The World's Longest Wars
The World's Longest Wars
Human history is filled with conflict, and despite a fairly brief period of peace during Roman times, known as "Pax Romana," humans seem destined to fight each other. Here are some of the longest wars in human history.
Xhosa Wars
Lasting 110 years, between 1779 and 1889, the Xhosa Wars were fought between the Xhosa Kingdom in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, and the British Empire. Eventually, the British would win one of Africa's most protracted military conflicts, expanding the Cape Colony in 1889.
Norwegian Civil War
Although the Norwegians and Danes are most famous for conquering parts of England and Scotland during the Viking Age, the Norwegians fought amongst themselves in the 110-year Norwegian Civil War, which lasted from 1130 to 1240 and involved over two dozen kings who all claimed the Norwegian throne.
Russo–Kazan Wars
The Tsardom of Russia expanded in the mid-15th century, setting its sights on the Khanate of Kazan in modern-day Mongolia. Russia's desire for territorial expansion into the Steppes led to a 114-year conflict between 1438 and 1552, which ended in a Russian victory.
The Hundred Years War
Known as the Hundred Years War, despite lasting for 116 years, this Anglo-French conflict began when Edward III of England decided to lay claim to the French throne in 1340, being the first English King to do so (the last was in 1802!).
The Hundred Years War would see five generations of kings from each nation fight each other. The French won it, and England lost all territorial claims in continental Europe.
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