The History of the Holy War, Book 3 · Chapter 17
Chap. 17. A Crusado for the Holy land diverted by the Pope to Constantinople;1202 They conquer the Grecian Empire.
THis truce notwithstanding, another armie of Pilgrimes was presently provided for Syria: The Tetrarchs whereof were Baldwine Earl of Flanders, Dandalo the Venetian Duke, Theobald Earl of Champaigne, Boniface Marquesse of Montferrat, with many other Nobles.
Leave we them a while taking the citie of Jadera in Istria for the Venetians. Mean time if we look over into Greece, we shall find Isaac Angelus the Emperour deposed, thrust into prison, his eyes put out (the punishment there in fashion) so that he ended his dayes before he ended his life, by the cruelty of Alexius Angelus his brother, who succeeded him.
But young Alexius, Isaac Angelus his sonne, with some Grecian Noble-men, came to the courts of most Western Princes to beg assistance to free his father and expell the tyrant. He so deported himself, that each gesture was a net to catch mens good will; not seeking their favour by losing himself, but though he did bow, he would not kneel: so that in his face one might reade a pretty combat betwixt the beams of majesty and cloud of adversity. To see a Prince in want, would move a misers charity. Our Western Princes tendered his case, which they counted might be their own; their best right lying at the mercy of any stronger usurper. Young Alexius so dressed his meat, that he pleased every mans palate; promising for their succours to disingage the French from their debts to the Venetian; promising the Venetian satisfaction for the wrongs done them by the Grecians; and bearing the Pope in hand he would reduce the Eastern Churches into his subjection: things which he was little *Nicetas.able to perform. But well may the statute of Bankrupt be sued out against him who cannot be rich in promises. These his fair proffers prevailed so farre, that the Pope commanded, and other Princes consented, that this army of Pilgrimes levied for the Holy land, should be imployed against the usurping Grecian Emperour. Many taxed his Holinesse for an unjust steward of the Christian forces, to expend them against the Grecians, which were to be laid out against the Infidels: Especially now when Palestine, through the dissension of the Turks, offered itself into the Christians arms to be regained. Others thought the Pope took the right method; because he which should winne Jerusalem must begin at Constantinople: And by this warre the Grecian Empire, which was the bridge to Syria, would be made good, and secured for the passage of Pilgrimes. The souldiers generally rejoyced at the exchange of their service: for the barren warres in Syria starved the undertakers; and a cook himself cannot lick his fingers where no meat is dressed. There nothing but naked honour was to be gotten, here honour clothed with spoil; the usurpers treasure would make brave scrambling amongst them: And it was good plowing up of that ground which had long lien fallow.
Setting sail from Jadera (which citie they had subdued to the Venetian, forcing them to pay three thousand *Blo…dus, lib. 6. Decad. 2. pag. 270.cony-skins yearly for tribute to that State) like good fensers they strook at the head, and made for Constantinople: Which they quickly took,1203 after some hot skirmishes. Alexius Angelus the usurper, with his wife,Iuly 17. whores, and treasure, fled away. Blind Isaac Angelus was fetched out of prison; he and young Alexius his sonne saluted joynt Emperours. Which brittle honour of theirs was quickly broken: For soon after the father died, being brought into an open place, kept before in a close pent dungeon; and having long fasted from good aire, he now got his death by surfeting on it. His sonne was villainously strangled by Alexius Ducas, called from his beetle-brow Mursiphlus: One of base parentage, who was tumultuously chosen Emperour by the people. This Ducas offered some affronts to the Latines which lay before Constantinople in their ships. Wherefore, and also because they were not payed for their former service, they the second time assaulted the citie,1204 and took it by main force;Apr. 21. killing none, but robbing all; ravishing women, and using a thousand insolencies. Some fled for their succour to the shrines of Saints: But the Sanctuaries needed sanctuaries to protect themselves; the souldiers as little respecting place, as formerly age or sex: not standing on any reverence to the Saints, they stood upon them, making footstools of their images and statues.
Nicetas Choniates, hitherto an historian, now a plaintiff, (writing so full of ohs and exclamations as if the while pinched by the arm) rather without measure then cause bemoneth the outrages the Latines here committed. Poore man! all the miseries our Saviour speaketh of in a siege, met in him: His flight from Constantinople was in the winter, on the *In libello cui titulus, Status Constantinopolis, §. 1 pag. 637.Sabbathday, his wife being great with child. But when the object is too neare the eye, it seemeth greater then it is: and perchance he amplifieth and aggravateth the cruelty of these Pilgrimes, being nearly interessed therein himself; especially when the rhetorick of grief is alwayes in the Hyperbole. Nor is it any news for souldiers to be so insolent when they take a citie by assault: which time is their *Servorum hic dies est, Lips. lib. 1. Satur. cap. 2.Saturnalia, when servants themselves do command, acknowledging no other leader or captain then their own passions.
Within a twelve-monethmonth all Greece was subdued save onelyonly Adrianople:Apr. 24. crowned May 16. Baldwine Earl of Flanders chosen Emperour; Thomas Maurocenus elected first Latine Patriarch in Constantinople; Boniface Marquesse of Montferrat made King of Thessalie; Geoffrey of Troy, a Frenchman, Prince of Achaia and Duke of Athens: the Venetians got many rich Islands in the Egean and Ionian seas: So that one could not now see the Grecian Empire for Empires. It was now expected that they should have advanced hence into Palestine: But here having well feathered their nests, they were loth to flie any further. And now no wonder if the Christians affairs in Palestine were weak and lean, the Pope diverting the meat that should feed them another way.