![Fourth Crusade](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/11/Gustave_dore_crusades_dandolo_preaching_the_crusade.jpg/1200px-Gustave_dore_crusades_dandolo_preaching_the_crusade.jpg)
Fourth Crusade
İstanbul, TurkeyThe Fourth Crusade (1202–1204) was a Latin Christian armed expedition called by Pope Innocent III. The stated intent of the expedition was to recapture the Muslim-controlled city of Jerusalem, by first defeating the powerful Egyptian Ayyubid Sultanate, the strongest Muslim state of the time. However, a sequence of economic and political events culminated in the Crusader army's 1202 siege of Zara and the 1204 sack of Constantinople, the capital of the Greek Christian-controlled Byzantine Empire, rather than Egypt as originally planned. This led to the partitioning of the Byzantine Empire by the Crusaders.
Ask Herodotus
HistoryMaps Shop
![](https://shop.history-maps.com/cdn/shop/files/continentalarmy600px.jpg?v=1715410562)
Heroes of the American Revolution Painting
Explore the rich history of the American Revolution through this captivating painting of the Continental Army. Perfect for history enthusiasts and art collectors, this piece brings to life the bravery and struggles of early American soldiers.