The Fourth Crusade

Alexius Angulos was a 19-year-old son of Isaac, Duke of Swabia. He fled to Sicily where he made his case for the Byzantine throne. His appeal just happened to coincide with the calling of a fourth crusade. The leaders now understood that Jerusalem could not be held by pilgrims alone. A standing army had to be recruited if Utraemir was going to remain in Latin hands. But thanks to the relentless lying, foolishness and greed of its leaders, the fourth crusade quickly became a grotesque parody of such a mission.