Constantinople

This chapter discusses the fleet that sailed from Abydos to the monastery of Saint Stephen, just southwest of the sea walls of Constantinople on 23 June 1203. The fleet sailed past the high walls of Constantinople and landed on the opposite shore in front of the imperial palace at Chalcedon, where the entire army and its support personnel came ashore. The chapter provides Geoffroy of Villehardouin's detailed description of the army's movements and the baronial deliberations in which he participated as chief of staff during the assault on Constantinople. It also highlights the doge and Boniface of Montferrat, who were tasked to take the Byzantine prince, Alexios, and present him to the people of Constantinople as their true emperor. The chapter takes note of Hugh of Saint-Pol, who described the conquering of Constantinople by only 500 knights together with an equal number of mounted sergeants and 2,000 foot soldiers as a stunning feat.