Fourth Crusade. Venice gathers 33,500 men (including 4,500 knights and cavalry, 9,000 squires, and 20,000 infantry) in exchange for the promise of 85,000 silver marks. It also provides transportation (200 ships) and a year’s supply of provisions. Furthermore, in exchange for trade concessions, territory, and booty, the Venetians promise to provide 50 fully armed galleys and 6,000 soldiers. Crusader commander Villehardouin is astonished to see that the Venetians have kept their promise, while his share (35,000 men) is reduced to a maximum of 10,000. Villehardouin is unable to even repay his debt to the Venetians, who remain in debt for 34,000 marks. The Venetian doge who made this risky, but ultimately profitable, contract is Enrico Dandolo, a blind man in his eighties.
