List of rulers of Montferrat


The marquises and dukes of Montferrat were the rulers of a territory in Piedmont south of the Po and east of Turin. 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 Emperor Maximilian II.

Marquises

Aleramici dynasty

  • William I
  • Aleramo
  • *William II, son and co-ruler
  • Otto I, son
  • William III , son
  • Otto II, son
  • *Henry, brother and co-ruler
  • William IV , son
  • Rainier, son
  • William V, son
  • Conrad, son
  • Boniface I, brother
  • William VI , son
  • Boniface II, son
  • William VII, son
  • John I, son

    Paleologo dynasty

  • Theodore I, nephew of John
  • John II, son
  • Secondotto, also known as Otto III, son
  • John III, brother
  • Theodore II, brother
  • John Jacob, son
  • John IV, son
  • William VIII, brother
  • Boniface III, brother
  • William IX, son.
  • Boniface IV, son, under the regency of his mother Anne of Alençon
  • John George, uncle
  • *Spanish occupation until 1536.
  • Margaret of Montferrat, daughter of William IX and Anne of Alençon, and Marchioness of Montferrat in her own right.

    Gonzaga dynasty

In 1536 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor granted the marquisate, despite competing claims from Savoy and from the Marquis of Saluzzo, to the Gonzagas. This was confirmed in 1559 by the Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis.
  • Frederick Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua. Married to Margaret of Montferrat, daughter of William IX and Anne of Alençon, and Marchioness of Montferrat in her own right.
  • Francis I, Duke of Mantua, Marquis of Montferrat. Son of Margaret of Montferrat and Frederick Gonzaga.
  • Guglielmo I Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, Marquis until 1574, then duke. Son of Margaret of Montferrat and Frederick Gonzaga

    Dukes

Gonzaga dynasty

The House of Savoy gained part of the duchy after the War of the Mantuan Succession and the remainder in 1708. The head of the family used the title of Duke of Montferrat from 1631 until 1861. In addition, the title was granted to some younger sons of the House: