Wars, Conquering, Colonizing, Ruling Always Has Taken Place In The Whole World’s History, And It Always Matters In Human Being’s Existence As Their History. But there are few countries which were never invaded I Guess…
#1 Nepal
Nepal is a remote country in the Himalayas. At this time, the majority of the population – 80% – is engaged in farming and at the time of the British Raj, this number was even higher. The country is not particularly rich in natural resources and, because of the largely impassable nature of the border between it and China, isn’t even particularly strategically located to this day.
Because of the largely impassable nature of the border between it and China, isn’t even particularly strategically located to this day.
From the perspective of colonization, there just wasn’t much there. The Chinese couldn’t really get to it – you don’t send an army across the Himalayas if you want to actually use that army or ever see it again – and the British already had the riches of India. Colonizing Nepal would have been an expense and not one that would have come with any real payoff.
Colonizing Nepal would have been an expense and not one that would have come with any real payoff
The British and Nepalese did fight the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-1816. The Nepali forces were pretty much destroyed and the Nepali government ceded roughly a third of its territory to the British. This conflict was largely the result of the British rivalry with the Nepalese for influence in northern India and not the result of wanting to annex the whole country.
#2 Abyssinia/Ethiopia
I know most people will know that Ethiopia was in fact “invaded” a couple of times. But Ethiopia has kept it’s sovereignty for a long, long time – 3000 years in fact, so I think it deserves a mention.
Going back through Ethiopia’s history, there were a number of incursions into their territories under an emperor named Tewodros, mostly the Ottoman Empire, Egyptian forces and a British expeditionary force (1850-1870).
There were a number of incursions into their territories under an emperor named Tewodros, mostly the Ottoman Empire, Egyptian forces and a British expeditionary force
Then their history with Italy began with the Treaty of Wichale in May 1889 although they soon came into conflict with each other in the battle of Adwa on 1 March 1896 in which Italy’s colonial forces were defeated by the Ethiopians – the first defeat of a colonial power in Africa by the hands of the inhabitants.
It didn’t end there though as Italy returned in the Second Italo-Abyssinian War and Italian occupation (1936–1941) soon followed. Still 5 years isn’t a bad record in a 3000 year history.
#3 Bhutan
Until 17th century, Bhutan existed as a network of small warring kingdoms until it was unified by the Tibetan Buddhist lama – Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
Further down the line there were small skirmishes with neighbouring Nepal and (like it was only a matter of time), they came into contact with the British.
Bhutan agreed to retreat after a peace treaty with Britain still the Border engagements continued for the next hundred years.
A peace treaty was promptly signed with Britain after a couple of skirmishes, in which Bhutan agreed to retreat to it’s pre-1730 borders. However that didn’t last and border engagements continued for the next hundred years. This ended with Britain’s declaration of war in November 1864 (The Duar Wars) which Bhutan lost and had to sign the Treaty of Sinchula.
Then, in 1910 Bhutan signed the Treaty of Punakha, a subsidiary alliance which gave the British control of Bhutan’s foreign affairs although this had little real effect.
Britain’s influence over Bhutan lessened over time and Bhutan managed to keep it’s sovereignty so it makes the list.
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