Britain launched their first recorded invasion at the end of second century as part of a Roman campaign against what is today France. This was the start of a pattern: Britain has invaded France more than any other country. This is all the more impressive when you consider that Britain has invaded more countries than any other. According to Stuart Laycock in his book, All the Countries We’ve Ever Invaded: And the Few We Never Got Round To, at one time or another, Britain has invaded every country but 22.

An article on this little factoid appears in this morning’s The Telegraph in a cheekily titled article, British have invaded nine out of ten countries—so look out Luxembourg. Some of the other countries who have avoided British incursions are Guatemala, Tajikistan and the Marshall Islands. There are other countries where Laycock has given Britain the benefit of the doubt. For example, Mongolia may have been invaded. The British definitely got within 50 miles of the country, but he couldn’t confirm that they actually went into it.

Britain isn’t the only country with such a record. France has also invaded a great many countries. Part of this is just history. When Rome had their empire, much of the world was unknown. It is hard to invade Costa Rica (as has Britain) if you don’t know it exists. And other countries are too young to have racked up too long a list. But they try:

Of course, we don’t use the term “invade”; we prefer “spread democracy.”

But if England invades Luxembourg, you’ll know what’s going on. People should finish what they start.