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The Fourth Crusade was an armed expedition by western European Crusaders to reclaim Jerusalem, which was under the control of the Muslims at the time. Despite this stated aim, a series of economic and political events instead led to the sacking of the Byzantine Empire's capital city Constantinople.[1] When the Fourth Crusade began, the crusaders needed transport aboard Venice's ships. The city's Doge Enrico Dandolo agreed to transport the Crusaders, on the condition that they take the Dalmatian city of Zadar and capture Constantinople.[2]

As the crusaders sacked Constantinople, the Venetian Navy stole four bronze horses, among other things, that were later used to decorate the Basilica di San Marco.[2] Prior to the city's sacking, the Levantine Assassins' Mentor Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad had hoped to spread the Assassin ideology to the Byzantine Empire, but was forced to cut short his stay in Constantinople and return to Masyaf.[3]

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