# Sack of Constantinople (1204)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1204-sack-of-constantinople
Location: Constantinople
Themes: War

The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople, deepening the rift between East and West. At this point in the timeline (13 April 1204), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Innocent III (8 January 1198 – 16 July 1216).

## Why it matters
Sack of Constantinople mattered because it shows how warfare and conquest affected Christian communities and the relations between faiths.

Pope at the time: [Pope Innocent III](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-innocent-iii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Sack of Constantinople](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Constantinople)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Sack of Constantinople](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Sack+of+Constantinople)
- [Wikipedia — Medieval Church (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church#Middle_Ages)