Alexios IV Angelos Becomes Byzantine Co-Emperor
On August 1, 1203, Alexios IV Angelos became co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire alongside his father, Isaac II Angelos, after the Fourth Crusade helped restore them to the throne of Constantinople.
Alexios had promised the Crusaders financial support, military aid, and recognition of papal authority in exchange for their assistance in reclaiming the imperial throne from Alexios III Angelos. After the Crusaders captured Constantinople in July 1203, Isaac II was restored and Alexios IV was crowned as his young co-ruler.
However, Alexios IV’s reign quickly became troubled. His promises to the Crusaders created enormous financial pressure, forcing him to raise taxes and seize church wealth, which angered the people of Constantinople. Tensions between the Byzantines and the Crusaders continued to grow, eventually leading to the collapse of his rule and the violent sack of Constantinople in 1204.
The rise of Alexios IV marked a turning point in Byzantine history, as internal struggles and foreign intervention helped set the stage for one of the empire’s greatest disasters.
