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15 of the Weirdest, Pettiest Causes of Wars and Diplomatic Disputes

From pastry shop owners to pigs, camels to flags, and dogs to lighthouses, these absurd disputes have sparked some of the strangest wars in history.

15 of the Weirdest, Pettiest Causes of Wars and Diplomatic Disputes

December 30, 2022

Ah, the joys of international relations! For centuries, nations have clashed over borders, resources, and ideologies, resulting in wars, skirmishes, and disputes that have shaped the world we live in today. But sometimes, these conflicts are sparked by the most unlikely of causes. From a French pastry shop owner’s claim for compensation to a farmer shooting a pig, some of the most bizarre and ridiculous international conflicts have arisen from the most unlikely of sources. This list looks at some of the most absurd international conflicts in history, from the Pastry War and the Pig War to the War of the Bucket and the War of Jenkins’ Ear. From disputes over guano and a dog running across a border to a severed ear and a woman’s camel, these stories are a testament to the power of the human imagination, and the lengths we will go to defend our beliefs and our pride. So, without further ado, let us dive into the strange and wonderful world of international conflicts and their unlikely causes. Read on to learn more about these bizarre stories and their surprising outcomes!

15

Kaiser Wilhelm I saves the day!

Farmer shoots pig, U.S. and Britain face off. The Pig War of 1859 was an obscure and unusual war over a border dispute on San Juan Island, which was eventually settled by Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany in 1872. The conflict began when an American farmer shot a British pig that had wandered onto his land, leading to a stand-off between the two sides. CRACKED — Hein Nouwens/Shutterstock
Historic UK

14

The Pastry War

French pastry shop dispute leads to Mexican-French War. The Pastry War was a conflict between Mexico and France that lasted from 1838 to 1839. It was triggered by a dispute over a French pastry shop owner's claim for compensation for damages suffered during the Mexican civil war. CRACKED — Sonya illustration/Shutterstock
ThoughtCo.

13

Al-Basūs’ camel: The cause of a 40-year tribal war.

Woman's camel sparks 40-year feud. In the 5th and 6th centuries, a female camel belonging to a woman named al- Basús sparked a 40-year feud between two Arabian tribes, the Taghlib and the Bakr, after it broke free of its tether and was killed by the Taghlib leader Kulayb ibn Rabi'a. — artistsayeed/Shutterstock
Grunge

12

Border-crossing canine sparks deadly conflict.

Dog causes deadly war. Tensions between Greece and Bulgaria had been high since the end of the Balkan League, leading to border skirmishes and the Second Balkan War of 1913. In 1925, a dog running across the border sparked a skirmish that ended with a Greek captain and his aide being killed. CRACKED — Paulina Rosales/Shutterstock
War History Online

11

Tourist resorts, military presences, and artificial islands: Spratly Islands’ unique mix.

Six countries, one archipelago: Spratly Islands' drama. The Spratly Islands are a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea, claimed China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, and are home to a variety of military presences, tourist resorts, and artificial islands. CRACKED — NASA/Wiki Commons
Atlas Obscura

10

Football match turns deadly: 3-2 scoreline sparks war.

Football match sparks a deadly conflict. The 1969 Football War between El Salvador and Honduras was sparked by a deciding match between the two countries in which El Salvador won 3-2. The conflict resulted in thousands of deaths and displacement of people due to underlying tensions between the two countries. CRACKED — gualtiero boffi/Shutterstock
BBC

9

U.N. miscalculation: 47 miles of icy battleground.

Himalayan glacier now world's highest battleground. Since 1984, Indian and Pakistani forces have been occupying posts on or near the 47-mile-long Siachen Glacier in the Himalayas, leading to high tensions in the world's highest battleground. U.N. officials did not think the region would be disputed due to its inhospitable terrain. CRACKED — Sandeep Singh Reyal/Shutterstock
Atlas Obscura

8

Yugoslavia’s breakup leads to fines for fishermen.

Croatia and Slovenia's MOM Piran Gulf dispute continues. The dispute has been ongoing since the breakup of Yugoslavia, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling in 2017 has not been accepted, making it a European issue. Fishermen have been the most affected by the dispute, with both countries issuing fines to those who cross the border. CRACKED — MaKars/Shutterstock
AgenSIR

7

Two countries, one island: Who will win the Machias Seal Island turf war?

Tiny island, huge dispute: Who will claim Machias Seal Island? Machias Seal Island is a disputed territory between the United States and Canada, located three leagues off the coast of Maine and 3.5 leagues off the coast of New Brunswick's Grand Manan Island. Canada has been more assertive in occupying the land, while the U.S. has taken a less active approach. CRACKED — Allan Wood Photography/Shutterstock
Atlas Obscura

6

Märket Lighthouse causes boundary chaos.

Z-shaped makeover after + lighthouse dispute. Märket Lighthouse was built on the wrong side of a Finnish/Swedish island, which eventually led to the redrawing of the island's boundaries into a haphazard Z-shape. CRACKED — bioraven/Shutterstock
Atlas Obscura

5

The War of the Bucket

Bucket snatching leads to war. The War of the Bucket was a short-lived war between the Italian city-states of Bologna and Modena in 1325, which allegedly started when Modenese soldiers stole a wooden bucket. Modena eventually won the war, and the bucket is still a source of playful dispute between the two cities to this day. CRACKED — Tatiana Ivleva/Shutterstock
All That’s Interesting

4

Flags, booze, and 50 years of silliness: Hans Island’s strange dispute.

Flags, alcohol, + and 50 years of surreal dispute. Hans Island, a tiny chunk of land in the Nares Strait between Greenland and Canada, was for 50 years at the center of an often surreal territorial dispute between Canada and Denmark, involving flag-raisings, bottles of alcohol, and other light-hearted gestures. CRACKED — jumpingsack/Shutterstock
National Geographic

3

Fertilizer and gunpowder: The cause of the War of the Pacific

War Over Guano The War of the Pacific was fought between Chile, Bolivia, and Peru over control of the Atacama Desert, which was home to large deposits of guano, a valuable fertilizer and gunpowder ingredient. CRACKED — Bodor Tivadar/Shutterstock
The National Interest

2

Severed Ear Leads to Epic Conflict.

British sea captain's ear sparks war. The War of Jenkins' Ear was a conflict between England and Spain in 1739, sparked by the presentation of a severed ear belonging to British Sea Captain Robert Jenkins. It became a symbol of English pride and led to a war between the two countries. CRACKED — Arthur Balitskii/Shutterstock
Historic UK

1

WWII: Still Not Over?! Russia & Japan at Odds Over Kuril Islands.

World War II not over yet? The Kuril Islands are a disputed chain of islands between Russia and Japan, which has led to the two superpowers avoiding signing a peace treaty to officially end World War II. CRACKED — RIA Novosti/Wiki Commons
Atlas Obscura

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