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 captured and sacked Constantinople, leading to significant destruction and the establishment of the Latin Empire. This event deepened the divide between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches and shifted the focus of the crusading movement away from its original goal of reclaiming the Holy Land.