The article deals with the problem of perception of the Fourth Crusade in the composition of the Russian contemporary of its events - “Tale of the capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders”. The source is compared with similar works of Western chroniclers. As a result of the analysis of the work of an anonymous Russian author, it should be concluded that his view of the events described is far from their coverage as traditional in the attitude of medieval chroniclers to the crusades of the “holy war”.