Fourth Crusade
The Sack of Constantinople, 12th-15th April 1204
At the sack of Constantinople, despite their oaths, the Latin Christians of the west perpetrated terrible acts against the Greek Christians of the east. For three days the crusaders subjected the greatest city in Europe to an indescribable orgy of murder, rape, robbery and destruction on an unprecedented scale. Many ancient Greco-Roman and medieval Byzantine works of art were stolen or ruined. Much of the civilian population of the city was butchered and their property looted. Despite the threat of excommunication, the crusaders destroyed, defiled and looted the city's churches and monasteries. The Venetians engaged in looting too. However, Doge Dandolo exerted a great measure of control. Rather than engaging in wanton destruction, his men stole religious relics and works of art to take back to Venice to adorn their churches.
Call to the Cross
Pope Innocent III called the Fourth Crusade in 1202. A fleet to transport the crusader army to Egypt would be required. Venice was contracted to build a fleet. It took a year to complete, during which time the aged and blinded Venetian leader, Doge Enrico Dandolo, put the city’s own commercial interests on hold; though a great sum of money had been pledged as payment for the fleet and supplying the necessary sailors.
Republic of Venice
In 1203 the crusader army assembled. Only about a third of the expected numbers arrived at Venice. This meant a lot of time and resources had been wasted in building a fleet much bigger than would now be needed. Worse still, the army was too small to raise the necessary funds to pay the Venetians.
Zara
The Adriatic city-port of Zara (Zadar) is a wealthy merchant state that was once under the control of Venice until it broke free of Venetian influence and placed itself under the protection of the King of Hungary. Now, Dandolo had the means to take revenge. For Venice to release the fleet to the crusader army, the crusaders must first agree to attack Zara. This would be the first attack of a crusading army against a Christian city. The army would have to agree or face the prospect of abandoning the crusade. Zara was put to the sword. Pope Innocent III was appalled and excommunicated the army, only to relent later.
Boniface meets the Byzantine Prince
Revenge complete, the Venetian Doge, Dandolo, is still fuming about not being paid. Crusade leader, Marquis Boniface of Montferrat, visits his cousin Philip of Swabia and meets with Prince Alexios Angelos, who resides in exile at Philip’s court. Prince Alexios, son of the deposed Isaac II, has the wealth to pay the debt to the Venetians in full and invest in the crusader army too. All Boniface has to do is topple the reigning Byzantine emperor, Alexios III, and have Prince Alexios crowned in his uncle’s place as Alexios IV.
Constantinople here we come
Crusader confidence restored and Venetians placated with the promise of funds, the army departs Zara for Constantinople in June 1203. A number of crusaders had abandoned the army at Zara and departed directly for the holy land after becoming appalled by the army’s sacking of a Christian city. But the crusader army’s ranks were swelled by new arrivals from Europe to take the cross. The venture to Constantinople would culminate in the sack of the city in 1204. The Fourth Crusade ended here, at the scene of the butchery of Christendom by warring Christians.
Byzantine Emperors Alexios III, IV and V
Isaac II Angelos ruled 1185-1195 and 1203-1204
Alexios III Angelos ruled 1195-1203
Alexios IV Angelos ruled 1203-1204
Alexios V Doukas ruled 1204
Alexios III Angelos reigned in Constantinople after deposing his brother, Isaac II. Isaac’s son (Prince Alexios Angelos) fled to Germany for refuge at the court of his brother-in-law, Philip of Swabia in 1201.
Crusade leader, Marquis Boniface of Montferrat meets with Prince Alexios and agrees, for significant payment, to topple the prince’s uncle, Emperor Alexios III, and place the prince on the Byzantine throne as Alexios IV.
In July 1203 the crusaders attacked Constantinople. Alexios III escaped and fled to Thrace. Alexios IV was crowned as promised by the crusaders, albeit having to compromise as being crowned as co-emperor along with his restored father, Isaac II, who was the more popular choice amongst city officials. Alexios IV was disliked by the masses and after Isaac II died he was deposed and executed in February 1204 by the imperial chamberlain Alexios Doukas. Doukas was crowned Alexios V. Alexios V ruled for only a few weeks. He fled during sack of Constantinople in April 1204.
So - Isaac II and Alexios III are brothers. Alexios IV is Isaac’s son and Alexios III’s nephew. Alexios V is no relation. Simples.
