The View from the Bridge - Strolling Through Istanbul: The Classic Guide to the City - page 7

gaining a foothold in eastern Europe, just as they were finally stopped
at about the same time in the West by Charles Martel. In the ninth
and tenth centuries the Byzantine Empire was invaded by the Bulgars,
who gained control of large areas of the Balkans and twice laid siege
to Constantinople. But on both occasions they were defeated by the
great Theodosian land-walls, which continued to shelter Byzantium
from its enemies across the centuries.
Despite these numerous wars Byzantium was still strong
and basically sound as late as the middle of the eleventh century,
controlling an empire which stretched from western Persia through
Asia Minor and the Balkans to southern Italy. But then in the year
1071 the Byzantine army, led by Romanus IV, sufered a catastrophic
defeat by the Selçuk Turks at the battle of Manzikert and much of
eastern Asia Minor was permanently lost to the Empire. In the same
year the Normans captured Bari, thus bringing to an end Byzantine
rule in Italy. The forces were now gathering which would eventually
destroy the Empire.
A decade after these defeats Alexius Comnenus ascended the
throne of Byzantium. For the next century he and his successors, the
illustrious dynasty of the Comneni, successfully defended the Empire
against the attacks of its numerous enemies. During that period the
Empire was being subjected to increasing pressure by the Latins of
western Europe, whose armies first passed through Asia Minor in
the year 1097 during the First Crusade. As time went on it became
increasingly apparent that the Latins were less interested in freeing
the Holy Land from the Saracens than they were in seizing land and
wealth for themselves. And the prize which attracted them most was
the rich and magnificent city of Constantinople. By the time the
Comneni dynasty came to an end in the year 1185, the Normans
had already captured Thessalonica and were advancing towards the
capital. Two decades later, in the year 1203, the Latin armies of
the Fourth Crusade made their first assault upon Constantinople.
Although they were not able to take the city at that time they did so
in a second attack the following year. On 13 April 1204 the Crusaders
breached the sea-walls along the Golden Horn and took the city
by storm. They then proceeded to ruin and sack Constantinople,