The Hidden History of the Fourth Crusade (and Sacking of Constantinople)

Episode 11 The Fourth Crusade and the Crusading Impulse

1215: Years That Changed History

Dr Dorsey Armstrong (2019)

Film Review

The Fourth Crusade

The circumstances leading to the Fourth Crusade (1204) were set off by a succession dispute in the Byzantine Empire. Alexios IV Angelos, son of deposed emperor Emperor Isaac II, requested help from the Venetian banks (who financed the Crusades) and Pope Innocent III in reclaiming the throne. After a few skirmishes on the outskirts of Constantinople, Aleixios regained the throne, until a popular revolt deposed and murdered him. With Alexios dead and unable to repay the debt owed the Venetian bankers, the crusaders (according to Armstrong) spontaneously launched a frenzied attack on the richest city in the world.

In addition to looting most of the churches, for gold, silver, jewels and relics, they tortured monks turned many civilians out of their homes, raped women, slaughtered newborns and stripped elderly women to search them for gold and jewels.

Isaac II (who regained the throne) also died in 1204, and the first of several Latin emperors Count Baldwin was appointed to rule the Byzantine Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire continued to be ruled by Latin emperors, supported by a contingent of European troops, until 1261.

Infuriated by the vicious carnage, Pope Innocent II initially excommunicated, many participants in the Fourth Crusade, especially (according to Armstrong) those in the Venetian contingent.* He subsequently reinstated them after they handed over all the relics they had stolen.

Albigensian Crusade

The Albigensian (Cathar) Crusade** in 1209 was the next major crusade. Pope Innocent III allowed France’s northern nobility to seize the wealth of (and kill) many non-Cathars who defended themselves against crusaders.

The Children’s Crusade

The Children’s Crusade in 1212 had two principal leaders 12-year-old Stephen, from Cloyes (in central France)  and 10-year-old Nicholas of Cologne Germany. Joined by large numbers of poor adult peasants, there were 7,000-30,000 participants altogether in the Children’s Crusade. Many of the children were taken into brothels and slavery by greedy merchants who had promised them passage across the Mediterranean.

The Reconquista

In the early 13th century, many European Christians were till involved in the Reconquista (which had started in 722) to recapture pain from its Muslim leaders. They were ultimately successful in 1492.

*Armstrong makes this single throw away comment about the “Venetian contingent” with no mention of the role of Venetian bankers in funding the Fourth Crusade. Instead she asserts that a “surge of religious fervor” caused the crusaders to detour and sack Constantinople instead of progressing to the Holy Land. This contradicts several historical accounts that clearly implicate the doge of Venice and his bankers in the decision to attack Constantinople. It was the Venetian banks who funded the transport of crusaders to Constantinople, at the request of the faction supporting Alexios IV Angelos. Unable to repay their debt following his murder, the European monarchs and nobles who ordered the detour, simply advised the crusaders under their command to help themselves to Constantinople’s treasures to cover their debt to the Venetian bankers. See Bankers at the Gates, Encyclobedia Britannica Enrico Dandolo and Blood Money: 12th Century Trade Wars and the Fourth Crusade

This last source reveals that already by 1200 Venice, was actively engaged in economic warfare with Constantinople and that the republic was no longer a mere city-state. It had amassed numerous holdings in the Balkans along the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea. A network of shipyards on the Balkan coast allowed them to construct vessels requested by the crusaders more quickly. In return they demanded payment of half of everything they captured on land or at sea.

Canadian history Matthew Ehret also provides a comprehensive overview of the role of Venice in the 4th Crusade in The Clash of the Two Americas, Volume 4.

**In addition to their gnostic and Manichean (viewing the world as a balance between Good and Evil) beliefs, the Cathars were strict vegetarians, opposed marriage and disputed both Christ’s divinity and his crucifixion.

Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/video/12392969/12392992