4th Crusade

The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) was a military expedition originally intended to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control. However, due to political conflicts, financial issues, and shifting alliances, the Crusaders diverted their focus to Venice and Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). They ended up attacking and sacking Constantinople, a Christian city, instead of reaching the Holy Land. This event deepened the divide between Western and Eastern Christianity and weakened Byzantine Byzantium. The Crusade's failure to achieve its original goal and its resulting destruction highlight how political ambitions and external influences can distort military missions.