What was the Fourth Crusade and how did it impact the Byzantine Empire?

The Fourth Crusade was a military expedition launched by the Western Christian states against the Muslim-controlled Holy Land in 1202. However, due to political, economic, and religious factors, the Crusade took a dramatic turn and resulted in the sacking of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, in 1204. The Crusaders were hired by the exiled Prince Alexios Angelos to help him regain the throne of the Byzantine Empire, but the Crusaders were not paid as promised and decided to sack Constantinople instead.

The sack of Constantinople had a significant impact on the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine Empire was already weakened by previous invasions and internal conflicts, and the Fourth Crusade further destabilized the Empire. The Crusaders established a Latin Empire in Constantinople, which lasted for 57 years, and they plundered many valuable treasures of the Byzantine Empire, including the relics of Christian saints. The Fourth Crusade was a major blow to the Byzantine Empire, which never fully recovered from the damage inflicted by the Crusaders.