Fourth Crusade

The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) was originally intended to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control but took a surprising turn. Lacking funds, crusaders diverted to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, to support a political faction. They besieged and eventually captured the city in 1204, leading to widespread looting and the establishment of the Latin Empire. This event deepened the rift between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches and weakened Byzantine power, significantly impacting medieval history and relations between Western Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. The crusade is often considered a failure in its original objectives.