Interview
Q: I would like to explore the role various causes played in the Sack of Constantinople. How would you weigh the role of the Crusaders against the Venetians? How would you reflect on Alexios IV Angelos' role in leading to the Sack?
A: Responsibility is difficult to assign in events like the Sack of Constantinople since ultimately it could not have occurred without the joint forces of the Crusaders and the Venetians. That being said, the Venetians were a major force behind the Sack, as they created the Treaty of Venice and led the Siege of Zara. Whereas for Alexios IV Angelos, the Sack could not have happened without his enlistment of the Crusaders. However, he had not planned and could not have known the extent to which events would escalate.
Q: How large of an impact would you consider the Sack of Constantinople of 1204 had on the fall of Constantinople of 1453?
A: The damage the Byzantine Empire had endured in the Sack of Constantinople left Constantinople unable to economically recover. As the continuation of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire had been thriving for centuries as it maintained the political and societal structures put in place by the Romans. This deepens the significance of the Sack, since it damaged not only Byzantine’s economy, but its political and societal structures as well.
Q: Is the antagonism felt stronger between Catholic-Orthdox relations than between political and regional antagonisms?
A: In the Medieval Ages, it was impossible to separate religion and politics, since they were so intertwined. Because of this, it becomes difficult to weigh the scales of which they were impacted. So at the time, the impact was equally felt. However now, since Europe is secular, the political antagonisms did not remain as strong as religious antagonisms did.
Q: How significant is Frankokratia in the fall of Constantinople? What about the stolen and vandalized artifacts?
A: Frankokratia is significant when on the topic of the Roman structures that carried onto the Byzantine Empire. It really was not until Frankokratia that Byzantines endured a different political system, which held different religious values as well. The Byzantines attempted many times to reclaim the full Empire back from the Crusaders and Venetians, but ultimately could not until 1261. The stolen and vandalized artifacts were not only damaging to the Byzantine Empire from a cultural perspective. Losing these ancient pieces led to a decline in pilgrimage, which negatively impacted the Byzantine Empire’s economy.
Q: Are there any direct relations or paralells between the Siege of Zara and the Sack of Constantinople?
A: The Siege of Zara and the Sack of Constantinople are directly linked to one another, as both were executed by the joint forces of the Crusaders and the Venetians. The Siege of Zara stood out for being the first direct assault on a Christian city by Crusading forces, which was succeeded by Constantinople. In both assaults, the Crusaders were partially working to repay the debt they owed to the Venetians.