Rulers of Montferrat

About 2 pages (710 words)

Arms of Montferrat (House of Aleramo): Argent a chief gules.

The Arms of the Marquisate during the Palaeologi Dynasty.

The Marquesses and Dukes of Montferrat^[1] were the rulers of a territory in Piedmont south of the Po and east of Turin called Montferrat. The March of Montferrat was created by Berengar II of Italy in 950 during a redistribution of power in the northwest of his kingdom. It was originally named after and held by the Aleramici. In 1574, Montferrat was raised to a Duchy by Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor (see Duchy of Montferrat).

Marquesses

William I (d. before 933)
Aleramo (933-967)
- William II, son and co-ruler
Otto I (967-991), son
William III (991-bef.1042), son
Otho II (bef.1042-c.1084), son
- Henry (d.1045), brother and co-ruler
William IV (c.1084-c.1100), son
Rainier (c.1100-c.1136), son
William V (c.1136-1191), son
Conrad (1191-1192), son
Boniface I (1192-1207), brother
William VI (1207-1225), son
Boniface II (1225-1253/55), son
William VII (1253/55-1292), son
John I (1292-1305), son

Theodore I (1306-1338), nephew of John
John II (1338-1372), son
Otto III (1372-1378), son
John III (1378-1381), brother
Theodore II (1381-1418), son
John Jacob (1418-1445), son
John IV (1445-1464), son
William VIII (1464-1483), brother
Boniface III (1483-1494), brother
William IX (1494-1518), son
Boniface IV (1518-1530), son, under the regency of his mother Anna d’Alençon
John George (1530-1533), uncle
- Spanish occupation until 1536.

Frederick Gonzaga (1536-1540), Duke of Mantua. Married to Margaret of Montferrat, daughter of William IX, and Marquess of Montferrat in her right.
Francis I (1540-1550), Duke of Mantua, Marquess of Montferrat. Son of Margaret of Montferrat and Frederick Gonzaga.
William X (1550-1587), Duke of Mantua, Marquess, then (from 1574) Duke of Montferrat. Son of Margaret of Montferrat and Frederick Gonzaga
Vincent I (1587-1612), Duke of Mantua and Montferrat. Son of William X
Francis II (1612), Duke of Mantua and Montferrat. Son of Vincent I
Ferdinand I (1612-26), Duke of Mantua and Montferrat. Son of Vincent I.
Vincent II (1626-27), Duke of Mantua and Montferrat. Son of Vincent I.
War of the Mantuan Succession (1627-1631) - a portion was lost to Duchy of Savoy
Maria, Duchess of Montferrat 1612-61, also Duchess of Mantua 1627-1631. Daughter of Francis II.
Charles I, called "of Nevers", Duke of Montferrat (1627-1637), also Duke of Mantua and Nevers. Father-in-law of Maria, co-ruler with Maria and his son, Charles II.
Charles II, Duke of Montferrat (1627-1631), also Duke of Mantua and Nevers. Husband of Maria, son of and co-ruler with Charles I.
Charles III (1637-1665). Also Duke of Nevers until 1659. Son of Maria, grandson of both Charles I and Francis II.
Charles IV (1665-1708), Duke of Montferrat and Mantua. Son of Charles III.

^ "Marquess" or "Marquis" may also be rendered by the Germanic equivalent, "Margrave", the Latin Marchio and the Italian Marchese. Montferrat is also called Monferrato.