Forth Crusade

The Sack of Constantinople occurred in the Fourth Crusade, which was started by Pope Innocent III, in 1204. Constantinople was then ruled by the Latin rulers until 1261.


Constantinople was sacked on April 12, 1204 by the Crusaders. This happened during the Fourth Crusade when Alexius IV was killed by the Greeks. The Crusaders then attacked Constantinople.


The Crusaders' actions were horrific. They destroyed churches, palaces and burned houses within the city. They wreaked havoc upon the convents and many pieces of art and literature were destroyed in the fires.


After Constantinople was captured it fell apart in the expanse of ten years. So even though the Crusaders succeeded in destroying and looting Constantinople of all it's treasure, they were basically the demise of the city of Constantinople.


The Sack of Constantinople occurred in the Fourth Crusade, which didn't reach the holy land, and instead stopped at Constantinople (Mills 196). The Crusaders pillaged the city of Constantinople (Lewis 377), and destroyed it.


Lewis David Levering. God's Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.: 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, 2008.

Mills Dorothy M.A. The Middle Ages. G.P. Putnam's Sons: New York, 1935.

Saladin

Saladin led the Muslims in the the Third Crusade (Santosuosso 216). Although he was part of the Crusades he was known for his merciful nature by both sides of the war.


Saladin was born in the year 1138. He was the son of Najm ad-Din Ayyub. Saladin had more interest in religious pursuits, but his life changed when he joined his uncle, who was a military commander, when he was thirty-one years of age, he was not only the vizier of Egypt, but also the commander of the troops of Syria.


Saladin wanted to bring the Muslims of Palestine, Macedonia and Syria under his rule. In 1187, Saladin led a conquest to reconquer Jerusalem, that had been the Crusader's eighty eight years earlier. However, this time the city was conquered without as much blood loss among the soldiers of the two armies.


Although the Assassins tried to kill him, Saladin was able to evade them. Saladin was a very merciful ruler, and was very well known among the Christians and his own people(Mills 191). He died in 1193. He had a fever and over a few days he slipped into unconsciousness and eventually died.


Saladin was a famous among his people as well as the Christians (Mills 191). He was a merciful ruler even though he did take part in the Crusades. He eventually died in 1193.


Mills, Dorthy. The Middle Ages. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1935.

Santosuosso, Antonio. Barbarians, Marauders, and Infidels: The Ways of Medieval Warfare. Westview Press, 2004.