Fourth crusade
The Fourth Crusade was a series of military campaigns launched by Western Christians in 1202-1204. Unlike the previous three crusades, which had primarily aimed to recapture Jerusalem from Muslims, the Fourth Crusade had a more complicated and controversial objective.
In 1202, Pope Innocent III called for a new crusade with the aim of recapturing the Holy Land. However, due to various political and economic factors, the Crusaders diverted from their original target and ended up sacking the Byzantine capital, Constantinople.
The Crusaders initially gathered in Venice, where they had planned to hire ships to transport them to Egypt, a stronghold of Muslim power. However, they were unable to pay the full amount to the Venetians and struck a deal instead. The Venetians agreed to provide ships and transport the Crusaders if they helped Venice recapture the city of Zara, which had been taken by the Hungarians. This diversion led to excommunication from the Pope, as Zara was a Christian city.
After capturing Zara, the Crusaders faced further financial difficulties. They then made an agreement with Prince Alexios Angelos, the deposed son of the Byzantine Emperor, who promised them great wealth and military aid if they helped him overthrow his uncle and regain the Byzantine throne.
Under this new arrangement, the Crusaders attacked and successfully seized Constantinople in 1204. However, instead of fulfilling their promises to Prince Alexios, they acted against his interests. They plundered the city, looting churches, palaces, and private residences, leading to the destruction and dispersal of many important Byzantine works of art and manuscripts.
The Fourth Crusade resulted in the establishment of a Latin Empire in Constantinople, where a series of Latin Emperors ruled until 1261 when the Byzantines recaptured the city. The sacking of Constantinople was widely criticized by Christian leaders, and the Fourth Crusade is often considered a tragic and shameful episode in the history of the Crusades.