Probably the only Roman Catholics that had ever been to Constantinople prior to the crusades were merchants primarily Italian merchants as Italian city states had been trading with the Byzantine Empire for centuries. The Fourth Crusade conquered Constantinople to plunder its wealth. The Pope agreed to rally up an army to defend Constantinople on condition that the Orthodox Church be submited to the Church of Rome. Orthodox Christian prefered to be under Muslim rule than Catholic control.
Probably the only Roman Catholics that had ever been to Constantinople prior to the crusades were merchants primarily Italian merchants as Italian city states had been trading with the Byzantine Empire for centuries. The Fourth Crusade conquered Constantinople to plunder its wealth. The Pope agreed to rally up an army to defend Constantinople on condition that the Orthodox Church be submited to the Church of Rome. Orthodox Christian prefered to be under Muslim rule than Catholic control.
MrLantean 1 year ago