1204 facts for kids

1204 (also written as MCCIV in Roman numerals) was a very important year in history, especially for Europe. Many big events happened, changing how countries and empires were organized.

Major Events of 1204

The Fourth Crusade and Constantinople

The biggest event in 1204 was the Fourth Crusade. Crusades were a series of religious wars fought by European Christians, mainly to take back the Holy Land from Muslim rule. However, the Fourth Crusade took a very different path.

• On April 12, the crusaders, instead of going to the Holy Land, attacked Constantinople. This city was the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which was a Christian empire in the east.
• The crusaders took the city by force and looted it for three days. This was a huge shock because Constantinople was a major Christian city.
• This event marked the end of the Fourth Crusade. It also greatly weakened the Byzantine Empire.

New Empires and Kingdoms

After Constantinople was captured, new states were formed:

• On May 16, Baldwin, who was the Count of Flanders (a region in modern-day Belgium), was chosen by the crusaders to be the first emperor of the Latin Empire. This new empire was set up in Constantinople.
• Meanwhile, a Byzantine leader named Theodore I Lascaris escaped to a city called Nicaea. There, he created the Empire of Nicaea. This was one of the new states that continued the traditions of the old Byzantine Empire.
• Other parts of the old Byzantine Empire also formed their own independent states, like the Despotate of Epirus and the Empire of Trebizond.
• Another leader of the Fourth Crusade, Boniface of Montferrat, founded the Kingdom of Thessalonica in Greece.

Changes in Europe

Beyond the Crusades, other important things happened in Europe:

• In February, Alexius IV, who was the emperor of the Byzantine Empire, was removed from power. A new emperor, Alexius V, took his place just before Constantinople fell.
• In France, the writings of a religious thinker named Amalric of Bena were officially declared wrong by the University of Paris and Pope Innocent III.
• Valdemar II, the King of Denmark, was recognized as the king in Norway. This meant he had power over Norway.
• Philip II of France, the King of France, took back the important cities of Angers and the region of Normandy from England.
• The Cistercian convent (a place where nuns live and pray) called Port-Royal was started.
• The island of Jersey gained more freedom to govern itself. This happened because the Duchy of Normandy was divided.

Important People Born in 1204

• Haakon IV: He became the King of Norway.
• Heinrich Raspe: He was a German noble, known as the Landgraf of Thuringia.

Important People Who Died in 1204

• January 1 – King Haakon III of Norway: A king of Norway.
• February 8 – Alexius IV Angelus: A Byzantine Emperor.
• March 31 – Eleanor of Aquitaine: A very powerful queen who was married to kings of both France and England.
• August 11 – King Guttorm of Norway: Another king of Norway.
• August 14 – Minamoto no Yoriie: A Japanese shogun (a military ruler).
• December 13 – Maimonides: A famous Spanish rabbi and philosopher.
• Ban Kulin: A ruler of Bosnia.
• Amalric of Bena: The French theologian whose writings were condemned.
• Isaac II Angelus: Another Byzantine Emperor.