Sack of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade

In the Fourth Crusade in 1204, crusaders captured and plundered Constantinople, the capital of the Christian East. In Athens in 2001 Pope John Paul II called the sack devastating and tragic and asked forgiveness for the sins of Catholics against Orthodox Christians.

Period

1204 (less than 1 year)

Acknowledgement by the Church

797 years later, on 4 May 2001: „I am thinking of the disastrous sack of the imperial city of Constantinople“ (Address of John Paul II to His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and Primate of Greece, Original)

Country

Turkey

Institutions

Crusader army of the Fourth Crusade

Category

Admission, Violence, Crusade

Level of evidence

A Primary source · what does this mean?

Persons

John Paul II (Pope)

Background

Course of events

1. In the Fourth Crusade, Constantinople was taken in 1204.
   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Abschnitt „Division“

   „the fourth, during which Constantinople was taken, 1204“

Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)

1. As early as March 1204, the Venetians and the crusade leaders agreed by treaty on the division of the spoils. The Britannica names "Venetian cupidity" as the driving force and writes that in the Fourth Crusade the political and commercial motives openly became dominant.
   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Abschnitt „The crusade against Constantinople (1204)“

   „By a treaty concluded in March, 1204, between the Venetians and the crusading chiefs, it was pre-arranged to share the spoils of the Greek Empire“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Abschnitt „The Fourth Crusade“

   „the political and commercial motives, which were deeply implicit even in the First Crusade, had now become dominantly explicit“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Abschnitt „The Fourth Crusade“

   „If Venetian cupidity had not originally deflected the Crusade“

Who received the assets, who profited?

1. The crusaders had promised Venice 85,000 marks and half of the conquests for passage and assistance. When they could not raise the money in 1202, they conquered the Christian city of Zara for Venice to settle the debt (November 1202). The pretender to the throne Alexius promised them 200,000 marks if they brought him to Constantinople.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Abschnitt „The Fourth Crusade“

   „transport and active help were to be given by Venice in return for 85,000 marks and the cession of half of the conquests made by the crusaders“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Abschnitt „The Fourth Crusade“

   „it was found impossible to get together the 85,000 marks promised to Venice“

   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Abschnitt „The crusade against Constantinople (1204)“

   „the crusaders assembled at Venice could not pay the amount called for by their contract, so, by way of exchange, the Venetians suggested that they help recover the city of Zara in Dalmatia“

   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Abschnitt „The crusade against Constantinople (1204)“

   „give the crusaders 200,000 marks“

Response of the Church

1. On 4 May 2001 in Athens, John Paul II spoke of the disastrous sacking of Constantinople and called it tragic that the crusaders turned against their own brothers in the faith.
   Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Überschrift

   „ARCHBISHOP OF ATHENS AND PRIMATE OF GREECE Friday, 4 May 2001“

   Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Nr. 2

   „I am thinking of the disastrous sack of the imperial city of Constantinople, which was for so long the bastion of Christianity in the East. It is tragic that the assailants, who had set out to secure free access for Christians to the Holy Land, turned against their own brothers in the faith“

2. He asked forgiveness for the sins of Catholics against Orthodox Christians.
   Evidence: Heiliger Stuhl, Nr. 2

   „when sons and daughters of the Catholic Church have sinned by action or omission against their Orthodox brothers and sisters, may the Lord grant us the forgiveness we beg of him“

3. Innocent III had forbidden the expedition to Constantinople, but the crusaders received absolution for the conquest of Zara. After the fall of the city he confirmed the subjugation, as the Britannica writes "dazzled by the magic of the fait accompli"; a Venetian became Latin Patriarch.
   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Abschnitt „The Fourth Crusade“

   „in spite of Innocent’s renewed prohibitions“

   Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Abschnitt „The crusade against Constantinople (1204)“

   „Having obtained absolution for the capture of Zara“

   Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Abschnitt „The Fourth Crusade“

   „The crusaders appealed to Innocent to ratify the subjugation of a schismatic people, and the union of the Eastern and Western Churches; and Innocent, dazzled by the magic of the fait accompli , not unwillingly acquiesced.“

See also

• 1095-1291 · 196 years

  Crusades to the East

  • Germany
  • France
  • Israel
  • Lebanon
  • Palestine
  • Syria
  • Turkey
  • Anti-Judaism
  • Violence
  • Crusade
  • Murder

Original documents to read

1. Church document
   Heiliger Stuhl: Address of John Paul II to His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and Primate of Greece, 4 May 2001. Original (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)

Scholarly literature and reference works

1. Reference work
   The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908): Crusades, 1 January 1908. Original (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
2. Reference work
   Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Crusades, 1 January 1911. Original · Archive copy (retrieved 11 Oct 2026)

Last changed on 22 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.