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List of wars extended by diplomatic irregularity

Updated: 11/6/2025, 1:04:48 AM Wikipedia source

There are different claims of wars extended by diplomatic irregularity which involve long peaceful periods after the end of hostilities where, for various reasons, the belligerents could be considered to be in a technical state of war. For example, occasionally small countries named in a declaration of war would accidentally be omitted from a peace treaty ending the wider conflict. Such "extended wars" are discovered much after the fact, and have no impact during the long period (often hundreds of years) after the actual fighting ended. The discovery of an "extended war" is sometimes an opportunity for a friendly ceremonial peace to be contracted by the belligerent parties. Such peace ceremonies are even conducted after ancient wars where no peace treaty was expected in the first place, and in cases where the countries were not even at war at all. These "treaties" often involve non-sovereign sub-national entities, such as cities, who do not in reality have the power to declare or end wars. Related situations (not necessarily listed below) include:

Frozen conflicts, where an armistice (ceasefire) is signed or fighting comes to an end, but there is intentionally no peace treaty because the underlying political conflict has not been resolved. A state of war that ends without a peace treaty when the original declaration of war was deemed to be illegal, such as the declaration of war by Thailand against the United States was mutually recognized to be after World War II. Political conflicts that continue after the signing of a peace treaty that formally ends the state of war. For example, the Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956 ended the state of war between Japan and the Soviet Union that was declared during World War II, but the Kuril Islands dispute remains an unresolved consequence of the war.

Tables

· Extended wars
Huéscar vs Denmark
Huéscar vs Denmark
Combatants → Isles of Scilly vs Dutch Republic
Huéscar vs Denmark
Historical conflict → First Anglo-Dutch War (Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War)
Peninsular War
Period of de facto conflict → 1651–1654
1809–1814
De jure peace → 1986
1981
De facto duration, years → 4
6
De jure duration, years → 335
172
De facto – de jure difference, years → 329
167
Status of claim → The Dutch Republic under Maarten Tromp declared war solely on the Isles of Scilly, as the final stronghold of the Royalist naval force which was capturing Dutch merchant ships. When the Dutch and the Commonwealth of England signed the Treaty of Westminster (1654), this separate state of war was not mentioned and thus not included in the peace. The Dutch ambassador, visiting in April 1986 to conclude peace, joked that it must have been harrowing to the Scillonians "to know we could have attacked at any moment."
The Spanish town of Huéscar declared war on Denmark, as a result of the Napoleonic wars over Spain, where Denmark supported the French Empire. The official declaration of war was forgotten until it was discovered by a local historian in 1981, followed by the signing of a peace treaty on 11 November 1981 by the city mayor and the Ambassador of Denmark. Not a single shot was fired during the 172 years of war, and nobody was killed or injured.
Montenegro vs Japan
Montenegro vs Japan
Combatants → Isles of Scilly vs Dutch Republic
Montenegro vs Japan
Historical conflict → First Anglo-Dutch War (Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War)
Russo-Japanese War
Period of de facto conflict → 1651–1654
1904–1905
De jure peace → 1986
2006
De facto duration, years → 4
2
De jure duration, years → 335
102
De facto – de jure difference, years → 329
101
Status of claim → The Dutch Republic under Maarten Tromp declared war solely on the Isles of Scilly, as the final stronghold of the Royalist naval force which was capturing Dutch merchant ships. When the Dutch and the Commonwealth of England signed the Treaty of Westminster (1654), this separate state of war was not mentioned and thus not included in the peace. The Dutch ambassador, visiting in April 1986 to conclude peace, joked that it must have been harrowing to the Scillonians "to know we could have attacked at any moment."
Montenegro declared war in support of Russia but Montenegro lacked a navy or any other means to engage Japan. After Montenegro (independent in 1904, but united with Serbia by 1918) had voted in 2006 to resume its independence, it concluded a separate peace treaty in order to establish diplomatic relations with Japan. See Japan–Montenegro relations.
Costa Rica vs Germany
Costa Rica vs Germany
Combatants → Isles of Scilly vs Dutch Republic
Costa Rica vs Germany
Historical conflict → First Anglo-Dutch War (Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War)
World War I
Period of de facto conflict → 1651–1654
1918
De jure peace → 1986
1945
De facto duration, years → 4
1
De jure duration, years → 335
28
De facto – de jure difference, years → 329
27
Status of claim → The Dutch Republic under Maarten Tromp declared war solely on the Isles of Scilly, as the final stronghold of the Royalist naval force which was capturing Dutch merchant ships. When the Dutch and the Commonwealth of England signed the Treaty of Westminster (1654), this separate state of war was not mentioned and thus not included in the peace. The Dutch ambassador, visiting in April 1986 to conclude peace, joked that it must have been harrowing to the Scillonians "to know we could have attacked at any moment."
Due to a dispute over the legitimacy of the government of Federico Tinoco Granados, Costa Rica was not a party to the Treaty of Versailles and did not unilaterally end the state of war. The technical state of war ended after World War II only after they were included in the Potsdam Agreement. Costa Rica did not issue a declaration of war against Germany in World War II.
Soviet Union vs Japan
Soviet Union vs Japan
Combatants → Isles of Scilly vs Dutch Republic
Soviet Union vs Japan
Historical conflict → First Anglo-Dutch War (Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War)
Soviet–Japanese War(Part of World War II)
Period of de facto conflict → 1651–1654
1945
De jure peace → 1986
1956
De facto duration, years → 4
1
De jure duration, years → 335
11
De facto – de jure difference, years → 329
10
Status of claim → The Dutch Republic under Maarten Tromp declared war solely on the Isles of Scilly, as the final stronghold of the Royalist naval force which was capturing Dutch merchant ships. When the Dutch and the Commonwealth of England signed the Treaty of Westminster (1654), this separate state of war was not mentioned and thus not included in the peace. The Dutch ambassador, visiting in April 1986 to conclude peace, joked that it must have been harrowing to the Scillonians "to know we could have attacked at any moment."
The Soviet–Japanese War was a short conflict that lasted less than a month in 1945. However, despite this, the Soviets refused to sign the Treaty of San Francisco and did not unilaterally end the state of war. Ultimately, the state of war was not formally ended until the Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956, 11 years later.
Poland vs Japan
Poland vs Japan
Combatants → Isles of Scilly vs Dutch Republic
Poland vs Japan
Historical conflict → First Anglo-Dutch War (Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War)
World War II
Period of de facto conflict → 1651–1654
1941–1945
De jure peace → 1986
1957
De facto duration, years → 4
4
De jure duration, years → 335
16
De facto – de jure difference, years → 329
12
Status of claim → The Dutch Republic under Maarten Tromp declared war solely on the Isles of Scilly, as the final stronghold of the Royalist naval force which was capturing Dutch merchant ships. When the Dutch and the Commonwealth of England signed the Treaty of Westminster (1654), this separate state of war was not mentioned and thus not included in the peace. The Dutch ambassador, visiting in April 1986 to conclude peace, joked that it must have been harrowing to the Scillonians "to know we could have attacked at any moment."
In December 1941, the Polish government-in-exile unilaterally declared war on Japan. However, as Soviet-occupied Poland refused to sign the Treaty of San Francisco, the country also did not unilaterally end the state of war. Ultimately, the state of war was not formally ended until 1957, when Japan concluded a separate peace treaty in order to establish diplomatic relations with the Polish People's Republic. See Japan–Poland relations.
UN Forces (led by United States) vs Iraq
UN Forces (led by United States) vs Iraq
Combatants → Isles of Scilly vs Dutch Republic
UN Forces (led by United States) vs Iraq
Historical conflict → First Anglo-Dutch War (Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War)
Gulf War
Period of de facto conflict → 1651–1654
1991
De jure peace → 1986
2003
De facto duration, years → 4
1
De jure duration, years → 335
13
De facto – de jure difference, years → 329
12
Status of claim → The Dutch Republic under Maarten Tromp declared war solely on the Isles of Scilly, as the final stronghold of the Royalist naval force which was capturing Dutch merchant ships. When the Dutch and the Commonwealth of England signed the Treaty of Westminster (1654), this separate state of war was not mentioned and thus not included in the peace. The Dutch ambassador, visiting in April 1986 to conclude peace, joked that it must have been harrowing to the Scillonians "to know we could have attacked at any moment."
The UN resolution which ended the first Gulf War only enacted a ceasefire. It did not end the state of war with Iraq. The British Government would, 12 years later, use the de jure state of war with Iraq to provide the legal basis for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Opponents of the Iraq War have criticised this interpretation, with one source labelling it as "legal gymnastics" (see Legality of the Iraq War).
mw- }.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- Period between declaration of war and de facto peace
mw- }.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- Period between declaration of war and de facto peace
Combatants → Isles of Scilly vs Dutch Republic
mw- }.mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- Period between declaration of war and de facto peace
Combatants
Historical conflict
Period of de facto conflict
De jure peace
De facto duration, years
De jure duration, years
De facto – de jure difference, years
Status of claim
Isles of Scilly vs Dutch Republic
First Anglo-Dutch War (Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War)
1651–1654
1986
4
335
329
The Dutch Republic under Maarten Tromp declared war solely on the Isles of Scilly, as the final stronghold of the Royalist naval force which was capturing Dutch merchant ships. When the Dutch and the Commonwealth of England signed the Treaty of Westminster (1654), this separate state of war was not mentioned and thus not included in the peace. The Dutch ambassador, visiting in April 1986 to conclude peace, joked that it must have been harrowing to the Scillonians "to know we could have attacked at any moment."
Huéscar vs Denmark
Peninsular War
1809–1814
1981
6
172
167
The Spanish town of Huéscar declared war on Denmark, as a result of the Napoleonic wars over Spain, where Denmark supported the French Empire. The official declaration of war was forgotten until it was discovered by a local historian in 1981, followed by the signing of a peace treaty on 11 November 1981 by the city mayor and the Ambassador of Denmark. Not a single shot was fired during the 172 years of war, and nobody was killed or injured.
Montenegro vs Japan
Russo-Japanese War
1904–1905
2006
2
102
101
Montenegro declared war in support of Russia but Montenegro lacked a navy or any other means to engage Japan. After Montenegro (independent in 1904, but united with Serbia by 1918) had voted in 2006 to resume its independence, it concluded a separate peace treaty in order to establish diplomatic relations with Japan. See Japan–Montenegro relations.
Costa Rica vs Germany
World War I
1918
1945
1
28
27
Due to a dispute over the legitimacy of the government of Federico Tinoco Granados, Costa Rica was not a party to the Treaty of Versailles and did not unilaterally end the state of war. The technical state of war ended after World War II only after they were included in the Potsdam Agreement. Costa Rica did not issue a declaration of war against Germany in World War II.
Soviet Union vs Japan
Soviet–Japanese War(Part of World War II)
1945
1956
1
11
10
The Soviet–Japanese War was a short conflict that lasted less than a month in 1945. However, despite this, the Soviets refused to sign the Treaty of San Francisco and did not unilaterally end the state of war. Ultimately, the state of war was not formally ended until the Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956, 11 years later.
Poland vs Japan
World War II
1941–1945
1957
4
16
12
In December 1941, the Polish government-in-exile unilaterally declared war on Japan. However, as Soviet-occupied Poland refused to sign the Treaty of San Francisco, the country also did not unilaterally end the state of war. Ultimately, the state of war was not formally ended until 1957, when Japan concluded a separate peace treaty in order to establish diplomatic relations with the Polish People's Republic. See Japan–Poland relations.
UN Forces (led by United States) vs Iraq
Gulf War
1991
2003
1
13
12
The UN resolution which ended the first Gulf War only enacted a ceasefire. It did not end the state of war with Iraq. The British Government would, 12 years later, use the de jure state of war with Iraq to provide the legal basis for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Opponents of the Iraq War have criticised this interpretation, with one source labelling it as "legal gymnastics" (see Legality of the Iraq War).
mw- Period between declaration of war and de facto peace
· Symbolic peace agreements
Sparta vs Athens
Sparta vs Athens
Combatants → Rome vs Carthage
Sparta vs Athens
Historical conflict → Third Punic War
Peloponnesian War
Period of de facto conflict → 149–146 BC
431–404 BC
De jure peace → 1985
1996
De facto duration → 4
28
De jure duration → 2134
2427
De facto – de jure difference → 2130
2399
Status of claim → Ancient Rome and Ancient Carthage never signed a peace treaty after the Romans seized and completely destroyed the city of Carthage in 146 BC and enslaved its entire surviving population, leaving no entity with which to make peace. In 1985 the mayors of modern Rome and Carthage municipality signed a peace treaty and accompanying pact of friendship.
The mayors of modern-day Athens and Sparta signed a symbolic agreement to end the war in 1996. By then, the two cities had been part of modern-day Greece for over a century.
Berwick-upon-Tweed vs Russia
Berwick-upon-Tweed vs Russia
Combatants → Rome vs Carthage
Berwick-upon-Tweed vs Russia
Historical conflict → Third Punic War
Crimean War
Period of de facto conflict → 149–146 BC
1853–1856
De jure peace → 1985
1966
De facto duration → 4
4
De jure duration → 2134
114
De facto – de jure difference → 2130
110
Status of claim → Ancient Rome and Ancient Carthage never signed a peace treaty after the Romans seized and completely destroyed the city of Carthage in 146 BC and enslaved its entire surviving population, leaving no entity with which to make peace. In 1985 the mayors of modern Rome and Carthage municipality signed a peace treaty and accompanying pact of friendship.
Local custom in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed states that when the United Kingdom declared war on the Russian Empire that the town was included by name in the declaration of war (because of uncertainty as to whether it belonged to England or Scotland), but was left out of the peace treaty. Although research concluded that the town had not in fact been mentioned in either, a peace treaty was nonetheless allegedly signed between Robert Knox and an unnamed Soviet official. However, Jim Herbert of the Berwick Borough Museum said in 2006 that contemporary newspaper reports did not confirm that a treaty had been signed, nor could Knox's remark to the Soviet official who was said to have attended the signing, "Tell the Russians they can sleep easy in their beds", be verified.
Period between declaration of war and de facto peace
Period between declaration of war and de facto peace
Combatants → Rome vs Carthage
Period between declaration of war and de facto peace
Combatants
Historical conflict
Period of de facto conflict
De jure peace
De facto duration
De jure duration
De facto – de jure difference
Status of claim
Rome vs Carthage
Third Punic War
149–146 BC
1985
4
2134
2130
Ancient Rome and Ancient Carthage never signed a peace treaty after the Romans seized and completely destroyed the city of Carthage in 146 BC and enslaved its entire surviving population, leaving no entity with which to make peace. In 1985 the mayors of modern Rome and Carthage municipality signed a peace treaty and accompanying pact of friendship.
Sparta vs Athens
Peloponnesian War
431–404 BC
1996
28
2427
2399
The mayors of modern-day Athens and Sparta signed a symbolic agreement to end the war in 1996. By then, the two cities had been part of modern-day Greece for over a century.
Berwick-upon-Tweed vs Russia
Crimean War
1853–1856
1966
4
114
110
Local custom in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed states that when the United Kingdom declared war on the Russian Empire that the town was included by name in the declaration of war (because of uncertainty as to whether it belonged to England or Scotland), but was left out of the peace treaty. Although research concluded that the town had not in fact been mentioned in either, a peace treaty was nonetheless allegedly signed between Robert Knox and an unnamed Soviet official. However, Jim Herbert of the Berwick Borough Museum said in 2006 that contemporary newspaper reports did not confirm that a treaty had been signed, nor could Knox's remark to the Soviet official who was said to have attended the signing, "Tell the Russians they can sleep easy in their beds", be verified.
Period between declaration of war and de facto peace

References

  1. Period between declaration of war and de facto peace
  2. Period between declaration of war and de facto peace
  3. The Polish government-in-exile never recognized the peace treaty and remained in a technical state of war with Japan unt
  4. Time
    https://web.archive.org/web/20081221235608/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,961310,00.html
  5. "Famous moments and visits"
    https://www.huescar.org/efe_dinamarca.html
  6. "Ministry of foreign affairs of Denmark"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170729173011/http://spanien.um.dk/da/kultur%20og%20events/venskabsbyer/kolding-og-huescar/
  7. "Huéscar. Efemérides en la comarca de Huéscar. Visitas ilustres"
    http://www.huescar.org/efe_dinamarca.html
  8. "Montenegro, Japan to declare truce"
    https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2006/06/16/Montenegro_Japan_to_declare_truce/UPI-82871150474764/
  9. "The 102-year War between Montenegro and Japan – Slavic Chronicles"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200121001632/http://slavicchronicles.com:80/history/the-102-year-war-between-montenegro-and-japan/
  10. Treaty of peace with Germany: Hearings before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, sixty-sixth Congress, first session on the Treaty of peace with Germany, signed at Versailles on June 28, 1919, and submitted to the Senate on July 10, 1919
    https://archive.org/details/treatyofpeacewit00unit
  11. Mental Floss
    http://mentalfloss.com/article/30895/11-wars-lasted-way-longer-they-should-have
  12. Texts of Soviet–Japanese Statements; Peace Declaration Trade Protocol. New York Times, page 2, October 20, 1956. Subtit
    https://www.nytimes.com/1956/10/20/archives/texts-of-sovietjapanese-statements-peace-declaration-trade-protocol.html?sq=Soviet-Japanese+Joint+Declaration&scp=1&st=p
  13. "Strangest war in history? Seventy-one years ago today Poland declared WAR on its old friend Japan - and it lasted for 16 years – The First News"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20181212015007/https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/strangest-war-in-history-seventy-one-years-ago-today-poland-declared-war-on-its-old-friend-japan---and-it-lasted-for-16-years-3723
  14. "Poland Once Declared War on Japan - and It Lasted 16 Years"
    https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/remember-when-poland-declared-war-on-japan-and-it-lasted-16-years.html
  15. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/mar/17/iraq2
  16. "Was Britain's military action in Iraq legal?"
    https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/david-morrison/was-britains-military-action-in-iraq-legal
  17. Oborne, Peter
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34658655
  18. Wilmshurst, Elizabeth
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4377605.stm
  19. "Clegg clarifies stance after saying Iraq war 'illegal'"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10715629
  20. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-20-mn-10468-story.html
  21. "Sparta & Athens"
    https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1042700
  22. "Athens, Sparta sign peace pact"
    https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/03/12/Athens-Sparta-sign-peace-pact/9963826606800/
  23. The Daily Beast
    https://www.thedailybeast.com/berwick-upon-tweed-the-british-town-at-war-with-russia
  24. "Myth Or Reality? Berwick Revisits Its 'War With Russia'"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090219035127/http://www.culture24.org.uk/history/time/victorian/art38768
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