The Crusades, the Genoese and the Latin East - DSpace at ...

view taken by Fotheringham in his article was primarily from the angle of the consequences in
Constantinople and the diplomatic turmoil, violence and the open conflict between Venice and
Genoa over the hegemony of the eastern Mediterranean. The commercial aspects were thus
ignored; nonetheless, this study is still relevant.
It is interesting to compare the events in Genoa during the preparations for the Third
Crusade to the situation on the eve of the Fourth Crusade. There are signs of an unequivocal shift
in the city's involvement in the crusading movement. Genoa took a leading role in the Third
Crusade already from the preparations stage, when it had to mediate between the kings of
England and France. Moreover, Genoa took part in the crusade and it also committed its fleet for
the transport of other crusaders. As was demonstrated in the previous chapter, Genoa had
eventually paid a high economic price as a consequence of the delay in the embarkation on the
crusade. It therefore seems likely that in the light of the effects of the Third Crusade, Genoa was
not ready to take the risk of committing its fleet to another crusade.
Presumably, the annals reflected the general attitude of the Genoese public; thus the fact
that there were no records of the call for the crusade in 1198 suggests that the issue was not
highly important to the Genoese. International affairs closer to home, the conflict with Pisa and
the question of Sicily, were more immediate. The first time the annalist Ogerio Pane mentioned
events related to the preparations for the crusade was in 1202. Ogerio Pane described the efforts
of the Marquis Boniface of Montferrat to bring peace between Pisa and Genoa. However, he did
not spell out the urgency of the pact or the grounds for the international interest in ending a local
war. 164
Ogerio's focal point throughout this time had been the self-interest of Genoa, particularly
with regard to the conflict with Pisa. Furthermore, the lack of diplomatic efforts to maintain the
peace after the imposed truce was signed, led almost immediately to renewed conflict. It seems
clear that Genoa and Pisa did not make serious efforts to bring the war to a true end or even to
suspend the conflict for a certain period for the sake of the crusade. Considering this attitude,
almost ironic that Villehardouin wrote in his chronicle that the leaders of the crusade preferred to
embark from Venice because there were more ships available there. 16S Furhtermore, this
statement stands out in contradiction to Robert de Clari's descriptions of the events, according to
which Genoa and Pisa were indeed approached first but declined the crusaders' offer. 166
Queller
wrote about the difference between these two account that Robert de Clari `cannot be relied upon
for details before his own arrival in Venice', however, the following analysis will show that
164
Ann. Ian., vol. 2, p. 83.
163
Villehardouin, vol. 1, p. 19.
166
Robert de Clari, ch. 6, p. 8.
57
it is