Picture: The Latin Crusaders opening the tomb of St. Justinian I the Great, Eastern Roman Emperor

Picture: The Latin Crusaders opening the tomb of St. Justinian I the Great, Eastern Roman Emperor

"Exhibiting from the very outset, as they say, their innate love of gold, the plunderers of the Queen of Cities conceived a novel way to enrich themselves while escaping everyone’s notice. They broke open the sepulchers of the Emperors which were located within the Heroon erected next to the great temple of the Holy Apostles [Church of the Holy Apostles] and plundered them all in the night, taking with utter lawlessness whatever gold ornaments, or round pearls, or radiant, precious, and incorruptible gems that were still preserved within.

Finding the corpse of the Emperor [Saint] Justinian had not decomposed through the long centuries, they looked upon the spectacle as a miracle, but this in no way prevented them from keeping their hands off the tomb’s valuables. In other words, the Western [Latin] nations spared neither the living nor the dead, but beginning with God and his servants, they displayed complete indifference and irreverence to all." — Niketas Akominatos "Choniates," Eastern Roman Court Official and historian, an eyewitness to the Sacking of Constantinople by the Latins. Event dated as 13 April 1204

It is reported that the body of St. Justinian I the Great, Eastern Roman Emperor, after all material or worth was taken from his tomb and corpse, was thrown into the streets as if trash. Other tombs, including that of Heraclius and Basil II the Bulgar Slayer, were also desecrated, with the body of Basil II also reported to either be thrown into the street or dumbed into a river.