John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat

John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat
Marquis of Montferrat
Reign	1418 - 1445
Predecessor	Theodore II Palaiologos
Successor	John IV Palaiologos
Spouse(s)	Joanna of Savoy
Issue John IV, Marquess of Montferrat Amadea Isabella William VIII, Marquess of Montferrat Boniface III, Marquess of Montferrat Teodoro Paleologo di Montferrato
Noble family	House of Palaiologos
Father	Theodore II of Montferrat
Mother	Joanna of Bar
Born	March 23, 1395 Trino
Died	March 12, 1445 (aged 49) Casale Monferrato

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, the son of Theodore II of Montferrat, with whom he collaborated in the government of the marquisate from 1404. In 1412 he married Joanna of Savoy, sister of Duke Amadeus VIII, who gave him numerous children.

After his father's death in 1418, John Jacob received the investiture as marquess by emperor Sigismund. 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 Jacob's expansion, however, spurred the reaction of the Dukes of Savoy and of Filippo Maria Visconti 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 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), Marquess 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, Marquess of Saluzzo.
• William VIII (1422 – 1483), Marquess of Montferrat 1464–1483.
• Boniface III (1424 – 1494), Marquess of Montferrat 1483–1494.
• Theodoro (1425 – 1481), cardinal.

Ancestry

Ancestors of John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat

16. Andronikos II Palaiologos               8. Theodore I, Marquess of Montferrat                       17. Irene of Montferrat               4. John II, Marquess of Montferrat                             18. Opicino Spinola               9. Argentina Spinola                       19. Violante of Saluzzo               2. Theodore II, Marquess of Montferrat                                   20. Ferdinand of Majorca               10. James III of Majorca                       21. Isabelle de Sabran               5. Isabella of Majorca                             22. Alfonso IV of Aragon               11. Constance of Aragon                       23. Teresa d'Entença               1. John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat                                         24. Edward I, Count of Bar               12. Henry IV, Count of Bar                       25. Marie of Burgundy               6. Robert I, Duke of Bar                             26. Robert, Count of Marle               13. Yolande de Dampierre                       27. Joan of Brittany               3. Joanna of Bar                                   28. Philip VI of France               14. John II of France                       29. Joan of Burgundy               7. Marie of Valois                             30. John of Bohemia               15. Bonne of Bohemia                       31. Elisabeth of Bohemia

See also

• Wars in Lombardy