Top 10 Stupid Things That Started Wars

Any war involves a lot of decisions, and somebody has to make them. Most of the time, there is a good reason to start a war, and when somebody decides it is the time to fight, usually they have a powerful motivation. Unfortunately, in the world’s history, there were also some wars that have been started by mistake, of for the stupidest reasons possible.
Are you curious about them? Here is a top 10 with the stupidest things that started wars:

10. The Great Guano War

The Great Guano War, also known as the war of the Pacific, was a fight between Chile, Bolivia, and Peru. It happened between 1879 and 1883. In Spanish, Guano means bird dropping, so this was can be also considered a fight for bird poo. The truth is that guano contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, which are really effective materials in manufacturing gun powder. Back then, the guano was worth gold. All this deposit of guano was located on the cost of the Atacama Desert. The war was won by Chile, due to its superior navy.

9. The War of Dahis and Ghabra

This war between two Arab tribes (Dhubiyan and Abs) lasted 40 years. It was more a dispute for a horse race, and both tribes accused each other of cheating. The leader of Abs challenged the leader of Dhubhiyan to a race. The Abs horse, Dahis – a very famous speed breed, run against Ghabra, the Dhubhiyans horse. During the race, Ghabra took the lead, but Dahis came back. When Dahis has almost won, Dhubyanites prepared an ambush and took the horse out from the race. This is how the 40 year war started, but nobody knows who won.

8. The Pastry War

In 1838, France started a war against Mexico. It was more a naval blockade, in which France captured Veracruz. However, it didn’t last long, because Great Britain interfered, bringing the peace. But why did this war start? Because in 1828, during the civil disturbance in France, a French pastry cook, accused some Mexican soldiers they vandalized his shop. He tried to get a payment from the Mexican government, but nobody bothered. Ten years later, King Louis Philippe of France started a war for the chef.

7. The French Invasion of Algeria

Between 1830 and 1960, Algeria was under French domination, and before that they were a part of Ottoman Regency. The relations with France were at edge on that time, and the Ottoman ruler of Algeria, Dey Hussein, wanted an answer from the French Consul regarding the outstanding debt. He didn’t like the answer, and used it as an opportunity to start a war. He blocked the Algerian ports, and bombarded a French ship that came for negotiation. French used it as a war declaration and invaded Algeria.

6. 301 Year War for Shaving a Beard

In 1137, the bearded King Louis VII of France and Eleanor Duchess of Aquitaine got married. As a present, they received two provinces in Frances. Later, the king went for the Crusaders, and when he returned, he was clean shaved. The queen didn’t like it at all, and asked him to grow his beard back. Louise refused, so they divorced. Eleanor went back to England, she got married to King Henry II, and she ordered war on France. It lasted 301 years, and France won.

Link: http://www.omgten.org/2014/08/24/top-10-stupid-things-that-started-wars/