Memoirs or Chronicle of the Fourth Crusade and the Conquest of Constantinople

by Geoffroi de Villehardouin

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Medieval History, Historical, European History, France

100 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1213

About the author

Geoffroi de Villehardouin (vers 1150 - entre décembre 1212 et juillet 1218) est un chroniqueur et chevalier français croisé. Il a notamment participé à la conquête de Constantinople (1203-1204) pendant la quatrième croisade et à la formation de l’Empire latin d’Orient avec Baudouin VI de Hainaut. Il a été nommé maréchal de Champagne puis de Romanie, c’est-à-dire de l'Empire latin d'Orient.

Geoffroi de Villehardouin (c. 1150 – c. 1213–1218 was a knight and historian who participated in and chronicled the Fourth Crusade. He is considered one of the most important historians of the time period, best known for writing the eyewitness account De la Conquête de Constantinople (On the Conquest of Constantinople), about the battle for Constantinople between the Christians of the West and the Christians of the East on 13 April 1204. The Conquest is the earliest French historical prose narrative that has survived to modern times. Ηis full title was: "Geoffroi of Villehardouin, Marshal of Champagne and of Romania".

(Source: Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Yann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ce livre a été écrit en ancien français par Geoffroi de Villehardouin, un chevalier franc, entre 1207 et 1214. Il les évènements et péripéties de la quatrième croisade(1198-1207) à laquelle il a lui-même pris part. Tout commence par le prêche de Foulques près de Neuilly: la papauté s'en mêle, promet l'absolution de tous les péchés pour qui se croiserait, et la foule des nobles qui n'avaient pas la conscience tranquille, un tempérament féroce, et une foi bien grossière, se ruèrent sur cet appât pour retrouver innocence et bienveillance du seigneur en maculant leurs épées du sang de ceux qui ne partageaient pas leurs sublimes idéaux. Mais quand il s'agit d'embarquer depuis Venise pour la terre Sainte, afin d'atteindre Babylone, les fonds manquent. Venise, dirigée alors par le célèbre doge Enrico Dandolo, accorde son aide pour peu que les croisés acceptent de lui prêter mains forte contre ses rivaux Grecs.

La papauté intervient encore, et apporte sa bénédiction au projet, qui trouve prétexte dans une querelle de succession pour le trône de Byzance. Les croisés arrivent donc au cœur de l'empire, soutenus par le fanatisme et l'esprit de rapine, et prennent d'assaut tout ce qui doit l'être, causant moult ravages et incendies. Villehardouin reste vague sur les responsabilités:

Et ne sai quex genz, por mal,mistrent le feu en la vile;et cil feu fu si granz et si orribles que nus hom nel pot esteindre ne abaissier.Et quant ce virent li baron de l'ost,qui estoient hebergié d'autre part del port,si furent mult dolent et mult en orent grant pitié,cum il virent ces haltes yglises et ces palais riches fondre et abaissier, et ces granz rues marcheandes ardoir à feu;et il n'en pooient plus faire.

Ces malheurs ne rendent pas les Latins chers aux Grecs:

Ensi furent desacointié li Franc et li Grec; que il ne furent mie si comunel con il avoient esté devant: si ne s'en sorent à cui prendre; qu'il lor pesa d'une part et d'autre.

Les Grecs, supportant avec impatience ce joug Latin, se révoltent à plusieurs reprises. Mais les Francs parviennent à s'implanter et à créer un empire latin au cœur de l'Orient.

Carte détaillant la croisade:




La relation de Villehardoin est plutôt sèche et directe: il ne s'attarde pas à faire de longues descriptions. C'est le langage d'un militaire tout ce qu'il y a de plus pragmatique. Il s'attarde par contre longuement à présenter les protagonistes, et les différentes difficultés pour garder la cohésion parmi les croisés, certains s'impatientant de ce crochet imprévu. Je n'ai pour l'instant qu'une vision vague et sommaire des évènements. J'avais déjà lu les suites de cette aventure dans les fascinantes Chronique de Morée. Je voudrais dorénavant avoir le point de vu de Robert de Clari, qui a rédigé sa propre version des événements dans son ouvrage: La Conquête de Constantinople. Sinon, j'ai été plutôt content d'arriver à déchiffrer sans trop de peine du français du XIIè-XIIIè siècle; quelques notes heureusement rares viennent charitablement aider le lecteur en cas de difficulté. Par contre, le récit sans fin de crimes et de destruction finit par laisser à l'âme comme un sentiment d'accablement.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5. Eyewitness account of the 4th Crusade by French nobleman Geoffrey de Villehardouin, Marshal of Champagne and Roumania [Byzantine Empire--probably more exactly Constantinople]. He was one of the major players in those events. His account begins in the late 1100s with the call to Crusade, taking us through the Sack of Constantinople, and through later ineptly fought battles and skirmishes involving other cities in that area, ending in 1207. His opponents were Greeks and the Wallachian king, Johannitza--not Saracens. It ends abruptly with the death of Marquis Boniface of Montferrat.

He seemed completely honest [by his lights] and leaves us a logical, reasonable recitation of the facts. He did no bragging about himself; in fact he wrote about himself in 3rd person and gave no more importance to himself than to anyone else. It was interesting to read an account by a crusader who thought it perfectly acceptable to turn on another Christian city so violently. Most discussions of the 4th Crusade bring out how horrible and unfair it was. Style was simple but somewhat stilted. The repetitious vocabulary could have been the fault of the particular translation. But the text was limpid and flowed along. It lacked any descriptive flourishes and bored me with interminable names of the noblemen and their titles. Three Byzantine emperors named Alexius confused me; it took me awhile to figure out exactly who he was writing about any time Alexius was mentioned. This is a valuable primary source on this historical period. It is not meant for entertainment or enjoyment.

[Jaylen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never forgive Venice for as long as I live. Excellent insight into the Frankish/Latin views of the Eastern Roman Empire, and just a good read to show how the Crusaders were not really totally pious dudes and were more interested in getting rich.

[Nugzar Kotua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Таких постыдных комментариев редакции к такому важному историческому труду я ещё не встречал. Издание ужасное. Но из-за содержания не мог поставить ниже 5

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madness. Definitely an early example of mission creep; instead of sailing ot Egypt or Syria and fighting the Arabs to reconquer the holy land, French and Venetians beseige a Dalmation city for Venice, get inovlved with a displaced Byzantine emperor, capture Constantinople and decide to crown one of their own Emperor. Then get bogged down in a fight with the Bulgars and Greeks.

[Caleb Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shocking to hear how unholy these men acted. This book will turn your outlook on the medieval crusades and lifestyle to a negative one. These are by no means Christians--neither the crusaders, nor those in Constantinople, nor the Venetians, nor the pope.

[Nikolaos Papadakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πολύ ενδιαφέρον κείμενο, μια από τις πιο τεκμηριωμένες μεσαιωνικές ιστορίες για την Άλωση της Πόλης από τους Σταυροφόρους, παρά την έλλειψη αντικειμενικότητας από τον συγγραφέα και ταυτόχρονα αρχηγό της εκστρατείας. Απετέλεσε και ένα από τα πιο ωραία κείμενα στα μεσαιωνικά γαλλικά, σταθμό στην ιστορία της γαλλικής λογοτεχνίας.

[Czarny Pies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a an account by one of the leaders of the Fourth Crusade which set out for the Holy Land in 1202 but never arrived. Instead, in 1204 the Crusaders attacked Constantinople the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church. In addition to deposing the Byzantine Emperor, they looted and pillaged the city causing great loss of life. In other words rather than making war upon the Muslim power attacking the Holy Land, they destroyed the major Christian power in the region. The Fourth Crusade thus stands as one of the most barbaric and incompetently run military operations every conducted by Western Europe.

Villehardouin's book which provides the insider's view of the appalling fiasco has been a staple on undergraduate history courses in North America since the 1960s when seeing that the Viet Nam war was going wrong, the professors decided that they needed to teach their students that efforts of Western powers to intervene in foreign lands have often failed to achieve their objectives causing great destruction and loss of life.

Villehardouin's account the Fourth Crusade takes little time to read. Given the lessons that can be drawn from the work the time is well spent.

The reader of course knows what an absurd and tragic turn the fourth crusade will take before starting the book. Actually reading it then is something like listening to joke when one already knows the punch line. Nonetheless the book still surprises.

Given the objectives that the Crusaders left Northern France with, the ultimate outcome was absurd. However, the outcome was the result of many incremental decisions not one big decision. Villehardouin painstakingly recreates all the little decisions that were taken; all of which were correct in his view; and then simply notes that the crusaders were unable to fulfill their original objectives.

Of course, young North Americans saw the same chain of events take place in Indochina in the 1960s and 1970s. Currently, we are still watching Iraq as the series of events that George Bush set in motion by invading Iraq still have not ended. Moreover, no one can predict how or when they will end. Bush like Villehardouin is able to argue that all the decisions he took were good.

[Ian Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remarkable account of the fourth crusade, if only because the author was there, and was a major player, as a Marshall. The book is written in a very reserved style, and Villehardouin makes no effort whatsoever to promote himself. Unfortunately, by so doing he buries the debates that must have gone on prior to major decisions, so unless something was obvious, it is unclear why certain events happened. Nevertheless, you should be able to reach your own conclusions. The account more or less overturns a lot of my assumptions of the time. Castles changed hands frequently, largely because the defenders ran. How they ran is not really explained, nor how, if a castle was surrounded, those inside could send messages for help. Nevertheless the story exposes the base character of many of the participants. So many "took the cross", and then somehow found a way not to turn up, or leave the crusade at the first opportunity. The nature of the battles is not shown, but you can read into it the powerful nature of the knight. This account is limited, but in my opinion, indispensable if you want to understand the nature of this crusade.

[Екатерина · Rating 5 out of 5]

Едно истинско бижу за любителите на исторически четива - още повече, че това е автентична хроника от участник в Четвъртия кръстоносен поход. Походът, решил може би още тогава - в 1204 година, кой да доминира на Европейския континент - Западът или Изтокът. Резултатът от завладяването на Константинопол е с последствия и до ден днешен.
Книгата има три ��здания на български, но за съжаление нито едно от тях не е качено още.
Близо до Кърджали се извисяват останките на средновековна крепост - по всяка вероятност "Моняк", или "Мнеакос", за която Вилард��ен пише, че там част от аристокрацията на кръстоносците са заседавали за да решат кой да оглави Империята след пленяването на Бодуен Фландърски. Мястото е чудно красиво, трудно достъпно и със страхотна гледка към язовир "Студен кладенец".
Хрониката носи една такава много хубава тръпка и е ценен източник на информация за онези времена. Човек остава с чувството че всичко е ставало сякаш на късмет и на шега - ако стане-стане.

[Chris Fellows · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything else I have ever read about the Fourth Crusade - even from die-hard Catholic historians of the Hilaire Belloc sort - has tended to take the 'colossal blight on Christendom' perspective. So, it was very interesting to get the story from the point of view of a participant who thought it was a noble and glorious enterprise and puts a positive spin on the Crusaders' actions. It is not a long book and I think it is worth reading the first two-thirds just for this novel perspective. (The last third or so of the book is a melancholy account of campaigns in which every city in Thrace (practically) is destroyed by the Bulgarians, ending in a random place because of the author's death. It kind of ground me down.)

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you get into the rhythm of the language, you forget that this is actually real history being told by a man that actually lived through it and engage in what is a remarkable story. Fascinating, it kept me going to look up the details of exactly when and where everything happened.

My only criticism is that the Kindle edition has quite a few errors in transcription and it jars a bit given the language is already slightly difficult. Nothing that meant I couldn't understand, just irritating little problems throughout.

The end is sudden and underlines that this is a real history, but I am left curious as to what happened next.

[Peter Toth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our author was a knight, and a quite illustrious one from the 4th crusade. Marshall of Champagne and later that of "Rhomania" - the western territories of the Byzantine Empire, an important leader of this crusade. It is interesting to read this early 13th century work from one of the leading figures of the crusade, but also quite sad overall. No matter the chivalic virtue of the knights, it is quite clear that this crusade was nothing more than a French medieval business enterprise. Originally, they wanted to set out to the Holy Land to help the crusader states to fight muslims, but because not enough people showed up (and they were already in debt to the Venetians) they ended up storming the Christian city of Zara first to satisfy that debt (then belonging to the Kingdom of Hungary long in strife with the Venetians). Then they sent envoys to the pope to absolve them of this sin. Such a conveniently pragmatic approach, and the pope absolved them, no problem...
In a very similar fashion, when presented with the opportunity to help one side in a Byzantine civil war, they end up taking and sacking the city. The setting up of the Latin Empire, the internal strifes and then the dual fights with Johannis, the Vlachian-Bulgarian ruler and the Byzantines out of Nikaia. It covers the happening until around 1207.
True contemporary source that needs to be read and thought about afterwards in its due place. It conveniently stays silent on the real extent of theft and looting during the "sack of Constantinope" and how little was left of the previously grand city's glory after the crusaders' work was done...

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon suggested this, presumably based on my previous purchase of Byzantium by Charles Morgan, which I added here a few books ago. This one is an eyewitness account of the events fictionalised in Byzantium, told by one of the leading crusaders, whereas Byzantium is told from the point of view of an English mercenary leading the Byzantine Imperial guard.

This volume is quite difficult to read, partly because of the antiquated language and partly because of the scanning and optical character unrecognition! However, it also has the merit of brevity, only just over 100 pages, and it covers the 3 or 4 years involved at quite a brisk pace.

I found a map of Byzantium/Constantinople at that time, and compared to modern Istanbul it was absolutely tiny, despite being one of the largest cities of the known world! There are a lot of castles and cities named, which I suppose, with a bit of research, aka Googling, could be matched to places on the map, but I couldn't be bothered with most of them!

Anyway, as a counterpoint to Byzantium, it was a worthwhile read!

[Robert N. Winkler]

History from the time of the events, translated in

The nineteenth century. Interesting story told in the way of the thirteenth century. Badly edited; lots of typos. Gives one a thought I of why the eastern EUropia nd hated the western Europeans.

[Angus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brilliant for historical context and use in academic work but not a great read.

[Cooper Ackerly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much hypocrisy. Very entertaining.

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat entertaining, interesting and insightful as a first-hand glimpse into the life of crusader. Kind of written in an annoying way though.

[Midnight Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this book is amazing. It is highly recommended for Crusader History, fans, and anyone who wants to learn about the Fourth Crusade. He is kinda good at describing the battle tactics though. Makes it clear he was a professional at military stuff. Villehardouin was a guy whom every scroll concerning the Crusade was passed to, so that means his description is trustworthy, for anyone wanting to learn about the Crusade. But it's kinda biased because Geoffrey was a Crusader.
I really like the writing techniques of Villehardouin. His narrative especially is like he is beside the reader, still alive after 800 years, narrating it to them. So much alive.
I can say that this book helps the reader understand Villehardouin himself as well. He almost never mentions his name or actions in the book, and I guess that makes us believe he was a man of low self esteem.

In few words, an amazing book and a monument of French History.

[Makomai · Rating 3 out of 5]

ovviamente si intende "da parte dei latini". Come una crociata si sia trasformata in guerra di conquista (durata ben poco), nella lettura di un testimone oculare

[Selim Keskin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bir Haçlının Hatıraları Cüneyt Kanat

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

History told in the voice of the people who lived it is always interesting. The human aspect of the story comes through even with the chronicler's clearly slanted view.