Repelling Fourth Crusade

[Vigamadr]

Im playing as the Byzantines in the Kingdoms expansion and I got the message in-game that tells you that the "Crusaders" and the bastard Venetians sacked Zara a few turns ago (forgot what turn Im on).

Now, from previously reading medieval history, the army eventually took and sacked Constantinople...is their any effective ways to stop them from taking it? Do they spawn on the land near the city, or in ships nearby?

Should I face them before they siege Constantinople or duke it out with them in the siege? Any suggestions, thoughts, or ideas on how to beat them?

I dont want to turn into a historically accurate Byzantine Empire, because then I would eventually lose

[Diamond]

I've never played as Byzantium on Crusades but when I play as another faction Venetians typically take it without fail.

[Aeratus]

The 4th Crusade stacks that show up are quite mediocre, actually. I think they should've made the 4th Crusade a lot stronger (at least when Byzantium is controlled by a human), since not many armies in history could go right up to Constantinople and wtfpwn the city.

[DarthLazy]

Mass horse archers.

[Nebulon]

I succeded to survive by actully just asking them for peace, then they just sat in thracia for the rest of the game doing nothing untill i wiped them out

But you should gather a pretty good army, only horse archers as above said is pretty cheap but effective, that or you go heavy inf and heavy cav and just slaugther their lines

[Vigamadr]

Alright, the crusaders just spawned nearby Constantinople. I have one good stack of heavy inf. and archers, and another half a stack of light cav.

Im going to meet them in open battle before they reach the capitol.