20 Wars Started for the Pettiest Reasons
Wars are supposed to be about ideology, resources, or survival. Instead, humans often pick fights because someone looked at them funny, stole a chicken, or painted a fence the wrong color. History is littered with generals and kings escalating tiny slights into full-blown battles, proving once and for all that diplomacy is basically optional if your ego is ridiculously big enough.
From neighbors arguing over a single goat to entire nations squabbling because of a poorly worded letter, the world has always been capable of turning absurdity into artillery.
Here’s a countdown of conflicts where the reason to fight was… hilariously petty.
Fashoda Incident, 1898
France and Britain confronted each other over a desert outpost with zero strategic value in Fashoda, Sudan.
Qingshui Nuns’ War, 1892
Buddhist nuns fought over property and money, drawing residents into violent skirmishes in Qingshui, Taiwan.
Curly-Haired Duck War, c. 1650
Breaking a sacred oath over a duck led to a deadly feud between Clan MacDonald and Clan MacLeod on the Isle of Skye.
Potato War, 1778–1779
Prussian and Saxon troops spent more time stealing Austria’s potato stores in Bohemia and Silesia than actually fighting.
Spoon Dispute, 1282
Denying the Count of Fife a ceremonial spoon escalated into armed conflict in Scotland.
Peacock Throne War, 1741
Indian nobles argued violently over possession of the jewel-encrusted throne in Karnataka, India.
Flag Painter Incident, 1894
A Japanese sailor mispainted Korea’s emblem, almost sparking an international conflict at Chemulpo Port.
Virgin Mary Image Dispute, 1840s
Catholics and Orthodox factions nearly went to war over who could carry an icon in Jerusalem.
Toledo War, 1835–1836
Ohio and Michigan clashed over a 111 km strip of worthless farmland along the Toledo Strip, USA.
Lobster War, 1961–1963
Brazil and France fought over offshore lobster fishing rights in the Atlantic near Brazil.
Peloponnesian War, 431 BC
Athens’ stubborn pride and refusal to lift a trivial embargo against Megara ignited a massive Greek conflict.
Siege of Alesia, 52 BC
Vercingetorix refused to submit to Caesar, triggering total war in Alesia, Gaul.
Nika Riots, 532 AD
Chariot race fan factions destroyed half of Constantinople, directly challenging Emperor Justinian I.
Jenkins’ Ear War, 1739–1748
Captain Jenkins’ severed ear became propaganda that sent Britain to war with Spain across the Atlantic and Caribbean.
Wairau Affray, 1843
British settlers refused to remove an illegal fence, sparking armed conflict with Māori chiefs in New Zealand.
Pastry War, 1838–1839
French officers destroyed a baker’s shop, giving France reason to invade Veracruz, Mexico.
Bulgarian-Greek Incident, 1925
A Greek soldier was shot while chasing his runaway dog, triggering a brief invasion in Petrich, Bulgaria-Greece border.
Emu War, 1932
Australian soldiers tried to stop thousands of emus from destroying crops during the Great Depression in Western Australia.
Pig War, 1859
An American farmer killed a British settler’s pig, almost sparking a military confrontation on San Juan Island, Pacific Ocean.
Modena Bucket War, 1325
Modena declared war on Bologna over a stolen oak bucket in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
