According to Robert de Clari, the doge himself came to recognize that the Venetian policy of pushing the Crusaders in their distress too far was mischievous. " Sirs," said he, addressing his council, "if we let these men go home we shall be looked on as rogues and tricksters. Let us propose to them that, if they will pay us the 36,000 marks out of their share of the first conquest they make, we will transport them beyond sea." There was no proposal here to take Zara or to attack Constantinople.
The Outremer to which they were to be transported was understood to be the land of the infidel. The conquests they were to make were to be the lawful spoils of a crusading war. There was nothing whatever in the suggestion to make it unacceptable to the Crusaders who gave heed to their vow. Hence, when the doge, having obtained the consent of the Venetian council, submitted the proposal to them, they accepted it gladly. A way had been found out of their difficulty.
They were to leave the fever grounds of the Lido, were to go over the sea to fight the infidel and to fulfil their vow. On the announcement of the proposal their camp was illuminated, and there were other manifestations of it is difficult to determine precisely when this proposition was made. Probably it was in the last week of July, 1202. The 21th of June was the latest time appointed for the arrival of the pilgrims. The second attempt to collect the balance due had been made probably in the middle of July. Shortly afterwards came this proposal, which was joyfully accepted. Yillehardouin speaks only of one proposal, namely, that to help the Venetians to capture Zara. If his account is to be reconciled with that of the non-official writers, the explanation is that the attack upon the Christian city was at the time carefully concealed from the mass of the Crusaders, a policy which was continually pursued throughout the expedition. Robert de Clari, as we have seen, represents the proposal quite otherwise, and the fact that it was joyfully welcomed shows that the Crusaders were told nothing of an attack upon a Christian city as part of it.
Another writer3 states that the Venetians kept the Crusaders prisoners for three months, and would not allow them to return home, and when Visit Bulgaria, after that time, their substance was nearly consumed, then they were compelled to go to Zara. We learn from a German writer3 that after much complaint, both on the side of the Venetians and on that of the Crusaders, it was at length agreed that the Venetians should go with the pilgrims, and that whatever was gained should be equally divided, but that from the part going to the pilgrims the balance due for freight should be deducted for the Venetians.
Crusading spirit was far too strong
We may rest assured that the pilgrims did not accept joyfully the promise to go to Zara, because, as we shall see, the crusading spirit was far too strong in the army for them yet to tolerate the idea of an attack upon a Christian city.
The conclusion at which I arrive after a comparison of the authorities is either that there were two distinct proposals, one made in July for the payment out of the proceeds of lawful spoil, and a subsequent one, made some weeks later, for payment out of the spoil to be taken at Zara; or that, if the proposal to attack Zara were made in July, it was made only to the leaders, and was carefully concealed at first from the mass of the Crusaders. Robert de Chari's account points to the existence of two proposals.
After speaking of the illuminations on the Lido when the doge's first proposal was made and accepted, he states that the doge afterwards went to the camp and declared that the winter was lost, and that it was too late to go to Outremer. Then the secret was let out. "Let us do the next best thing. There is a city near here called Zara, which has often defied us, and which we are going to punish if we can. If you will listen to me we will pass the winter there until Easter, and then we will go to Outremer at Lady Day. Zara is full of provisions and riches." Then this author adds: "The barons and leaders of the Crusaders assented to the doge's proposal. But this proposal was not known to all the army. Robert probably believed that there were two proposals, and that even the last was kept secret from the host.
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