The Byzantine Empire: Part 5 - Crusades and the Fall of Constantinople

1042-1453
Yes, yes, I recognize that 1042-1453 is a long stretch of time, but while Rome wasn't built in a day, Byzantium didn't fall in one either. It went through a slow, painful decline in power through two major issues. The first was the split of the church, through one side believing the west wasn't well represented and the east believing it was fine. The split created the Catholic (universal) and Eastern Orthodox (true) churches, the separation meaning they no longer supported each other. The other major problem - and this one the more violent, scary one - was the rise of the Seljuk Turks. Originally nomadic, they banded together and caught the Muslim world by surprise, taking large sections of territory. They set their sights on the Byzantine Empire, and with the mismanagement of previous emperors and the military being stripped in fear of uprisings, it was right there, ready to be trampled.

The crusaders taking Jerusalem. Upon hearing this news
the Pope proclaimed he was "totally stoked" and was
glad the soldiers could "git 'er done."

With the Turks rampaging across the lands, the Pope needed to do something, and while he wasn't yelling "terrorist!" or forcing people off airplanes, he ignited the western civilizations of Europe in a fervor of anti-Muslim sentiments. With that, the first Crusade was born, and taking up the banner of Christ they went to kill all the non-Christians they could find in the most Christian way they could. But how did Constantinople feel about this? Alexius, the emperor, was wary of the men coming through his lands on the way to attack the Turks. First, they might make the Pope more powerful, thus weakening his own position. Second, that many people coming through the city would need food and hospitality, and not being willing to provide might not work out too well. I'm betting you wouldn't like to be the one to tell a massive number of angry, violent men that they're going to be well fed during their travels.

Saladin: Upon trampling an enemy soldier,
he would shout back at his troops, yelling
"look, no hands!".

Fortunately, they passed through on their way to take Jerusalem, but Alexius was still supposed to send soldiers. The lands were, after all, meant to be returned to Constantinople's influence once they were liberated from the Turks. So, when a massive army was descending upon a number of crusaders, Alexius took his men and ventured out to support them. That was when he came across a man fleeing from the battle who informed Alexius that by the time they arrived all would be lost - so Alexius, not wanting to go fight a war that's already concluded, went back to Constantinople. This is one of those historical "what if?" moments where you have to wonder what would have happened if that man had never escaped. Well... Byzantium would probably still go down, but it would likely be a fair while later.

The reason this was so bad for the empire was the crusaders didn't lose. They fought on valiantly, and as things go with having the advantage of being the defender, they shut themselves off in their fortifications and defeated the superior numbers of the Turks. This destroyed the reputation of the empire, and the crusaders would no longer return the lands to Constantinople, instead keeping them for themselves.

Some time later, the Turks, who had taken the role as vassal states instead of being entirely eliminated, started to rise up again. Under the banner of the great Saladin (so great I've seen him in Age of Empires and the Civilization series - really the benchmark for a top level historical ruler) the Turks stole Jerusalem back and sparked another Crusade against him. The Turks were much more successful this time, however, and the Ottoman Empire was created and running largely unopposed. As for the crusaders that went out to fight them, they also ended up brutalizing Constantinople. Due to infighting between emperors and would-be emperors, one hired the crusaders to get him the crown. They were successful, but discovered he couldn't afford to pay them all that he had promised. As a result, the crusaders rampaged across the city, looting, burning and destroying much of Constantinople. Looking back on it, the crusaders didn't seem to be the holy rollers they claimed to be. Who knew?

With Constantinople in shambles, they soon became a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans frequently shamed the emperor and his people, forcing them into the indignity of living underfoot. They finally pushed the emperor Manuel II a little too far, forcing them to declare war. The Ottoman army was much, much greater, but they had the walls of Constantinople to protect them and the Turks lacked an adequate navy to attack from the sea. They managed to hold on, and the Mongol, Timur the Lame (what a name to go down in history with) forced them to retreat as he was attacking Ottoman territory. It was good timing, and it gave them a reprieve, but this was grasping at straws and the empire was on the outs.

A statue of the last emperor of the Byzantines. I mean, don't
get me wrong, he fought well and all, but he did just get
a statue of him for having the empire die under his watch.
Just sayin'.

Eventually they returned, and they attacked once more with the emperor Constantine at the helm. While it seemed like they could shield themselves behind the walls of Constantinople forever, the introduction of the cannon spelled the end. The walls were repeatedly bombarded, and while they would restack the rubble during the nighttime, their soldiers were outnumbered ten to one. Regardless, they held on valiantly, turning away advance after advance of the Ottoman troops. Constantine was told to flee as the city was sure to fall, but he chose to stay, rallying the troops and going down with the ship. In what must have been a surprisingly nice moment (considering both sides were displaying the corpses of their enemy outside their walls) the split churches both met in the Hagia Sophia and had a communal service. The speech the emperor gave was more a funeral service than a inspiration.

After 1123 years, the Byzantine Empire fell as the Ottoman troops ransacked and set fire to the city, raping and pillaging everything in sight. The 88th and final emperor charged into battle with his troops and was never seen from again.