The Fourth Crusade

Venetians were offering to contribute 50 war galleys at their own expense. They only asked that all booty, including the lands of Egypt itself, would have divided 50-50 between them and the Crusaders. The latin envoys did not spend two weeks carefully considering the calculations. After barely a day, they were ready to sign on the dotted line. Dandolo took the deal to the assembly of the people, made a rousing speech in its favour, and the Venetians gave it their assent.The fourth crusade, as we call it, was set to depart on the 29th of June 1202.