(Translated from: There Must Be Justice by Den Galna Serben)
It is considered by many scholars that the largest and most fateful war for Europe took place in 1204, when the Fourth Crusade Latins, Venetians and Frankish Crusaders conquered and burned Constantinople. Under the pretext of bringing "schismatic" Orthodox empire to the true faith, they have created a rift between Eastern and Western Europe, among which is the unstable bridge, known as the Balkans.
This year marks a century since the Great War, but scientists believe we should also be reminded of the "war of wars" 810 years ago, because its religious program later transformed into a geopolitical program of conquest of the East
- In science, this phenomenon is called structure of long duration. Every visit to the East is justified in the same way, so in the end of the 20th century the Western media also used the medieval formula as a call to action against the Serbs and Serbia. For example, in the program of Vatican Radio in 1992. The representative of the Holy Seat says, "There can be no agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church as long as it is Holy Saint Sava oriented". This is also the essence in current events in The Hague, where as a modern inquisition it is judging "Mountain Wreath". Even in ancient Rome it was known that a military victory is not enough to defeat an opponent, real conquest is carried out by imposing the value system of the winner as "God's will" - says sociologist Slobodan Vukovic, longtime director of the Center for Sociological Research.
Byzantine Studies prof. Dr. Stankovic points out that even before the Crusade to Constantinople, a long propaganda campaign was carried out in the West.
- Byzantium is presented as schismatic, corrupt, cruel, in order to justify a war against it. If that reminds you of the present time - you're right. History is very "shallow", nothing fundamentally has changed. This also applies to the geopolitical position of Serbia, which is fatefully tied to Byzantium - says Dr. Stankovic.
The Crusaders were able to conquer the bulk of the Roman Empire, because it was weakened by hyperinflation and civil wars. Using today's terms, responsible for the fall of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire were tycoon clans who managed to collapse the state by fighting each other. - said Dr. Stankovic.
From Bosfor to Drina- It is interesting and indicative that one Samuel Huntington in his projection of Civilisation conflict dynamics in the 21st century, in the famous book "Clash of Civilizations", Orthodoxy, along with Islam is placed in the eastern hemisphere opposed to Western Christianity. "Byzantium" has become synonymous with the Levantine cunning and immoral fickleness, although the culture of Byzantium during those times for a few spears surpassed the Western European.
Recently, someone humorously noted that the boundary between the West and the East seen from Western perspective, shifted from the Bosphorus to the Drina river, which is a big part of the roots in the Serbian problems with Europe - said prof. Dr. Darko Trifunovic.
The moral justification for the Latin unimaginable slaughter of civilians in Istanbul was struggle against the Orthodox schism. Even the then Pope Inocentije the Third was appalled over their atrocities, for pragmatic reasons, as was recorded in his letter to the leaders of the crusade. The Pope concluded that after the Crusaders crimes, Eastern Christians will no longer believe the western Christians.
Crusaders sins were forgiven when they brought the treasures of Constantinople to the West. The gold looted by the monk-knights from the Order of the Templars became the foundation of their bankingsystem. This wealth is saved and stored in inaccessible mountain monasterie-fortress in Switzerland.
Venice is built with stolen parts from the palaces of Constantinople. Also Stolen were the famous sculptural composition horses in St. Mark's Square, the amazing golden altar of the eponymous church and priceless library. Byzantine scholars, craftsmen and artists fled to Italy, bringing to the West an unknown civilization. Thus began a renaissance.
- At that time it was common to plunder a conquered city for three days. In Constantinople the plunder was ongoing the next 57 years. Keep in mind that this is the second Rome, center of power, culture and archives of the most literate countries in the world. Influential monks Benedictines and Franciscans made a full-scale invasion and took the priceless library and archive underlying historiography - says Dr. Stankovic. British historian Ernle Bradford said not many parts in history deserves such contempt as the looting and destruction of Constantinople.
Division and separation of Eastern and Western Europe begins from what the Venetians and crusaders did in Constantinople. The consequences of the fall of Constantinople 1204 are felt to this day. Tearing apart the Eastern Roman Empire, they did not only open the way to Europe for the Turks, but also sowed the seeds of the later "Balkan question" - Bradford wrote.
There is a great difference between what the authoritative experts in the West think about Byzantium , which is considered one of the brightest of medieval civilization, and what most politicians out of daily political agendas say about the Byzantine Empire, says Byzantologist prof. Radivoj Radic.
- Byzantine Empire and the Middle Ages, as well as at the time contemporary western Europe, are covered with a series of prejudices and simplistic negative judgments. In the field of culture, Byzantium for centuries stood in front of the rest of the medieval world. Prejudices about it in science has since long been rejected, but like all delusions difficult to eradicate completely. Like weeds, they live in some half intellectual circles - says Dr. Radic.
Source: Evening News (Večernje Novosti) from February 25 of 2014.
Translated from: There Must Be Justice by Den Galna Serben