William VIII, Marquis of Montferrat


William VIII Palaiologos was the Marquis of Montferrat from 1464 until his death.
He was the second son of Marquis John Jacob and Joanna of Savoy, daughter of Amadeus VI of Savoy.
William inherited the Marquisate after the death of his elder brother John IV. He obtained, by Emperor Frederick III, the territories lost to Savoy from 1435. William served as condottiero for Francesco I Sforza of Milan and fought alongside him at the battle of Caravaggio and was afterwards rewarded with the lordship of Alessandria.
In 1449, William was accused of treachery and imprisoned by Francesco Sforza. The reason was said to because he had formed an attachment to Sforza's wife Bianca Maria Visconti. He was released a year later. Angry over his treatment by Sforza, William encouraged his brother John IV of Montferrat and relative Louis of Savoy to make war on Sforza, and then he himself would lead the troops in battle. This attempt failed.
William later became a tutor to the couple's son Galeazzo Maria. Following his assassination, William held several positions in the Duchy of Milan.

Marriages and issue

William had three wives.
On 19 January 1465, he married Marie de Foix, daughter of Gaston IV, Count of Foix and Eleonor of Navarre. They had a daughter:
On 18 July 1469 he married Elisabetta Maria Sforza, daughter of Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, and Bianca Maria Visconti. They had a daughter:
On 19 September 1474, he married Bernarde of Brosse, daughter of John II of Brosse and Nicole, Countess of Penthièvre. They no had issue.
William had also at least three illegitimate children: