French
DeutschList of wars involving the United Kingdom
This is a list of conflicts involving the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its predecessor states (the Kingdom of Great Britain (and Ireland). Notable militarised interstate disputes are included. For a list of wars before the Acts of Union 1707 merging the Kingdom of England and Scotland, please see List of wars involving England & List of wars involving Scotland. For a list of wars involving the predecessors of both states and a broader list of wars fought on the Island of Great Britain, 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
- Another result *
- British defeat
- Ongoing conflict
*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
Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1801)
[edit]| Conflict | Britain and allies | Britain's opposition | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Northern War (1700–1721) |  Swedish Empire
|  Tsardom of Russia
| Inconclusive for Great Britain
Russian Allied victory:
|
| The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) including |  Austria
|  France | British victory
|
| Civil war: Post-Spanish Succession Caribbean Piracy (1715–1726) |  Great Britain |  Anglo-American-Caribbean privateers Republic of Pirates | Civil war; royal victory Details
|
| Civil war: (1715–1716) Jacobite rising of 1715 | Great Britain – [Kingdom of Great Britain] |  Jacobites | Civil war, Hanoverian victory Jacobite restoration attempt defeated |
| The War of the Quadruple Alliance including
| Holy Roman Empire Great Britain |  SpainJacobites (against the British Crown and government only) | British Allied victory:
|
| Dummer's War (1721–1725) |  New England ColoniesMohawk | Wabanaki Confederacy | British victory
|
| The War of Jenkins' Ear (1739–1748) Location: New Granada, Caribbean, Florida, | Great Britain | Spain | Inconclusive/other outcome
|
| The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) including | Austria
| France
| French Allied victory in Europe but British victory outside of Europe
|
| Civil War: Jacobite rising of 1745 | Great Britain |  Jacobites | Civil war, British victory Jacobite restoration attempt defeated |
| The Second Carnatic War (1749–1754) |  East India Company Forces of Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad | French East India Company Forces of Chanda Shahib Forces of Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat | British Allied victory
|
| Seven Years' War (1756–1763) including | Great Britain
| France
| British Allied victory
|
| Anglo-Cherokee War (1758–1761) | Great Britain | Cherokee | British victory Pro-British Attakullakulla becomes Cherokee leader |
| Tacky's War (1760–1761) | Great Britain Colony of Jamaica Jamaican Maroons) | Jamaican Cromanty | British Allied victory
|
| Pontiac's Rebellion (1763–1766) | Great Britain | Native American Coalition: | Inconclusive or other outcome
|
| First Anglo-Mysore War (1766–1769) | East India Company |  Kingdom of Mysore | Mysore victory Hyderabad cedes territory to Mysore |
| First Anglo-Maratha War (1774–1783) | East India Company |  Maratha Empire | Maratha victory
|
| Great Britain |  United States France
| Civil War / American Allied victory
|
| 4th Anglo-Dutch War (1780–83) | Great Britain |  Dutch Republic France | British victory
|
| 2nd Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784) | East India Company | Kingdom of Mysore | Inconclusive or other outcome |
| 3rd Anglo-Mysore War (1789–1792) | East India Company | Kingdom of Mysore | British Allied victory
|
| War of the First Coalition (1793–1797) | Dutch Republic (until 1795)[15] Great Britain[16] Holy Roman Empire (until 1797)[17]
|  Kingdom of France (until 1792) French Republic (from 1792) French satellites:[22]
| French victory
|
| War of the Second Coalition (1797–1802) | Holy Roman Empire (until 1801)[c]
| French Republic SpainFrench client republics:[32] | French victory Treaty of Lunéville, Treaty of Amiens
|
| Ibn Ufaisan's Invasion (1793) | .svg){kind=small} Kuwait Great Britain |  Emirate of Diriyah | British Allied victory
|
| Second Maroon War (1795–1796) | Great Britain British Jamaica | Jamaican Maroons | British victory Maroon defeat
|
| 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, | Great Britain from 1801: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | Spain French Republic | Inconclusive or other outcome |
| Kandyan Wars (1796–1818) | Great Britain from 1801: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |  Kingdom of Kandy | British victory
|
| Irish Rebellion of 1798 (1798) |  Kingdom of Ireland |  United Irishmen | British victory
|
| 4th Anglo-Mysore War (1798–1799) | East India Company | Kingdom of Mysore | British Allied victory Complete annexation of Mysore by Britain and allies |
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922)
[edit]| Conflict | Britain and 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) | United Kingdom |  Kandy | British victory Territory captured from Kandy |
| Civil War: Emmet's Insurrection | United Kingdom | 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
|
| War of the Third Coalition (1805–1806) |  Austrian Empire |  French Empire
| French Allied victory
|
| War of the Fourth Coalition (1806–1807) |  Prussia | French Empire
| French Allied victory
|
| Ashanti–Fante War (1806–1807) |  Ashanti Empire | Fante Confederacy United Kingdom | Dutch victory |
| Anglo-Turkish War (1807–1809) | United Kingdom |  Ottoman Empire | Turkish victory
|
| Gunboat War (1807–1814) | United Kingdom |  Denmark–Norway | British victory
|
| Anglo-Russian War (1807–1812) | United Kingdom | Russian Empire | Inconclusive or other outcome
|
| Peninsular War (1807–1814) | Spain
| French Empire | British Allied victory
|
| Travancore rebellion (1808–1809) | .svg){kind=small} East India Company |  TravancoreKingdom of Cochin | British victory |
| War of the Fifth Coalition (1809) | Austrian Empire | French Empire | French Allied victory
|
| Persian Gulf campaign of 1809 (1809) | United Kingdom |  Al Qasimi | British victory |
| 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 |
| War of 1812 (1812–1815) | United Kingdom |  United States | Inconclusive or other outcome Treaty of Ghent; Status quo ante bellum with no boundary changes
|
| War of the Sixth Coalition (1812–1814) | Original Coalition Russian Empire Prussia Austrian Empire United Kingdom Sweden Spain Portugal Two Sicilies Kingdom of SardiniaAfter Battle of Leipzig | First French Empire Until January 1814
| British Allied victory
|
| Second Kandyan War (1815) | United Kingdom | Kandy | British victory
|
| Hundred Days (1815) War of the Seventh Coalition | United Kingdom
| French Empire | British Allied victory
|
| Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818) | East India Company | Maratha Empire | British victory Virtually all territory south of the Sutlej River controlled by Britain |
| Greek War of Independence (1821–1829) | 1821: Filiki Eteria Greek revolutionariesAfter 1822: .svg){kind=small} Hellenic RepublicSupported by:
| .svg){kind=small} Ottoman Empire | British Allied victory
|
| First Ashanti War (1823–1831) | British Empire | Ashanti Empire | Inconclusive or other outcome
|
| First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826) | East India Company Native tribes |  Burmese Empire | British Allied victory
|
| British attack on Berbera (1827) | United Kingdom |  Isaaq Sultanate | British Allied victory
|
| Revolt of the Mercenaries (1828) |  Brazil United Kingdom France |  German Mercenaries Irish Mercenaries | British Allied victory
|
| Baptist War (1831–1832) | United Kingdom Colony of Jamaica | Rebel slaves | British victory
|
| First Carlist War (1833–1840) | Forces of Queen Isabella II
| Carlists:
| Inconclusive or 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 | .svg){kind=small} PatriotesHunters' Lodges Reform Movement | British victory
|
| Pastry War (1838–1839) also known First Franco–Mexican War | France United Kingdom |  Mexico | British Victory
|
| First Anglo-Afghan War (1838–1842) | East India Company Durrani Kingdom Maimana Khanate Khulm (August 1840 for mere days, September 1840-November 1841) Sadozai loyalists |  Emirate of KabulPrincipality of Qandahar Khanate of Kalat Khulm (August 1840, November 1841 onwards.) Marri Bugti Afghan Tribes Barakzai Loyalists | Barakzai Afghan victory
|
| Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata (1845-1850) |  British Empire.svg){kind=small} Kingdom of France |  Argentine Confederation | Argentine Confederation victory
|
| First Opium War (1839–1842) | United Kingdom |  Qing dynasty | British victory
|
| Second Egyptian-Ottoman War (1839–1841) | Ottoman Empire British Empire | .svg){kind=small} Egypt Eyalet Kingdom of the French Spain | British Allied victory
|
| First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846) | East India Company Patiala State |  Sikh Empire | British Allied victory
|
| The 7th Xhosa War (1846–1847) The War of the Axe | United Kingdom Cape Colony | Xhosa tribes | British victory Territory ceded from Xhosa |
| Caste War of Yucatán (1847–1901) | Mexico Republic of Yucatán Guatemala United Kingdom British Honduras | Maya | British Allied victory
|
| 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 | 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) | United Kingdom | Burmese Empire | British victory Burmese revolution ended fighting Lower Burma annexed |
| Crimean War (1853–1856) | French Empire | Russian Empire | British Allied victory |
| Second Opium War (1856–1860) Arrow War | French Empire
| Qing dynasty | British Allied victory
|
| Anglo-Persian War (1856–1857) | Afghanistan |  Persia | British Allied victory Persian withdrawal from Herat |
| Indian Rebellion of 1857 (1857–1858) | East India Company | Sepoys of the East India Company | British Allied victory Act for the Better Government of India:
|
| Bombardment of Kagoshima (1863) | British Empire |  Satsuma Domain | British victory
|
| Ambela campaign (1863–64) | British Empire |  Yusufzai | British victory |
| British Expedition to Abyssinia (1867–1868) | United Kingdom |  Ethiopia | British victory |
| Klang War (1867–1874) Selangor Civil War | Forces of Raja Abdullah of Klang
| Forces of Raja Mahadi | British Allied victory |
| Third Ashanti War (1873–1874) | United Kingdom | Ashanti Empire | British victory Treaty of Fomena:
|
| Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880) |  India.svg){kind=small} Afzalids | Afghanistan | British-Afzalid victory
|
| 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
|
| Basuto Gun War (1880–1881) | United Kingdom Cape Colony | Basuto people | Basuto victory
|
| First Boer War (1880–1881) | United Kingdom |  South African Republic | South African victory
|
| Mahdist War (1881–1899) | United Kingdom Italy | Mahdist Sudan | British allied victory
|
| Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885) | United Kingdom | Burmese Empire | British victory Upper Burma annexed to India |
| Sikkim Expedition (1888) | India |  Tibet | British victory Tibet recognizes British suzerainty over Sikkim |
| Anglo-Manipur War (1891) | United Kingdom |  Kingdom of Manipur | British victory |
| First Matabele War (1893–1894) | South Africa Company | Ndebele Kingdom | British victory |
| Anglo-Zanzibar War (1896) | United Kingdom |  Zanzibar | British victory Pro-British Sultan installed |
| Second Matabele War (1896–1897) | South Africa Company | Matebele | British victory |
| Cretan Revolt (1897–1898) |  Cretan revolutionaries .svg){kind=small} Kingdom of Greece British Empire France Italy Russian Empire Austria-Hungary (until 12 April 1898) German Empire (until 16 March 1898) | Ottoman Empire | British victory
|
| Second Samoan Civil War (1898–1899) |  Supporters of Tanumafili I |  Supporters of Mata'afa | Inconclusive or other outcome |
| Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) | United Kingdom
|  Righteous Harmony Society | British Allied victory
|
| Second Boer War (1899–1902) | United Kingdom |  Orange Free State | British victory
|
| War of the Golden Stool (1900) | United Kingdom | Ashanti Empire | Inconclusive or other outcome
|
| Mahsud Waziri blockade (1900–1902) | India | Mahsud rebels | British victory |
| Anglo-Aro War (1901–1902) | United Kingdom |  Aro Confederacy | British victory Aro Confederacy destroyed |
| British expedition to Tibet (1903–1904) | India | Tibet | British victory |
| Bazar Valley campaign (1908) | India | Rebel tribes | British victory |
| First World War (1914–1918) | Allied Powers
| Central Powers | British Allied victory
Treaties of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Trianon:
Russia pulls out in 1917
Creation of League of Nations:
|
| Estonian War of Independence (1918–1920) |  Estonia United Kingdom Latvia White Movement Baltic German volunteers[35] Danish volunteers Finnish volunteers Swedish volunteers |  Russian SFSR | British Allied victory
|
| Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920) | Latvia Estonia White Movement Poland Lithuania United Kingdom | German Empire West Russian Volunteer Army
| British Allied victory
|
| Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War (1918–1920) | White Movement
| Russian SFSR
| Bolshevik victory
|
| Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923) |  Greece France Armenia (in 1920) United Kingdom Ottoman Empire (until 1922)
| Turkish National Movement
Supported by: | Turkish Allied victory
|
| Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919) | India |  Afghanistan | Afghan victory
|
| Kuwait–Najd War (1919–1920) | .svg){kind=small} Kuwait British Empire |  Sultanate of Nejd | British Allied victory |
| Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) | United Kingdom | Irish Republic | Inconclusive/Other
|
| The Troubles in Ulster (1920–1922) | United Kingdom | Irish Republic | British victory |
| Great Iraqi Revolution of 1920 (1920) | United Kingdom |  Iraqi rebels | Inconclusive/Other
|
| 1922 Burao Tax Revolt (1922) | United Kingdom | Habr Yunis tribesmen | Tribal victory
|
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1922–present)
[edit]| Conflict | Britain and allies | Britain's opposition | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adwan Rebellion (1923) | United Kingdom Emir Abdullah's forces Hashemite allied tribesmen:
| 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
|
| Great Arab Revolt in Palestine (1936–1939) | United Kingdom Yishuv | Arab Higher Committee | British Allied victory [38] Revolt suppressed |
| Palestine Emergency (1939–1948) | United Kingdom | Yishuv | Yishuv victory[39]
|
| S-Plan 16 January 1939 – March 1940 | United Kingdom | Irish Republican Army | British victory [40]
|
| Second World War (1939–1945) | Allied Powers
| Axis Powers
| British Allied victory Nazi Germany formally surrenders 8 May 1945, ending the Second World War in Europe. |
| Afghan tribal revolts of 1944–1947 (1944–1947) |  Afghanistan• Allied Nuristani tribesmen British Empire• British India | Rebel tribes: | Afghan government & British victory
|
| 1944–45 Insurgency in Balochistan (1944–1945) | United Kingdom | Badinzai rebels | British victory
|
| Northern Campaign 2 September 1942 – December 1944 | Royal Ulster Constabulary | Irish Republican Army | British victory
|
| Greek Civil War (1946–1948) | Kingdom of Greece
| D.S.E. (Δ.Σ.Ε.) | British Allied victory Communist forces defeated, many D.S.E. soldiers exiled in Eastern Europe. Battalion of UK troops still in Greece until 1948 |
| 1945 Sheikh Bashir Rebellion (1945) | United Kingdom | 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
|  Indonesia | Inconclusive or other outcome
|
| Operation Masterdom (1945–1946) | United Kingdom
|
