John Jacob Palaeologus (Italian: ''Giovanni Giacomo Paleologo'') (March 23, 1395 – March 12, 1445) was the

Margrave of Montferrat The Marquises and Dukes of Montferrat 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 no ...

from 1418 to 1445. He was born in Trino, Piedmont, the son of

Theodore II of Montferrat Theodore II Palaeologus (died 16 April 1418) was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1381. Life He was the thirdborn son of John II of Montferrat and Isabel of Majorca. Theodore was named governor of the margraviate after the death of his brothe ...

, with whom he collaborated in the government of the marquisate from 1404. His mother was Johanna of Bar, daughter of Robert of Bar and

Marie of France, Duchess of Bar Marie of France (18 September 1344 – 15 October 1404) was the sixth child and second daughter of John II of France and Bonne of Bohemia.Jean d'Arras, ''Melusine; or, The Noble History of Lusignan'', transl. Donald Maddox, (The Pennsylvania Sta ...

. In 1412 he married Joanna of Savoy, sister of Duke

Amadeus VIII Amadeus VIII (4 September 1383 – 7 January 1451), nicknamed the Peaceful, was Count of Savoy from 1391 to 1416 and Duke of Savoy from 1416 to 1440. He was the son of Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy and Bonne of Berry. He was a claimant to the p ...

. After his father's death in 1418, John Jacob received the investiture as Marquis by emperor Sigismund. He distinguished himself for some brilliant military campaign in the

Apennines The Apennines or Apennine Mountains (; grc-gre, links=no, Ἀπέννινα ὄρη or Ἀπέννινον ὄρος; la, Appenninus or – a singular with plural meaning;''Apenninus'' (Greek or ) has the form of an adjective, which wou ...

area; he also increased his prestige through the marriage between his sister Sofia and the second last Byzantine Emperor, John VIII Palaiologos. John Jacob's expansion, however, spurred the reaction of the Dukes of Savoy and of

Filippo Maria Visconti Filippo Maria Visconti (3 September 1392 – 13 August 1447)

of Milan. In 1431 they signed an alliance aiming at the cancellation of the Montferrat state. John Jacob was therefore compelled to ask support to France. In 1432 he was defeated anyway and sued for peace, ceding several territories to Savoy but retaining the seigniory over Montferrat, although with the status of Savoy vassal. However, when Amadeus VIII asked him the payment of the war expenses, John Jacob rebelled; but, after having besieged in Chivasso, he was forced to cease. His state and his prestige were shattered, and he had again to declare himself vassal of Savoy. John Jacob died at

Casale Monferrato Casale Monferrato () is a town in the Piedmont region of Italy, in the province of Alessandria. It is situated about east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrat hills. Beyond the river lies the v ...

in 1445, being succeeded by his son John IV.

Marriage and children

John Jacob married on April 26, 1411 with Joanna of Savoy (1395–1460), daughter of Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy. They had : * John IV (1413–1464), Marquis of Montferrat 1445–1464. * Amadea (1418–1440), married to John II de Poitiers-Lusignan, king of Cyprus. * Isabella (ca. 1419–1475); married to Ludovico I del Vasto, Marquis of Saluzzo. * William VIII (1422–1483), Marquis of Montferrat 1464–1483. * Boniface III (1424–1494), Marquis of Montferrat 1483–1494. *

Theodoro The Principality of Theodoro ( el, Αὐθεντία πόλεως Θεοδωροῦς καὶ παραθαλασσίας), also known as Gothia ( el, Γοτθία) or the Principality of Theodoro-Mangup, was a Greek principality in the southern p ...

(1425–1481), cardinal.

Marriage and children

Ancestry

References

Sources

See also