The Fourth Crusade 1202–04: The betrayal of Byzantium (Campaign)

The Fourth Crusade was the first and most famous of the 'diverted' crusades, that is, ones diverted from their originally intended target. It was also the first to be directed against a fellow Christian, though Orthodox, state. Initially preached (from 1198 onwards) as a campaign against Ayyubid Egypt, which was correctly seen as the most potent threat to the Latin or 'Crusader' Kingdom of Jerusalem, its first Christian target was the city of Zadar in what is now Croatia. The greater part of the crusading army then attacked the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, again as part of their obligations to Venice. The result was a siege and the first capture of that great city in 1203. This title will highlight all the intrigue, deception, and betrayal of this tumultuous Crusade. The Fourth Crusade was the first, and most famous of the'diverted'Crusades, which saw the Crusade diverted from its original target, Ayyubi Egypt, to attack the Christian city of Zadar in modern Croatia instead, an attack that was little more than a mercenary action to repay the Venetians for their provision of a fleet to the Crusaders. This book examines the combined action and sacking of the city of Zara, which saw the Crusaders temporarily excommunicated by the Pope. It goes on to evaluate how the influence of the Venetians prompted an attack on Constantinople, analyses the siege that followed and describes the naval assault and sacking of the city which saw the Crusaders place Count Baldwin of Flanders on the Byzantine throne. The Fourth Crusade comprised an attack on the Christian city of Zadar in modern Croatia before the Crusaders assaulted the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, which was one of the most wealthy and cosmopolitan centres of the medieval world. The city was eventually sacked, with vast quantities of booty being shipped to Western Europe while the short-lived Latin Empire of Romania emerged from its ruins. This book details the command strategies, tactics and battle experiences of the opposing forces throughout the crucial stages of the campaign.-- From back cover Om det fjerde korstog 1202-04 hvor korsfarerne angreb Konstantinopel, hovedstaden i det Byzantinske Rige "The Fourth Crusade 1202-04: The Betrayal of Byzantium".