Четвертый крестовый поход глазами русского современника

— The author of the Old Russian «Tale of the Capture of Tsar’grad by the Frangiane» was an eye-witness of the events of 1204. He blames the Byzantine elite for pernicious internal discords; by doing this he wants to send a warning to the Rus’ princes on the eve of the Mongol invasion. [Ivanov]