Christians and the Moslems should cease. The Fourth Crusade
(1196-1197), which is sometimes considered merely as a
movement supplementary to the Third, forced renewed
hostilities, against the wishes of the Palestine Christians,
who preferred that the three-years' peace should continue.
The Fourth Crusade ended disastrously, those who remained
longest to prosecute it being finally cut to pieces at Jaffa
in 1197. The travellers returning to the West from Syria
besought immediate help for the Christian survivors there.
The Byzantine empire had fallen into decrepitude, and the
Latin kingdom of Jerusalem was reduced to a mere strip of
coast. Only by prompt action could it be hoped to save any
portion of it from complete wreck.

Innocent III, who became pope in 1198, well understood the
meaning of the Moslem triumphs. The four crusades had
already greatly extended the papal jurisdiction, and
Innocent himself was the moving spirit of the Fifth,
although an ignorant priest named Fulk also preached it with
a success almost equal to that of Peter the Hermit in the
first expedition. Vast numbers of warriors took the cross,
though no king and only a few minor princes joined them.
Most famous among the leaders were Boniface II, Marquis of
Montferrat, and Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders.

Venice joined the crusaders under the lead of her doge,
Henry Dandolo, then more than ninety years old. When
ambassador at the Byzantine court (1173) he was blinded by
order of the emperor Manuel I, and revenge was probably one
of the motives which took him again to the East. The
Venetians, being asked to transport the crusaders, demanded
an extortionate price; but as Venice was the only power
possessing the necessary ships, a contract was made with her
for the service in 1201. Immediately the Venetians, by a
secret treaty with Egypt, for the sake of commercial
privileges, betrayed the crusaders to the Moslems.
Embarkation from Venice in the summer of 1202 was made very
difficult, and many intending crusaders went home in
disgust. Still Venice insisted upon the full price; but
money to pay it was wanting; and in spite of the Pope and
many of the bitter spirits, a bargain was struck--the
crusaders agreed to help the Venetians in taking and
plunde