The original goal of the Fourth Crusade was to conquer Jerusalem by invading Egypt, but it failed to achieve this objective. Due to a lack of funds, the Crusaders and Venetians instead attacked and sacked Constantinople in 1204 at the urging of Byzantine claimant Prince Alexius Angelos, despite objections from some Crusaders. This weakened the Byzantine Empire significantly and led to its decline, while strengthening relations between Western Europe and Venice. The sacking of Constantinople also created lasting divisions between Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

1. Name
Institution
Date
The Fourth Crusade
Synopsis
The original and main objective of the fourth crusade as initiated by Pope Innocent III was to
conquer the Muslim controlled Jerusalem through invasion of Egypt. The history dates back to
the year 1054 when there were wrangles between the two religious groups due to the
dissimilarity of their teaching doctrines (Jonathan, 3). However, the aim of the crusade was not
achieved as stated; instead there were attacks and counterattacks amongst the Christians
themselves.
Pope Innocent III launched the recruitment of the crusade leadership availing highly experienced
fighters such as Count Thibaut, Count Hugh, Count Louis, Count Baldwin and Marquis Boniface
of Montferrat (Jordan, 185). He also contacted Venetians warriors for support to strategically
capture and conquer the Nile Delta. The Venetian soldiers were highly experienced and had the
most advanced and sophisticated naval technology during the times (Jordan, 185). And so in the
autumn of 1202, about 25,000 Venetians soldiers left for the Nile Delta adorned with weapons
and pennants as they sail to capture the Muslims (Jordan, 185).
The inadequacy of enough capital and warriors were the major challenges that befell the
crusaders even before getting to the war front. Initially, the two parties (crusaders and Venetians)
had signed an agreement of paying 85,000 silver marks to Venetians soldiers for their support

2. during the crusade (Peters, 387). But by the summer of 1202 only a third of the amount had been
presented to them. To forestall their payment, the Venetians under the leadership of Doge
Dandolo, suggested on attack of Zara (Jonathan, 5). This however, drew controversies from the
crusaders owing to the fact that Zara was a Catholic city therefore attacking fellow Christians
was not accepted by some of them (Jonathan, 5). However, others believed the expedition would
not be successful without the assistance of the Venetians, therefore took part in November 24th
,
1202 took part in the attack. This was followed by the excommunication by Innocent III that was
later by the French crusaders.
In early 1203, Prince Alexius a claimant of Byzantine title promised the crusader additional
number of 10.000 warriors and 200,000 marks but on condition of reinstating him in
Constantinople (Peters, 387). Though once again, the prospects of turning against their fellow
Christians dismayed many of the crusaders and some chose to leave, others however, continue
with the attack of the Greeks (Jordan, 185). An onslaught was however not observed from the
crusaders opponents were watched as they move from the battle line. Ten months later, the
crusaders were to break into Constantinople again so as to obtain the Prince’s promise (Peters,
388). After this entry, they were disappointed due to the failure to receive additional warriors and
money as promised by the Prince. Instead, the crusaders remained desperate in a very hostile
place far away from home (Peters, 389). To fend for themselves they organized for another
attack on the walls along Golden Horn on April 1204. This time, the Byzantine were more
prepared and had built additional walls to prevent the crusaders from gaining entry(Jonathan, 7).
The Venetians and crusaders were observed failing and had lost hopes of remaining as captives
under the Greeks. However, just after midday of 12th
April, the crusaders’ ships moved closer to
the Golden wall being aided by the Northern wind (Jonathan, 9). The crusaders were able to

3. consolidate their ships and made the battle front stronger leading to the collapse of Byzantine
resistance that allowed them entre into the city (Jonathan, 9). Further attacks by the crusaders led
to loose of several properties and lives of the Byzantines giving them a win that they believed
was manifested by God.
Key players
Crusaders
They were western Europe Christians mainly of the catholic religion that organized an attack to
conquer Jerusalem by invasion of Egypt.
Venetians
They were the warriors that agreed to offer support to the crusaders to achieve their objective.
They were to be paid by the crusaders for their support
Byzantium
These are the Greeks of Constantinople mainly of the Orthodox Church who were attacked by
the venetians and the crusaders in the process of assisting Prince Alexius Angelos acquire
Byzantine title.
Pope Innocent III
He organized the leadership and the warriors that were to attack and conquer Jerusalem
Prince Alexius Angelos

4. He took advantage of the westerners’ lack of money and warriors and convinced them to attack
the Byzantium with a promise of giving then money and warriors to assist them achieve their
objective.
Significance
The fourth crusade had both instant and eventual significance. Firstly, the crusaders’ sack of
Constantinople and their ultimate settlement in the city weakened the Byzantine Empire and
further strengthened the schism between western and eastern churches. In addition to weakening
the Byzantine Empire, the crusade shrunk it leading to the loss of several territories, reducing its
population to up to about 30000, losing the empires wealth, important cultural artifacts and
eventual significance in the European region. While this went on European cities such as Venice
and Genoa expanded economically becoming the most significant economic cities. Moreover,
the destruction of the Empire resulted to change in trade routes within Europe as well as its long
term buffer role in trade between the Muslim Middle East and the west. Furthermore, the fourth
crusade created a distinctive ideological split between the orthodox Christianity and the Catholic
Europe which never got to be resolved

5. Work Cited
Jonathan Phillips. “The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople”. Published in History
Today Volume: 54, 5 (2004): 1-14
Jordan, William Chester. "An Ungodly War: The Sack of Constantinople and the Fourth
Crusade. By W. B. Bartlett. Phoenix Mill, U.K.: Sutton, 2000. Xviii + 229 Pp. $29.95 Cloths."
Church History 71.01 (2002): 185.
Peters, E. "Book Review: The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople." War in History
13.3 (2006): 387-389. Print.

6. Work Cited
Jonathan Phillips. “The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople”. Published in History
Today Volume: 54, 5 (2004): 1-14
Jordan, William Chester. "An Ungodly War: The Sack of Constantinople and the Fourth
Crusade. By W. B. Bartlett. Phoenix Mill, U.K.: Sutton, 2000. Xviii + 229 Pp. $29.95 Cloths."
Church History 71.01 (2002): 185.
Peters, E. "Book Review: The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople." War in History
13.3 (2006): 387-389. Print.