Alexios IV Angelos, Byzantine emperor (b. 1182)

Alexios IV Angelos, also known by his Latinized name Alexius IV Angelus, was a pivotal figure in the tumultuous history of the Byzantine Empire, serving as Emperor for a brief but profoundly impactful period from August 1203 to January 1204. Born around 1182, his short reign tragically coincided with the destructive Fourth Crusade, fundamentally altering the course of Byzantine civilization and its relationship with the West.

Alexios IV was the son of Emperor Isaac II Angelos and his first wife, an unnamed woman from the prestigious Palaiologos family. This notable Byzantine aristocratic lineage would later produce the dynasty that would eventually restore the Byzantine Empire in 1261. After giving birth to Alexios and his siblings, his mother took monastic vows, adopting the religious name Irene. His familial connections were deeply intertwined with imperial politics; his paternal uncle, Alexios III Angelos, had usurped the throne from Alexios IV's own father, Isaac II, in 1195. This act of familial betrayal and political intrigue set in motion the chain of events that would ultimately lead to Alexios IV's desperate plea to Western powers.

The Road to the Throne: A Desperate Alliance with the Fourth Crusade

Following his father Isaac II's deposition and imprisonment by Alexios III, the young Alexios IV sought refuge and assistance in the West. He appealed to various European courts and, crucially, to the leaders of the Fourth Crusade, who were then gathered in Venice in 1202. He promised immense financial rewards and significant military support for the Crusaders' journey to the Holy Land if they would first divert their powerful forces to Constantinople to restore his father to the throne and place him as co-emperor. Specifically, Alexios IV is reported to have pledged:

• A colossal sum of 200,000 silver marks to the Crusaders, an astronomical amount for the time.
• A large contingent of 10,000 Byzantine troops to join the Crusade.
• Provisions for the entire Crusader army for one year.
• Crucially, the submission of the Eastern Orthodox Church to papal authority, thus ending the Great Schism of 1054 and uniting Christendom.

These extravagant promises, particularly the financial ones, proved irresistible to the Crusaders, who were already deeply indebted to Venice and struggling to finance their expedition. This fateful agreement led to the diversion of the Fourth Crusade from its original goal in Egypt to the walls of Constantinople in July 1203.

A Precarious Reign and Inevitable Downfall

With the arrival of the Crusader fleet and the siege of Constantinople, Alexios III fled the city, allowing Isaac II Angelos to be reinstated, with Alexios IV crowned as co-emperor. However, the initial euphoria was short-lived. The Byzantine treasury, already depleted, could not meet the enormous financial obligations Alexios IV had rashly promised to his Crusader allies. Despite confiscating church property and melting down sacred icons and relics for their precious metals, he could only pay a fraction of the agreed sum. This failure led to escalating tensions between the Crusaders, who remained encamped outside the city, and the Byzantine populace, who resented the foreign presence and the emperor's perceived subservience to them.

Public discontent within Constantinople simmered and soon erupted. The citizens resented the heavy taxation, the destruction of holy objects, and the continued presence of the Latin Crusaders, whom they viewed as foreign invaders rather than liberators. Alexios IV's attempts to appease both his foreign benefactors and his increasingly hostile subjects proved impossible. In January 1204, a palace coup led by Alexios Doukas, who was crowned Emperor Alexios V Doukas, overthrew Alexios IV. Both Alexios IV and his father, Isaac II, were imprisoned.

Legacy and the Sack of Constantinople

Tragically, Alexios IV Angelos was strangled to death in February 1204, likely on the orders of Alexios V Doukas, who feared his potential restoration by the Crusaders. His death removed the last pretext for the Crusaders' continued presence in Constantinople. Without an emperor to whom they were bound by agreement, and fueled by resentment over unpaid debts and perceived betrayal, the Crusaders launched a full-scale assault on Constantinople in April 1204. This resulted in the devastating Sack of Constantinople, one of the most brutal and destructive events in medieval history, which saw the ancient city plundered, its treasures stolen, and its inhabitants subjected to atrocities. The Byzantine Empire, though eventually restored in 1261, was irrevocably weakened and never fully recovered its former glory, while the Latin Empire was established on its ruins. Alexios IV Angelos, a young emperor caught between the ambitions of his family and the overwhelming force of Western Europe, remains a tragic figure whose desperate choices inadvertently paved the way for the destruction of his own empire's capital.

Frequently Asked Questions about Alexios IV Angelos

When did Alexios IV Angelos reign as Byzantine Emperor?

Alexios IV Angelos reigned as Byzantine Emperor for a brief period from August 1203 to January 1204.

Who was Alexios IV Angelos's father?

His father was Emperor Isaac II Angelos, who had been overthrown by his own brother, Alexios III Angelos, before being reinstated with the help of the Fourth Crusade.

What was Alexios IV Angelos's connection to the Fourth Crusade?

Alexios IV sought the assistance of the Fourth Crusade to restore his father, Isaac II, to the Byzantine throne. He promised the Crusaders substantial financial rewards and military aid in exchange for their support, leading to their diversion to Constantinople.

What were the major promises Alexios IV made to the Crusaders?

He promised a vast sum of 200,000 silver marks, 10,000 Byzantine troops for the Crusade, provisions for a year, and the submission of the Eastern Orthodox Church to the Pope.

How did Alexios IV Angelos die?

He was overthrown by a coup led by Alexios V Doukas in January 1204, imprisoned, and subsequently strangled to death in February 1204.

What was the historical impact of Alexios IV Angelos's reign?

His inability to fulfill his promises to the Crusaders led directly to the Sack of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in April 1204, the temporary dissolution of the Byzantine Empire, and the establishment of the Latin Empire of Constantinople.