Alexios IV Angelos

Alexios IV Angelos (Greek Ἀλέξιος Δ ' Ἄγγελος, * 1182, † January 28, 1204 ) was Byzantine Emperor from August 1, 1203 until January 25, 1204, when he was declared deposed.

Life

Alexios Angelos was the son of Isaac II. In a coup of his uncle, who from now on as Alexios III. reigned, the young Alexius was captured together with his fallen father. He escaped in 1201 and fled to his brother Philip of Swabia, who was married to his sister Irene. During his stay he met Philip at his cousin Boniface of Montferrat, the leader of the Fourth Crusade. Boniface and Alexius wanted to divert the Crusade to Constantinople Opel to Alexios III. to drive. In return, Alexios promised the gain of the Crusader army by Byzantine soldiers and 200,000 silver marks to settle the advance payments of Venice. Boniface and other leaders of the crusade agreed to the offer, so that the real target was discarded and instead driven Konstantin Opel. The reaction of the local population on the return Alexios ' was divided in two: While he was received joyfully about in Dyrrachium, he encountered elsewhere on violent rejection, as many residents Alexios III. - Contrary to the Western rulers - considered as the rightful ruler. After the Crusaders had reached Constantinople 1203 Opel on June 24, began several weeks of negotiations with the usurper. However, since these were not successful, Alexios had to realize that he was able to assert his claim only by military means.

On July 17, 1203 When the Crusaders attacked the city, Alexios III fled. to Thrace. However, the Byzantines did not vote Alexios Angelos as the new ruler, but continued his father Isaac on the throne again. This however, had been blinded by his fall and was after many years of captivity in such a bad shape that he was barely able to govern. At the urging of the Crusaders Isaac called his son on August 1 as Alexios IV to co- emperor; in fact, however, the power lay solely with Alexios.

Now it was up to Alexius to fulfill his promises to the Crusaders. Although he was able to confiscated property of the church and his political enemies muster about half of the money, but Isaac knew due to his greater experience to estimate that the Byzantine Empire at that time still had funds not have sufficient troops to the agreement in its entirety to fulfill. Therefore, the Crusaders initially remained in Constantinople Opel.

By the time it was always greater tensions between the Crusaders and the citizens of Constantinople Opel. As Alexios and Isaac this condition were not able to change the population's dissatisfaction grew. On January 25, 1204, the two rulers by Alexios Murtzuphlos, the leader of the Byzantine party were deposed. Alexios was assassinated on 28 January, Isaac died in unexplained circumstances. On the same day Nikolaos Kanabos was elected as the new emperor, but few days later ascended Alexios Murtzphlos as Alexios V. the throne himself.