Of Reflections On Arabic Sources Of The Invasion Of Konstantinopolis By Latins(1204)

The Fourth Crusade was organized to take Jerusalem from Muslims. At least, that was the declared purpose. But the Crusades that held in Venice to go to Egypt, changed their direction and went to the capital of Byzantine Empire, Konstantinopolis. This route alteration was occured with the efforts of Venetian Doge Enrico Dandolo and it is not only didn’t cause the expeditios’s failure but also resulted the collapse of Byzantium. Crusaders who occupied Konstantinopolis, performed one of history’s most brutal massares and looting. Occupants established a Latin state in Konstantinopolis after the invasion. Baudouin de Flandre who one of the leaders of the invaders crowned as the first ruler of this state. This state’s existence, continued for a period of more than half a century. But although this expedition and invasion has a sharp important for Islamic world and decisive effects on the history of Turks and Muslims in the Middle East in the way of short-term and long-term purposes, hasn’t seen mach interest among Muslims. This Crusade that it is a breakpoint in term of the history Byzantium, Anatolia and Saljuqs, has not been discussed in detail in Arabic sources. On the other hand, our sources give at least some information about occupation. In our study, it will be discussed some reflections of the invasion in the Arabic sources and evaluated the essential character of these reflections.

Keywords

Latins, Arabic sources, Konstantinopolis, Enrico Dandolo, Byzantine.