Introduction to: The Fourth Crusade

One of History's Greatest Blunders

IV: 1202-1204

Map with the First through Fourth Crusades, from Atlas of the Middle East, Central Intelligence Agency, 1993

My Introduction:

The Fourth Crusade is a prime example of everything that could have gone wrong, did in fact do just that. This is perhaps one if (if not) my favorite story in history, which has so many twists, turns, and political intrigues, that I believe it surpasses even Game of Thrones.

My father gave me some amazing advice when I first became interested in history. He said ‘Devvn, if you want to find the truth, follow the money.’ I would like you, dear reader, to be very conscious of this phrase as we delve into this brief history.

There are things I will not go too far into for the sake of brevity. This is not an article on all of the crusades, nor is it any sort of moral argument for or against.

In the following acts, we will delve into the buildup, the motivations, the characters, corresponding events, the aftermath, and of course the ‘crusade’ itself. Sources will be linked at the very end on the last article, though if you have inquiries or questions, feel free to reach out and I can provide each source.

And thus, let us discuss one of the greatest blunders in history.

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The Road to Venice: How the Fourth Crusade Lost Its Way Before It Even Began