For this essay, explain why and how the Byzantine Empire is linked to the history of the Crusades, and the impact of the Crusades on this Empire.
Three sources will be critical for writing this, and it is best only to use them! Avoid websites with quick and easy answers that don't require any thinking. First, and most importantly, the essay can be constructed using our book, Chapter 12, "Western Europe and Byzantium, 1000-1500", p. 428- 460. Second, look over the documents (primary sources!) concerning the sack of Constantinople (the capital of Byzantium) during the Fourth Crusade and incorporate them. Lastly, view the documentary "Byzantium: Tale of Three Cities – Constantinople."
183 Greeks. For formerly the inhabitants of the city had been obedient to the law of Rome and now they were disobedient, since they said that the law of Rome was of no account, and called all who believed in it “dogs.” And the bishops said that for this reason one ought certainly to attack them, and that it was not a sin, but an act of great charity. Then it was announced to all the host that all the Venetians and every one else should go and hear the sermons on Sunday morning; and they did so. Then the bishops preached to the army…and they showed to the pilgrims that the war was a righteous one; for the Greeks were traitors and murderers, and also disloyal, since they had murdered their rightful lord, and were worse than Jews. Moreover, the bishops said that, by the authority of God and in the name of the pope, they would absolve all who attacked the Greeks. Then the bishops commanded the pilgrims to confess their sins and receive the communion devoutly; and said that they ought not to hesitate to attack the Greeks, for the latter were enemies of God. They also commanded that all the evil women should be sought out and sent away from the army to a distant place. This was done; the evil women were all put on a vessel and were sent very far away from the army. Villehardouin Then the members of the host debated and consulted upon the best course to pursue. 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 outside; and in addition he should have the palace of the Lion’s Mouth 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 of 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. This compact was guaranteed and sworn to by both the Franks and the Venetians, with the condition that any one who wished could go away within one year from the end of March. Those who remained in the country must perform the feudal service to the emperor, as it might be arranged. Then the compact was made and sworn to and all who should not keep it were excommunicated by the clergy. Questions: What went wrong in the negotiations with the Venetians? What were the consequences of this mistake? How did the Venetians turn the crusaders against Zara and Constantinople? How did the people of Constantinople view the crusader force? Was the original purpose of crusading enlarged or distorted by these events? 59. Documents on the Sack of Constantinople The siege of Constantinople began on April 9, 1204, and the crusaders broke through the walls on the 12th. The new emperor abandoned his throne and the city was subjected to three horrific days of unchecked pillaging. In addition to the looting, rape, and murder of the Greek inhabitants, the crusaders also took a great interest in Byzantium’s holy sanctuaries. Churches were stripped of their treasures, including holy relics. The first of the accounts below is by Niketas Choniates, an early-thirteenth-century Greek historian. Next, Gunther of Paris, who wrote soon after the crusade, describes the plunderingCo py ri gh t @ 20 14 . Un iv er si ty o f To ro nt o Pr es s, H ig he r Ed uc at io n Di vi si on . Al l ri gh ts r es er ve d. M ay n ot b e re pr od uc ed i n an y fo rm w it ho ut p er mi ss io n fr om t he p ub li sh er , ex ce pt f ai r us es p er mi tt ed u nd er U .S . or a pp li ca bl e co py ri gh t la w. EBSCO : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/25/2019 6:25 PM via MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIV AN: 1565484 ; Allen, S. J., Amt, Emilie.; The Crusades : A Reader Account: ns235467.main.usg_locgil 184 activities of one French abbot. In the final two documents Innocent III, who had excommunicated the crusaders after they took Zara, responds to the news of their conquest of Constantinople. Sources: second papal letter: trans. J.A. Brundage, (Milwaukee:The Crusades: A Documentary History Marquette University Press, 1962), pp. 208–9; others: trans. D.C. Munro, Translations and Reprints from , series 1, vol. III (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvaniathe Original Sources of European History Department of History, n.d.), no. 1, pp. 15–20, revised. Niketas Choniates 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 Antichrist, 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. Nor can the violation of the great church [of St. Sofia] be listened to with equanimity. For the sacred altar, formed of all kinds of precious materials and admired by the whole world, was broken into bits and distributed among the soldiers, as was all the other sacred wealth of so great and infinite splendor. When the sacred vases and utensils of unsurpassable art and grace and rare material, and the fine silver, wrought with gold, which encircled the screen of the tribunal and the ambo, of admirable workmanship, and the door and many other ornaments, were to be borne away as booty, mules and saddled horses were led to the very sanctuary of the temple. Some of these which were unable to keep their footing on the splendid and slippery pavement, were stabbed when they fell, so that the sacred pavement was polluted with blood and filth. Nay more, a certain harlot, a sharer in their guilt, a minister of the furies, a servant of the demons, a worker of incantations and poisonings, insulting Christ, sat in the patriarch’s seat, singing an obscene song and dancing frequently. Nor, indeed, were these crimes committed and others left undone, on the ground that these were of lesser guilt, the others of greater. But with one consent all the most heinous sins and crimes were committed by all with equal zeal. Could those, who showed so great madness against God himself, have spared the honorable matrons and maidens or the virgins consecrated to God? Nothing was more difficult and laborious than to soften by prayers, to render benevolent, these wrathful barbarians, vomiting forth bile at every unpleasing word, so that nothing failed to inflame their fury. Whoever attempted it was derided as insane and a man of intemperate language. Often they drew their daggers against anyone who opposed them at all or hindered their demands. No one was without a share in the grief. In the alleys, in the streets, in the temples, complaints, weeping, lamentations, grief, the groaning of men, the shrieks of women, wounds, rape, captivity, the 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! Gunther of Paris Co py ri gh t @ 20 14 . Un iv er si ty o f To ro nt o Pr es s, H ig he r Ed uc at io n Di vi si on . Al l ri gh ts r es er ve d. M ay n ot b e re pr od uc ed i n an y fo rm w it ho ut p er mi ss io n fr om t he p ub li sh er , ex ce pt f ai r us es p er mi tt ed u nd er U .S . or a pp li ca bl e co py ri gh t la w. EBSCO : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 3/25/2019 6:25 PM via MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIV AN: 1565484 ; Allen, S. J., Amt, Emilie.; The Crusades : A Reader Account: ns235467.main.usg_locgil 185 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 hands. 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