Sultanate of Zanzibar fled into exile, and the Sultanate was replaced by the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba. In April 1964, this short-lived communist republic was united with Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which became known as Tanzania six months later. By 1964, the country was a constitutional monarchy ruled by Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah. Zanzibar had a population of around 230,000 natives, some of whom claimed Persian ancestry and were known locally as Shirazis. It also contained significant minorities in the 50,000 Arabs and 20,000 South Asians who were prominent in business and trade. The various
Battle of Zanzibar Battle of Zanzibar The Battle of Zanzibar was an encounter between the German "Kaiserliche Marine" and the British Royal Navy early in the First World War. While taking on coal in the delta of the Rufiji River in German East Africa) the German cruiser learned that a British cruiser, , which had been part of the Royal Navy's Cape Squadron sent to counter "Königsberg", had put in at Zanzibar for repairs. "Königsberg" captain, Commander Max Looff, decided to attack "Pegasus" while she was in port. On 20 September 1914 "Königsberg" sailed past the picket ship at the entrance to Zanzibar