4th Crusade Expedition

From the 4th Crusade (wikipedia)

Along with the First Crusade, it's a fairly famous expedition, so let's take a closer look.

Fourth Crusade Was held from 1202 to 1204. Pope Innocent III at the height of the papal authority The advocacy of is started.

Speaking of the major features of the Fourth Crusade,

• The King did not participate and only the French princes participated.
• Requesting transportation to Venice (city)

And ...

• Invading the Byzantine Empire, the same Christian state

Can be mentioned.

Why, in the 4th Crusade expedition, I will summarize in detail what kind of expedition it was, focusing on "Why did it lead to such actions?"

Background to the 3rd Crusade

To tell the truth, I did not take any special action in the 4th Crusade, and since the seeds of conflict with Byzantine were completed in the expeditions up to the 3rd, I attacked Byzantine in the same Christian country. It wasn't strange or anything. At the time of the very first Crusade expedition, the relationship had deteriorated considerably.

To briefly summarize the causes of the deterioration. .. ..

It's like this. Byzantine Emperor distrustful of the People's Crusade, unfamiliar with the military Is Crusaders Conflict deepens because of suspicion about the main unit.

Crusaders The lords who participated in the event ruled the land that had fallen for a reason as a king ="(for the Byzantine Empire) broke the promise", which seems to have led to the deterioration of relations. After that, regardless of the Crusader expedition, the nations created by the princes and the Byzantine Empire Are often colliding.

While that continues, the Byzantine Empire Has stabilized his relationship with the Islamic dynasty and has come to think that he does not want the Crusaders to go on an expedition.

However, the Count of Edessa, obtained from the First Crusade, was destroyed by the Zengid dynasty . So, the West decided the Second Crusade Expedition .. County of Edessa The Byzantine Empire that I was colliding with Of course, they didn't cooperate, and there were more and more cracks between them.

From around this time, the Seljuk dynasty fought in the first round in Syria-Palestine. Retreats its power Saladin Leading Ayyubid Dynasty Begins to rise.

In the third expedition, this Ayyubid Reunited the Crusaders with the aim of regaining the sanctuary because Jerusalem was dropped by. However, at the time of this expedition, the Byzantine Empire And Ayyubid Is concluded, and the Byzantine Emperor Isaac II The Crusaders are said to have been taken hostile by.

From this background, the Crusaders have a very bad relationship with the Byzantine Empire . It was.

Was the policy of the 4th Crusade erratic?

Pope Innocent III called for the Fourth Crusade expedition However, he was crowned Pope in January, four years before the expedition.

From Pope Innocent III (Pope) (wikipedia)

That Innocentius III Is convening the Crusaders around the summer, six months after the coronation.

However, until the 3rd Crusade Expedition, Byzantine Empire And sanctuary , Crusader States Relief request On the other hand, the intention of the Pope is not clear because the sanctuary at the time of the 4th expedition was stable in a lull.

A very systematic convocation that was previously self-funded (although the kings are collecting taxes on the participation of the Crusades) for the first time Pope's financial involvement doing.

However, only the princes and knights, mainly in northern France, gathered. It is said that the number of people was about one-third of the expected number.

With that feeling, the 4th Crusade expedition was a little unlucky start.

What is the first plan of the Crusaders and the plan that was changed in the middle?

As a member of the Crusaders, the original plan was to be the home of the Ayyubid dynasty, which is holding back Jerusalem.

"Let's attack Cairo in Egypt from the sea"

.

The Crusaders are Venice because ships are essential for planning. To get a contract to have them shipped by ship. However, the number of people is too small and there is a shortage of funds without the participation of the king.

So Venice Suggestion by

into action and tries to make up for the lack of roughness.

Since Zara in Hungary was a Christian land in the west, the Pope excommunicated the Crusaders who attacked Zara with great rage.

At a similar time, attack Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, within the Crusades Was beginning to be made.

↑ * This is an image.

This is also Venice It was a plan that greatly reflected the intention of.

Constantine-The reason for attacking Pull is Venice To

I want to suppress the Byzantines that had begun to conflict in trade.

At the same time as the intention

Instead of entering and assisting the Egyptian port, they had an agreement with the Crusaders not to cooperate with the Egyptian expedition.

It is said that this is the reason.

For any other reason (discussed later in Byzantine Empire's Internal Circumstances), economically Venice The Crusaders, who were dependent on, decided to listen to this proposal. Thus the purpose is from the Egyptian expedition

"Let's go on an expedition to Constantinople"

It was changed.

What is Pope Innocent III's speculation?

To tell the truth, it was reported to the Pope that the Crusaders had planned to bring down Constantinople when they captured Zara.

However, the Byzantine Empire sensed the danger of being attacked and Innocentius III To

When I told him to stop the expedition in a letter, the Pope

and reunification of the church from east to west. It's quite a translation, but

, it seems that it was a letter that implicitly used this situation as a threatening material.

At the same time, wait and see for the Crusaders. Moreover, to those who excommunicated the Crusaders because of Zara's attack and sent them as church envoys, " The purpose is Jerusalem . "I was sent alone so that I would not be held responsible (later, I feel that I can see a glimpse of the Pope's actions that gave him an advantage in his relationship with the king).

Pope Innocent III Seems to have tolerated the advance to Constantinople, but in the end it seems that the truth is unknown (as far as I can see, I don't feel much enthusiasm for Jerusalem).

Behind this bullish behavior is a Byzantine Empire . Is involved, so let's take a look.

Internal circumstances of the Byzantine Empire

The Fourth Crusade expedition began in 1202.

By then Byzantine Empire Then there were some big movements, so let's check a little.

• Manuel I died in 1180 A 12-year-old son takes the throne and his mother regents. As the pro-Catholics go through and the dissatisfaction of the surroundings gradually grows.
• 1182 Andronikos kills the emperor's mother, who is regent.
  Manuel I He co-governed with his son, but killed him two months later.
• 1183-1185 Under Andronikos' reign
  Byzantine Forcibly reformed to rebuild However, repulsion from the aristocratic layer and the landowner layer has increased .. Gradually, the burden of killing the late emperor became high pressure, and people's support was lost . .. It is said that there was also a crackdown on the Catholic Church and Westerners.

  Externally, the territory has been lost, and dissatisfaction has increased.

• 1185-The rebels who supported Isaac II will win.
  In 1185, the Angelos Begins. Foreign policy continues to make difficult decisions and confronts his younger brother.
• 1195-Successful coup d'etat by his younger brother Alexios III I have been made to). Holy Roman Empire Succumbed to the pressure from, and paid a huge donation.

  After this, in order to gain an advantage in trade with the aim of fiscal consolidation, the relationship with Venice, which had a good relationship, will worsen.

• Alexios IV escapes from the Byzantine Empire
  Holy Roman Empire Brother-in-law in Swabian Duke Philip Asylum to
• 1201 Alexios IV collaborates with the Crusaders / strong> And his father Isaac II Angelos Aim for

Thus, the Byzantine prince was in exile to the west to rescue his imprisoned father. The existence of this person is also Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade. It was a big reason to go to.

The Komnenos dynasty Andronikos reign Constantinople in connection with the crackdown on Westerners in A Roman Orthodox slaughtered by a Greek Orthodox [Latin slaughter] Is occurring. This event will bring revenge later.

Actual Crusaders Expedition

The Crusaders are actually Constantinople I arrived at 1203. Holy Roman Empire Prince of the Byzantine Empire, Alexios IV Demands that he be put on the throne, but the war started because he was refused. The power map is as follows.

Constantinople Was a city with strong walls like other cities in the Middle East, but Venice We will advance the battle to the advantage of the Crusaders by offensive utilizing the abundant naval power of. At the same time, the French Knights are attacking from the land.

At the end of this battle, Alexios III When he escaped, the remaining Constantinople citizens were Isaac II . The first Constantinople siege Is finished.

The coronation of Alexios IV

Alexios IV , originally the Crusaders appealing for succession to the throne Without the coronation alone, his imprisoned father, Isaac II And Byzantine Empire in the form of condominium Will rule.

However, he was actually enthroned.

"I will help you when you can rescue his father in Constantinople."

There wasn't enough national treasury to fulfill the promise with the Crusaders.

Exiled Alexios III It is clear that the national treasury is in a state of fire because the reason why it worsened its relationship with Venice is "to manage financial difficulties". .. ..

It can be said because it is an outfield in posterity, and it seems that he did not know until he took that position. I feel like I heard something similar in modern Japan a while ago. I'm not making uncertain promises.

Anyway, the cut of gold is the cut of the edge. Crusaders and Alexios IV A gap will start to form little by little between them.

Also, Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire is protecting the church where the emperor says "unify the church". only. The original Constantinople meeting Alexios IV , partly because he was very opposed to unification. Will be cornered little by little.

Rebellion in Constantinople

On the other hand, Alexios IV He was also trying to keep his promise by raising taxes on the people and aristocrats in order to raise the money to give to the Crusaders.

However, from the point of view of the people, Alexios IV Is Western Puyi Emperor It seems that the puppet emperor is forcing a heavy burden on them.

Among them, the Latins of the Pro-Crusaders and the Greeks of the Anti-Crusaders confront each other. Trouble broke out and the conflict lasted for months. Alexios IV trying to rebuild However, he was repulsed only by the circumstances of becoming an emperor.

It worked at that time. .. ..

Alexios V (Initially named Murduforos). Son-in-law of Alexios III It hits.

Isaac II Angelos And Alexios IV Killed Alexios V Became the top of the Byzantine Empire. Here, the confrontation between the Crusaders and the Byzantine Empire was reestablished.

The start of the second Constantinople siege

At the beginning of the battle, the Byzantine Empire did well and the Crusaders struggled, but Constantinople was home to many Venetian residents . I was worshiped. The Venetian residents are beginning to resist the Byzantine Empire.

Furthermore, due to changes in the weather, the crusade succeeded in placing the ship in a convenient position instead of the favorable wind direction. I was able to break through the walls of Constantinople and make holes in the walls.

The Byzantines set fire and tried to get rid of the Crusaders by taking advantage of the turmoil, but ... The main damage was the burning of the city, and it seems that the results were not as expected without repelling the Crusaders.

There is no way to do it if it is invaded so far, Alexios V Escapes Constantinople. Constantinople will fall here by the hands of the Crusaders.

Latin massacre In the case of the Crusaders and the west side, frustration to the east side was accumulated, and if the cause of "Alexios IV's coronation" was lost, there would be no need to refrain from the Byzantine Empire. .. ..

As you might expect, the Crusaders have done their best to plunder and assault, while the Latins are also plundering in retaliation for past crackdowns and slaughter.

* It is said that the Venetian people also participated in the looting, but due to the leadership of the top Enrico Dandolo, it is not as terrible as the Crusaders. It seems that he mainly brought out religious works of art.

What happened to the fall of Constantinople?

After the fall of Constantinople, there are some major changes. Here, I will briefly summarize it.

Establishment of the Crusader States and the Byzantine successor

Latin Empire by the Crusaders Was founded, and the Byzantine Empire Former territory of Venice And divided by major lords doing. On the other hand, the royal family who escaped from the Byzantine Empire also created a country nearby ..

The Crusader States were the result of their pursuit of profits, and did not become a cohesive and influential nation like the Byzantine Empire. Many end up in short-lived governments due to instability due to the successor to the neighboring Byzantine nations and local rebellions.

Impact on the Crusades after the 5th

Fourth Crusade Expedition Despite being called by the Pope , The intentions of Venice and the Prince of the Byzantine Empire were greatly reflected.

In the end, the Pope fades out in such a way that he doesn't have to take responsibility. After that, the Crusaders were moving as they pleased, and the Pope's control was lost. In this way, the crusade from the 5th time onward will greatly reflect the thoughts of the kings and princes.

In addition, the Syrian Crusader States that existed at that time, which was built after the first Crusade expedition after seeing this situation, gave up saying, "This will not help." It means that the armistice treaty with the Ayyubid dynasty has been extended.

Acquisition of command of the sea in Venice

Venice succeeded in gaining command of the sea by acquiring parts of Constantinople and Mediterranean islands such as Crete. Originally, there is only a brain-minded camp, and it has been in control of the sea for a long time through skillful diplomatic efforts.

In this way, the Fourth Crusade Expedition, which is notorious from within the same Christianity, has come to an end.