John Jacob Palaeologus (Italian: ''Giovanni Giacomo Paleologo'') (March 23, 1395 – March 12, 1445) was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1418 to 1445. He was born in

Trino, Piedmont Trino ( pms, Trin) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Vercelli in the Italian region Piedmont, located about northeast of Turin and about southwest of Vercelli, at the foot of the Montferrat hills. Trino borders the following mun ...

, the son of Theodore II of Montferrat, with whom he collaborated in the government of the marquisate from 1404. His mother was Johanna of Bar, daughter of

Robert of Bar Robert I of Bar (8 November 1344 – 12 April 1411) was Marquis of Pont-à-Mousson and Count and then Duke of Bar. He succeeded his elder brother Edward II of Bar as count in 1352. His parents were Henry IV of Bar and Yolande of Flanders. Whe ...

and Marie of France, Duchess of Bar. In 1412 he married Joanna of Savoy, sister of Duke Amadeus VIII. After his father's death in 1418, John Jacob received the investiture as Marquis by emperor

Sigismund Sigismund (variants: Sigmund, Siegmund) is a German proper name, meaning "protection through victory", from Old High German ''sigu'' "victory" + ''munt'' "hand, protection". Tacitus latinises it '' Segimundus''. There appears to be an older form of ...

. He distinguished himself for some brilliant military campaign in the Apennines area; he also increased his prestige through the marriage between his sister Sofia and the second last Byzantine Emperor,

John VIII Palaiologos John VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( gr, Ἰωάννης Παλαιολόγος, Iōánnēs Palaiológos; 18 December 1392 – 31 October 1448) was the penultimate Byzantine emperor, ruling from 1425 to 1448. Biography John VIII was ...

. John Jacob's expansion, however, spurred the reaction of the Dukes of Savoy and of Filippo Maria Visconti of

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

. 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 Chivasso (; pms, Civass) is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Turin, in the Italian region of Piedmont, located about northeast of Turin. Chivasso has a population of about 27,000. It is situated on the left bank of the Po river, near the inf ...

, 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 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 Amadeus VII (24 February 1360 – 1 November 1391), known as the Red Count, was Count of Savoy from 1383 to 1391. Biography Amadeus was born in Chambéry on 24 February 1360, the son of Count Amadeus VI of Savoy and Bonne of Bourbon. Althou ...

. 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 Pope Boniface III ( la, Bonifatius III; died 12 November 607) was the bishop of Rome from 19 February 607 to his death. Despite his short pontificate, he made a significant contribution to the Catholic Church. Early career The son of John Cataa ...

(1424–1494), Marquis of Montferrat 1483–1494. * Theodoro (1425–1481), cardinal.

Marriage and children

Ancestry

References

Sources

See also