In 1095, the Byzantine Empire was in trouble. The Seljuks were very close to destroying Alexius I ‘s empire. He sent an urgent message to his rival, the Roman Pope. The Council of Claremont was held and the Pope decided to help. The Holy Land of Jerusalem was currently in Seljuk control. “Seize that land from (Muslims) and take it to yourselves,” Urban, the Roman Pope at the time recited. Many people went to die for …showed first 75 words of 293 total…

…showed last 75 words of 293 total…itself, Constantinople. This ultimately destroyed the empire, but it didn’t die out for several years. While it was still there, there was great strife between Rome and the empire. The Roman Church, while rivaled with the Byzantine Empire, did not order anyone to attack Constantinople as far as anyone knows. The fourth crusade can’t really be called that because a crusade has a holy purpose, and looting and pillaging is not exactly holy.