Fourth Crusade Ep 2: When Crusaders attacked and burned Constantinople

The story of how Constantinople was assaulted and sacked by the army of the Fourth Crusade is horrifying.  Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, and it was full of Eastern Christians.  So how did the army of the Fourth Crusade, who thought they were going to fight Muslims and reconquer Jerusalem, end up looting churches and assaulting nuns?  A naive prince, a cunning Venetian Doge, and two emperors who fled into the night are part of the spiral that leaves French knights fighting the Varangian Guard.  The shocking attack on the city was a turning point: it redefined the potential targets for crusader violence, which would soon be unleashed in France, and it shattered the power of the Eastern Roman Empire.

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If you enjoyed this, check out my series on the First, Second, and Third Crusades, available in both your podcast player and on YouTube...

1st Crusade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnOZJsYzx1k&list=PLteESDDVIavR-8R7p6ZTFVo5NhCJBblB_

2nd Crusade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_yn_iyHsHE&list=PLteESDDVIavT9n0q_5d8xrt9A6LhlsoEl

3rd Crusade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-zaN0_xDjU&list=PLteESDDVIavSf0NWjBx3Hl9pJ5tyjJTy_

Thanks
Eva Schubert
VillainsAndVirgins.com