Saw an opportunity to neutralize the Byzantine empire and diverted their army to Constantinople.
They used the situation to weaken their greatest commercial competitor, the Byzantine Empire.
Pope Innocent III
First the Christian city of Zama and then the Byzantine city of Constantinople.
Binzantine manipulated the Fourth Crusade.
They weren't aware that their Venetian commanders would change course and attack the Byzantine Empire. Basically they started out going for the same reasons as the previous Crusaders.
They used the situation to weaken their greatest commercial competitor, the Byzantine Empire.
There was no advantage of the fourth crusade. The Venetian just randomly attacked the Byzantine and brought a fellow Christan empire to it's knees and sacked the city.
Pope Innocent III
Saw an opportunity to neutralize the Byzantine empire and diverted their army to Constantinople.
The Fourth Crusade lasted from 1202 to 1204.
First the Christian city of Zama and then the Byzantine city of Constantinople.
Binzantine manipulated the Fourth Crusade.
They weren't aware that their Venetian commanders would change course and attack the Byzantine Empire. Basically they started out going for the same reasons as the previous Crusaders.
Yes. A primarily French crusading army set out on the Fourth Crusade and in 1203 attacked Constantinople, ultimately sacking it with the help of Venetian naval forces.
The purpose of the Fourth Crusade was to conquer the country Jerusalem by entering through Egypt. The Fourth Crusade happened between the years of 1202 and 1204.
The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) primarily benefited the Venetian Republic, which orchestrated the expedition to redirect it for its own commercial interests. By capturing Constantinople in 1204, Venice significantly expanded its trade network and influence in the eastern Mediterranean, gaining control over lucrative trade routes. Additionally, the division of the Byzantine Empire allowed Venetian merchants to establish a dominant economic position in the region. Ultimately, the diversion of the Crusade from its original religious objective to a quest for economic gain underscored the interests of Venice over the crusading ideals.
The Fourth Crusade, launched in 1202, was a disaster primarily due to its diversion from the original goal of reclaiming Jerusalem. Instead of heading to the Holy Land, the crusaders were manipulated into attacking the Christian city of Zara and later Constantinople, driven by Venetian interests and financial debts. This betrayal deepened the schism between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, undermining the unity needed for a successful crusade. Ultimately, the Fourth Crusade not only failed to achieve its religious objectives but also weakened Christendom and exacerbated tensions between Christians and Muslims.