The Crucifixion of the Crusade

Baldwin and Louis felt deeply conflicted. They'd sworn to Dandalo that they would take Zara in order to pay off their debts. The greatest pressure of all was the fear that the crusade would collapse. It had taken a tremendous amount of money and effort to get this far, to let it all fall apart now would have been heartbreaking. Two weeks later then, the Latins began their assault on the walls of Zara. Many Zarans abandoned their city, as the crusaders and Venetians rushed in to ransack it. This angered Innocent who forgave the pilgrims, but excommunicated the Venetians.