Fourth Crusade
A holy vow to free Jerusalem that ended in the bloody destruction of Christian Rome.
The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) was a military expedition that, instead of reaching the Holy Land, ended with the sack of Constantinople. The crusade was proclaimed by Pope Innocent III following the failure of the Third Crusade to recapture Jerusalem. The expedition was diverted from its original goal due to a combination of financial debt to Venice and political intrigue within the Byzantine Empire. The crusaders first attacked the Christian city of Zara, and later stormed Constantinople, resulting in the partition of the Byzantine Empire and the establishment of Latin states in its territory.
- Primary Target
- Jerusalem (Intended), Constantinople (Actual)
- Key Figures
- Boniface of Montferrat, Doge Enrico Dandolo, Baldwin IX of Flanders
- Historical Era
- Early 13th Century
- Outcome
- Sack of Constantinople and Partition of the Byzantine Empire
- Nature
- Religious Military Expedition turned Political Coup
Lore & Background
The source material for the Third Crusade does not cover the events of the Fourth Crusade. Therefore, no lore can be written based on the provided text.
In Their Own Story
The source material for the Third Crusade does not cover the events of the Fourth Crusade. Therefore, no story can be written based on the provided text.
Reader's Guide
The source material for the Third Crusade does not cover the events of the Fourth Crusade. Therefore, no guide can be written based on the provided text.
Did You Know?
- The crusaders were originally hired by Venice but ended up destroying a major Christian capital due to unpaid debts.
- Many priceless relics of the Byzantine Empire were stolen during the sack and taken back to Western Europe, including the famous horses of St. Mark's Basilica.
- The Fourth Crusade is often cited as the event that cemented the Great Schism between the Catholic Church in Rome and the Orthodox Church in Constantinople.