An assessment of the extent of the decline of the crusading ideal, up to the Fourth Crusade, 1204

Changes in Motivation

At the beginning of the Crusades, the initial fervour and religious zeal that motivated many Crusaders began to wane. Crusaders no longer viewed the Holy Land as their ultimate objective.
The desire for wealth and power became more of a driving force behind the Crusades than preserving Christendom. This marked a significant shift from the ideals of holy war.
There were papal interests influencing the Crusades as they became a means for the Papacy to exert political control and solidify its power in Europe.

Change in Target

While the early Crusades targeted Jerusalem, the goal of the campaigns progressively shifted, culminating in the Fourth Crusade’s attack on Constantinople. This was an Orthodox Christian city, indicating the complete loss of the original crusading spirit.
The shift towards fighting against fellow Christians can also be seen in the Albigensian Crusade, which was directed against the Cathar heretics in the region of Languedoc in France.

Failure of Crusading Leadership

One major factor in the decline of the crusading ideal was the failure of leadership. There was a clear lack of consistent and committed leadership able to inspire and unite European powers.
The disunity and rivalry among the Crusader leaders during the Fourth Crusade, particularly between Boniface of Montferrat and Baldwin of Flanders, contributed to the diversion of the campaign, leading to the sack of Constantinople.

Divergence from Original Goals

The sack of Christian cities during the Fourth Crusade and the establishment of Latin states in Greece marked a significant departure from the original objectives, highlighting the extent of the decline of the crusading ideal.
The use of the crusading indulgence, initially offered as a spiritual reward for those participating in a holy mission to reclaim Jerusalem, was extended to other matters such as the Albigensian Crusade and political conflicts, diluting the sanctity of the crusading vow.

It’s important to recognise that while there was a marked decline in the crusading ideal by the Fourth Crusade, crusading spirit did continue in some forms beyond 1204, with a number of later campaigns focusing on the Holy Land.