In 1651, during the English Civil War, the Dutch Republic declared war on the Isles of Scilly, which were controlled by Royalist forces.
And then… nothing happened.
No battles.
No casualties.
No fighting.
The conflict was essentially forgotten.
More than three centuries later, historians realized that no peace treaty had ever been signed.
In 1986 — 335 years later — the Netherlands formally signed a peace treaty with the Isles of Scilly.
The conflict is often referred to as the longest war in history.
While symbolic and largely technical, it highlights how bureaucratic oversights can create absurd historical footnotes.
The “war” technically lasted longer than most empires.
History isn’t only about dramatic battles.
Sometimes it’s about paperwork.