Dandolo / The Venetians

• Why did Dandolo propose attacking Zara?

  • Zara's value = The Venetians had lost the port in 1186, and it was a valuable stop-off point on the journey to Outremer; it also supplied the Venetians with Dalmation oak in which they built their ships
  • Risk of Violence = After the 51,000 marks were paid, they still owed money, so if the crusade was halted, the troops in Venice may have rebelled
  • Salvation = Dandolo was old but he had taken the crusader vow, so he needed to aid the crusade to have the plenary indulgence granted
• Division in the Crusading Force when attacking Zara

  • Prior to the depature, Boniface and Peter had visited Rome to inform the pope - Boniface did not return until Zara had fallen and Peter not until the capture of Constantinople - the forces had lost their commander in chief and papal authority
  • The papal letter that threatened the crusaders was used by Abbot Guy of Vaux-de-Cernay and Simon of Montfort to quell enthusiasm of the attack on Zara
• How did the siege of Zara weaken the crusade

  • It delayed the journey to Alexandria as it was too late in the year to embark on a long voyage
  • It led to several nobles to abandon the crusade and question the actions taken against papal command
  • The French contingent was granted an oath which took them out of excommunication; however, the Venetians did not take this oath
  • There was now a gap between allies - The French and Crusaders wanted to reach Alexandria and Jerusalem, while the Venetians wanted to secure commercial power