Sack of Constantinople (1204): What Happened
On 12 April 1204, the armies of the Fourth Crusade broke through the sea walls of Constantinople along the Golden Horn and captured the city, which had never before been taken by a foreign army. For three days, the crusaders plundered, burned and killed across the Byzantine capital. They looted churches, palaces and homes, seized relics and treasures, and destroyed countless works of art and manuscripts. Hagia Sophia was stripped of its riches. The Byzantine historian Niketas Choniates, who lived through it, wrote a moving account of the horrors and compared the crusaders unfavorably to the Muslims who had taken Jerusalem. Much of the loot was taken to Western Europe. The four bronze horses that once stood in the Hippodrome were carried off to Venice, where they were placed on the Basilica of San Marco and remain today. The sack shattered the Byzantine Empire, which was split into Latin and Greek states. It also left a lasting bitterness between Orthodox and Catholic Christians. In 2001, Pope John Paul II expressed regret for the event.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Constantinople sacked by the crusaders?
Constantinople was captured and sacked by the armies of the Fourth Crusade beginning on 12 April 1204. The looting lasted three days.
What was stolen from Constantinople in 1204?
Crusaders looted churches, palaces and homes, seizing relics, treasures, art and manuscripts. Hagia Sophia was stripped of its riches.
Where are the Horses of Saint Mark from?
The four bronze horses on the Basilica of San Marco in Venice were taken from the Hippodrome of Constantinople during the sack of 1204.
Who wrote about the sack of Constantinople?
The Byzantine historian Niketas Choniates, who lived through it, wrote a moving account of the destruction and suffering in the city.
Has the Catholic Church apologized for 1204?
In 2001, Pope John Paul II expressed regret for the sack of Constantinople during a visit to Athens, and in 2004 he apologized to the Ecumenical Patriarch.
