The Nauruan Civil War was fought from 1878 to 1888, between forces loyal to incumbent King Aweida of Nauru and those seeking to depose him in favour of a rival claimant. The war was preceded by the introduction of firearms to Nauru. For the majority of the war, the loyalists and the rebels found themselves in a stalemate, with one side controlling the north and the other controlling the south. In 1888, the German Empire intervened by restoring Aweida to the throne, and also taking everyone' s firearms . (by the time they had finished, the Germans had confiscated 791 rifles from the Nauruans, which was almost a gun per person!)Even though aweida was in power again, the nauruans had lost 500 people which was around a 3rd of their population. Background Since the British captain John Fearn discovered Nauru in 1798, it had been avoided as much as possible by many ships , due to its notoriety as a station for pirates. Nevertheless, in the 19th century, the immigration of Europeans, often lawbreakers, steadily increased. Traditional life had been disrupted by the introduction of firearms and spirits, an unknown form of alcoholic drink in ancient Nauru, although the Nauruans consumed toddy (palm wine) for several thousand years.
The Nauruan Civil War was fought from 1878 to 1888, between forces loyal to incumbent King Aweida of Nauru and those seeking to depose him in favour of a rival claimant. The war was preceded by the introduction of firearms to Nauru. For the majority of the war, the loyalists and the rebels found themselves in a stalemate, with one side controlling the north and the other controlling the south. In 1888, the German Empire intervened by restoring Aweida to the throne, and by taking combatants' firearms (by the time they had finished, the Germans had confiscated 791 rifles from the Nauruans, nearly one gun for every inhabitant of the island). Over the course of the war, Nauru had lost around 500 people , a third of the pre-war population. Background Since the British captain John Fearn discovered Nauru in 1798, it had been avoided as much as possible by sailors , due to its notoriety as a station for pirates. Nevertheless, in the 19th century, the immigration of Europeans, often lawbreakers, steadily increased. Traditional life had been disrupted by the introduction of firearms and spirits, an unknown form of alcoholic drink in ancient Nauru, although the Nauruans consumed toddy (palm wine) for several thousand years.
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also taking everyone' s firearms .
by taking combatants' firearms
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which was almost a gun per person!)Even though aweida was in power again, the nauruans had lost
nearly one gun for every inhabitant of the island). Over the course of the war, Nauru had lost around
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which was around a 3rd of their
, a third of the pre-war
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many ships
sailors