

Most Stupid and Idiotic Wars Fought for Ridiculous Reasons

A declaration of war or the start of a revolution is usually a difficult decision and is often based on hard to resolve root causes. However, this is not always the case as some formal pretexts for some wars are sometimes ridiculous. We present five conflicts which, at first sight, began in the most ridiculous ways.

1. The Pig War

The Pig War or what is also known as Episode Pig or Pig War and Potato, was a case in 1859 between American and British authorities on the islands of San Juan incident, which at that time was subject of dispute between the two countries where there was some ambiguity over the border.

It all started with an American farmer who lived on the island called Lyman Cutlar found in his garden a pig eating their tubers. As it was not the first time it happened, the farmer got angry and ended up killing the animal.

However, it turned out that the pig belonged to an Irish farmer, Charles Griffin. In return Cutlar offered him ten dollars as compensation, but the Irish demanded hundred. So Cutlar told him that instead he decided to not pay anything for the pig as the animal had invaded his property.

Griffin complained to the British authorities, who wanted to stop Cutlar, but the settlers turned to US to ask for military protection.

The Americans responded by sending 66 soldiers and the British responded with three warships. The conflict got very serious, but without shooting.

The governor of the colony of the island Vancouver ordered the British admiral  to launch the combat, which he refused, saying it would be foolish to start a war by a pig.

When Washington and London learned about the situation, the appropriate steps were put on place to defuse the crisis, finally the incident was resolved peacefully.

2. Nika Revolt

Nika revolt, or Nika riots, was a popular uprising that took place in the city of Constantinople in 532. Although it was the result of a social turbulent political situation and began with a discussion on the racecourse between the Greens rival fans and the Azules.

The conflict came to a point where the 'green' went to the Emperor Justinian, who was at the racetrack, demanding his abdication. The instigators of the fight of both factions were executed, which brought the two groups together and started a revolt.

During the riots, which spread throughout the city, more than 30,000 people were killed and several important buildings were destroyed.

3. The War of the Golden Stool 











4. The Flagstaff War 








5. The Battle of Karansebes 










6. The War of Jenkins's Ear 









7. French Invasion of Algeria

Algeria was under French rule from 1830 to 1960, prior to that it was a part of Ottoman Regency. The relations between France and the regency during that time were on the edge. Dey Hussein (Ottoman provincial ruler to Algiers) demanded an answer over the outstanding debt from the French Consul. Unsatisfied with the answer, the irritated ruler allegedly hit the consul with his hand held fan.

This incident was taken quite seriously by Charles X of France, who took this as an opportunity to increase his popularity among his disgruntled population. Charles X ordered a blockade of Algerian ports. The blockade lasted for three years until a ship carrying a French ambassador to Dey for a proposed negotiation was bombarded.  France took this as a declaration of war and ordered a full scale invasion.

Although there was resistance over the years, the French took full control of Algeria by 1834.

8. The Pemmican War

The Pemmican War was a serious armed confrontation between two British fur-trading companies operating in Canada: Hudson’s Bay Company and The North West Company. The problem started in 1811, when Earl of Selkrik, Thomas Douglas, started the colonization project known as Red River Colony on a 120000 sq miles of land provided by the HBC.

Thomas wanted to monopolize the fur trading business to HBC, hence he banned all the Métis (Europeans who got married to the natives) from trading with NWC. And in 1814 the Governor of the Red River colony issued a proclamation intended to limit the number of buffaloes killed by the Métis. This enraged the Métis who disregarded the proclamation and started converting the buffalo’s meat to pemmican.

The governor issued ban on pemmican export and seized four hundred bags of pemmican belonging to NWC. He also ordered the company to end its trading post in the Red River. NWC, along with Métis, declared war on HBC and Red River, looting, pillaging and burning down post forts belonging to the HBC. The commercial struggle of both of the companies turned into guerrilla war fare when HBC retaliated with militia of its own.

The Crown, disgraced by the two company’s action, forced both the companies to merge under one name. 21 people including the Governor who was killed in the 

9. Honey War

The Honey War was a 1830’s territorial dispute between Iowa and Missouri. The 9.5 mile long strip running across the border was the source of the dispute caused due by unclear wording in the Missouri Constitution on boundaries. The Governors of both states ordered their respective militia to patrol their side of the border, after a Missourian sheriff was incarcerated trying to collect taxes in the disputed zone. There was other incident where three trees containing valuable honey were cut down, hence the name Honey War.

The situation was on edge until Supreme Court intervened and declared the issue in Iowa’s favor. 10. 301 Year War for Shaving a Beard.

The bearded King Louis VII of France married Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine in 1137 and received two massive provinces in France as dowry. Later on, he went for the Crusades and upon his return, he presented himself to his queen clean shaven. Eleanor didn’t like his ugly clean shaven look and demanded that Louis grow his whiskers back. Louis furiously refused and the bitter resentment that followed resulted in divorce. Eleanor went to England where she married King Henry II. After her marriage, she demanded the return of her dowry land back. Again, Louis refused which resulted in King Henry declaring war on France that lasted for over 300 years.

The war lasted for 301 year from 1152–1453, France won the long and arduous war but at very high economical and collateral losses.

11. The War of Dahis and Ghabra

The war of Dahis and Ghabra ,which lasted for 40 years, was fought between two Arabian tribes (Abs and Dhubiyan) over a disputed horse race, in which the former accused the later of cheating. It began when the leader of Abs challenged his counterpart at Dhubhiyan to a race. Abs had a horse called Dahis (a breed famous for its speed) which they pitched against the Dhubhiyans horse, Ghabra. The race was to be one hundred bow shots in length, and the wager of hundred camels was agreed.

During the race Ghabra took the lead but Dahis overtook and was about to win the race when Dhubyanites ambushed the leading horse and drove him off course. Hearing about the foul play, Abs proclaimed victory but the later refused to pay. Resenting the treachery, the Abs slew the brother of Dhubiyans leader. The Dhubiyans did the same to the Abs’s leader brother. The horseman declared the war which lasted for forty years.

Although Dhubiyans held their own, neither could take a decisive advantage, and the war dragged on for years.

12. The Cod Wars

The Cod War is a jocular term given to a confrontation between Iceland and Britain over the issue of fishing rights. It started in 1958 when Iceland took it upon itself to increase its fishing boundaries from 4 miles to 12 miles, and then in 1972 when it further increased its boundaries to 50 miles. Iceland wanted exclusive fishing rights since that was its only source of income. Both the countries came to an agreement where Iceland would allow certain fishing zones for British trawlers to fish in and also imposed a limit on the amount that could be caught by the British trawlers. The agreement was valid for 2 years and expired in November of 1975, soon after which the Third Cod War started. Iceland further increased its fishing boundaries from 50 to 200 miles and overall banned British trawlers in its water. The British deployed over 20 frigates to protect the interest of its fisherman.

You could say Iceland. Britain and the other fishing countries agreed to the Icelandic demands after NATO and US intervened. Iceland had previously threatened NATO of shutting down their base in Keflavik (a strategically important base to NATO during the Cold War) if their demands weren’t met.

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