Objectives of the fourth crusade
The original objectives of the fourth crusade where to travel to the byzantine empire and to restore power to a deposed emperor Alexios Angelos in return for financial and military on their following journey to the holy lands. When they did not receive their money they decided to attack sack Constantinople with the Venetians. Another reason why they were trying to loot Constantinople was because they didn't have enough money to pay the Venetian fleet to take them to the holy land . The original plan was to pay the Venetian fleet to take them to the holy land (Jerusalem and nearby land) to control the currently Muslim controlled Jerusalem.
The Crusaders could only pay 35 000 silver marks and the agreed amount was 85 000 silver marks. The Venetians threatened to intern them until they could pay the full payment therefore they payed another 14 000 which caused the crusaders poverty. This was a disaster to the Venetians because they had stopped their commerce for a long time to prepare for this expedition as well as having 20 000 - 30 000 Venetians to man the fleet (Venice only had a population of 60 000 - 100 000). This Caused even more strain on Venice's economy. The Venetians and the crusaders stuck a deal that they would sack Constantinople and share the riches.
As you can see on the right there is a map of the ideal crusade. Work by Liam Lund |