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Fourth Crusade: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Fourth Crusade
Pope Innocent III issued a call for a new crusade in January 1198, marking the beginning of what would become the Fourth Crusade. The stated goal was to recapture Jerusalem by first defeating the powerful Egyptian Ayyubid Sultanate. This strategy mirrored the approach taken during Richard I's Third Crusade, which had successfully reclaimed coastal territories like Acre and Jaffa. By 1201, Count Thibaut of Champagne hosted a knightly tournament at his castle in Écry-sur-Aisne, where he vowed to join the expedition after mourning his uncle King Richard I of England. A council of leading barons including Louis of Blois and Baldwin of Flanders convened at Soissons in early 1200 to organize the journey. They agreed to avoid the dangerous overland route through Byzantine territory and instead sail directly to Egypt. To secure transport, these leaders appointed a six-member committee that included Geoffrey of Villehardouin, who later chronicled the events. The committee negotiated with Enrico Dandolo, Doge of Venice, who promised to build a fleet capable of carrying 33,500 crusaders. This ambitious number included 4,500 knights, 4,500 horses, 9,000 squires, and 20,000 foot soldiers. The agreement required a full year of preparation for Venice, involving ship construction, sailor training, and suspension of commercial activities.
The Venetian Contract
By May 1202, only about 12,000 crusaders had gathered at Venice, far fewer than the contracted 33,500. Many participants had sailed from other ports like Flanders, Marseille, and Genoa rather than Venice itself. The Venetians had fulfilled their obligation by providing 50 war galleys and 450 transports, enough for three times the assembled force. However, the crusaders could initially pay only 35,000 silver marks against the agreed 85,000 mark debt. Doge Enrico Dandolo threatened to keep them interned until full payment was made, forcing an additional collection of 14,000 marks that reduced many crusaders to extreme poverty. About 14,000 to 20,000 men were needed to man the entire fleet, placing severe strain on Venice's population of 60,000 to 100,000 people. The Republic had halted its commerce for months to prepare this expedition, making the financial shortfall catastrophic. Dandolo proposed a solution: the crusaders would work off their debts by helping Venice subdue rebellious Adriatic ports, culminating in an attack on Zara. This city, known as Zadar today, had rebelled in 1181 and allied with King Emeric of Hungary and Croatia. Despite papal warnings, the bulk of the army arrived at Zara between November 10 and 11, 1202.
When did Pope Innocent III issue the call for the Fourth Crusade?
Pope Innocent III issued a call for a new crusade in January 1198, marking the beginning of what would become the Fourth Crusade. The stated goal was to recapture Jerusalem by first defeating the powerful Egyptian Ayyubid Sultanate.
How many crusaders gathered at Venice in May 1202 compared to the contracted number?
By May 1202, only about 12,000 crusaders had gathered at Venice, far fewer than the contracted 33,500. Many participants had sailed from other ports like Flanders, Marseille, and Genoa rather than Venice itself.
What happened to the city of Zara during the Fourth Crusade in November 1202?
The city fell on the 24th of November 1202 after a brief siege despite citizens hanging banners marked with crosses from their windows and walls. Extensive pillaging followed, with Venetians and other crusaders coming to blows over division of spoils before leaders agreed to winter there.
Why did the Fourth Crusade sail to Constantinople instead of Egypt in 1203?
In January 1203, Byzantine prince Alexios IV Angelos offered to pay the entire debt owed to Venice if the Crusaders would sail to Constantinople and restore his father Isaac II Angelos to the throne. The offer included 200,000 silver marks for the crusaders and 10,000 Byzantine professional troops.
When was Constantinople captured by the Fourth Crusade and what were the immediate consequences?
The entire city was taken on the 13th of April 1204 following fighting that began on the 12th of April when weather favored the Crusaders. For three days following the capture, ancient Greco-Roman works were stolen or ruined, many civilians killed, and property looted totaling approximately 900,000 silver marks.
The citizens of Zara hung banners marked with crosses from their windows and walls, declaring themselves fellow Catholics to the attacking Crusader forces. Nevertheless, the city fell on the 24th of November 1202 after a brief siege. Extensive pillaging followed, with Venetians and other crusaders coming to blows over division of spoils. Order was eventually restored, and leaders agreed to winter in Zara while planning their next move. The fortifications of Zara were demolished by the Venetians. When Pope Innocent III learned of the sack, he sent a letter excommunicating the entire crusading army and ordering them to return to Jerusalem. Out of fear that this would dissolve the force, the leadership decided not to inform their followers about the excommunication. In February 1203, the Pope rescinded the excommunications against all non-Venetian participants, recognizing they had been coerced by Venetian pressure. Many crusaders opposed attacking Zara, including Simon V de Montfort's force, who refused to participate entirely and returned home or proceeded independently to the Holy Land. Cardinal Peter of Capua, the Papal legate, endorsed the attack as necessary to prevent complete failure of the crusade.
Diversion To Constantinople
In January 1203, while wintering at Zara, Byzantine prince Alexios IV Angelos offered to pay the entire debt owed to Venice if the Crusaders would sail to Constantinople and restore his father Isaac II Angelos to the throne. His proposal included 200,000 silver marks for the crusaders, 10,000 Byzantine professional troops, maintenance of 500 knights in the Holy Land, service of the Byzantine navy, and placement of the Eastern Orthodox Church under papal authority. The offer reached Crusader leaders on the 1st of January 1203. Doge Dandolo strongly supported the plan despite knowing the promises were likely false. Count Boniface of Montferrat agreed, and Alexios IV rejoined the fleet at Corfu after sailing from Zara. Most remaining leaders accepted the scheme due to bribes from Dandolo, though dissenters led by Renaud of Montmirail sailed directly to Syria. The fleet consisted of 60 war galleys, 100 horse transports, and 50 large transports, all manned by 10,000 Venetian oarsmen and marines. Three hundred siege engines accompanied the force. The main army arrived at Constantinople on the 23rd of June 1203, while other contingents continued to Acre.
Sack Of 1204
On the 12th of April 1204, weather finally favored the Crusaders when a strong northern wind helped Venetian ships approach the city walls. Approximately seventy crusaders managed to enter through holes knocked in the defenses, allowing only a few knights at a time to pass. The Venetians also scaled the walls from the sea during fighting with Byzantine infantry. The Crusaders captured the Blachernae section in the northwest and used it as a base to attack the rest of the city. They burned more of the city while attempting to defend themselves with fire, leaving 15,000 people homeless. The entire city was taken on the 13th of April 1204. For three days following the capture, ancient Greco-Roman works were stolen or ruined, many civilians killed, and property looted. Churches and monasteries were destroyed and defiled despite papal excommunication threats. Total loot amounted to approximately 900,000 silver marks: 150,000 went to Venice, 50,000 to the Crusaders, another 100,000 divided evenly between them, while 500,000 remained secretly with knightly leaders. Eyewitness accounts by Niketas Choniates, Geoffrey of Villehardouin, Robert of Clari, and the anonymous author of Devastatio Constantinopolitana all describe egregious rapacity.
Partition Of Empire
The Byzantine Empire was apportioned between Venice and Crusade leaders according to treaty, establishing the Latin Empire based in Constantinople. Baldwin of Flanders became emperor instead of Boniface of Montferrat, who founded the Kingdom of Thessalonica as a vassal state. Venetians established the Duchy of the Archipelago in the Aegean Sea. Byzantine refugees created rump states including the Empire of Nicaea under Theodore Laskaris, the Empire of Trebizond, and the Despotate of Epirus. This division was known as Partitio terrarum imperii Romaniae. Venice accumulated possessions in Greece forming part of its Stato da Màr, including Crete (Candia) from 1211 to 1669, Corfu from 1207 to 1214 and again from 1386 to 1797, and numerous coastal fortresses like Modon and Coron occupied in 1207. The Latin Empire faced constant warfare with Bulgarian Empire and Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm. The fragmented Eastern Roman rump states fought against crusaders, Bulgarians, Turks, and each other. Ultimately the crusaders lacked sufficient numbers to permanently hold their new conquests.
Long-Term Consequences
Constantinople was recaptured by Nicaean forces under Michael VIII Palaiologos in July 1261 with naval support from Genoese allies. This restored a diminished Byzantine Empire but left it territorially reduced and vulnerable to future invasions. The treasury had been depleted, most stolen by Crusaders, leaving the region short on soldiers, resources, people, and money. Control over most Balkans, Anatolia, and Aegean islands was lost permanently to Seljuks or Ottoman expansion. The schism between Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic Churches became complete and solidified following events of 1204. The Fourth Crusade contributed directly to the eventual fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in 1453. Historian Steven Runciman called it "never a greater crime against humanity" while Martin Arbagi described it as one of medieval history's great atrocities. Pope Innocent III placed most blame on Venice for diverting the expedition from its original purpose. The legacy included deep betrayal felt by Greek Christians and permanent loss of Eastern Roman lands not under stable government to Seljuk Turks in Anatolia.