As far as I know the Crusaders was granted the access inside the city, it's not like they assault the fortifications.

Does it make a diference really ? They did it...

Access was granted the Crusaders to enter the city and assist in the defense against the Turks.
But instead, they pillaged and left city defenseless.

@Borna: In case you have not noticed, my last post was ironic.

Nope i didnt but thanx for sharing

The Turks were not involved in 1204 (the Seljuks were in the east and the Ottomans were yet to form).

The defence of the City was exceptionally incompetent, in various ways, and that led to the result.

The Crusaders (and the Venetians) were after money.

You are right.
The city was conquered by Turks in 1453.

@Smelgar - in 1204 crusaders were near Byzantz in order to help with the seljuks problem, even if not in defense of the city ... As far as I know they were allowed to enter the city (not all, some of them, those who opened the gates for the others) I`m not sure that the defence was incompetent, after all who would expect such a move from so called christians ?

The prayer below is the prayer the templar knights spoke while they were in prison for heresy and witchcraft. The church released it saying it proved their innocence. I like to use the beginning in my profile. I thought it would be nice to add a translation here for those who don't speak latin.


Sancti spiritus adsit nobis gratia. Maria, Stella maris, perducat nos ad portam salutis. Amen.

Domine, Jesu Christe, sancte pater, aeterne Deus, omnipotens, sapiens creator, largitor, administrator benignus, et carissimus amator, pius et humilis redemptor, clemens, misericors salvator, Domine, te deprecor humiliter et exoro ut illumines me, liberes et conserves fratres Templi, et omnem populum tuum chistianum turbatum.

Tu, Domine, qui scis nos esse innocentes, facias liberari, ut vota nostra et mandata tua in humilitate teneamus, et tuum sanctum servitium et voluntatem faciamus ; contumelias iniquas, non veras, contra nos oppositas per graves oppositiones, et malas tribulationes et tentationes, quas passi fuimus, et pati ulterius non possumus.

Omnipotens, aeterne Deus, qui beatum Joannem evangelistam et apostolum tuum valde diligis, qui super pectus tuum in caena recubuit, et cui secreta caeli revelavis et demonstravis, et stante in ligno sanctae crucis, pro redemptione nostra, sanctissimam matrem tuam virginem commendavis, in cujus honore gloriose fuit facta, et fundata religio ; pro tua sancta misericordia liberes et conserves, prout tu scis nos esse innocentes a criminibus contra nos oppositis, et operas possideamus, per quas ad gaudia paradisi perducamur, per Christum dominum nostrum. Amen.

TRANSLATION

May the grace of the Holy Spirit be present with us. May Mary, Star of the Sea, lead us to the harbor of salvation. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Father, eternal God, omnipotent, omniscient Creator, Bestower, kind Ruler and most tender lover, pious and humble Redeemer; gentle, merciful Savior, Lord! I humbly beseech Thee and implore Thee that Thou may enlighten me, free me and preserve the brothers of the Temple and all Thy Christian people, troubled as they are.

Thou, O Lord, Who knowest that we are innocent, set us free that we may keep our vows and your commandments in humility, and serve Thee and act according to Thy will. (Dispel) all those unjust reproaches, far from the truth, heaped upon us by the means of tough adversities, great tribulations and temptations, which we have endured, but can endure no longer.

Omnipotent, eternal God, who hast so loved the blessed John the Evangelist and Apostle, that he reclined upon Thy bosom at the Last Supper, and to whom Thou revealed and showed the Mysteries of Heaven, and to whom, while suspended on the Holy Cross, for the sake of our redemption, Thou commended Thy most Holy Mother and Virgin, and in whose honor (our) Order was created and instituted; through Thy Holy mercifulness, deliver us and preserve us, as Thou knowest that we are innocent of the crimes that we are accused of, so that we may take possession of the works, by which we may be guided to the joys of Paradise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In my opinion, even if the crusaders didn't pillaged Constantinople in 1204 it eventually fall anyway. Sooner or later, it could not withstand Turkish power too long. Its a fact, that great riches were stolen from the city, but money is not all you need to defend yourself. You need strong army, which Rome lacked.

Byzantine Empire for some time had a minimal professional army to save money, calling mercenaries in time of need. Its a very bad trend, because of it you lack veteran fighters loyal to you, mercenaries aren't loyal at all. In a matter of fact, Byzantine army was never "strong"(Compared to amount of land it was supposed to defend). Most of the time Eastern emperors were bribing nomadic nations to avoid their lands. For some time they were paying huge contributions to Huns, so they won't attack them. They could not do the same with Turks. And so in the end, they got destroyed. The fourth crusade was just one of numerous nails to Empire's coffin.

btw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=PL&v=VnK4H9QUn_Q