Enrico Dandolo

Enrico Dandolo (c. 1107 – May 1205) was the 42nd Doge of Venice from 1192 until his death.

When the Fourth Crusade began, the crusaders needed transport aboard Venice's ships. Dandolo agreed, on the condition that they take the Dalmatian city of Zadar and capture Constantinople. As the crusaders took Constantinople, the Venetian fleet sacked it, stealing four bronze horses, among other things. The horses were later used as ornaments on St Mark's Basilica.

Through Dandolo's diversion of the crusade's true goal, Venice grew rich from the looting of Constantinople, and the Byzantine Empire was brought to its knees. Thus, Venice was unopposed militarily and commercially.