What Was Lost in the Sack of Constantinople of 1204?

Kings and Generals animated historical documentary series on the history of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine) and medieval battles continue with a video on what was lost in the sack of Constantinople of 1204. In this video, we will give an account of losses in art and material culture during the Fourth Crusade.

Previous videos on the Crusades, Bulgaria, and the Byzantine Empire:
Pliska 811 - Byzantine - Bulgarian Wars - Pliska 811 - Byzantine - Bulgarian Wars

#Documentary #SackofConstantinople #Crusades

[georgekolev]

If you are feeling sad watching this, believe me researching and writing it was even worse. Originally we considered making this a part of the original video that describes the entire fourth crusade in length, but after watching this I hope you agree that this episode deserved to be standalone.

So much incredible art was lost within three days, but I hope that this video preserves a piece of the legacy from so many corners of the world stored behind the Theodosian walls, for as long as the beauty of these artefacts is described, they are not truly destroyed!

[commonwealthrealm]

I have one word to describe everyone who took part in the Sack of Constantinople: Barbarians

[rageraptor]

After learning a whole bunch about Roman and Greek history. You realize just how sad and how depressing such an event really is. So much history in that city just gone. It really feels like the end of an era since it hits so hard. Especially if you spent so much time learning about the romans. So many stories that could be told. The bodies of the emperors alone hit different 😭. All those videos about their stories.

[secret]

Napoleon: Takes the Quadriga from Venice
Venice: You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen!

[pxus]

This hurts to watch... 800 years later...

[JkrJolt]

1204 Sack of Constantinople was 100% the reason of Eastern empire's downfall. They abandoned the only reason Europe didn't become Arab/Muslim for a millennia just because they were too butthurt with the Byzantines for being Orthodox, speak Greek instead of Latin, being more sophisticated (Theophanu Sklerena taught King Otto's German people how to use cutlery and bath every day) and honestly, being the actual legacy of Ancient Greek and Rome.Not to mention the unholy part that the Church played, in both West and East.

[balkanmountains]

I wasn't ready for this. This is really depressing.

[tayduatrinhcoi]

Me: I'm a grown man. I can do this.
Kings and Generals:
Me: *tears rolling down my cheeks

[BloodyFoxDK]

I feel so sick when I hear what they did and destroyed during this sack.

[reauxnbears]

Imagine the history we will never know about.

[plasmaTee]

The crimes of the Crusaders is one of the biggest reasons why the Great Schism has not been forgotten among the Orthodox peoples to this day.

[ahmedshaharyarejaz]

This was the day that the Roman Empire and Constantinople actually died. The Turks conquered it's resilient shell 200 years later but the Soul was already long gone by then.

[starwars]

"Medieval Knights are honor warriors who defend the weak."

Medieval Knights:

[Lyon-npem]

This is by far the most depressing episode ive seen so far

[thelodgebeaver]

One of the most gut-wrenching things I've ever watched. I've known about this sack for a while and figured it was an absolute tragedy, but going so in-depth gave it a new meaning to me. Incredible job, K&G.

[mazarajr]

''On that day, April 13 1204, Rhomania received a grim reminder. They lived now in fear of the West and were disgraced to see the Queen of Cities being looted from everything''

[HeavyCavalryArcher]

1204 was the true "Fall of Constantinople".

[ScapularSaves]

Pope Innocent III 
To Baldwin, Count of Flanders and Hainault 

"You took upon yourselves the duty of delivering the Holy Land from the Infidel. You were forbidden under pain of excommunication from attacking any Christian lands, unless they refused you passage or would not help you (and even then you were to do nothing contrary to the wishes of my legate). You had no claims or pretensions to the lands of Greece. You were under the most solemn vows of Our Lord-and yet you have totally disregarded these vows. It was not against the Infidel but against Christians that you drew your sword. It was not Jerusalem that you captured but Constantinople. It was not heavenly riches upon which your minds were set, but earthly ones. But far and above all of this, nothing has been sacred to you-neither age nor sex. In the eyes of the whole world you have abandoned yourselves to debauchery, adultery and prostitution. You have not only violated married women and widows, but even women and virgins whose lives were dedicated to Christ. You have looted not only the treasures of the Emperor and of citizens both rich and poor, but have despoiled the very sanctuaries of God's Church. You have broken into holy places, stolen the sacred objects of altars-even including crucifixes-and you have pillaged innumerable images and relics of the Saints. It is hardly surprising that the Greek Church, beaten down though it is, rejects any obedience to the Apostolic See. It is hardly surprising that it sees in all Latins no more than treachery and the works of the Devil, and regards all of them as curs."

Pope Innocent III
To Doge Enrico Dandolo of Venice 

"It was you who deliberately deflected a crusading army designed to make war upon the Saracens. You despised my legate and treated my excommunication of you with contempt. You have broken your Christian vows, and have despoiled the churches and their treasures. Tell me, if you can, how you can ever redeem yourselves-you who have turned aside a Christian army destined for the Holy Land ? With this great and powerful army not only Jerusalem but even part of Babylon might have been captured. The proof of this is that an army which could so easily take Greece and Constantinople could equally well have captured Alexandria and the Holy Land from the Infidels."

[Dinoshatz]

When "civilized" folk meet the greatest city of the era...

[datgood]

Not even Constantine's tomb was sacred to them? The man was one of the main reasons their religion was able to be so widespread in the first place