Why was the Fourth Crusade a failure? Flashcards
POOR LEADERSHHIP
Fulk of Neuilly’s enlistment was slow –> absence of major kings like Richard and Philip who were still in war with each other
Number’s were insufficient –> 12,000 of 35,000 men arrived
No kings signed up for the crusade which restricted crusade from gaining a national tax
After Zara, Peter Capuano left the crusade –> no papal influence
Crusaders attacked a mosque in Constantinople so Greeks allied with muslims against franks –> led to a fire and relations worsened
March Pact was ignored –> pillaged, raped and murdered against Greeks
Venetian Ambition
Tried to charge 85,000 marks in service
Doge was keen to accept the terms of Alexios IV deal as it offered long-term trading privileges for Venetians
Many of the treasures looted ended up in Venice
Circumstance
Count Thibaut of Champagne died before the crusade had even started —> this greatly deprived the crusade of effective leaders and 1000s of knights
Genoa and Pisa were at war with each other so couldn’t help crusaders