First stop was Hungary, but yes.

The crusaders incurred a huge debt contracting with the Venetians, and when the lackluster crusade didn’t turn up enough people (rich OR poor) to fund the full debt for the transport fleet (which was much larger than it needed to be, since they were expected a larger turnout for the crusade), there was a ‘no refunds’ policy taken by Venice. Venice demanded payment in other forms - first to subdue some local Christian cities they regarded as ‘rightfully’ Venice’s.

After that, the crusaders were still short on cash and running low on supplies, as the strongarming was only to cover the remainder of the contract that they couldn’t afford, and the contract’s duration for providing supplies to the crusaders was running low - in large part because of the time taken by the strongarming detour. They could have disembarked as-planned, but would have done so with almost no food deep in hostile territory, which was not the original plan - hardly an auspicious start to a ‘successful’ crusade. The deposed Byzantine Emperor contacted part of the crusade and offered to pay off their whole debt to the Venetians and provide troops and support to the Holy Land if they put him back on the throne. The Venetians, seeing a chance to fuck over the Byzantines, their traditional enemies, were strongly in favor of the plan.

Of course, this ran into one small problem - the Byzantine Empire was in no shape to pay off massive debts or provide large armies to military adventures at this time. It was only barely holding itself together. When the crusaders sacked Constantinople and put the previous Byzantine Emperor on the throne, they found out that his promises were largely empty, and that even the entire Byzantine treasury couldn’t pay what they were promised.

… so they couped (and killed) the Emperor they themselves had installed by coup, and instead founded what is usually referred to as the “Latin Empire” in modern histories, a Catholic crusader state which ruled over Constantinople and the surrounding area, with only the fringes of the Byzantine Empire remaining free from Catholic control. This section of the crusade never did actually tangle with the Muslims, and the section of the crusade that DID reach the Holy Land (largely made of crusaders who refused to do either sack, Hungary or Byzantine) disbanded because they were too few by that point to convince the local crusader states to start another war with the Muslim polities.

The Pope was reportedly legitimately unhappy about every part of this.

I’m just happy to be a little useful to the Fediverse! 🙏

Speaking of fallible, I’ve certainly taken my fair share of well-deserved lumps from moderation, lmao

Moderator action establishes a baseline for conduct in the community. Sometimes, even regular contributors need a whack on the nose with a newspaper - otherwise it ends up a tightly-knit clique with “rules for thee but not for me”.

Not sure about when it was recognized that the Peninsula was a boot, but it was drawn as such in maps derived from 2nd century AD originals, and high heels became popular in the 17th century AD amongst male nobility who wanted to emphasize their height, status, and the resulting fact that they needed to do nothing requiring practical movement.

I’m so fucking tuned out to how I used to be just one short year ago. I know it’s just a nonstop avalanche of fascism that I, as an individual, will not be better equipped to combat by following closer. I used to follow Congressional bills, debates, presidential speeches, etc.

Now my attention to national politics is utterly minimal and restricted to informing myself of only what I need to for the sake of local activism and keeping up with international politics (which I still follow fairly closely).

I’m still probably more tuned-in than most of the American electorate. But fuck, I can’t just watch every individual step of fascism going forward here on out. I’m close enough to blowing my brains out without that additional inducement.

Oh, thank goodness! I always wondered what happened. I wish him the best!

I’m betting we’re about to see the Venezuelan political pendulum swing with the impertus of a howitzer shell towards fascism.

Implying it’s not already fascist?

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Removed by mod

I’ve seen you around and have a vaguely positive association with your username, take that as you will

Unexpected!

I recognize you!

I recognize you!

I know you for being both conscientious and fun 🙏

Also for having interesting experiences to share (though, as you note, everyone is a dog on the internet, dog)

Like seeing you around, can confirm; do like you for being here

Romepost Romepost

Hey, if it isn’t my favorite ableist!

Mostly I didn’t want to give anyone a shock who missed the announcement posts and the sidebar update (and there have been a few), but as things are winding down after a month, I might follow that advice.

Try https://sh.itjust.works/c/roughromanmemes@piefed.social

Just a reminder that the comm has moved to !historymemes@piefed.social