Colonial war
Colonial wars were absolute conflicts for total control.
Colonial war is a broad term for conflicts that occurred when foreign powers settled overseas territories to establish colonies. It encompasses battles across the Americas, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and other regions from the 15th century onward. These conflicts are often seen as early examples of irregular warfare and prompted some of the first studies of counter-insurgency.
Traditionally, wars are grouped into three types: wars of conquest, wars of liberation, and wars between states. Colonial wars can fit any of these, but the term usually refers to a war of conquest. Such a war typically unfolds in two stages: a short period of conventional fighting between the invading force and an indigenous army (which may be less organized), followed by a longer phase of irregular warfare. Counter-insurgency operations might then be used to prepare the land for settlement. Once established, the colonizing power could launch expeditions into neighboring areas to retaliate against attacks or neutralize threats.
Colonial wars differed from regular wars between neighboring states in key ways. They were more political than military. While regular wars had limited goals, colonial wars were absolute: the conquering power sought total, permanent control over a territory and its people, aiming for lasting stability. Yet resources for colonial campaigns were usually scarce. Victory and defeat were also more complicated, because the defending force often lacked a single city, government, or ruler. There was little distinction between indigenous civilians and regular soldiers, and without a central authority, formal peace treaties were rare. Without a government to take over, administering conquered peoples was harder. To address this, colonial armies often built or rebuilt markets, schools, and other public institutions after a conflict—as the Americans did in the Philippines after the Spanish–American War.
European armies, the most common colonizers, were always professional and separate from the general population. Unlike regular armies at home, which remained idle until war broke out, colonial armies were constantly active, tasked with rebuilding and administering colonies. Soldiers in these forces developed their own military culture and practices, learning mostly from direct experience rather than formal education. European armies were almost always technically superio
- Era
- Late 15th century to 1974
- Common combatants
- European armies vs. indigenous forces
- Classification
- Typically a war of conquest
- Key characteristic
- More political than military; absolute goals
- Notable tactics
- Burning villages, theft of cattle, destruction of crops
Lore & Background
Colonial wars traditionally fall into three categories: wars of conquest, wars of liberation, and wars between states. The term typically refers to wars of conquest, which can be broken into two stages: brief regular warfare between an invading power and an indigenous force, followed by a period of irregular warfare. Counter-insurgency operations were sometimes undertaken to prepare territory for settlement. Once a foothold was established, expeditions into neighboring territory could be launched in retaliation or to neutralize a potential enemy.
Reader's Guide
Colonial wars differed from regular wars in several ways. They were more political than military, with conquering powers seeking total and permanent control over a territory and its population. Resources allotted to colonial campaigns were with few exceptions limited. The meanings of defeat and victory were complicated, as invading powers often faced a belligerent not encapsulated by a city, government, or ruler. Formal peace agreements were rarely made. European armies were always professional, technically superior, and maintained good discipline, while indigenous forces usually lacked such cohesion. Colonial powers employed colonial troops of mixed composition between metropolitan men and indigenous conscripts. Colonial warfare became prevalent in the late 15th century and is generally considered to have ended after the Portuguese Colonial War in 1974, though some consider the Falklands War of 1982 the last true colonial war.
Did You Know?
- Colonial wars are considered some of the first instances of irregular warfare.
- Germany developed colonial warfare doctrines and field manuals, though its system was less formalized than those of the British or French.
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