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Historical An Ungodly War: The Sack of Constantinople and the Fourth Crusade by Wayne Bartlett $29.95 / Sutton Publ. / 2001 Wayne Bartlett follows up God Wills It! with an equally exciting chronicle of the destruction of Constantinople in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade, when western Christendom destroyed the artistic pinnacle of eastern Christendom, the magnificent capitol city of Byzantium, and, in so doing, gutted the crusading spirit. Bartlett builds up suspensefully to this event, explaining why and how it happened. History being a chronicle of the deeds of great men, the motives and strategies of a wide range of historical figures are examined in order to explain the development of these events. In addition to political and religious complexities, the rise of the chivalric code and the latent jealousies and greed which motivated men are also explored. Almost with the eye of a reporter at the scene, Bartlett describes the devastation of Constantinople by the western Crusaders and the capture of the city and its vast wealth by the barbarian hordes. In a thoughtful summary chapter, "The Diversion Debate," Bartlett attempts to make sense of the annihilation of Constantinople. Although several more Crusades would be launched, it seems that the heart of the movement had been ripped out with the destruction of the great city by those whose interests would have been better served by supporting the tottering Byzantine Empire. —Charles Rammelkamp

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