Career
Hamoud became sultan with the support of the British consul, Sir Basil Cave, upon the death of Hamad bin Thuwaini. Before he could enter the palace, another potential contender for the throne, Khalid bin Barghash, seized the palace and declared himself sultan. The British responded the next day, August 26, 1896, by issuing an ultimatum to Khalid and his entourage to evacuate the palace by 9:00 am on August 27.
When he refused, British warships fired on the palace and other strategic locations in the city, destroying them and causing Khalid and his group to flee. According to the Guinness Book of World Records the resultant Anglo-Zanzibar War was the shortest war in history, and the same day Hamoud was able to assume the title of sultan, more indebted to the British than ever. Hamoud demanded that slavery be banned in Zanzibar and that all the slaves be freed.
Sayyid Ali bin Hamud Al-Busaid, 8th Sultan of Zanzibar Prince Sayyid Majid bin Hamud Al-Busaid Prince Sayyid Saud bin Hamud Al-Busaid Prince Sayyid Taimur bin Hamud Al-Busaid Prince Sayyid Faisal bin Hamud Al-Busaid Prince Sayyid Muhammed bin Hamud Al-Busaid Princess Sayyida Matuka bint Hamud Al-Busaid (who married Sayyid Khalifa bin Harub Al-Busaid, 9th Sultan of Zanzibar) Princess Sayyida Boran bint Hamud Al-Busaid (who married Prince Sayyid Said bin Ali, the son of the fourth Sultan of Zanzibar) Princess Sayyida Mishan bint Hamud Al-Busaid (twin with Boran) Princess Sayyida Hakima bint Hamud Al-Busaid 1853-1896: Sayyid Hamud bin Muhammad.