In a nutshell, Pope Innocent III organized a crusade, but there was nobody to adequately manage the logistics of the execution. Not all of the involved parties were on the same page, and what resulted was that the Venicians built enough ships for all of the crusaders, but not all of the crusader armies embarked from venice, instead embarking from different ports, with different ships. The crusaders that did arrive at venice didn't have enough silver to pay for the agreed amount. This severely damaged the venician economy, and since it was the venicians that upheld their part of the bargain while the crusaders did not, and the crusade was not going anywhere without venice. This presented an opportunity to a pretender for the Byzantine throne who promised: "offered to pay the entire debt owed to the Venetians, give 200,000 silver marks to the Crusaders, 10,000 Byzantine professional troops for the Crusade, the maintenance of 500 knights in the Holy Land, the service of the Byzantine navy to transport the Crusader Army to Egypt and the placement of the Eastern Orthodox Church under the authority of the Pope if they would sail to Byzantium and topple the reigning emperor" The Fourth Crusade wikipedia entry has a much more detailed description on the catastrophe that was the 4th crusade.
The Crusades had far-reaching political, economic, and social impacts, some of which have lasted into contemporary times. Because of internal conflicts among Christian kingdoms and political powers, some of the crusade expeditions were diverted from their original aim, such as the Fourth Crusade, which resulted in the sack of Christian Constantinople and the partition of the Byzantine Empire between Venice and the Crusaders. The Sixth Crusade was the first crusade to set sail without the official blessing of the Pope. The Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Crusades resulted in Mamluk and Hafsid victories, as the Ninth Crusade marked the end of the Crusades in the Middle East.
The city of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, was sacked and partially destroyed by the armies of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. This attack on fellow Christians caused a centuries-long schism in the church and allowed the Turks to conquer parts of the Byzantine Empire.
In 1204 AD, the Fourth Crusade culminated in the capture of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Originally intended to reclaim Jerusalem, the crusaders diverted their mission due to political and financial motivations, leading to the siege and eventual sacking of the city. This event marked a significant turning point in Byzantine history, weakening the empire and contributing to its eventual decline. The establishment of the Latin Empire of Constantinople followed, further altering the dynamics of power in the region.
The Crusades primarily affected regions in the Middle East, particularly the Levant, including modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. They also impacted parts of Europe, especially areas like France, England, and Germany, from which many crusaders originated. Additionally, the Byzantine Empire experienced significant turmoil due to the Crusades, particularly during the Fourth Crusade, which led to the sack of Constantinople in 1204. The repercussions of the Crusades also influenced North Africa and the broader Mediterranean region.
Constantinople
Constantinople
they sacked the city of Constantinople in the fourth crusade
Because they disobeyed his orders to not attack fellow Christians in Constantinople. The fourth Crusade was supposed to be an attack on Jerusalem to liberate it from Muslim occupation. Once the Crusaders turned towards Constantinople, it no longer was a just military operation.
Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople
The 4th Crusade ultimately resulted in the sack of Constantinople in 1204 by the Crusaders, rather than achieving its intended goal of reclaiming Jerusalem from Muslim control. The Latin Crusaders established the Latin Empire in Constantinople for a brief period before it was recaptured by the Byzantine Empire in 1261.
The Fourth Crusade began with the siege of the city of Zadar (aka Zara), a major port on the Adriatic Sea. From there the crusaders crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Egypt.
constantinople - apex
The crusaders took it under the king of Richard the lion heart