Montferrat

Montferrat (in Italian, Monferrato) is part of the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy. It comprises the modern provinces of Asti and Alessandria. Within the territory of Montferrat are located the most important centres of Italian wine and spumante production.

Related Topics:
Italian - Piedmont - Italy - Asti - Alessandria - Wine - Spumante

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Originally a county, it was elevated to marquessate under count Aleramo in 961, following the transition of power in Northern Italy from Berengar of Ivrea to Otto I of Germany. Its marquesses and their family members were related to the Kings of France and the Holy Roman Emperors. Members of the family participated frequently in the Crusades, and intermarried with the royal family of Jerusalem and the Byzantine Imperial families of Comnenus and Palaeologus.

Related Topics:
Marquess - Berengar of Ivrea - Otto I of Germany - Kings of France - Holy Roman Emperors - Crusades - Jerusalem - Byzantine - Comnenus - Palaeologus

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The descendants of Aleramo in the male line ruled Montferrat until it passed to the Imperial Byzantine Palaeologus family in 1305. It was briefly controlled by Spain (1533-1536) before it passed to the Gonzaga Dukes of Mantua (1536-1708). With the War of the Mantuan Succession (1628-1631) a piece of the marquisate passed to the Duchy of Savoy, the remainder passing to Savoy in 1708, as Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor gained possession of the Gonzaga territory.

Related Topics:
Palaeologus - Spain - Gonzaga - Dukes of Mantua - 1628 - 1631 - Duchy of Savoy - 1708 - Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor

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