The Sack of Constantinople: 13 April 1204
Featured in And the Rest is History by Jodi Taylor
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The 13th of April 1204 marks one of the most infamous events in medieval history: the sack of Constantinople by the forces of the Fourth Crusade. This catastrophic event not only resulted in unparalleled destruction and looting but also signalled a profound shift in the balance of power within the Christian world.
The Fourth Crusade was initially intended to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control. However, financial difficulties, political intrigue, and opportunism diverted the crusaders from their original mission. After striking a controversial deal with the Venetian Republic who would transport 33,500 crusaders to the Holy Land by sea and supply them for nine months at a cost of 84,000 silver marks to be paid before the fleet sailed. When fewer than expected Crusaders arrived, they were unable to settle their debt. To resolve this, at the Venetians bidding, the Crusaders agreed to attack the Christian city of Zara (now Zadar in Croatia) in lieu of payment. This decision, condemned by Pope Innocent III, who had initiated the 4th Crusade, set a troubling precedent for Crusaders attacking a Christian city.
The situation worsened when the Crusaders became entangled in Byzantine politics. Alexios Angelos, a claimant to the Byzantine throne, sought the Crusaders' assistance in reclaiming power. In return, he promised substantial financial rewards and military support for their crusade. However, once Alexios IV was installed as co-emperor alongside his father, Isaac II, he struggled to fulfil his promises, leading to mounting tensions between the Crusaders and the citizens of Constantinople.
Alexios IV was strangled and replaced by Alexios V, who attempted to negotiate with Crusaders but was rebuffed. They wanted their money.
By early 1204, relations had deteriorated to the point of open hostility. On the 9th of April, the Crusaders launched their first assault on the Golden Horn, which the Byzantine defenders repelled. Undeterred, the Crusaders regrouped and launched a second, more determined assault on the 12th of April. Using a combination of siege engines and Venetian ships, they breached the city's formidable walls the following day.
Internal strife, including a lack of coordination among the city's leaders and the demoralisation of its citizens, hampered Constantinople's defence. Once the Crusaders entered the city, resistance crumbled. Alexios V fled leaving the city to its fate.
What followed was three days of unrestrained looting and violence. Churches, monasteries, and palaces were ransacked, and countless priceless relics and works of art were either destroyed or carried off to Western Europe. These include the famous bronze horses from the Hippodrome, which were seized by the Venetians and now adorn St Mark’s Cathedral. The Hagia Sophia, the spiritual heart of Orthodox Christianity, was desecrated, with its altars stripped of gold and its treasures stolen. Historical accounts describe the appalling behaviour of the Crusaders, who showed little regard for the sanctity of the city or its inhabitants. The giant bronze statue of Alexander, made by Alexander the Great's court sculptor, was melted down to make money. The tombs of the emperors were looted. Church altars were smashed for their gold. Books were destroyed. Even doors and wall hangings were looted.
The Byzantine Empire, which had stood as a bastion of Christian civilisation for nearly a millennium, was left in ruins. The Crusaders divided the spoils of war and established the Latin Empire of Constantinople, which would last until 1261 when the Byzantines managed to reclaim the city. However, the damage inflicted during the sack left the empire weakened and vulnerable to future attacks.
The sack of Constantinople deepened the schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. For the Byzantine Empire, the events of 1204 marked the beginning of a long and painful decline, ultimately culminating in the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.
In 2001, Pope John Paul II apologised for the Crusaders' actions, and in 2004, the apology was finally accepted.
Discover how the team from St Mary’s fared in And The Rest Is History by Jodi Taylor.
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