SACKING OF CONSTANTINOPLE
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
THE CRUSADERS LOOTING THE CITY.
t first, Alexius IV treated the Crusaders with great respect, and paid them half of the
200,000 marks of silver which he had promised. However, it was later discovered that
Alexius III had brought with him almost everything in Constantinople's treasury when he left. Desperate to pay off his debt, Alexius IV increased the taxes to an unacceptable level. This prompted a revolt, led by Alexius Ducas Mourtzouphlus, the son-in-law of Alexius III. In the end, Alexius Ducas Mourtzouphlus became emperor as Alexius V, while Alexius IV and Isaac II was killed. After crowning, Alexius V refused to pay the remaining marks to the Crusaders, and ordered them to leave Constantinople. This had greatly enraged the Crusaders and the Venetians, and thus set in motion the events that followed.
ALEXIUS V
A
After they were expelled from Constantinople by Alexius V, the Crusaders and Venetians declared war on the city in March of 1209, and the siege of the city began later that month. A preemptive assault was launched by the Crusaders on April 9, but they were driven back by artillery fire as the Crusaders tried to cross an empty field between the city wall and the shore.
A second attempt was launched on April 12. A strong gust of wind allowed the Venetian ships to close in on parts of the city walls, enabling several Crusaders to enter the city by going over the defence walls. Once inside, the Crusaders began to knock holes on the wall, which made it easier for more soldiers to enter the city. The attacking army quickly took over northwest part of the city, and using it as a base, they began to conquer the city street-by-street. While the Crusaders were trying to drive back Byzantium armies, they accidentally set the city on fire. Hundreds of thousands of Byzantium soldiers and civilians died as a result, and Alexius V was forced to flee the city as Constantinople began to fall into chaos and anarchy.
The nightmare did not end for Constantinople after the Crusaders seized control of the city. The army raided, looted, terrorized and vandalized Constantinople for three days, during which countless pieces of ancient artworks, sculptures and literatures were either destroyed or stolen. The Crusaders had also ravaged the churches and sanctuaries, completely ignoring their oaths and the threat of excommunication from the Pope. Nothing was left behind -- even bronze statues were melted down for its contents. Women were violated and outraged. Tombs were robbed. Sacred vessels and cups were used as drinking cups in drunken uproars, while portraits of Christ were used as gaming tables.
Several historians had written of the sacking through various view points:
… How shall I begin to tell of the deeds wrought by these nefarious men! Alas, the images, which ought to have been adored, were trodden under foot! Alas, the relics of the holy martyrs were thrown into unclean places! Then was seen what one shudders to hear, namely, the divine body and blood of Christ was spilled upon the ground or thrown about. They snatched the precious reliquaries, thrust into their bosoms the ornaments which these contained, and used the broken remnants for pans and drinking cups,-precursors of Anti-christ, authors and heralds of his nefarious deeds which we momentarily expect. Manifestly, indeed, by that race then, just as formerly, Christ was robbed and insulted and His garments were divided by lot; only one thing was lacking, that His side, pierced by a spear, should pour rivers of divine blood on the ground.
...
No one was without a share in the grief. In the alleys, in the streets, in the temples, complaints, weeping, lamentations, grief, groaning of men, the shrieks of women, wounds, rape, captivity, separation of those most closely united. Nobles wandered about ignominiously, those of venerable age in tears, the rich in poverty. Thus it was in the streets, on the corners, in the temple, in the dens, for no place remained unassailed or defended the suppliants. All places everywhere were filled full of all kinds of crime. . Oh, immortal God, how great the afflictions of the men, how great the distress!
(Nicetas Choniates, Alexii Ducae Imperium)
While the victors were rapidly plundering the conquered city, which was theirs by right of conquest, the abbot Martin began to cogitate about his own share of the booty, and lest he alone should remain. empty-handed, while all the others became rich, he resolved to seize upon plunder with his own sacred bands. But, since he thought it not meet to handle any booty of worldly things with those sacred hands, he began to plan how he might secure some portion of the relics of the saints, of which he knew there was a great quantity in the city.
Accordingly, having a presentiment of some great result, he took with him one of his two chaplains and went to a church...
There he found an aged man of agreeable countenance, having a long and hoary beard, a priest, but very unlike our priests in his dress. Thinking him a layman, the abbot, though inwardly calm, threatened him with a very ferocious voice, saying -. " Come, perfidious old man, show me the most powerful relics you have, or you shall die immediately." The latter, terrified by the sound rather than the words, since be heard but did not understand what was said, and knowing that Martin could not speak Greek, began in the Romana lingua, [i.e. Greek] of which he knew a little, to entreat Martin and by soft words to turn away the latter's wrath, which in truth did not exist. In reply, the abbot succeeded in getting out a few words of the same language, sufficient to make the old man understand what he wanted. The latter, observing Martin's face and dress, and thinking it more tolerable that a religious man should handle the sacred relics with fear and reverence, than that worldly men should, perchance, pollute them with. their worldly hands, opened a chest bound with iron and showed the desired treasure, which was more grateful and pleasing to Martin than all the royal wealth of Greece. The abbot hastily and eagerly thrust in both hands and working quickly, filled with the fruits of the sacrilege both his own and his chaplain's bosom. He wisely concealed what seemed the most valuable and departed without opposition.
(Gunther, Historia Constantinopolitana)
It is interesting to note the difference between the accounts of Nicetas and Gunther, as Nicetas was a Greek governmental official, while Gunther was a Crusader. Nicetas had described the Crusaders as barbaric and foul, while Gunther had described the sacking as a comparatively more peaceful and civilized event. Both sources were bound to be affected by a certain level of bias, however it is clear that the Crusaders did rob and stole relics and valuables, from both civilians and the churches; that was the only fact that both primary sources had agreed upon.
