Sack of Constantinople

The Sack of Constantinople occurred in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade, when Crusaders, originally aimed at reclaiming the Holy Land, diverted to attack the Christian city of Constantinople. After a brutal siege, they captured the city, causing widespread destruction and looting. This event deepened the Schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches and weakened the Byzantine Empire. The Crusaders established a Latin Empire but failed to maintain control, leading to further fragmentation in the region. The Sack is remembered as a significant betrayal within the context of Christian unity and geopolitical rivalry in medieval Europe.