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1204April 1204 · Istanbul

Sack of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade

The four ancient bronze horses taken from Constantinople in 1204, now inside St Mark's Basilica
Photo: Tteske. CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Crusaders bound for Egypt, deep in debt to Venice, were drawn into a Byzantine succession quarrel and stormed Constantinople instead. For three days they looted the Christian city, its churches and its relics, then set up a Latin empire that lasted until 1261. The sack left Byzantium permanently weaker and deepened the split between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Sites

  1. Site 1: Hagia SophiaA gallery marker for Enrico Dandolo, the Venetian doge buried there after the conquest.Map ↗
  2. Site 2: Hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square)The old race-track square whose bronze horses were carried off to Venice.Map ↗
  3. Site 3: St Mark's Basilica, VeniceThe four looted bronze horses, the originals kept inside the basilica's museum.Map ↗

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