The Fourth Crusade and the Latin Empire of Constantinople

John D. Hosler is coming back to the Truman Forum Auditorium at the Plaza Branch on Tuesday, October 13, for a talk on the Fourth Crusade and the Latin Empire of Constantinople. It's part of the library's 'Rise and Fall of Empires' series, and it's Hosler's third time speaking here.

The talk centers on 1204, when the Fourth Crusade attacked and captured Constantinople. That moment effectively marked the end of the Byzantine Empire as it had been, and in its place rose the Latin Empire of Constantinople—a state that only lasted until 1261. From there, Hosler traces how a reduced Byzantine state managed to survive for another two centuries, right up until the Ottoman conquest in 1453. If you've ever wondered how a crusade that was supposed to be headed for the Holy Land ended up taking down one of the greatest cities in the medieval world, this is exactly that story.

Hosler is a professor of Military History at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, and he specializes in medieval warfare in Europe and the Near East. He's a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a past president of De Re Militari: The Society for Medieval Military History. He's written Jerusalem Falls, The Siege of Acre, John of Salisbury, and Henry II, and his next book, The True Cross: A World History, is forthcoming. He's spent his career looking at the logistics and the grit of medieval war, so he's a natural fit for a topic that blends high-stakes politics with the actual mechanics of a city under siege.

The talk runs from 6 to 7 PM, with a reception starting at 5:30 PM if you want to get there early and chat before things kick off. It's all happening at the Truman Forum Auditorium in the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library.