"Gravemarker of Henricus (Enrico) Dandolo" Agia Sophia - Ayasofya Tip by H-TownJourneyman

Enrico Dandolo was a leader of the 4th crusade, which eventually led to the sacking of Constantinople in 1204. Dandolo came from a prominent family in Venice, and was the Doge of the city-state when the crusaders became stranded in Venice on their way to the Holy Land. Although aged well into his 70's and blind, he took a leading role in the expedition, and recruited many Venetians to take part in the crusade. After backing the son of the deposed Byzantine emperor, Dandolo led the crusaders on to Constantinople, where they defeated the Byzantine defenders. Dandalo died shortly after in 1205, and was buried here in Ayasofya. The gravemarker, which is located on the second level near the Mosaic of the Deesis, is not the actual tomb of Dandalo. The original grave was destroyed after the conquest of the city in 1453. The present marker was placed here in the 1800's by a restoration team from Italy, assuming the approximate location of the original.