The Fourth Crusade (1202-1204) was originally intended to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim control. However, due to a series of political and financial issues, the crusaders diverted their mission to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. In 1204, the crusaders successfully captured Constantinople, leading to significant looting and the establishment of the Latin Empire. This event deepened the schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches and weakened the Byzantine Empire, ultimately altering the course of Christian and Muslim relations in the region.