Greetings all,

 

Today we reflect with sadness on the Latin crusaders taking the last parts of Constantinople on April 13th in 1204 AD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Crusade

They had breached the seaward walls at the Golden Horn the day before. Once they were inside the walls it was impossible to hold them from capturing the remainder of the city. This temporarily ended Byzantine rule in the city for the next half century.

In the wake of this event the Byzantines established the Despotate of Epirus, the Empire of Nicea, and the Empire of Trebizond which lasted until 1479, 1264, and 1461 respectively. This resourcefulness became proof that the Byzantine Empire can always be continued. 

 

 -Marcus Cassius Julianus