POLITICAL
PURPOSES?
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LATIN EMPIRE WITHIN THE BYZANTIUM.
ne of the theories as in regards to the sacking of Constantinople suggested that the attack launched in 1204 was
really a plot to conquer the the Byzantine empire. Since Constantinople was the capital of Byzantium, its fall would
give the Crusaders full control over the empire. In 1200s, the Byzantine empire had covered lands from Macedonia all the way to Asia Minor. This included ancient Greek cities that once prospered, such as Athens, Thebes and the island of Crete, as well as countless islands containing fertile land; this made the Byzantine empire a very lucrative target for the Crusaders.
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What had given this theory more validity was the fact that the Crusaders did in fact stay and formed a Latin empire upon Byzantium lands. And such plan clearly wasn't an afterthought either, according to Villehardouin, as the Crusaders and Venetians had talked about dividing the Byzantine empire and forming an organized governmental structure after Constantinople was conquered prior to the sacking:
... The discussion was long and stormy, but the following was the result of the deliberation : If God granted that they should capture the city, all the booty that was taken should be brought together and divided fairly, as was fitting. And, if they captured the city, six men should be chosen from the Franks and six from the Venetians; these were to take oath upon relics that they would elect as emperor him whom they should judge to be the most useful for the good of the land. And he whom they chose as emperor should have one-quarter of all the conquests both in the city and he should have the palace of the Lion's mouth outside; and in addition and of Blachern. The other three-quarters should be divided into two parts, one-half for the Venetians and one-half for the crusaders. Then twelve from the wisest of the army of the pilgrims and twelve of the Venetians should be chosen to divide the fiefs and the offices among the men and to define the feudal service which each one owed to the emperor. (Villehardouin, Nos)
Although no other historians had confirmed what Villehardouin had written, we can assume that the above primary sources was indeed, accurate; after Constantinople was sacked, the land surrounding the city was divided exactly as Villehardouin had recorded. If this is so, than it seems that the foundation of a Latin empire within Byzantium was, in fact, one of the goals of the sacking of Constantinople.
However, it is also important to interpret this period of history from the perspective of the historical context: the goal of the Fourth Crusade was not to conquer Byzantium lands; the diversion to Constantinople was, in of itself, a short and brief diversion. It was never meant to be anything long term, such as the formation of a Latin empire. Plus, the fact that the Crusaders did not make an attempt at capturing the city (and possibly disposing Alexius IV) during the first attack on the city discredits this theory even more. Therefore, although the idea of conquering Byzantium did seem to surface prior to the sacking, it was never the Crusaders' original intention to do so.
CRUSADERS CHARGING THEIR ENEMIES ON HORSE BACKS.
