Presentation Type
Research Study
Release Option
Event
Description
The Fourth Crusade resulted in the fall of Constantinople, a major disaster that the Byzantine Empire never recovered from. While this event has been a focus of historical investigation, there are still many questions left unanswered. This paper is an analysis of Geoffery of Villehardouin and Robert of Clari’s accounts and how the two might lead us to a better understanding of the events of the Fourth Crusade. Both authors were among the French Crusaders who sacked Constantinople and provide detailed firsthand accounts of their experiences. Geoffery was an aristocrat involved in much of the planning and administration of the Crusade, while Robert was a knight who fought on the front lines. The similarities and differences in these two accounts provide a unique perspective on the decisions and actions that affected the Crusade. These views reveal an underlying tension between the classes involved in the Crusade, show the difference in information available, and address certain inaccuracies and biases present in each account. When considered together, each source becomes more valuable than when taken on its own. This analysis traces the history of the two works, discusses the differences in the two, attempts to reconcile the conflicting information provided, and utilizes the work of several historians to apply historical context to the conclusions drawn.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. James Todesca
Department of Primary Presenter's Major
Department of History
Primary Presenter's Major(s)
History
Location
Virtual Symposium
Symposium Year
2021
Conflicting Views: Geoffery of Villehardouin and Robert of Clari, The Fourth Crusade
Virtual Symposium
