In 1198, Pope Innocent II called for another crusade, and in
November 1199 a group of French knights took crusade vows. A treaty
was made with the doge of Venice, Enrico Dandelion. for aid in
reaching the Mideast. In 1202, when it became clear that they had
fewer crusaders than expected, some of the European
forces seized the port of Zara from the king of Hungary, who was also
under crusade vows, to earn their passage. In response Innocent III
excommunicated the Venetians and forbade an attack on Byzantium This
message did not arrive until too late, though whether or not it would
not have made a difference is debatable.
