Summary of Ernle Bradford's The Great Betrayal

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Sample Book Insights:

#1 The fleet that sailed to Constantinople in 1203 was the largest ever assembled. It consisted of over 450 warships, merchant ships and transports. The backbone of the fleet was 50 galleys, while behind them came hundreds of transports and merchant ships.

#2 The Fourth Crusade was a papal attempt to escape the lay motive, and attempt to establish the old direction of the crusade: Egypt. However, the Pope had never intended that the Crusade’s goal should be Egypt, since Egypt was now the center of Mahommedan power.

#3 The Fourth Crusade was a French endeavor. It was led by Count Tibald of Champagne, but when he died in May 1201, Count Boniface of Montferrat was elected his successor. The Venetian Doge Enrico Dandolo controlled the fleet, and he intended to place a pretender on the throne of Byzantium.

#4 The young Alexius had no legitimate claim to the throne of Byzantium, and the Doge knew this. His interest in Constantinople and its empire was realistic. The Star of Venice had been rising for centuries, while that of Byzantium was declining.