Xhosa tribes pushed beyond the Fish River, reversing their gains in the previous Xhosa wars

Ga–Fante War
(1811)
 Ashanti Empire

Ga tribes
Dutch Empire

Fante Confederacy

Akwapim tribes
Akim tribes

British allied defeat
War of 1812
(1812–1815)
 United Kingdom

Tecumseh's Confederacy

United States Inconclusive/Other Outcome

Treaty of Ghent; Status quo ante bellum with no boundary changes

  • United States invasions of British Canada repulsed
  • British invasions of the United States land returned to United States under Treaty of Ghent
War of the Sixth Coalition
(1812–1814)
Original Coalition
 Russian Empire
 Prussia
 Austrian Empire
 United Kingdom
 Sweden
 Spain
 Portugal
 Two Sicilies
 Kingdom of Sardinia

After Battle of Leipzig

 First French Empire

Until January 1814

British Allied victory
Second Kandyan War
(1815)
Kandy British victory

Kandyan Convention:

  • Dissolution of the Kandy royal line
  • British King declared King of Kandy
Hundred Days
(1815)

War of the Seventh Coalition

 United Kingdom

 Prussia
France
Hanover
German Confederation
 Austria
 Russia
 Sweden
 Netherlands
 Spain
Portugal
 Sardinia
 Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
Tuscany

French Empire

Naples

British Allied victory

Treaty of Paris:

  • General French defeat
  • Restoration of the House of Bourbon
  • Abolition of the slave trade (all signatories)
  • ₣100,000,000 compensation from France
Third Anglo-Maratha War
(1817–1818)
East India Company  Maratha Empire British victory

Virtually all territory south of the Sutlej River controlled by Britain

5th Xhosa War
(1818–1819)
Khoikhoi Forces Forces of Xhosa Chief Maqana Nxele British Allied victory

Xhosa pushed beyond Keiskama River

Greek War of Independence
(1820–1830)
Greek revolutionaries

Ionian Islands

 Ottoman Empire

Egypt

British Allied victory

Establishment of the Kingdom of Greece

First Ashanti War
(1823–1831)
 Ashanti Empire Inconclusive/Other Outcome
  • Stalemate after armistice
First Anglo-Burmese War
(1824–1826)
East India Company

Native tribes

Burmese Empire British Allied victory

Treaty of Yandabo:

  • Assam, Manipur, Rakhine, and Taninthayi coast south of Salween river ceded from Burmah
  • £1,000,000 compensation from Burma
Revolt of the Mercenaries
(1828)
Brazil
 United Kingdom
France
German Mercenaries
Irish Mercenaries
British Allied victory
  • Mutiny suppressed
Portuguese Civil War
(1828–1834)
Liberal Forces of Queen Maria II

Spain

Absolutist Forces of King Miguel British Allied victory

Concession of Evoramonte:

  • Defeat and exile of King Miguel
Baptist War
(1831–1832)
 United Kingdom
Colony of Jamaica
Rebel slaves British victory
  • Slave defeat
  • Rebellion suppressed
First Carlist War
(1833–1840)
Forces of Queen Isabella II

French Kingdom
Forces of Queen Maria II
Auxiliary Legion

Carlists: Inconclusive/Other Outcome
The 6th Xhosa War
(1834–1836)
Free Khoikhoi Xhosa tribes British victory

Extensive territorial gains from Xhosa

Rebellions of 1837
(1837–1838)
 United Kingdom
Province of Upper Canada

Province of Lower Canada

Patriotes
Hunters' Lodges
Reform Movement
British victory
Pastry War
(1838–1839)
also known First Franco–Mexican War
 Mexico  France
 United Kingdom
British Victory
  • Mexican government accepts to pay the 600,000 pesos
First Anglo-Afghan War
(1839–1842)
East India Company Emirate of Afghanistan Afghan victory
  • British retreat from Afghanistan
First Opium War
(1839–1842)
 Qing dynasty British victory

Treaty of Nanking:

  • Five Chinese ports open to foreign trade
  • $21,000,000 compensation from the Qing Empire
  • Hong Kong Island ceded from the Qing Empire
Second Egyptian-Ottoman War
(1839–1841)
Ottoman Empire
 British Empire
Egypt Eyalet
Kingdom of the French
Spain
British Allied victory
  • Egypt renounced its claim to Syria.
Uruguayan Civil War
(1839–1851)
Colorados

Argentine Unitarians
French Kingdom
Riograndense Republic
 Brazil
Italian Legion

Blancos

Federalist Party (Argentina)
 Argentine Confederation

British victory
  • British and French withdrawal before war's conclusion
  • Peace treaty with the Argentine Confederation[4][5]
  • Eventual Colorados victory
First Anglo-Sikh War
(1845–1846)
East India Company
Patiala State
Sikh Empire British Allied victory

Treaty of Lahore:

  • Extensive territory ceded from the Sikh Empire
  • Partial control over Sikh foreign affairs
Flagstaff War
(1845–1846)
Forces of Tāmati Wāka Nene Ngāpuhi Iwi Inconclusive/Other Outcome
Hutt Valley Campaign
(1846)
Te Āti Awa Iwi Ngāti Toa Iwi British Allied victory

Ngāti Toa Iwi retreat

The 7th Xhosa War
(1846–1847)

The War of the Axe

 United Kingdom Cape Colony
Xhosa tribes British victory

Territory ceded from Xhosa

Wanganui Campaign
(1847)
Māori Kupapa Māori Iwis Inconclusive/Other Outcome
  • 12 year peace and trade
Caste War of Yucatán
(1847–1901)
 Mexico
Republic of Yucatán
 Guatemala
 United Kingdom
 British Honduras
Maya British Allied victory
  • Republic of Yucatán rejoins the United Mexican States in 1848
  • Mayas achieve an independent state from 1847 to 1883
  • Mexico recaptures Yucatán
  • Conflict between the Mexicans and the Mayans continued until 1933
Second Anglo-Sikh War
(1848–1849)
East India Company Sikh Empire British victory

Complete annexation of the Punjab by the East India Company

Battle of Tysami
(1849)
 United Kingdom Chui A-poo's pirates British victory
The 8th Xhosa War
(1850–1853)

Mlanjeni's War

 United Kingdom Cape Colony
Xhosa tribes

Khoikhoi tribes
Native Kafir Police

British victory

Xhosa-Khoi attacks defeated Status quo ante bellum

Taiping Rebellion
(1850–1864)
 Qing dynasty
 France
 United Kingdom
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom British Allied victory
Second Anglo-Burmese War
(1852–1853)
Burmese Empire British victory

Burmese revolution ended fighting Lower Burma annexed

Crimean War
(1853–1856)
French Empire

 Ottoman Empire
 Kingdom of Sardinia

 Russian Empire

Bulgarian Legion

British Allied victory

Treaty of Paris

The National War in Nicaragua
(1856–1857)
 Costa Rica

 Honduras
Rebel Forces of Patricio Rivas
Mosquito Coast
 Guatemala
 El Salvador
 United States

Sonora

 Nicaragua

British Allied victory

Sonora/Nicaraguan government defeat.
Slavery outlawed.
William Walker's army is defeated and he is arrested by the U.S. Navy.

Second Opium War
(1856–1860)

Arrow War

French Empire

 United States
 United Kingdom

 Qing dynasty British Allied victory

The Treaty of Tientsin:

  • Kowloon ceded from the Qing Empire
  • Peking opened to foreign trade
  • 11 more Chinese ports opened to foreign trade
  • Yangtze River opened to foreign warships
  • 4,000,000 taels of silver compensation
  • China banned from referring to subjects of the crown as barbarians
Anglo-Persian War
(1856–1857)
Afghanistan

East India Company

Persia

Herat

British Allied victory

Persian withdrawal from Herat

Indian Mutiny
(1857–1858)
East India Company

Nepal
Jammu and Kashmir
Princely states:

Sepoys of the East India Company

  Mughal Empire
Awadh
Jhansi
7 Princely states

British Allied victory

Act for the Better Government of India:

First Taranaki War
(1860–1861)

Second Māori War

Māori Iwis

Māori King Movement

Inconclusive/Other Outcome
Bombardment of Kagoshima
(1863)
 British Empire Satsuma Domain British victory
  • Tactical stalemate and mitigated British victory
Second Ashanti War
(1863–1864)
 Ashanti Empire Inconclusive/Other Outcome
Invasion of Waikato
(1863–1866)

Third Māori War

Māori Kupapa Māori King Movement British victory

Māori King Movement defeated, confined to King Country

Bhutan War
(1864–1865)
 India Bhutan British victory

Treaty of Sinchula:

  • Bhutan cedes Assam Duars and Bengal Duars to India
  • Bhutan cedes territory in Dewangiri to India
British Expedition to Abyssinia
(1867–1868)
 United Kingdom Ethiopia British victory
Klang War
(1867–1874)

Selangor Civil War

Forces of Raja Abdullah of Klang

British Straits Settlements

Forces of Raja Mahadi British Allied victory
Titokowaru's War
(1868–1869)

Part of the New Zealand Wars

Māori Kupapa Ngāti Ruanui Iwi British Allied victory

Ngāti Ruanui Iwi withdrawal

Te Kooti's War

Part of the New Zealand Wars
(1868–1872)

Māori Kupapa Māori Iwis British Allied victory

End of New Zealand Wars Territory ceded by Māori iwi

Red River Rebellion
(1869–1869)
 Dominion of Canada

Métis Loyalists

Métis Forces of Louis Riel British Allied victory

Defeat of rebellion Manitoba Act:

Third Ashanti War
(1873–1874)
 Ashanti Empire British victory

Treaty of Fomena:

  • 50,000 oz of gold compensation from Ashanti Empire
  • Ashanti withdrawal from coastal areas
  • Ashanti banned from practising human sacrifice
The 9th Xhosa War
(1877–1879)
Mfengu Tribe Xhosa Gcaleka Tribe British victory

All Xhosa territory annexed to the Cape Colony

Second Anglo-Afghan War
(1878–1880)
 India Afghanistan British victory

Treaty of Gandamak:

Anglo-Zulu War
(1879)
Natal Zulu Kingdom British victory

Zululand annexed to Natal

‘Urabi Revolt
(1879–1882)
 United Kingdom
Khedivate of Egypt
Egyptian and Sudanese forces under Ahmed ‘Urabi British Allied victory
  • ‘Urabi forces defeated and exiled
First Boer War
(1880–1881)
 South African Republic South African victory

Pretoria Convention:

  • South African Republic granted self-government
Mahdist War
(1884–1889)
 Egypt

 Italy
 Belgium

Mahdist Sudan British Allied victory

Sudan ruled by Britain and Egypt

Third Anglo-Burmese War
(1885)
Burmese Empire British victory

Upper Burma annexed to British Raj

Sikkim Expedition
(1888)
 India Tibet British victory

Tibet recognizes British suzerainty over Sikkim

Anglo-Manipur War
(1891)
Kingdom of Manipur British victory
First Matabele War
(1893–1894)
South Africa Company Ndebele Kingdom British victory
Anglo-Zanzibar War
(1896)
Zanzibar British victory

Pro-British Sultan installed

Second Matabele War
(1896–1897)
South Africa Company Matebele British victory
Cretan Revolt (1897–1898) Cretan revolutionaries
Kingdom of Greece
 British Empire
 France
Italy
 Russian Empire
 Austria-Hungary (until April 12, 1898)
 German Empire (until March 16, 1898)
 Ottoman Empire British victory
  • Establishment of the Cretan State.
  • Withdraw of Ottoman forces from Crete.
Boxer Rebellion
(1899–1901)
 United Kingdom

 Russia
 Japan
France
 United States
 Germany
 Italy
 Austria-Hungary

Righteous Harmony Society

 Qing dynasty

British Allied victory

Boxer Protocol:

  • Anti-foreign societies banned in China
Second Boer War
(1899–1902)
 Orange Free State

 South African Republic
Foreign volunteers

British victory

Treaty of Vereeniging:

  • All Boers to surrender arms and swear allegiance to the Crown
  • Dutch language permitted in education
  • Promise to grant Boer republics self-government
  • £3,000,000 compensation "reconstruction aid" to Afrikaners
Mahsud Waziri blockade
(1900–1902)
 India Mahsud rebels British victory
Anglo-Aro War
(1901–1902)
Aro Confederacy British victory

Aro Confederacy destroyed

British expedition to Tibet
(1903–1904)
 India Tibet British victory

Status quo ante bellum

Bazar Valley campaign
(1908)
 India Rebel tribes British victory
First World War
(1914–1918)
Allied Powers

 France
 British Empire

 Russia
 United States
 Italy
 Japan
 China
 Serbia
 Montenegro
 Romania
 Belgium
 Greece
 Portugal
 Brazil
Other Allies

Central Powers

 Germany

 Austria-Hungary
 Ottoman Empire
 Bulgaria

British Allied victory

Treaty of Versailles:

  • German demobilisation

Treaties of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Trianon:

Russia pulls out in 1917

  • Russian Civil War
    • Creation of the Soviet Union

Creation of League of Nations:

Estonian War of Independence
(1918–1920)
 Estonia
 United Kingdom
 Latvia
White Movement
Baltic German volunteers[8]
Danish volunteers
Finnish volunteers
Swedish volunteers
 Russian SFSR

Baltische Landeswehr

British Allied victory
  • Independence of Estonia
  • Vidzeme gained by the Republic of Latvia
Latvian War of Independence
(1918–1920)
 Latvia
 Estonia
White Movement
 Poland
 Lithuania
 United Kingdom
 German Empire
West Russian Volunteer Army

 Russian SFSR
 Latvian SSR

British Allied victory
  • Independence of Latvia
Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War
(1918–1920)
White Movement

 British Empire

 United States
France
 Japan
 Czechoslovakia
 Greece
 Estonia
 Serbia
 Italy
 Poland
 Romania
 China

 Russian SFSR

 Far Eastern Republic
Latvian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
Commune of Estonia
Mongolian Communists

Bolshevik victory
  • Allied withdrawal from Russia
  • Bolshevik victory over White Army
  • Soviet Union new Russian power
Turkish War of Independence
(1919–1923)
 Greece
 France
 Armenia (in 1920)
 United Kingdom
 Ottoman Empire (until 1922)

 Italy
Georgia (in 1921)

Turkish National Movement

Supported by:
 Russian SFSR[9]
Azerbaijan SSR
Georgian SSR
Bukharan PSR
Afghanistan
All-India Muslim League

Turkish Allied victory

Treaty of Lausanne

Third Anglo-Afghan War
(1919)
 India  Afghanistan Inconclusive/Other Outcome[10][11]
  • Defeat of Afghan invasion of north-west British India
  • Inconclusive military operation[12]
  • Reaffirmation of the Durand Line
  • Afghan independence with full sovereignty in foreign affairs
Kuwait–Najd War
(1919–1920)
Kuwait
 British Empire
Sultanate of Nejd British Allied victory
Irish War of Independence
(1919–1921)
Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) Irish Republic Irish Republic victory
Somaliland campaign (1920)
(1920)
 Somaliland

British East Africa

Dervish State British victory

Demise of the Dervish State

Great Iraqi Revolution of 1920
(1920)
Iraqi rebels British victory
  • Revolt suppressed, greater autonomy given to Iraq
1922 Burao Tax Revolt
(1922)
 United Kingdom

   British Somaliland

Habr Yunis tribesmen Tribal victory
  • Tax policy abandoned

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1922–present)

Conflict Britain & allies Britain's opposition Outcome
Adwan Rebellion
(1923)
 United Kingdom
Emir Abdullah's forces
Hashemite allied tribesmen:
  • Sheykh Minwar al-Hadid
Sultan al-Adwan's forces British Allied victory

Sultan al-Adwan's defeat and exile

Ikhwan Revolt
(1927–1930)
Kuwait
Nejd and Hejaz
RAF
Ikhwan British Allied victory
  • Ikhwan attack on Kuwait repelled.
  • The remnants of the Ikhwan incorporated into regular Saudi units.
  • The Ikhwan leadership was either slain or imprisoned.
Great Arab Revolt in Palestine
(1936–1939)
 United Kingdom
Yishuv
Arab Higher Committee British Allied victory

Revolt suppressed

Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine
(1939–1948)
 United Kingdom Yishuv Yishuv victory[14]
S-Plan
16 January 1939 – March 1940
 United Kingdom Irish Republican Army British victory
  • IRA failure
Second World War
(1939–1945)
Allied Powers

 United States
 Soviet Union
 United Kingdom
 China
France
Poland
 Canada
 Australia
 New Zealand
 India
 South Africa
 Yugoslavia
 Greece
 Denmark
 Norway
 Netherlands
 Belgium
 Luxembourg
 Czechoslovakia
 Ethiopia
 Brazil
 Mexico
Gorkha Kingdom

Axis Powers

 Germany
 Japan
 Italy
 Hungary
 Romania
 Bulgaria
 Croatia
 Slovakia
 Vichy France
 Finland
 Iraq
 Thailand
 Manchukuo
 Mengjiang

British Allied victory

Nazi Germany formally surrenders 8 May 1945, ending the Second World War in Europe.
On August 15, 1945, following the dropping of atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan announces its surrender, ending the Second World War

British (and Commonwealth), French, American, and Soviet troops occupy Germany until 1955, Italy and Japan lose their colonies, Europe is divided into 'Soviet' and 'Western' spheres of interest.

Afghan tribal revolts of 1944–1947
(1944–1947)
 Afghanistan
  Allied Nuristani tribesmen
 British Empire
   India
Rebel tribes: Afghan government & British victory
  • Rebel invasion of India in 1944 repelled
  • Rebels fully defeated by Afghan government in January 1947
1944–45 Insurgency in Balochistan
(1944–1945)
 United Kingdom Badinzai rebels British victory
  • Insurgency subsided by March 1945
Northern Campaign
2 September 1942 – December 1944
Royal Ulster Constabulary Irish Republican Army British victory
  • IRA campaign failure
Greek Civil War
(1944–1948)
 Kingdom of Greece

 United Kingdom
 United States

D.S.E. (Δ.Σ.Ε.)

 Albania
 Yugoslavia
 Bulgaria

British Allied victory
Communist forces defeated, many D.S.E. soldiers exiled in Eastern Europe.
Battalion of UK troops still in Greece till 1948
1945 Sheikh Bashir Rebellion
(1945)
 United Kingdom

   British Somaliland

Armed Habr Je'lo tribesmen British Pyrrhic Victory
Sheikh Bashir killed, unrest continues, anti-colonialist and nationalist sentiment increases in Somaliland
Indonesian National Revolution
(1945–1949)
 United Kingdom
 Netherlands

 Japan (until 1945)

 Indonesia Inconclusive/Other Outcome
  • Hand over to Dutch in 1946
  • Netherlands recognises Indonesian Independence
Operation Masterdom
(1945–1946)
 United Kingdom

France
Empire of Japan

Việt Minh Inconclusive/Other Outcome
Corfu Channel incident
(1946–1948)
 United Kingdom  People's Socialist Republic of Albania British victory
  • ICJ awards compensation to Britain, which is not settled till 1992.
  • Britain breaks off talks aimed at establishing diplomatic relations with Albania.
Malayan Emergency
(1948–1960)
British Commonwealth

 Thailand

Malayan Communist Party

Malayan National Liberation Army

British Allied victory
  • Destruction of the majority of MNLA guerrilla organisations, Communist leadership retreat to Thailand
  • Preservation of capitalism and British economic interests
Korean War
(1950–1953)
United Nations Command

 South Korea
 United States
British Commonwealth Forces Korea

  •  United Kingdom
  •  Canada
  •  Australia
  •  New Zealand
  •  India

 Belgium
 France
 Philippines
 Colombia
 Ethiopia
 Greece
 Luxembourg
 Netherlands
 South Africa
 Thailand
 Turkey

 North Korea

 China
 Soviet Union

Inconclusive/Other Outcome
  • Korean Armistice Agreement
  • Communist invasion of South Korea repelled
  • UN invasion of North Korea repelled
1951 Anglo-Egyptian War[15]
(1951–1952)
 United Kingdom Egypt British victory
Mau Mau Uprising
(1952–1960)
 United Kingdom Mau Mau British victory
  • Defeat of Mau Mau
  • Kenyan independence
Jebel Akhdar War
(1954–1959)
Sultanate of Muscat and Oman
 United Kingdom
Imamate of Oman British Allied victory
  • Dissolution of the Imamate of Oman
Cyprus Emergency
(1955–1959)
 United Kingdom EOKA

TMT

Inconclusive/Other Outcome
  • Cyprus became an independent republic in 1960 with Britain retaining control of two Sovereign Base Areas, at Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
  • Enosis not achieved
Suez Crisis
(1956–1957)
 United Kingdom

France
 Israel

Egypt Inconclusive/Other Outcome

Coalition military victory[16][17][18]
Egyptian political victory[16]

  • Anglo-French withdrawal following international pressure (December 1956)
  • Israeli occupation of Sinai (until March 1957)
  • UNEF deployment in Sinai[19]
  • Straits of Tiran re-opened to Israeli shipping
Border Campaign
(1956–1962)
 United Kingdom Irish Republican Army British victory

IRA campaign fails

First Cod War
(1958–1961)
 United Kingdom  Iceland Icelandic victory[nb 2]
Iceland expands its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles
Upper Yafa disturbances[22]
(1959)
 British Empire Rebels British victory
Dhofar Rebellion
(1962–1975)
 Oman
 United Kingdom
Iran

 Jordan

Various insurgents British Allied victory

Insurgency defeated
Modernisation of Oman

Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation
(1963–1966)
Commonwealth of Nations
  •  Malaysia
  •  United Kingdom
  •  Australia
  •  New Zealand
 Indonesia Inconclusive

Indonesia recognises Malaysian rule over former North Borneo

Aden Emergency
(1963–1967)
Federation of South Arabia
 United Kingdom
NLF
FLOSY
Yemeni NLF victory
People's Republic of South Yemen established
The Troubles
(1968–1998)
 United Kingdom Loyalist paramilitaries:

Provisional Irish Republican Army

Official Irish Republican Army

Irish National Liberation Army

Irish People's Liberation Organisation

Continuity Irish Republican Army

Real Irish Republican Army

Stalemate

Inconclusive/Other Outcome
Good Friday Agreement:

  • Devolution in Northern Ireland
  • Power-sharing deal
  • Cross-border cooperation
  • Disarming of paramilitary groups
  • Demilitarisation
Second Cod War
(1972–1973)
 United Kingdom  Iceland Icelandic victory[nb 2]
UK accept Iceland's 50 nautical mile exclusive fishery zone
Third Cod War
(1975–1976)
 United Kingdom  Iceland Icelandic victory[nb 2]
Iceland expands its exclusive fishery zone to 200 nautical miles
Falklands War
(1982)
 United Kingdom  Argentina British victory

British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands re-established.

Multinational Force in Lebanon
(1982–1984)
 United Kingdom

 France
 United States
 Italy

Islamic Jihad Organization
Iran
 Syria
Progressive Socialist Party
Amal Movement
Syrian Allied victory[23]
Gulf War
(1990–1991)
 Kuwait

 United States
 United Kingdom
 Saudi Arabia
 France
 Egypt
 Syria
Other Allies

Iraq British Allied victory

Kuwait regains its independence

Bosnian War
(1992–1995)
UNPROFOR

 NATO

 Republika Srpska

 Serbian Krajina
Western Bosnia

British Allied victory

Dayton Accords

Operation Desert Fox
(1998)
 United States

 United Kingdom

 Iraq British Allied victory

Objectives largely achieved

Kosovo War
(1998–1999)
 United States

 United Kingdom
 France
 Canada
 Denmark
 Germany
 Italy
Kosovo Liberation Army

 FR Yugoslavia British Allied victory

Kosovo occupied by Nato forces
Kosovo administered by UNMIK

Sierra Leone Civil War
(2000–2002)
 Sierra Leone

 United Kingdom

Rebels

 Liberia

British Allied victory

Rebels defeated

War in Afghanistan
(2001–2021)
 Afghanistan

 United States
 United Kingdom
 Canada
 Germany
 Italy
 France
 Denmark
 Poland
 Romania
 Turkey
 Australia
 Spain
 Netherlands
ISAF

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Taliban Victory
  • The Taliban militia, overthrown in 2001.
  • British withdrawal in 2014.
  • Taliban regained power on 15 August 2021, after 20 years of NATO deployment.
Iraq War
(2003–2009)
 United States

 United Kingdom
 Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein
 Australia
 Poland
 Denmark
 Iraqi Kurdistan

 Iraq under Saddam Hussein

Islamic State of Iraq
Various insurgents

British Allied victory:
First Libyan Civil War
(2011)
Many NATO members acting under UN mandate, including:

 United States
 United Kingdom
 France
 Denmark
 Italy
 Canada
and
Anti-Gaddafi forces
several Arab League states
 Sweden

Pro-Gaddafi forces British Allied victory
Operation Shader
(2014–present)
 United States
 United Kingdom
 Iraq
Syrian Opposition
 Australia
 Belgium
 Canada
 Denmark
 France
 Germany
 Italy
 Netherlands
 New Zealand
 Norway
 Portugal
 Spain
 Turkey
 Bahrain
 Jordan
 Morocco
 Qatar
 Saudi Arabia
 United Arab Emirates
 Rojava
 Egypt
 Libya
 Nigeria
 Cameroon
 Chad
 Niger
 Russia
 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Boko Haram

al-Nusra Front
Khorasan


Ahrar ash-Sham

Ongoing
  • The UK's Operation Shader is ongoing as part of intervention in Iraq and Syria (2014–present)
  • 3,000+ ISIL fighters killed in 1,700 British airstrikes.[29][30]
  • Ongoing operations by UK Special Forces in Syria.
  • British armed forces provide material and training to Iraqi Security Forces and Peshmerga.[31][32]
  • As part of the American-led interventions in Syria and Iraq, contributes to the loss of all of ISIL's territory in Iraq (by December 2017) and Syria (by March 2019).
2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis
(2019–present)
 United States
 United Kingdom
 Saudi Arabia
 Iran
Popular Mobilization Forces
Ongoing
  • Seizure of internationally flagged vessels by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz
  • Seizure of Iranian flagged vessel by UK at Gibraltar
  • US intelligence drone shot down by Iran
  • Attacks on US Embassy in Baghdad by Iranian backed Popular Mobilization Forces
  • Killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani at Baghdad International airport

See also

Notes

  1. Duchy of Warsaw as a state was in effect fully occupied by Russian and Prussian forces by May 1813, though most Poles remained loyal to Napoleon
  2. Militarised interstate dispute over fishing rights in waters near Iceland;[20] Iceland has never fought in a full-scale war.[21]

References

Citations

  1. Laycock, S. (2012). All the Countries We've Ever Invaded – And the Few We Never Got Round To. The History Press. ASIN 0752479695.
  2. M. R. Kantak (1993), The First Anglo-Maratha War, 1774–1783: A Military Study of Major Battles, quote: "Inspite of British superiority in the military science, the British troops could not force a decisive win over the Maratha troops in the First Anglo-Maratha War. The ultimate result of the War showed that the two sides remained evenly balanced.", p. 226, ISBN 9788171546961
  3. John Bowman (2000-09-05), Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture, quote: "First Anglo-Maratha War...The war ends inconclusively.", Columbia University Press, p. 290, ISBN 9780231500043
  4. Rosa, José María (1974) [1970]. Historia Argentina [History of Argentina] (in Spanish). Vol. V. Buenos Aires: Editorial Oriente S.A. pp. 279–288.
  5. Abad de Santillán, Diego. Historia Argentina (in Spanish). Buenos Aires: TEA (Tipográfica Editora Argentina). p. 383.
  6. Johnson, Robert (2011). The Afghan Way of War: How and Why They Fight. Oxford University Press. p. 206. ISBN 9780199912568. Afghanistan was rendered a British Protectorate and Sher Ali's strategy had failed
  7. Blood, Peter R, ed. (1996). Pakistan: A Country Study. Diane Publishing. pp. 20–21. ISBN 9780788136313.
  8. Thomas, Nigel; Boltowsky, Toomas (2019). Armies of the Baltic Independence Wars 1918–20. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 9781472830777.
  9. Jelavich, Barbara (1983). History of the Balkans: Twentieth century. Cambridge University Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-521-27459-3.
  10. Lansford 2017, p. 47.
  11. Sidebotham, Herbert (1919). "The Third Afghan War". New Statesman, 16 August 1919. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  12. Cavanna 2015, p. xviii.
  13. Reeva S. Simon; Philip Mattar; Richard W. Bulliet (1996). Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East – Volume 1. p. 119. Fighting between Kuwait's forces and Wahhabi supporters of Ibn Sa'ud broke out in May 1920, and the former were soundly defeated. Within a few weeks, the citizens of Kuwait constructed a new wall to protect Kuwait City.
  14. Charters, David A. The British army and Jewish insurgency in Palestine, 1945–47. Springer, 1989, p. X
  15. "Egypt 1951 War with Britain". www.globalsecurity.org.
  16. Tal (2001) p 203
  17. Mart, Michelle (2006-02-09). Eye on Israel: How America Came to View the Jewish State as an Ally. p. 159. ISBN 0791466876.
  18. Stewart (2013) p 133
  19. Kunz, Diane B. (1991). The Economic Diplomacy of the Suez Crisis. p. 187. ISBN 0-8078-1967-0.
  20. Hellmann, Gunther; Herborth, Benjamin (2008-07-01). "Fishing in the mild West: democratic peace and militarised interstate disputes in the transatlantic community". Review of International Studies. 34 (3): 481–506. doi:10.1017/S0260210508008139. ISSN 1469-9044. S2CID 144997884.
  21. "From Iceland — Ask A Historian: Has Iceland Ever Been Involved In Any Wars Or Conflicts". The Reykjavik Grapevine. 2017-07-14. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  22. "Upper Yafa (Disturbances): 7 Jul 1959: House of Commons debates". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 2019-06-26.
  23. Friedman, Thomas L. (1984-04-08). "America's Failure in Lebanon". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
  24. "Statement by Deputy Press Secretary Larry Speakes". September 23, 1982.
  25. Brinkley, Joel (March 11, 1984). "The Collapse of Lebanon's Army: U.S. Said to Ignore Factionalism". The New York Times.
  26. "Sectarian divisions change Baghdad's image". NBC News. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2007.
  27. "The JRTN Movement and Iraq's Next Insurgency | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point". Ctc.usma.edu. Archived from the original on 2011-08-26. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  28. "Al-Qaeda's Resurgence in Iraq: A Threat to U.S. Interests". U.S Department of State. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
  29. Singh, Arj; Smith, Mikey (20 September 2017). "British air strikes have killed 3,000 ISIS militants over three years". Daily Mirror.
  30. "UK Drone Strike Stats". Drone Wars UK. 29 February 2012.
  31. "UK troops training Kurdish forces". 12 October 2014 via www.bbc.com.
  32. Farrell, Stephen (27 February 2007). "British trained Iraqi soldiers gear up to back Baghdad surge". Rustamiyah via www.thetimes.co.uk.

Bibliography

Further reading

  • Barnett, Correlli. Britain and her army, 1509–1970: a military, political and social survey (1970).
  • Black, Jeremy. A military history of Britain: from 1775 to the present (2008).
  • Bradford, James C. ed. International Encyclopedia of Military History (2 vol. 2006).
  • Brownstone, David and Irene Franck. Timelines of War: A Chronology of Warfare from 100,000 BC to the Present (1996), Global coverage.
  • Cannon, John, ed. The Oxford Companion to British History (2003)
  • Carlton, Charles. This Seat of Mars: War and the British Isles, 1485–1746 (Yale UP; 2011) 332 pages; studies the impact of near unceasing war from the individual to the national levels.
  • Chandler, David G., and Ian Frederick William Beckett, eds. The Oxford history of the British army (Oxford UP, 2003).
  • Cole, D. H and E. C Priestley. An outline of British military history, 1660–1936 (1936). online
  • Dupuy, R. Ernest and Trevor N. Dupuy. The Harper Encyclopedia of Military History: From 3500 B.C. to the Present (1993).
  • Fortescue, John William. History of the British Army from the Norman Conquest to the First World War (1899–1930), in 13 volumes with six separate map volumes. Available online for downloading; online volumes; The standard highly detailed full coverage of operations.
  • Haswell, Jock, and John Lewis-Stempel. A Brief History of the British Army (2017).
  • Higham, John, ed. A Guide to the Sources of British Military History (1971) 654 pages excerpt; Highly detailed bibliography and discussion up to 1970; includes local and naval forces.
  • James, Lawrence. Warrior Race: A History of the British at War (Hachette UK, 2010). excerpt
  • Johnson, Douglas, et al. Britain and France: Ten Centuries (1980)
  • Mulligan, William, and Brendan Simms, eds. The Primacy of Foreign Policy in British History, 1660–2000 (Palgrave Macmillan; 2011) 345 pages
  • Neville, Peter (2013). Historical Dictionary of British Foreign Policy. Scarecrow Press. pp. xix–xxxi. ISBN 9780810873711. timeline pp xix to xxxi
  • Otte, T.G. The Makers of British Foreign Policy: From Pitt to Thatcher (2002)
  • Ranft, Bryan. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Royal Navy (Oxford UP, 2002).
  • Rodger, N. A.M. The safeguard of the sea: A naval history of Britain, 660–1649 (Vol. 1. 1998). excerpt
    • Rodger, N.A.M.The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, 1649–1815 (vol 2 2006) excerpt
  • Sheppard, Eric William. A short history of the British army (1950). online
  • Ward, A.W. and G.P. Gooch, eds. The Cambridge History of British Foreign Policy, 1783–1919 (3 vol, 1921–23), old detailed classic; vol 1, 1783–1815 ; vol 2, 1815–1866; vol 3. 1866–1919

Historiography

  • Messenger, Charles, ed. Reader's Guide to Military History (2001) pp 55–74 etc.; annotated guide to most important books.
  • Schroeder, Paul W. "Old Wine in Old Bottles: Recent Contributions to British Foreign Policy and European International Politics, 1789–1848." Journal of British Studies 26.01 (1987): 1–25.
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