The Longest War That Almost Everyone Forgot

The Forgotten Giant: Arauco War’s 274-Year Massacre

Imagine a conflict so brutal and prolonged that it outlasted entire civilizations, yet remains virtually unknown to most of the world. The Arauco War was a long-running conflict between colonial Spaniards and the Mapuche people, mostly fought in the Araucanía region of Chile. The conflict began at first as a reaction to the Spanish conquerors attempting to establish cities and force Mapuches into servitude. The war didn’t just last decades—it stretched across three centuries, making it one of the longest armed conflicts in human history.

This wasn’t your typical colonial conquest where superior technology quickly overwhelmed indigenous forces. Rather, it was a centuries-long slow burn of oppression and revenge that ended up taking more Spanish lives than any other conflict in the New World—and some would argue it’s not over yet. The Mapuche people proved to be extraordinary warriors, adapting Spanish tactics and even creating their own cavalry units. They successfully resisted Spanish rule for 274 years, from 1536 to 1810.

What makes this conflict particularly shocking is how it’s been erased from popular memory. The Mapuche were so successful in fighting off the Spanish Army that the war became known as the “Indian Flanders” in reference to Spain’s concurrent struggle against the Dutch United Provinces in the “Dutch Revolt”. The Arauco War cost the largest number of Spanish lives in the New World, and the Mapuche retained their independence south of the Biobio River until after the Chilean War of Independence.

When Gods Fell: The Roman-Persian Wars’ 681-Year Bloodbath

Think the Cold War was long? Try 681 years of near-constant warfare between two ancient superpowers. The Roman–Persian wars took place between the Greco-Roman world and the Iranian world, beginning with the Roman Republic and the Parthian Empire in 54 BC and ending with the Roman Empire (including the Byzantine Empire) and the Sasanian Empire in 628 AD. This staggering duration makes it one of the longest conflicts in recorded history.

The Roman-Persian Wars, sometimes referred to as the Roman-Iranian Wars, represent one of the longest conflicts in world history. Beginning in 54 BCE, the Roman-Persian Wars lasted over 600 years, ending in a decisive battle in 628 CE. The conflict began with a catastrophic Roman defeat at the Battle of Carrhae in 54 BCE, where General Marcus Licinius Crassus led 40,000 Roman troops against 10,000 Persian forces. Historians consider the Battle of Carrhae to be one of the Roman Empire’s worst defeats, resulting in the loss of over 30,000 troops, as well as the death of General Crassus.

The final phase of this epic struggle was perhaps its most devastating. It was the final and most devastating conflict of the Roman–Persian wars (54 BC – AD 628). The devastating impact of the war of 602–628, along with the cumulative effects of a century of almost continuous Byzantine-Persian conflict, left both empires crippled. Yet, the war that would come to be known as the “Last Great War of Antiquity” left both empires exhausted and unable to defend themselves from the rising power of the Islamic Rashidun Caliphate.

The Death of Byzantine Glory: Seljuk Turks’ 260-Year Conquest

Picture the moment when an empire that had stood for over a millennium suddenly found itself facing its greatest existential threat. The Byzantine–Seljuk wars were a series of conflicts in the Middle Ages between the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuk Sultanate. They shifted the balance of power in Asia Minor and Syria from the Byzantines to the Seljuk dynasty. From 1048 to 1308, these wars fundamentally altered the course of history.

The Battle of Manzikert of 1071 is widely regarded as the turning point against the Byzantines in their war against the Seljuks. This single battle had catastrophic consequences that reverberated for centuries. The fallout from Manzikert was disastrous for the Byzantines, resulting in civil conflicts and an economic crisis that severely weakened the Byzantine Empire’s ability to defend its borders adequately. This led to the mass movement of Turks into central Anatolia – by 1080, an area of 78,000 square kilometres (30,000 sq mi) had been gained by the Seljuk Turks.

The psychological impact was equally devastating. It was the only time a Byzantine emperor became the prisoner of a Muslim commander, and the first time since Valerian that a Roman emperor was captured alive by an enemy force. From this post-Mongol political chaos would emerge a new Turkish dynasty in Anatolia in the late thirteenth century—the Ottomans—who in 1453 would complete the conquest of the Byzantine Empire that had begun nearly four hundred years earlier on the field of Manzikert.

The Forgotten Jihad: Anglo-French Wars’ 706-Year Rivalry

What if I told you that England and France were at war for over 700 years? Not just the famous Hundred Years’ War, but a series of conflicts that spanned from 1109 to 1815. The Anglo-French Wars represent one of the most persistent rivalries in European history, yet they’re often overshadowed by more famous individual conflicts within this massive timeframe.

This wasn’t just one continuous war, but rather a series of interconnected conflicts that demonstrated the deep-seated hostility between these two great powers. The wars included everything from medieval crusades to the Napoleonic Wars, encompassing battles over territory, succession, religion, and ultimately, European dominance. The sheer persistence of this rivalry shaped the development of both nations and influenced global politics for centuries.

The economic and human cost was staggering. Generations of English and French soldiers died in battles whose names are now forgotten, while the treasuries of both kingdoms were repeatedly drained to fund these endless campaigns. Yet despite 706 years of intermittent warfare, neither side achieved decisive victory until the final defeat of Napoleon in 1815.

The Strangest War: Dutch-Scilly War’s 335-Year Joke

Sometimes the longest wars are the most bizarre. The Dutch-Scilly War lasted 335 years, from 1651 to 1986, but here’s the twist—not a single shot was ever fired. In 1651, the Dutch (taking a break from their 359-year war with Taiwan), who were supporting Oliver Cromwell’s forces, declared war on the tiny island group – mostly to protect their fleet, which was taking heavy losses from royalist ships berthed at Scilly. Cromwell’s forces finished off the loyalists soon after, and the entire thing was forgotten about – with nobody ever having raised a finger in anger against each other.

The war was so completely forgotten that it took a historian 334 years to remember it existed. In 1985 (a good year for symbolic peace treaties, apparently), historian and chairman of the Isles of Scilly Council Roy Duncan wrote to the Dutch Embassy in London to clear up what actually happened between the two countries. After some research, it was determined that the conflict was actually real, and technically still going on.

This bloodless conflict perfectly illustrates how wars can become “forgotten” through bureaucratic oversight rather than military resolution. The Dutch-Scilly War serves as a reminder that some of history’s longest conflicts existed more on paper than on any battlefield. A ceremonial peace treaty was finally signed in 1986, officially ending what might be the most peaceful war in human history.

The Crusade That Never Ended: Reconquista’s 781-Year Struggle

The Reconquista was not just a war—it was an entire civilizational struggle that lasted 781 years. The conflict began around 711 CE when an Islamic-Berber army crossed the Straight of Gibraltar. These invaders entered Spain and Portugal, and by 718 CE, the Moors controlled much of Iberia. What followed was nearly eight centuries of grinding warfare between Christian and Islamic forces.

The longest continual war in history was the Iberian Religious War, between the Catholic Spanish Empire and the Moors living in what is today Morocco and Algeria. The conflict, known as the “Reconquista,” spanned 781 years — more than three times as long as the United States has existed. The war fundamentally shaped the character of Spain and Portugal, creating a militant Catholic identity that would later fuel their global empires.

The conflict’s end came with dramatic finality. Though there were a series of defeats and victories on both sides throughout these centuries, eventually, in 1492 CE, Granada in present-day southern Andalusia finally fell to Ferdinand II and Isabella I. That defeat marked the end of one of the longest-recorded wars and ushered in a new era of Catholic Christianity for Iberia as it entered the Renaissance.

The Thirty Years’ Hell: Europe’s Forgotten Apocalypse

While 30 years might seem short compared to the previous entries, the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) deserves mention for its sheer destructiveness and how thoroughly it’s been forgotten outside of Germany. This conflict devastated Central Europe in ways that wouldn’t be seen again until the 20th century. The war began as a religious dispute but evolved into a complex struggle involving most major European powers.

The human cost was catastrophic. Some regions of Germany lost up to 60% of their population through warfare, disease, and famine. Entire villages were wiped off the map, and the Holy Roman Empire was left in ruins. The war introduced new levels of military brutality and established mercenary warfare as a dominant force in European politics.

What makes this war particularly forgotten is how it’s overshadowed by more famous conflicts like the Hundred Years’ War or the Napoleonic Wars. Yet its impact on European development was profound, establishing the principle of state sovereignty and ending the medieval concept of universal Catholic authority. The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 created the modern state system that still governs international relations today.

Rome’s Greatest Shame: The Punic Wars’ 118-Year Nightmare

The Punic Wars are often reduced to the romanticized story of Hannibal crossing the Alps with elephants, but this trilogy of conflicts lasted 118 years and nearly destroyed the Roman Republic. The wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 BCE) represented a fight for Mediterranean supremacy that would determine the course of Western civilization.

The first war alone lasted 23 years, introducing Romans to naval warfare on a massive scale. The second war brought Hannibal’s famous invasion of Italy, which came terrifyingly close to destroying Rome itself. The third war ended with the complete annihilation of Carthage, including the legendary salting of its fields. Yet popular memory focuses almost exclusively on Hannibal’s elephants, ignoring the broader strategic implications of this century-long struggle.

The human cost was staggering. Hundreds of thousands died in battles like Cannae, where Hannibal’s tactical genius led to one of the worst defeats in Roman history. The wars transformed Rome from a regional Italian power into a Mediterranean empire, but at the cost of its republican values and institutions. The militarization required to win these wars ultimately contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic.

England’s Bleeding Rose: The Wars of the Roses’ 32-Year Nightmare

The Wars of the Roses (1455-1487) might have lasted “only” 32 years, but they tore England apart in ways that still echo today. This brutal civil war between the Houses of Lancaster and York has been romanticized in popular culture, but the reality was far more savage than Shakespeare’s plays suggest.

The conflict saw unprecedented violence within the English nobility. Entire noble families were wiped out, and the constant warfare destabilized England’s economy and society. The Battle of Towton in 1461 was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on English soil, with an estimated 28,000 casualties. The war only ended when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

What’s often forgotten is how the war transformed English society. The old feudal nobility was largely destroyed, paving the way for the rise of the Tudor dynasty and the eventual English Renaissance. The war also established precedents for royal succession that would influence English politics for centuries. Yet in popular memory, it’s often reduced to a simple story of good versus evil, losing the complex political and social changes it produced.

The Dutch Revolt: 80 Years of Independence

The Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648) saw the Dutch fight their way to independence from the Spanish Empire, but it’s often overshadowed by the more famous Thirty Years’ War that occurred simultaneously. This conflict established the Netherlands as a major European power and created the first modern republic since ancient Rome.

The war began with Spanish attempts to suppress Protestantism in the Low Countries but evolved into a broader struggle for political independence. The Dutch developed new military tactics, including the use of defensive fortifications and professional armies, that would influence European warfare for generations. The economic cost to Spain was enormous, contributing to the decline of the Spanish Empire.

The conflict’s end came with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which formally recognized Dutch independence. Yet the war’s broader significance is often forgotten. It established principles of religious tolerance and representative government that would later influence the American and French Revolutions. The Dutch Republic became a model for other independence movements across Europe.

The Teutonic Terror: Poland’s 116-Year Struggle

The Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic Wars represent one of the most significant but forgotten conflicts in Eastern European history. The Battle of Grunwald in 1410 was one of the largest battles of medieval Europe, involving over 60,000 combatants. The Polish-Lithuanian victory broke the power of the Teutonic Knights, but fighting continued sporadically for over a century.

The conflict had profound implications for the balance of power in Eastern Europe. The Teutonic Knights, originally a crusading order, had established a powerful state in Prussia and the Baltic region. Their defeat allowed Poland-Lithuania to become the largest country in Europe, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

What makes this war particularly forgotten is how it’s overshadowed by later conflicts involving the same regions. The rise of Prussia in the 18th century and the eventual partitions of Poland have obscured the earlier period when Poland was a major European power. The war’s outcome shaped the development of Eastern Europe for centuries, yet it remains largely unknown outside of Poland and Lithuania.

The Venetian Nightmare: 322 Years Against the Ottomans

The Venetian-Ottoman Wars (1396-1718) represent one of the longest series of conflicts between Christian and Islamic powers, yet they’re often forgotten in favor of more famous Ottoman campaigns. These wars were crucial in determining the fate of the Eastern Mediterranean and the decline of Venice as a major power.

The conflicts began when the Ottoman Empire expanded into the Balkans and threatened Venetian trade routes. Venice, despite its wealth and naval power, found itself increasingly outmatched by the expanding Ottoman military machine. The wars included famous sieges like the defense of Crete (1648-1669), which lasted 21 years and ended in Ottoman victory.

The human and economic cost was devastating for Venice. The republic was forced to spend enormous sums on fortifications and naval warfare, ultimately leading to its decline as a major power. The wars also had broader implications for European balance of power, as other Christian nations were forced to choose between supporting Venice or accepting Ottoman expansion.

The Circassian Holocaust: Russia’s 101-Year Genocide

The Russo-Circassian War (1763-1864) ended with one of the 19th century’s most complete genocides, yet it remains virtually unknown outside of the Caucasus region. This 101-year conflict between the Russian Empire and the Circassian peoples of the North Caucasus resulted in the death or displacement of over 90% of the Circassian population.

The war began as part of Russia’s expansion into the Caucasus but evolved into a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing. Russian forces used scorched earth tactics, destroying Circassian villages and forcing survivors into exile. The final campaigns in the 1860s were deliberately designed to eliminate the Circassian people as a distinct ethnic group.

The aftermath was catastrophic. An estimated 1.5 million Circassians were killed or forced into exile, primarily to the Ottoman Empire. Entire cultures and languages were lost forever. The Russian Empire then settled the region with Russian and other ethnic groups, completing the demographic transformation. This systematic genocide predated the Holocaust by nearly a century but remains largely forgotten by the international community.

Apache Thunder: America’s 93-Year Desert War

The Apache Wars (1831-1924) represent one of the longest conflicts in North American history, yet they’re often reduced to the story of Geronimo’s final surrender. This 93-year struggle between Apache tribes and first Mexico, then the United States, involved some of the most skilled guerrilla warfare in military history.

The conflict began with Mexican attempts to control Apache territory but intensified after the American conquest of the Southwest. The Apache, led by warriors like Cochise and Geronimo, proved to be masters of desert warfare. They used their knowledge of the terrain to conduct raids and then disappear into the mountains, frustrating both Mexican and American forces.

The war’s end came not with military defeat but with the gradual erosion of Apache independence. The last Apache resistance ended in 1924, long after Geronimo’s famous surrender in 1886. The conflict’s legacy includes the development of new military tactics and the tragic destruction of Apache culture. Yet popular memory focuses almost exclusively on a few famous leaders, ignoring the broader 93-year struggle for survival.

The Chichimeca Horror: Spain’s 40-Year Nightmare

The Chichimeca War (1550-1590) was one of the longest and most brutal colonial conflicts in the Americas, yet it’s virtually unknown outside of Mexico. This 40-year struggle between the Spanish Empire and the Chichimeca peoples of north-central Mexico was characterized by extreme violence on both sides.

The conflict began when Spanish expansion into the silver-rich regions of northern Mexico encountered fierce resistance from the Chichimeca peoples. Unlike other indigenous groups who had been quickly conquered, the Chichimeca were nomadic warriors who proved extremely difficult to defeat. They conducted devastating raids on Spanish settlements and mining operations.

The war’s brutality was extraordinary even by colonial standards. Spanish forces engaged in systematic torture and massacre, while Chichimeca warriors developed new tactics specifically designed to terrorize their enemies. The conflict only ended when the Spanish abandoned military conquest in favor of negotiation and settlement. The war’s legacy includes the development of new colonial policies and the tragic destruction of indigenous cultures.

The Philippine Tragedy: America’s 14-Year Counterinsurgency

The Philippine-American War (1899-1913) is often overshadowed by the Spanish-American War that preceded it, but it was far deadlier and longer-lasting. This 14-year conflict saw the United States engage in its first major counterinsurgency campaign, establishing patterns that would be repeated in later conflicts.