The Latin Schism

Understanding Hagia Sophia’s brief period under Catholic authority requires shedding the light on the crusades:-

First Crusade (1096–1099): Triggered after Emperor Alexios I requested Western military support against the Seljuk invasion of Asia Minor, leading to Crusaders seizing Antioch in 1098 and Jerusalem in 1099.

Second & Third Crusades (1147–1192): Focused on Latin holdings in the Levant. The Third Crusade— led by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa alongside the kings of England and France—aimed at reclaiming Jerusalem from Saladin.