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Lately I've been interested in the Latin Empire that the Fourth Crusade created in the Byzantium in 1204. Are there any good sources of knowledge and information on it and what it did to the Byzantine Empire's society?

And just to throw some brainstorming, does anyone here think that the Latin Empire could have survived and maybe even endured for some time (just like the Byzantine Empire itself)?

No to your second question. As for your first, I'll see what I can find tomorrow when I get back.

Warren Treadgold's Byzantine State and Society talked about some repercussions on the ERE, as I recall, so, that might be of help.

Plus, it is an all around great read about the ERE.

I'm reading about the crusades just now (like, I just threw the book on my bad) and the reason why it couldn't endure any more was because it was in the way of the Osman empire, who were borderline unstoppable.

Zixinus wrote:I'm reading about the crusades just now (like, I just threw the book on my bad) and the reason why it couldn't endure any more was because it was in the way of the Osman empire, who were borderline unstoppable.

They never shared any borders with the Osman empire so I do not know what you mean here.

Thanas wrote:

Zixinus wrote:I'm reading about the crusades just now (like, I just threw the book on my bad) and the reason why it couldn't endure any more was because it was in the way of the Osman empire, who were borderline unstoppable.

They never shared any borders with the Osman empire so I do not know what you mean here.

Then I'm confusing my empires. Ignore my post.

I don't think they were the sole reason the Byzantines came to prefer the Sultan's Turban to the Bishop's Mitre, as it were, but they were doubtless a major contribution.

Well, been doing some reading, so I'd like to ask Thanas: would have been there any possible way to avoid a crusade against the Latin empire? I think that if that could have happened than the Latin empire might have lasted longer, as it wouldn't have to deal with the crusade's aftermatch.

The book I'm reading also mentions that the Latin empire is rather used to attacks against the thrones. Could you please elaborate on this, Thanas?

Crusade against the Latin Empire? The Latin Empire and the Eastern Roman/Byzantine Empire are different things, Zixinus. The Latin Empire was made by the crusaders conquering the Eastern Roman Empire.

Obviously the real problem in the situation was simply that the Empire was in a crucially weak moment due to the constant inability to keep the Bulgarians under control, when the Byzantine or East Roman Empire fell. The Latin Empire was more or less doomed from the start, being a conquest dynasty of the most tenuous sort imaginable which committed the fatal flaw of openly undermining the local religion.

Duckie wrote:Crusade against the Latin Empire? The Latin Empire and the Eastern Roman/Byzantine Empire are different things, Zixinus. The Latin Empire was made by the crusaders conquering the Eastern Roman Empire.

Damn, then that's why second time I totally said something stupid.

Apologies.