Page:The Fall of Constantinople.djvu/287

Rh middle of February, 1201. Their treaty with the Venetians for the transport of an army to Egypt was made in the middle of March.

Negotiations between Venice and Egypt.

News of the signature of this treaty reached Malek-Adol, the Sultan of Egypt, very shortly afterwards, and filled him with alarm. The weakened condition of his country, due to natural causes and to the divisions in his own family, made it of the utmost importance that the crusading army should be diverted from Egypt. An army very much inferior to the great hosts of the last expedition would inevitably conquer Egypt. Accordingly, Malek-Adel set to work not only to repair his defences, but to buy over the Venetians. In the autumn of the same year two envoys were sent from Venice to this sultan, possibly at his request, were received by him with great distinction, and occupied themselves at once with framing terms of peace, which later on took the form of a commercial treaty.

Meantime the Crusaders had been collecting. According to their contract with Venice they were to be in that city and the transports were to be ready by St. John's Day, the 24th of June, 1202. On the 13th of May, 1202, the envoys of Venice had concluded their treaty with Malek-Adel.

Treaty with Malek-Adel.

This treaty assured to the Venetians, in addition to many privileges, a district or quarter in Alexandria, and to the pilgrims who visited the Holy Sepulchre under Venetian protection safety for their lives and goods. The sultan sent an emir, named Sead Eddin, to Venice to secure its confirmation. His mission was successful, and the treaty was secretly ratified in July, 1202. The signature of this treaty gives the explanation of the diversion of the fourth crusade from Egypt and of its subsequent failure. Venice was henceforward playing a double game. She had signed her agreement of March, 1201, with the Crusaders, in accordance with which she was to transport the army of the West to