Memoirs or Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and the Conquest of ConstantinopleChronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of ConstantinopleReading editionChapter navigation116 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Chronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of ConstantinopleTHE FIRST PREACHING OF THE CRUSADEOF THOSE WHO TOOK THE CROSSTHE CRUSADERS SEND SIX ENVOYS TO VENICETHE ENVOYS ARRIVE IN VENICE, AND PROFFER THEIR REQUESTCONDITIONS PROPOSED BY THE DOGECONCLUSION OF THE TREATY, AND RETURN OF THE ENVOYSTHE CRUSADERS LOOK FOR ANOTHER CHIEFBONIFACE, MARQUIS OF MONTFERRAT, BECOMES CHIEF OF THE CRUSADE—NEW CRUSADERS—DEATH OF GEOFFRY COUNT OF PERCHEFIRST STARTING OF THE PILGRIMS FOR VENICE, AND OF SOME WHO WENT NOT THITHEROF THE PILGRIMS WHO CAME TO VENICE, AND OF THOSE WHO WENT TO APULIATHE PILGRIMS LACK MONEY WHEREWITH TO PAY THE VENETIANSTHE CRUSADERS OBTAIN A RESPITE BY PROMISING TO HELP THE VENETIANS AGAINST ZARATHE DOGE AND A NUMBER OF VENETIANS TAKE THE CROSSMESSAGE OF ALEXIUS, THE SON OF ISAAC, THE DETHRONED EMPEROR OF CONSTANTINOPLE—DEATH OF FULK OF NEUILLY—ARRIVAL OF THE GERMANSTHE CRUSADERS LEAVE VENICE TO BESIEGE ZARATHE INHABITANTS OF ZARA OFFER TO CAPITULATE, AND THEN DRAW BACK—ZARA IS TAKENTHE CRUSADERS ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THE CITYAFFRAY BETWEEN THE VENETIANS AND THE FRANKSON WHAT CONDITIONS ALEXIUS PROPOSES TO OBTAIN THE HELP OF THE CRUSADERS FOR THE CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLEDISCORD AMONG THE CRUSADERS—OF THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE PROPOSALS OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUSOF THOSE WHO SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM THE HOST TO GO TO SYRIA, AND OF THE FLEET OF THE COUNT OF FLANDERSTHE CRUSADERS OBTAIN THE POPE’S ABSOLUTION FOR THE CAPTURE OF ZARADEPARTURE OF THE CRUSADERS FOR CORFU—ARRIVAL OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUS—CAPTURE OF DURASHOW THE CHIEFS OF THE CRUSADERS HELD BACK THOSE WHO WANTED TO ABANDON THE HOSTDEPARTURE FROM CORFU—CAPTURE OF ANDROS AND ABYDOSARRIVAL AT ST. STEPHEN—DELIBERATION AS TO PLAN OF ATTACKTHE CRUSADERS LAND AT CHALCEDON AND SCUTARITHE FORAGERS DEFEAT THE GREEKSMESSAGE OF THE EMPEROR ALEXIUS—REPLY OF THE CRUSADERSTHE CRUSADERS SHOW THE YOUNG ALEXIUS TO THE PEOPLE OF CONSTANTINOPLE, AND PREPARE FOR THE BATTLETHE CRUSADERS SEIZE THE PORTCAPTURE OF THE TOWER OF GALATAATTACK ON THE CITY BY LAND AND SEAFIRST INCIDENTS OF THE ASSAULTASSAULT OF THE CITYCAPTURE OF TWENTY-FIVE TOWERSTHE EMPEROR ALEXIUS COMES OUT FOR BATTLE, BUT RETIRES WITHOUT ATTACKINGALEXIUS ABANDONS CONSTANTINOPLE—HIS BROTHER ISAAC IS REPLACED ON THE THRONE—THE CRUSADERS SEND HIM A MESSAGETHE EMPEROR ISAAC RATIFIES THE COVENANTS ENTERED INTO BY HIS SONENTRY OF THE CRUSADERS INTO CONSTANTINOPLE—CORONATION OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUSALEXIUS BEGS THE CRUSADERS TO PROLONG THEIR STAYDEBATE AMONG THE CRUSADERS—DEATH OF MATTHEW OF MONTMORENCYPROGRESS OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUS THROUGH THE EMPIRECONFLICT BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND LATINS IN CONSTANTINOPLE-BURNING OF THE CITYTHE YOUNG ALEXIUS RETURNS TO CONSTANTINOPLIZHE FAILS IN HIS PROMISES TO THE CRUSADERSTHE CRUSADERS DEFY THE EMPERORSTHE WAR BEGINS—THE GREEKS ENDEAVOUR TO SET FIRE TO THE FLEET OF THE CRUSADERSMOURZUPHLES USURPS THE EMPIRE—ISAAC DIES, AND THE YOUNG ALEXIUS IS STRANGLEDTHE CRUSADERS CONTINUE THE WAR—DEFEAT OF MOURZUPHLESOF THE PILGRIMS WHO HAD GONE TO SYRIAAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FRANKS AND VENETIANS BEFORE ATTACKING CONSTANTINOPLEATTACK OF THE CRUSADERS REPULSED—THEY MAKE READY FOR ANOTHER ASSAULTTHE CRUSADERS TAKE A PART OF THE CITYFLIGHT OF MOURZUPHLES—SECOND FIRE IN CONSTANTINOPLETHE CRUSADERS OCCUPY THE CITYDIVISION OF THE SPOILBALDWIN, COUNT OF FLANDERS, ELECTED EMPERORBONIFACE WEDS ISAAC’S WIDOW, AND AFTER BALDWIN’S CORONATION OBTAINS THE KINGDOM OF SALONIKABALDWIN MARCHES AGAINST MOURZUPHLESMOURZUPHLES TAKES REFUGE WITH ALEXIUS, THE BROTHER OF ISAAC, WHO PUTS OUT HIS EYESBALDWIN MARCHES AGAINST ALEXIUS—HE IS JOINED BY BONIFACERUPTURE BETWEEN BALDWIN AND BONIFACE—THE ONE MARCHES ON SALONIKA, THE OTHER ON DEMOTICAMESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BONIFACE—HE SUSPENDS THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLEMESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BALDWIN—DEATH OF SEVERAL KNIGHTSBALDWIN’S REPLY TO THE MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERSRECONCILIATION OF BALDWIN AND BONIFACETHE KINGDOM OF SALONIKA IS RESTORED TO BONIFACE—DIVISION OF THE LAND BETWEEN THE CRUSADERSEXECUTION OF MOURZUPHLES AND IMPRISONMENT OF ALEXIUSCAPTURE OF ABYDOS, OF PHILIPPOPOLIS, AND OF NICOMEDIA—THEODORE LASCARIS PRETENDS TO THE EMPIREREINFORCEMENTS FROM SYRIA—DEATH OF MARY, THE WIFE OF BALDWINDEFEAT OF THEODORE AND CONSTANTINE LASCARISBONIFACE ATTACKS LEON SGURE; HE IS JOINED BY GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN, THE NEPHEWEXPLOITS OF WILLIAM OF CHAMPLITTE AND GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN, THE NEPHEW, IN MOREASIEGE OF NAPOLI AND CORINTH; ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND JOHANNIZZAUPRISING OF THE GREEKS AT DEMOTICA AND ADRIANOPLE; THEIR DEFEAT AT ARCADIOPOLISTHE CRUSADERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRAITS ARE RECALLED TO MARCH ON ADRIANOPLE—EXPEDITION OF GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUINRENIER OF TRIT ABANDONED AT PHILIPPOPOLIS BY HIS SON AND THE GREATER PART OF HIS PEOPLEBALDWIN UNDERTAKES THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLETHE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE CONTINUED WITHOUT RESULTJOHANNIZZA, KING OF WALLACHIA, COMES TO RELIEVE ADRIANOPLEDEFEAT OF THE CRUSADERS—BALDWIN TAKEN PRISONERTHE CRUSADERS RAISE THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLERETREAT OF THE CRUSADERSPETER OF BRACIEUX AND PAYEN OF ORLEANS MEET THE RETREATING HOSTTHE HOST REACHES RODOSTOSEVEN THOUSAND PILGRIMS LEAVE THE CRUSADERSMEETING OF MANY OF THE CRUSADERS—HENRY, THE BROTHER OF BALDWIN, IS MADE REGENTRETURN TO CONSTANTINOPLE—APPEALS FOR HELP SENT TO THE POPE, AND TO FRANCE AND TO OTHER LANDS—DEATH OF THE DOGETHE REGENT OBTAINS CERTAIN ADVANTAGES OVER THE GREEKSSERES SURRENDERS TO JOHANNIZZA—HE FORFEITS HIS WORDTHE REGENT BESIEGES ADRIANOPLE IN VAINDESTRUCTION OF PHILIPPOPOLIS BY JOHANNIZZATHE REGENT SETS GARRISONS IN SUCH PLACES AS HE STILL HELDDEFEAT OF THE FRANKS NEAR RUSIUMNEW INVASION OF JOHANNIZZA; RUIN OF NAPOLIDESTRUCTION OF RODOSTOJOHANNIZZA CONTINUES HIS CONQUESTS AND RAVAGESTHE GREEKS ARE RECONCILED TO THE CRUSADERS—JOHANNIZZA BESIEGES DEMOTICATHE CRUSADERS MARCH TO THE RELIEF OF DEMOTICAJOHANNIZZA RETREATS, FOLLOWED BY THE CRUSADERSRENIER OF TRIT RELIEVED AND DELIVEREDHENRY CROWNED EMPEROR—JOHANNIZZA RAVAGES THE COUNTRY AGAIN—THE EMPEROR MARCHES AGAINST HIMTHE EMPEROR MEETS JOHANNIZZA, AND RECAPTURES HIS PRISONERSPROJECTED MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE EMPEROR AND THE DAUGHTER OF BONIFACE—THE CRUSADERS RAVAGE THE LANDS OF JOHANNIZZATHE EMPEROR RESUMES THE WAR AGAINST THEODORE LASCARISADVANTAGES OBTAINED BY BONIFACE—MARRIAGE OF HIS DAUGHTER WITH THE EMPERORTHEODORE LASCARIS FORMS AN ALLIANCE WITH JOHANNIZZASIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE BY JOHANNIZZA—SIEGE OF SKIZA AND CIBOTOS BY LASCARISTHE EMPEROR ATTACKS THE FLEET OF THEODORE LASCARIS, AND RESCUES CIBOTOSJOHANNIZZA RAISES THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLESKIZA AGAIN BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARIS—THE EMPEROR DELIVERS THE CITYTHE EMPEROR TWICE DELIVERS NICOMEDIA, BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARISTRUCE WITH THEODORE LASCARIS—THE EMPEROR INVADES THE LANDS OF JOHANNIZZATHE EMPEROR’S FORAGERS SUFFER LOSSHOMAGE RENDERED BY BONIFACE TO THE EMPEROR, AND BY GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN TO BONIFACEBONIFACE IS KILLED IN A BATTLE AGAINST THE BULGARIANSBeginning of this editionNext chapter →THE FIRST PREACHING OF THE CRUSADEAll chapters and sections (116)Chronicle of The Fourth Crusade and The Conquest of ConstantinopleTHE FIRST PREACHING OF THE CRUSADEOF THOSE WHO TOOK THE CROSSTHE CRUSADERS SEND SIX ENVOYS TO VENICETHE ENVOYS ARRIVE IN VENICE, AND PROFFER THEIR REQUESTCONDITIONS PROPOSED BY THE DOGECONCLUSION OF THE TREATY, AND RETURN OF THE ENVOYSTHE CRUSADERS LOOK FOR ANOTHER CHIEFBONIFACE, MARQUIS OF MONTFERRAT, BECOMES CHIEF OF THE CRUSADE—NEW CRUSADERS—DEATH OF GEOFFRY COUNT OF PERCHEFIRST STARTING OF THE PILGRIMS FOR VENICE, AND OF SOME WHO WENT NOT THITHEROF THE PILGRIMS WHO CAME TO VENICE, AND OF THOSE WHO WENT TO APULIATHE PILGRIMS LACK MONEY WHEREWITH TO PAY THE VENETIANSTHE CRUSADERS OBTAIN A RESPITE BY PROMISING TO HELP THE VENETIANS AGAINST ZARATHE DOGE AND A NUMBER OF VENETIANS TAKE THE CROSSMESSAGE OF ALEXIUS, THE SON OF ISAAC, THE DETHRONED EMPEROR OF CONSTANTINOPLE—DEATH OF FULK OF NEUILLY—ARRIVAL OF THE GERMANSTHE CRUSADERS LEAVE VENICE TO BESIEGE ZARATHE INHABITANTS OF ZARA OFFER TO CAPITULATE, AND THEN DRAW BACK—ZARA IS TAKENTHE CRUSADERS ESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THE CITYAFFRAY BETWEEN THE VENETIANS AND THE FRANKSON WHAT CONDITIONS ALEXIUS PROPOSES TO OBTAIN THE HELP OF THE CRUSADERS FOR THE CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLEDISCORD AMONG THE CRUSADERS—OF THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE PROPOSALS OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUSOF THOSE WHO SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM THE HOST TO GO TO SYRIA, AND OF THE FLEET OF THE COUNT OF FLANDERSTHE CRUSADERS OBTAIN THE POPE’S ABSOLUTION FOR THE CAPTURE OF ZARADEPARTURE OF THE CRUSADERS FOR CORFU—ARRIVAL OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUS—CAPTURE OF DURASHOW THE CHIEFS OF THE CRUSADERS HELD BACK THOSE WHO WANTED TO ABANDON THE HOSTDEPARTURE FROM CORFU—CAPTURE OF ANDROS AND ABYDOSARRIVAL AT ST. STEPHEN—DELIBERATION AS TO PLAN OF ATTACKTHE CRUSADERS LAND AT CHALCEDON AND SCUTARITHE FORAGERS DEFEAT THE GREEKSMESSAGE OF THE EMPEROR ALEXIUS—REPLY OF THE CRUSADERSTHE CRUSADERS SHOW THE YOUNG ALEXIUS TO THE PEOPLE OF CONSTANTINOPLE, AND PREPARE FOR THE BATTLETHE CRUSADERS SEIZE THE PORTCAPTURE OF THE TOWER OF GALATAATTACK ON THE CITY BY LAND AND SEAFIRST INCIDENTS OF THE ASSAULTASSAULT OF THE CITYCAPTURE OF TWENTY-FIVE TOWERSTHE EMPEROR ALEXIUS COMES OUT FOR BATTLE, BUT RETIRES WITHOUT ATTACKINGALEXIUS ABANDONS CONSTANTINOPLE—HIS BROTHER ISAAC IS REPLACED ON THE THRONE—THE CRUSADERS SEND HIM A MESSAGETHE EMPEROR ISAAC RATIFIES THE COVENANTS ENTERED INTO BY HIS SONENTRY OF THE CRUSADERS INTO CONSTANTINOPLE—CORONATION OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUSALEXIUS BEGS THE CRUSADERS TO PROLONG THEIR STAYDEBATE AMONG THE CRUSADERS—DEATH OF MATTHEW OF MONTMORENCYPROGRESS OF THE YOUNG ALEXIUS THROUGH THE EMPIRECONFLICT BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND LATINS IN CONSTANTINOPLE-BURNING OF THE CITYTHE YOUNG ALEXIUS RETURNS TO CONSTANTINOPLIZHE FAILS IN HIS PROMISES TO THE CRUSADERSTHE CRUSADERS DEFY THE EMPERORSTHE WAR BEGINS—THE GREEKS ENDEAVOUR TO SET FIRE TO THE FLEET OF THE CRUSADERSMOURZUPHLES USURPS THE EMPIRE—ISAAC DIES, AND THE YOUNG ALEXIUS IS STRANGLEDTHE CRUSADERS CONTINUE THE WAR—DEFEAT OF MOURZUPHLESOF THE PILGRIMS WHO HAD GONE TO SYRIAAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FRANKS AND VENETIANS BEFORE ATTACKING CONSTANTINOPLEATTACK OF THE CRUSADERS REPULSED—THEY MAKE READY FOR ANOTHER ASSAULTTHE CRUSADERS TAKE A PART OF THE CITYFLIGHT OF MOURZUPHLES—SECOND FIRE IN CONSTANTINOPLETHE CRUSADERS OCCUPY THE CITYDIVISION OF THE SPOILBALDWIN, COUNT OF FLANDERS, ELECTED EMPERORBONIFACE WEDS ISAAC’S WIDOW, AND AFTER BALDWIN’S CORONATION OBTAINS THE KINGDOM OF SALONIKABALDWIN MARCHES AGAINST MOURZUPHLESMOURZUPHLES TAKES REFUGE WITH ALEXIUS, THE BROTHER OF ISAAC, WHO PUTS OUT HIS EYESBALDWIN MARCHES AGAINST ALEXIUS—HE IS JOINED BY BONIFACERUPTURE BETWEEN BALDWIN AND BONIFACE—THE ONE MARCHES ON SALONIKA, THE OTHER ON DEMOTICAMESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BONIFACE—HE SUSPENDS THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLEMESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERS TO BALDWIN—DEATH OF SEVERAL KNIGHTSBALDWIN’S REPLY TO THE MESSAGE OF THE CRUSADERSRECONCILIATION OF BALDWIN AND BONIFACETHE KINGDOM OF SALONIKA IS RESTORED TO BONIFACE—DIVISION OF THE LAND BETWEEN THE CRUSADERSEXECUTION OF MOURZUPHLES AND IMPRISONMENT OF ALEXIUSCAPTURE OF ABYDOS, OF PHILIPPOPOLIS, AND OF NICOMEDIA—THEODORE LASCARIS PRETENDS TO THE EMPIREREINFORCEMENTS FROM SYRIA—DEATH OF MARY, THE WIFE OF BALDWINDEFEAT OF THEODORE AND CONSTANTINE LASCARISBONIFACE ATTACKS LEON SGURE; HE IS JOINED BY GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN, THE NEPHEWEXPLOITS OF WILLIAM OF CHAMPLITTE AND GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN, THE NEPHEW, IN MOREASIEGE OF NAPOLI AND CORINTH; ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE GREEKS AND JOHANNIZZAUPRISING OF THE GREEKS AT DEMOTICA AND ADRIANOPLE; THEIR DEFEAT AT ARCADIOPOLISTHE CRUSADERS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STRAITS ARE RECALLED TO MARCH ON ADRIANOPLE—EXPEDITION OF GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUINRENIER OF TRIT ABANDONED AT PHILIPPOPOLIS BY HIS SON AND THE GREATER PART OF HIS PEOPLEBALDWIN UNDERTAKES THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLETHE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE CONTINUED WITHOUT RESULTJOHANNIZZA, KING OF WALLACHIA, COMES TO RELIEVE ADRIANOPLEDEFEAT OF THE CRUSADERS—BALDWIN TAKEN PRISONERTHE CRUSADERS RAISE THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLERETREAT OF THE CRUSADERSPETER OF BRACIEUX AND PAYEN OF ORLEANS MEET THE RETREATING HOSTTHE HOST REACHES RODOSTOSEVEN THOUSAND PILGRIMS LEAVE THE CRUSADERSMEETING OF MANY OF THE CRUSADERS—HENRY, THE BROTHER OF BALDWIN, IS MADE REGENTRETURN TO CONSTANTINOPLE—APPEALS FOR HELP SENT TO THE POPE, AND TO FRANCE AND TO OTHER LANDS—DEATH OF THE DOGETHE REGENT OBTAINS CERTAIN ADVANTAGES OVER THE GREEKSSERES SURRENDERS TO JOHANNIZZA—HE FORFEITS HIS WORDTHE REGENT BESIEGES ADRIANOPLE IN VAINDESTRUCTION OF PHILIPPOPOLIS BY JOHANNIZZATHE REGENT SETS GARRISONS IN SUCH PLACES AS HE STILL HELDDEFEAT OF THE FRANKS NEAR RUSIUMNEW INVASION OF JOHANNIZZA; RUIN OF NAPOLIDESTRUCTION OF RODOSTOJOHANNIZZA CONTINUES HIS CONQUESTS AND RAVAGESTHE GREEKS ARE RECONCILED TO THE CRUSADERS—JOHANNIZZA BESIEGES DEMOTICATHE CRUSADERS MARCH TO THE RELIEF OF DEMOTICAJOHANNIZZA RETREATS, FOLLOWED BY THE CRUSADERSRENIER OF TRIT RELIEVED AND DELIVEREDHENRY CROWNED EMPEROR—JOHANNIZZA RAVAGES THE COUNTRY AGAIN—THE EMPEROR MARCHES AGAINST HIMTHE EMPEROR MEETS JOHANNIZZA, AND RECAPTURES HIS PRISONERSPROJECTED MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE EMPEROR AND THE DAUGHTER OF BONIFACE—THE CRUSADERS RAVAGE THE LANDS OF JOHANNIZZATHE EMPEROR RESUMES THE WAR AGAINST THEODORE LASCARISADVANTAGES OBTAINED BY BONIFACE—MARRIAGE OF HIS DAUGHTER WITH THE EMPERORTHEODORE LASCARIS FORMS AN ALLIANCE WITH JOHANNIZZASIEGE OF ADRIANOPLE BY JOHANNIZZA—SIEGE OF SKIZA AND CIBOTOS BY LASCARISTHE EMPEROR ATTACKS THE FLEET OF THEODORE LASCARIS, AND RESCUES CIBOTOSJOHANNIZZA RAISES THE SIEGE OF ADRIANOPLESKIZA AGAIN BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARIS—THE EMPEROR DELIVERS THE CITYTHE EMPEROR TWICE DELIVERS NICOMEDIA, BESIEGED BY THEODORE LASCARISTRUCE WITH THEODORE LASCARIS—THE EMPEROR INVADES THE LANDS OF JOHANNIZZATHE EMPEROR’S FORAGERS SUFFER LOSSHOMAGE RENDERED BY BONIFACE TO THE EMPEROR, AND BY GEOFFRY OF VILLEHARDOUIN TO BONIFACEBONIFACE IS KILLED IN A BATTLE AGAINST THE BULGARIANSby Geoffrey de VillehardouinTranslated by Frank T. MarzialsLondon: J.M. Dent, 1908THE FIRST PREACHING OF THE CRUSADE →