The knights and battles of the fourth Crusade

           4th crusade

 

Crusades
1202-1204 CE

 

The Sacking of Constantinople

The Fourth Crusade took place between 1202-1204 CE. It was called by Pope Innocent III and its goal was to retake Jerusalem from the Muslims. The fourth Crusade became one of the most bizarre of all the Crusades.

Due to a combination of organisation failure, financial constraints, and Venetian trading ambitions, the target ended up being Constantinople itself, Capital of the Byzantine Empire and the greatest Christian city in the world. On the 12th of April 1204 Constantinople was stripped of its wealth, relics and artworks and the Byzantine Empire was divided up between Venice and its allies.

Only a few Crusaders continued their journey to the Holy Land. The rest filled their pockets and went back home.