Enrico Dandolo Biography

Birth of Enrico Dandolo

Dandolo accompanies the disastrous expedition against Constantinople led by Doge Vitale Michiel during 1171-1172

Appointed Ambassador of Constantinople

Appointed as 39th Doge of Venice, Enrico Dandolo is already old and blind, but deeply ambitious, and displays tremendous mental and (for his age) physical strength

At an emotional and rousing ceremony in San Marco di Venezia, Dandolo "takes the cross" (committed himself to crusading) and was soon joined by thousands of other Venetians.

Dandolo became an important leader of the crusade.

Dandolo develops a plan for the crusaders' debt to be suspended if they capture Zara.

Enrico Dandolo supports the Crusades provided he receives 85,000 marks and half of the booty.

The Crusaders are stranded in Venice, unable to pay for the ships they had commissioned.

The Crusaders cannot raise 85,000 marks so Dandolo supports them if they besiege Zara. Dandolo develops a plan for the crusaders debt to be suspended if they capture Zara

Zara is besieged and captured

Contracts to supply ships for 30,000 men, although only 10,000 volunteer

Recieves a substantial part of the Byzantine Eastern Empire

The conquest and sack of Constantinople, an event at which Dandolo was present and in which he played a directing role

The Catholic Crusaders take permanent control of the Eastern Orthodox capital of Constantinople (or Byzantium) and established a Catholic state, the Latin Empire, the Byzantine Empire is never again as powerful

The conquest and sack of Constantinople, an event at which Dandolo was present and in which he played a directing role

Defeated by the Bulgarian King Kaloyan

Death of Dandolo, age 97