The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204)

The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) was originally intended to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control. However, financial problems led the crusaders to attack the Christian city of Zara (Zadar) in Croatia, and later, they were diverted to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Instead of uniting Christians against Muslims, the crusade culminated in the sacking of Constantinople in 1204, causing lasting damage to Byzantine power and deepening the schism between Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Catholicism. This crusade is often seen as a betrayal of the original mission, reflecting the complexities of loyalty and conflict within Christianity at the time.