Prince Alexius and the Byzantines

• What was Prince Alexius's plan

  • After his father - Isaac II - was deposed in 1195 and blinded by his own brother Alexius III, where Prince Alexius and his father were placed on house arrest
  • However, Prince Alexius knew the Byzantium force was weak, with the navy only harbouring 20 ships but 30000 troops
• What was Prince Alexius's proposal to the Fourth Crusade

  • In December 1202, Prince Alexius through the German King, Philip of Swabia (who was married to Alexius's sister), sent the Fourth Crusader's an envoy
  • He planned to give the Crusaders: 200,000 marks, 10000 troops, 500 knights to defend Outremer in his lifespan and place the Eastern Christian Church of Byzantium back under the control of Rome
  • In return, he wanted the Crusader's help in restoring his father, Isaac II, back to the Byzantine throne
• Key supporters for this plan

  • Venetians under Dandolo; French under counts of Blois and Saint Pol; Supporters of Philip of Swabia including Boniface
  • 1 = It would be more likely to capture Jerusalem with an extra 10,000 troops
  • 2 = Constantinople had also been a base for crusader attacks on Syria and Palestine since the 1090s
  • 3 = Would alleviate the Venetian contract, which only had 6 months left on it
• How did the proposal weaken the Fourth Crusade

  • Around 2000 troops left the crusade from this proposal, after the losses of Zara, only around 3000 stood by August 1203
  • Leaders such as Simon of Montfort and Renauld of Montmirail had decided to abandon the crusade, and they took their troops with them
  • The Pope's authority had begun to diminish, after the diversion to Zara, Innocent III had opposed Alexius's plan due to his ties with Philip of Swabia, however this proposal appealed to the leadership, so the Pope became permanently sidelined
• Short Term achievements of the attack in Constantinople

  • On July 18th, Isaac II was restored to the Imperial Throne and the crusader leaders were invited to the city
  • Isaac II knew that he could fulfil the commitments Alexius made with the crusaders, however he still accepted their request
  • Alexius gave the Crusaders their bargain, 50000 to the crusaders and 50000 to the Venetians, but the forces still had to pay the Venetians the remaining 34000
• Prince Alexius's unfulfilled promises

  • He had only managed to pay the crusaders half of what he owed them, and he could not raise more funds, due to the rulers not submitting to his authority and melting down relics
  • Alexius IV's patriarch John X Camaretus did not submit to the Pope's authority, as he would not travel to Rome to collect his pallium
  • The threat of rebellion for Alexius IV meant he asked the crusaders in September 1203 to stay till March 1204 - The leaders had little choice to agree, due to the fees and supplies they needed - many were furious as they were not leaving