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Adapted from Sack of Constantinople, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for audio. This HearLore entry is also licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Sack of Constantinople

In May 1182, the Massacre of the Latins turned Roman Catholic inhabitants of Constantinople into victims of a brutal uprising led by Andronikos Komnenos. This event shattered political relations between Western Europe and the Byzantine Empire for decades. Venetian merchants had carefully mapped Constantinople's harbours years before the sack, possibly anticipating its economic potential. Alexios IV Angelos, the son of deposed emperor Isaac II Angelos, persuaded Boniface of Montferrat and the Venetians to help him reinstate his father. He promised 200,000 marks of silver as payment, along with the submission of the Eastern Orthodox Church to Rome. The agreement also included provisions for expedition supplies and joining the crusade against the Saracens. On the 1st of August 1203, pro-Crusader Alexios Angelos was crowned Emperor Alexios IV of the Byzantine Empire. Riots broke out later that month between anti-Crusader Greeks and pro-Crusader Latins, lasting until November. Most of the populace began to turn against him during this period. On the 25th of January 1204, the death of co-Emperor Isaac II set off rioting in Constantinople. The people deposed Alexios IV, who then turned to the Crusaders for help. He was imprisoned by imperial chamberlain Alexios Doukas, who declared himself Emperor on the 5th of February. Alexios V executed Alexios IV by strangulation on the 8th of February.

Siege And Breach

By the end of March, combined Crusader armies were besieging Constantinople while Emperor Alexios V strengthened city defenses. From their encampment in Galata across the Golden Horn, forces prepared to attack. On the 9th of April 1204, Crusader and Venetian forces began an assault on the Golden Horn fortifications. Bad weather drove them back when troops landing came under heavy archery fire in open ground. Weather conditions finally favored the Crusaders on the 12th of April 1204 as skies cleared. A strong north wind aided Venetian ships near the Golden Horn to come close to the city wall. Attackers seized some towers along the wall after a short battle. Approximately 70 Crusaders managed to enter the city through holes knocked in the walls large enough for knights to crawl through. Venetians scaled the walls from the sea during extremely bloody fighting with Varangians. The Crusaders captured the Blachernae section of the city in the northwest. They used it as a base to attack the rest of the city. While attempting to defend themselves with a wall of fire, they ended up burning down even more of the city. Emperor Alexios V fled that night through the Polyandriou Gate into the countryside.

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Common questions

What happened to Constantinople in May 1204 during the Fourth Crusade?

Crusader and Venetian forces besieged and captured Constantinople on the 9th of April 1204 after bad weather initially drove them back. The city was looted, pillaged, and vandalized for three days starting in April 1204 while Emperor Alexios V fled through the Polyandriou Gate.

Who led the sack of Constantinople in 1204 and what were their motivations?

Boniface of Montferrat and Venetian merchants organized the attack after Alexios IV Angelos promised 200,000 marks of silver and submission of the Eastern Orthodox Church to Rome. Venetians placed Baldwin of Flanders on the throne as Baldwin I of Constantinople because they believed Boniface had too many connections with the former empire.

How much wealth did Crusaders steal from Constantinople during the 1204 sack?

The total amount looted from Constantinople reached about 900,000 silver marks including 500,000 silver marks stolen by Crusader knights. Venetians received 150,000 silver marks as their due portion according to prearranged treaty terms.

When did the Massacre of the Latins occur before the 1204 conquest?

In May 1182 the Massacre of the Latins turned Roman Catholic inhabitants of Constantinople into victims of a brutal uprising led by Andronikos Komnenos. This event shattered political relations between Western Europe and the Byzantine Empire for decades prior to the siege.

What happened to famous artworks like the bronze horses from the Hippodrome after the 1204 sack?

Famous bronze horses from the Hippodrome were sent back to adorn the façade of St Mark's Basilica in Venice where they remain there to this day. Works of considerable artistic value were destroyed for their material value including the precious bronze statue of Hercules created by Lysippos which was melted down for minting money.

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Looting And Destruction

The Crusaders looted, pillaged, and vandalized Constantinople for three days starting in April 1204. Many ancient and medieval Roman and Greek works were either seized or destroyed during this period. Famous bronze horses from the Hippodrome were sent back to adorn the façade of St Mark's Basilica in Venice. These horses remain there to this day. Works of considerable artistic value were destroyed for their material value, including the precious bronze statue of Hercules created by Lysippos. Court sculptor Alexander the Great commissioned the statue before it was melted down for minting money. Despite oaths and threats of excommunication, Crusaders systematically assaulted holy sanctuaries. They destroyed or seized all deemed remotely valuable, sparing little. Tombs of emperors interned in the Church of the Holy Apostles were pillaged. Of the civilian population, an estimated 2,000 were killed. Churches, monasteries, and convents were sacked. Church altars were smashed and torn to pieces for gold and marble. Venetians stole religious relics and works of art, taking them back to Venice. Total amount looted from Constantinople reached about 900,000 silver marks. The Venetians received 150,000 silver marks as their due portion. Crusader knights purportedly stole 500,000 silver marks.

Partition Of Empire

According to a prearranged treaty, the empire was apportioned between Venice and crusade leaders after the sack. Boniface was not elected as new emperor despite citizens considering him such. Venetians thought he had too many connections with former empire through his brother Renier of Montferrat. Instead they placed Baldwin of Flanders on throne. He was crowned Emperor in Hagia Sophia as Baldwin I of Constantinople. Boniface went on to found Kingdom of Thessalonica, a vassal state of new Latin Empire. Venetians also founded Duchy of Archipelago in Aegean Sea. Most Byzantine aristocracy fled city following the capture. Ordinary people showed no sympathy for Byzantine elite who ruled with increasing incompetence. Contemporary historian Nicetas Choniates described column of aristocratic refugees including Patriarch making way to Selymbria. Byzantine aristocratic refugees founded successor states like Empire of Nicaea under Theodore Laskaris. Empire of Trebizond and Despotate of Epirus emerged from these displaced groups.

Byzantine Successor States

The sack weakened Byzantine Empire allowing neighboring groups like Sultanate of Rum to gain influence. Later Ottoman Turks gained power through Byzantine-Ottoman wars that followed. The restored Empire never managed to reclaim all its former territory or attain earlier economic strength. It gradually succumbed to rising Ottoman Empire over following two centuries. Byzantine aristocrats established small independent splinter states after fleeing Constantinople. One notable example was Empire of Nicaea which eventually recaptured Constantinople in 1261. This event proclaimed reinstatement of Empire though it remained smaller than before. The actions of Crusaders accelerated collapse of Christendom in east. In long run they helped facilitate later Ottoman conquests of southeastern Europe. Relations between Catholic and Orthodox Churches were wounded for many centuries afterwards. Reports of Crusader looting and brutality horrified Orthodox world.

Long Term Consequences

Eight hundred years after Fourth Crusade, Pope John Paul II twice expressed sorrow for how events transpired. In 2001 he wrote to Christodoulos Archbishop of Athens saying assailants turned against brothers in faith. Fact that they were Latin Christians filled Catholics with deep regret. In 2004 while Bartholomew I Patriarch of Constantinople visited Vatican, John Paul II asked how we could not share pain at distance of eight centuries. Some regarded this as apology to Greek Orthodox Church for slaughter perpetrated by warriors. In April 2004 speech on 800th anniversary capture city, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I formally accepted apology. Spirit of reconciliation stronger than hatred according to his words during liturgy attended by Roman Catholic Archbishop Philippe Barbarin. We receive with gratitude and respect cordial gesture for tragic events of Fourth Crusade. It is fact crime was committed here in city 800 years ago. Acceptance came in spirit of Pascha where resurrection incites toward reconciliation of churches.