List 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.

  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)

Conflict	Britain and allies	Britain's opposition	Outcome
The Great Northern War (1700–1721)	Swedish Empire Ottoman Empire United Provinces Brunswick-Lüneburg Great Britain (After 1717)	Tsardom of Russia Kalmyk Khanate Cossack Hetmanate Denmark–Norway Electorate of Saxony Poland–Lithuania Prussia Hanover	Inconclusive for Great Britain Britain did not gain or lose anything from the war and had exited the war a year before it ended due to financial trouble. Russian Allied victory: Tsardom of Russia establishes itself as a new power in Europe. Decline of Swedish Empire and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) including Queen Anne's War	Austria Dutch Republic Savoy England (Until 1707) Great Britain (After 1707) Prussia Portugal	France Spain Bavaria	British 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 Indecisive or failure for Britain's various allies
Post-Spanish Succession Caribbean Piracy (1715–1726)	Great Britain	Anglo-American-Caribbean privateers Republic of Pirates	British victory Details 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 The Jacobite uprising in Cornwall	Great Britain	Jacobites	British victory Jacobite restoration attempt defeated
The War of the Quadruple Alliance including The Nineteen Uprising in Great Britain (1717–1720)	Holy Roman Empire Great Britain France Dutch Republic Savoy	Spain Jacobites	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 Spanish Empire	Inconclusive/other outcome Status quo ante bellum British offensive in the Caribbean theatre defeated British invasion of Florida repulsed Spanish invasion of Georgia repulsed Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) leading to Treaty of Madrid (1750)
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) including King George's War The War of Jenkins' Ear The First Carnatic War	Austria Great Britain Hanover Dutch Republic Saxony Sardinia Russia East India Company	France Prussia Spain Spanish Empire Bavaria Saxony Naples and Sicily Genoa Sweden French East India Company	French Allied victory in Europe but British victory outside of Europe Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle: Defeat
Civil War: Jacobite rising of 1745 (1745–1746)	Great Britain	Jacobites	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: Pro-British Mohamed Ali Khan Walajan became Nawab of the Carnatic
Seven Years' War (1756–1763) including Third Carnatic War French and Indian War Pomeranian War Third Silesian War Anglo-Spanish War	Great Britain East India Company British America Prussia Hanover Iroquois Confederacy Portugal Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Hesse-Kassel Schaumburg-Lippe Cherokee Nation (before 1758) Catawba Mingo Lenape (from 1758) Wyandot of Ohio Country (British supported faction)	France New France French East India Company Holy Roman Empire Russian Empire Sweden Spain Spanish Empire Saxony Sardinia Mughal Empire Wabanaki Confederacy Miꞌkmaq Algonquin Ojibwe Odawa Shawnee Lenape (until 1758) Wyandot of Fort Detroit (French supported faction)	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 (1760–1761)	Great Britain Colony of Jamaica Jamaican Maroons	Jamaican Cromanty	British Allied victory Slave revolt suppressed Death of Tacky Tacky's men commit suicide
Pontiac's Rebellion (1763–1766)	Great Britain	Native American Coalition: Odawa Potawatomi Ojibwe Mingo Seneca people Wyandot people Miami people Kickapoo people Illinois People	Inconclusive or 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	Maratha victory Treaty of Salbai. Maratha support for Britain against Mysore
American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) Anglo-French War (1778–1783) Anglo-Spanish War (1779–1783)	Great Britain Iroquois Cherokee Hanover Loyalists	United States France Spain Vermont Republic Oneida tribe Tuscarora tribe Watauga Association Catawba tribe	Civil War / American Allied victory The American Revolution started as a civil war within the British Empire. It became a larger international war in 1778 once France joined. 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
Fourth Anglo-Dutch War (1780–1783)	Great Britain	Dutch Republic France	British victory Treaty of Paris Dutch Republic cedes territory in India, Nagapatnam, to Great Britain The Dutch Republic did not enter into a formal alliance with the rebelling American colonies and their allies. Weakening of the Dutch colonial empire, while Great Britain's colonial power increased.
Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784)	East India Company Maratha Empire Hyderabad State	Kingdom of Mysore France	Inconclusive or other outcome Treaty of Mangalore: Status quo ante bellum
Third 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 the East India Company
War of the First Coalition (1793–1797)	Dutch Republic (until 1795) Great Britain Holy Roman Empire (until 1797) Hesse-Kassel (until 1795) Württemberg (until 1796) Baden (until 1796) Papal States (until 1797) Parma (until 1796) Portugal Prussia (until 1795) Sardinia (until 1796) Spain (until 1795) Naples (until 1796) Other Italian states Switzerland	Kingdom of France (until 1792) French Republic (from 1792) French satellites: Batavian Republic (from 1795) Sister republics Spain (from 1796, naval only)	French victory French annexation of the Austrian Netherlands, the Left Bank of the Rhine, Savoy and other smaller territories Santo Domingo to France Several French "sister republics" established End of millennial Venetian independence Treaty of The Hague, Treaty of Paris, Peaces of Basel, Treaty of Tolentino, Treaty of Campo Formio Establishment and survival of the French Republic Napoleon becomes a political actor Hostilities resume in 1798 with the formation of a Second Coalition against France
War of the Second Coalition (1797–1802)	Holy Roman Empire (until 1801) Tuscany Bavaria United Kingdom Russia Ottoman Empire Naples (until 1801) Portugal Sardinia	French Republic Spain French client republics: Batavian Republic Cisalpine Republic Helvetic Republic Ligurian Republic	French victory Treaty of Lunéville, Treaty of Amiens Survival of the French Republic Previous annexations by France confirmed Hostilities resume in 1803 with the formation of a Third Coalition against France Territory changes Trinidad, **Ceylon and Malta to Britain Parma and Louisiana to France Tuscany to the House of Bourbon Foundation of the Septinsular Republic Reichsdeputationshauptschluss to France
Ibn Ufaisan's Invasion (1793)	Kuwait Great Britain British East India Company	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 or 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
Fourth 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 and allies	Britain's opposition	Outcome
Temne War (1801–1807)	United Kingdom 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 (1803)	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 Vanni region lost to the British The last Tamil resistance against colonial rule was crushed.
War of the Third Coalition (1805–1806)	Austrian Empire Russian Empire Naples and Sicily Portugal Sweden	French Empire Batavia Italy Etruria Spain Bavaria Württemberg	French Allied victory Fourth Peace of Preßburg: French victory Austria surrenders to France Pro-French Confederation of the Rhine formed
War of the Fourth Coalition (1806–1807)	Prussia Russia Saxony Sweden Sicily	French Empire Confederation of the Rhine Bavaria Württemberg 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 or other outcome Treaty of Örebro: Anglo-Russian-Swedish pact against France
Peninsular War (1807–1814)	Spain Portugal United Kingdom	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
War of the Fifth Coalition (1809)	Austrian Empire Tyrol Hungary Black Brunswickers Sicily Sardinia	French Empire Warsaw Confederation of the Rhine Bavaria Saxony Württemberg Westphalia Kingdom of Italy Naples Swiss Confederation Holland	French Allied victory Treaty of Schönbrunn: Complete Austrian surrender Peninsular War continued
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 British North America Tecumseh's Confederacy	United States	Inconclusive or other outcome Treaty of Ghent; Status quo ante bellum with no boundary changes United States invasions of British Canada repulsed. All Pre-War borders restored under the Treaty of Ghent British invasions of the United States repulsed. All pre-war borders restored under the 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 Saxony Bavaria Württemberg United Netherlands	First French Empire Napoleonic Italy Kingdom of Naples Duchy of Warsaw Until January 1814 Denmark–Norway Confederation of the Rhine (Many member states defected after Battle of Leipzig)	British Allied victory Coalition victory, Treaty of Fontainebleau, First Treaty of Paris Bourbon Restoration; Napoleon's exile to Elba Various territorial changes Beginning of the Congress of Vienna Hostilities resume with the return of Napoleon to power in 1815
Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816)	East India Company	Kingdom of Nepal	British victory
Second Kandyan War (1815)	United Kingdom	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
Bombardment of Algiers (1816)	United Kingdom Netherlands	Regency of Algiers	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) Battle of Navarino	1821: Filiki Eteria Greek revolutionaries After 1822: Hellenic Republic Supported by: Romanian Revolutionaries (1821) Philhellenes United Kingdom (after 1826) Russian Empire (after 1826) Kingdom of France (after 1826) Serb and Montenegrin volunteers	Ottoman Empire Egypt Algeria Tripolitania Tunis	British Allied victory First Hellenic Republic established and recognized
First Ashanti War (1823–1831)	British Empire	Ashanti Empire	Inconclusive or other outcome Stalemate after armistice
Bathurst War (1824)	United Kingdom	Wiradjuri	British victory
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 Burma £1,000,000 compensation from Burma
British attack on Berbera (1827)	United Kingdom Royal Navy East India Company	Isaaq Sultanate Habr Awal	British Allied victory Destruction of large parts of Berbera Indemnity agreed upon for 1825 Habr Awal attack Crucial caravan trade halted temporarily
Revolt of the Mercenaries (1828)	Brazil United Kingdom France	German Mercenaries Irish Mercenaries	British Allied victory Mutiny suppressed
Naning War (1831–1832)	East India Company	Naning	British victory
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: Forces of Infante Carlos Forces of King Miguel	Inconclusive or other outcome British withdrawal before the war's conclusion British mediated Convention of Vergara
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 British Loyalists	Patriotes Hunters' Lodges Reform Movement	British victory Patriote rebellion crushed by loyalist forces; Republic of Canada dismantled Defeat of Hunters' Lodges Unification of Upper and Lower Canada into the Province of Canada
Pastry War (1838–1839) also known First Franco–Mexican War	France United Kingdom	Mexico	British Victory Mexican government accepts to pay the 600,000 pesos
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 Kabul Principality of Qandahar Khanate of Kalat Khulm (August 1840, November 1841 onwards.) Marri Bugti Afghan Tribes Barakzai Loyalists	Barakzai Afghan victory British retreat from Afghanistan
Aden Expedition (1839)	United Kingdom	Lahej	British victory Port of Aden ceded to Britain
First Opium War (1839–1842)	United Kingdom	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.
British Conquest of Sindh (1843)	East India Company	Talpur Dynasty	British victory
Gwalior Campaign (1843)	East India Company	Gwalior State	British victory
Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata (1845–1850) Battle of Vuelta de Obligado	British Empire Kingdom of France	Argentine Confederation	Argentine Confederation victory Arana-Southern Treaty France and Britain recognize the sovereignty of Argentina on La Plata River and its tributaries.
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
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 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 Qing dynasty victory Fall of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Weakening of the Qing dynasty
Reduction of Lagos (1851–1852)	United Kingdom	Lagos	British 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 United Kingdom Ottoman Empire Kingdom of Sardinia	Russian Empire Bulgarian Legion	British Allied victory Treaty of Paris
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 Rebellion of 1857 (1857–1858)	East India Company Nepal Jammu and Kashmir Princely states Jaipur Bikaner Marwar Rampur Kapurthala Nabha Bhopal Sirohi Udaipur Patiala Sirmur Alwar Bharathpur Bundi Jaora Bijawar Ajaigarh Rewa Kendujhar Hyderabad	Sepoys of the East India Company Mughal Empire Awadh Jhansi 7 Princely states	British Allied victory Act for the Better Government of India: Company rule in India dissolved Indian Empire established Ban on Christian missionaries in India
Shimonoseki Campaign (1863–1864)	United Kingdom French Empire Netherlands United States	Chōshū Domain	British Allied victory
Bombardment of Kagoshima (1863)	United Kingdom	Satsuma Domain	British victory Tactical stalemate and mitigated British victory
Ambela Campaign (1863–1864)	United Kingdom	State of Swat 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 British Straits Settlements	Forces of Raja Mahadi	British Allied victory
Bombardment of Omoa (1873)	United Kingdom	Honduras	British victory
Third Ashanti War (1873–1874)	United Kingdom	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
Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880)	India Afzalids	Afghanistan	British-Afzalid victory Treaty of Gandamak: Abdur Rahman Khan installed as Emir Afghanistan becomes a British protected state Districts of Quetta, Pishin, Sibi, Harnai and Thal Chotiali ceded to British India
Anglo-Zulu War (1879)	United Kingdom 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's forces defeated and exiled
Basuto Gun War (1880–1881)	United Kingdom Cape Colony	Basuto people	Basuto victory Basuto people maintain their partial autonomy British failure to disarm the Basuto people
First Boer War (1880–1881)	United Kingdom	South African Republic	South African victory Pretoria Convention: South African Republic granted self-government
Mahdist War (1881–1899)	United Kingdom Italy Ethiopian Empire Congo Free State Egypt	Mahdist State	British allied victory Britain and Egypt took over Sudan and turned it into a condominium known as the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan Kassala temporarily occupied by Italy
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
Hunza-Nagar Campaign (1891)	India	State of Hunza Nagar State	British victory
First Matabele War (1893–1894)	South Africa Company	Ndebele Kingdom	British victory
Anglo-Zanzibar War (1896)	United Kingdom	Sultanate of 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 12 April 1898) German Empire (until 16 March 1898)	Ottoman Empire	British victory Establishment of the Cretan State. Withdraw of Ottoman forces from Crete.
Second Samoan Civil War (1898–1899)	Supporters of Tanumafili I United States United Kingdom	Supporters of Mata'afa Germany	Inconclusive or other outcome Tripartite Convention
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)	United Kingdom	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
War of the Golden Stool (1900)	United Kingdom	Ashanti Empire	Inconclusive or other outcome Status quo ante bellum De facto independent Ashanti state under British protectorate Ashanti retained control of the Golden Stool
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 Status quo ante bellum
Bazar Valley campaign (1908)	India	Rebel tribes	British victory
First World War (1914–1918)	Allied Powers France British Empire United Kingdom Canada Newfoundland Australia New Zealand India South Africa Russia United States Italy Japan China Serbia Montenegro Romania Belgium Greece Portugal Brazil Other Allies	Central Powers Germany German Empire Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria	British Allied victory Treaty of Versailles: German demobilisation Treaties of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Trianon: Demise of Austria-Hungary Russia pulls out in 1917 Russian Civil War Creation of the Soviet Union Creation of League of Nations: Mesopotamia ceded from the Ottoman Empire Palestine and Jordan ceded from the Ottoman Empire Tanganyika ceded from Germany Part of Kamerun ceded from Germany Part of Togoland ceded from Germany German New Guinea ceded to Australia German Samoa ceded to New Zealand German South-West Africa ceded to South Africa
Estonian War of Independence (1918–1920)	Estonia United Kingdom Latvia White Movement Baltic German volunteers 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 Kingdom Canada Australia India South Africa 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 Establishment of the Soviet Union
Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923)	Greece France Armenia (in 1920) United Kingdom Ottoman Empire (until 1922) Kuva-yi Inzibatiye (in 1920) Georgia (in 1921)	Turkish National Movement Grand National Assembly (after 1920) Kuva-yi Nizamiye Kuva-yi Milliye (until 1920) Supported by: Russian SFSR Azerbaijan SSR Georgian SSR Bukharan PSR Afghanistan All-India Muslim League Italy	Turkish Allied victory Treaty of Lausanne Overthrow of the Ottoman sultanate Withdrawal of Allied forces from occupied lands of Turkey Establishment of the Republic of Turkey Starting of the series of reforms led by Atatürk
Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919)	India	Afghanistan	Afghan victory Treaty of Rawalpindi Reaffirmation of the Durand Line Afghan independence with full sovereignty in foreign affairs
Kuwait–Najd War (1919–1920)	Kuwait British Empire India	Sultanate of Nejd Ikhwan	British Allied victory
Irish War of Independence (1919–1921)	United Kingdom	Irish Republic	Inconclusive/Other Anglo-Irish Treaty Irish Free State established comprising the 26 counties of the formerly proposed Southern Ireland 6 counties of Northern Ireland remain part of UK with some violence continuing after the treaty United Kingdom retains the Ports of Berehaven, Spike Island and Lough Swilly
Great Iraqi Revolution of 1920 (1920)	United Kingdom	Iraqi rebels	Inconclusive/Other Iraqi political victory Greater autonomy given to Iraq Faysal ibn Husayn installed as King British Mandate for Mesopotamia cancelled
1922 Burao Tax Revolt (1922)	United Kingdom  • British Somaliland	Habr Yunis tribesmen	Tribal victory Tax policy abandoned
IRA Northern Offensive (1922)	United Kingdom	Irish Republican Army	British victory

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

Conflict	Britain and 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
Palestine Emergency (1939–1948)	United Kingdom	Yishuv	Yishuv victory Hand over to the United Nations British withdrawal from Mandatory Palestine Civil war in Mandatory Palestine begins
S-Plan 16 January 1939 – March 1940	United Kingdom	Irish Republican Army	British victory British victory IRA failed to force the withdrawal of British troops from Ireland
Second World War (1939–1945)	Allied Powers United States Soviet Union United Kingdom China France Poland Canada Australia New Zealand British 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 Finland Iraq Thailand Manchukuo Mengjiang Azad Hind State of Burma	British Allied victory Nazi Germany formally surrenders 8 May 1945, ending the Second World War in Europe. On 15 August 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  • British India	Rebel tribes: Zadran Mangal Safi	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 (1946–1948)	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 until 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 Japan (volunteers) India (defectors)	Inconclusive or other outcome Hand over to Dutch in 1946 Netherlands recognises Indonesian Independence
Operation Masterdom (1945–1946)	United Kingdom India France Empire of Japan	Việt Minh	British victory Hand over to French First Indochina War begins
Corfu Channel incident (1946–1948)	United Kingdom	Albania	Inconclusive or other outcome World Court case concluded in 1949 Britain breaks off talks aimed at establishing diplomatic relations with Albania.
Malayan Emergency (1948–1960)	British Commonwealth United Kingdom Federation of Malaya Australia New Zealand Southern Rhodesia Fiji Kenya 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 or other outcome Korean Armistice Agreement Communist invasion of South Korea repelled UN invasion of North Korea repelled
1951 Anglo-Egyptian War (1951–1952)	United Kingdom	Egypt Muslim Brotherhood	British victory Ended with the Egyptian Revolution of 1952.
Mau Mau Uprising (1952–1960)	United Kingdom British Kenya	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 Ibadi sect Saudi Arabia	British Allied victory Dissolution of the Imamate of Oman
Cyprus Emergency (1955–1959)	United Kingdom Cyprus Colony TMT	EOKA	Inconclusive or other outcome EOKA was not defeated Enosis not achieved Cyprus became an independent republic in 1959 with Britain retaining control of two Sovereign Base Areas, at Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
Suez Crisis (1956–1957)	United Kingdom France Israel	Egypt	Inconclusive or other outcome Coalition military victory Egyptian political victory Anglo-French withdrawal following international pressure (December 1956) Israeli occupation of Sinai (until March 1957) UNEF deployment in Sinai 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 Iceland expands its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles
Upper Yafa disturbances (1959)	British Empire Upper Yafa	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	British Allied victory 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: Ulster Volunteer Force Ulster Defence Association Red Hand Commando Ulster Resistance Loyalist Volunteer Force	Republican paramilitaries: Provisional IRA Official IRA Continuity IRA Real IRA Irish National Liberation Army Irish People's Liberation Organisation	Stalemate Inconclusive or other outcome Good Friday Agreement: Devolution in Northern Ireland Power-sharing deal Cross-border cooperation Disarming of paramilitary groups Police reform Demilitarisation
Second Cod War (1972–1973)	United Kingdom	Iceland	Icelandic victory UK accept Iceland's 50 nautical mile exclusive fishery zone
Third Cod War (1975–1976)	United Kingdom	Iceland	Icelandic victory 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. End of Argentine occupation of Southern Thule island.
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 Multinational forces fail to prevent collapse of Lebanese Army into Syrian- or Israeli- supported militias Multinational forces evacuated after the US embassy and US Marine barracks are bombed by the Islamic Jihad Organization Multinational forces oversee withdrawal of Palestine Liberation Organization Humanitarian crisis in Southern Lebanon Civil war continues until 1990 President Hafez al-Assad continues his occupation of Lebanon until his son and later president Bashar al-Assad orders a withdrawal from the country
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	Military stalemate 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	Yugoslavia	British Allied victory Kosovo occupied by Nato forces Kosovo administered by UNMIK
Sierra Leone Civil War (2000–2002)	Sierra Leone United Kingdom	RUF Liberia AFRC West Side Boys	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 Al-Qaeda	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: Overthrow of Ba'ath Party government Occupation of southern Iraq Iraqi insurgency, emergence of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and Sectarian Violence Rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the successor of al-Qaeda in Iraq
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 Fall of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Muammar Gaddafi killed National Transitional Council take control
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. Ongoing operations by UK Special Forces in Syria. British armed forces provide material and training to Iraqi Security Forces and Peshmerga. 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).
Operation Prosperity Guardian (2023–present)	United States United Kingdom Canada France Greece Italy Netherlands Norway Spain Bahrain Seychelles Sri Lanka New Zealand	Supreme Political Council Houthi movement	Ongoing US-led multinational coalition formed in December 2023 to respond to attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

See also

• List of wars involving England
• List of wars involving Scotland
• List of wars in Great Britain
• Military history of the United Kingdom
• Declaration of war by the United Kingdom

References

Bibliography

• Cavanna, Thomas (2015). Hubris, Self-Interest and America's Failed War in Afghanistan. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books. ISBN 9781498506205.
• Lansford, Tom (2017). Afghanistan at War: From the 18th Century Durrani Dynasty to the 21st Century. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598847604.
• Tal, David (2001). The 1956 War: Collusion and Rivalry in the Middle East (Psychology Press). p. 203. ISBN 978-0-7146-4840-8

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.