4TH XDE 1.2

Question 1

Zara surrenders to the Fourth Crusaders; Innocent III excommunicates the crusaders

Answer 1

1202, 24 November

Question 2

Negotiations between representative of Prince Alexios of Byzantium and the crusaders at Zara; Byzantines offer; submission of the Greek Orthodox Church; 200,000 silver marks; 10,000 men for Crusade; permanent garrison of 500 knights for Jerusalem; much debate however decided to attack Constantinople; by this point Innocent has released the contrite French but not the unrepentant Venetian and demands they “neither violate nor invade the lands of Christians, unless … [they have a] just or necessary cause”

Answer 2

1203, January

Question 3

Simon de Montfort leaves the main crusade and goes to the Holy Land

Answer 3

1203, April

Question 4

Alexios having joined the Crusaders at Corfu, they set sail for Constantinople

Answer 4

1203, late May

Question 5

Fourth Crusade and Prince Alexios arrive at Constantinople, in Scutari on the Asian side

Answer 5

1203, June

Question 6

Alexios is largely ignored by the Constantinopolitans; evident Alexios has exaggerated his favour to the crusaders

Answer 6

1203, early July

Question 7

Crusaders cross the Bosphorus and land on Galata shore; first siege of Constantinople begins

Answer 7

1203, night of 3 July

Question 8

The chain blocking access to the Golden Horn is broken

Answer 8

1203, 6 July

Question 9

Crusaders down to three weeks’ supplies as a result of Greek raids

Answer 9

1203, mid-July

Question 10

Two-pronged attack; Venetians attack the walls; a 120-acre fire is started; Emperor Alexios III fights back with the Varangian guard; confrontation outside northern walls of the city; Emperor Alexios III retreats despite vastly outnumbering the Western Crusader force, now only 500 knights, 500 mounted soldiers, c. 2000 foot soldiers

Answer 10

1203, 17 July

Question 11

Emperor Alexios III flees overnight

Answer 11

1203, night of 17 July

Question 12

Isaac Angelos is made emperor despite being blind

Answer 12

1203, morning of 18 July

Question 13

Crusaders enter the city led by Villehardouin; Isaac horrified to hear the terms of his son’s treaty; Prince Alexios is crowned Emperor Alexios IV; Alexios IV starts to melt down relics to pay the 200,000 silver marks

Answer 13

1203, 18 July

Question 14

Now too late to invade Egypt; Crusaders decide to help Alexios IV to consolidate his lands around Constantinople and prepare to depart in spring 1204; attempt to portray their capture of Constantinople in the West was of spiritual benefit to the church- submission of the Eastern Orthodox Church, although no formal submission had been made in reality

Answer 14

1203, late summer

Question 15

Crusaders help Alexios IV to consolidate his lands around Constantinople; tensions grow; crusaders attack a small mosque, leading to a Latino-Constantinopolitan scuffle, causing a fire to burn through >400 acres of housing; Greeks are fuming, all Westerners forced to flee Constantinople, including several thousand merchants

Answer 15

1203, Autumn

Question 16

Payments to Crusaders are stuck and reliant on Alexios IV for food

Answer 16

1203, by mid-November