1204 AD

In 1204 AD, a significant event in medieval history occurred when the Fourth Crusade, originally intended to reclaim Jerusalem, was diverted and led to the sack of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Instead of reaching the Holy Land, Crusaders attacked and looted this wealthy and culturally rich city. This event deepened the divide between Western Europe and the Byzantine East, weakening the Byzantine Empire and impacting medieval history profoundly. It symbolized the complex, often conflicting interests during the Crusades and marked a major turning point in medieval geopolitics.