Enrico Dandolo

Enrico Dandolo (c. 1107–1205), a blind Venetian nobleman, was elected doge in 1192. After Byzantium imprisoned thousands of Venetians in 1171, he joined the 1172 expedition that collapsed of plague. He later joined embassies to Constantinople and helped restore the Venetian quarter there in 1184.

In old age he led Venice into the Fourth Crusade: his fleet sacked rebellious Zara in 1202 and stormed Constantinople on 12 April 1204, winning Venice a vast colonial empire. He took the title of despot and died there in 1205, buried in Hagia Sophia.