Was Hagia Sophia Ever Used by Latin Crusaders as a Cathedral?

💡 The Answer

• During the Fourth Crusade (1204–1261), Latin Crusaders controlled Constantinople.
• They installed their own Catholic hierarchy in Hagia Sophia.
• It functioned as a Latin cathedral for that 57-year period.
• This broke the continuous Eastern Orthodox use since the 4th century.
• After 1261, it was returned to Eastern Orthodox control.