John III, Marquess of Montferrat

John III, Marquess of Montferrat
Marquess of Montferrat
Reign	1378 - 1381
Predecessor	Otto III Palaiologos
Successor	Theodore II Palaiologos
Noble family	House of Palaiologos
Father	John II, Marquess of Montferrat
Mother	Isabella of Majorca
Born	c.1362
Died	25 August 1381

John III Palaeologus (c. 1362 – 25 August 1381) was the Margrave of Montferrat^[1] from 1378 to his death. He was the second son of John II of Montferrat and Isabella of Majorca and brother and successor of Secondotto. On 3 January 1379, John III was installed as margrave under the regency of his uncle Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen.

Desirous of avenging his brother's death and recuperating the territory lost in the aftermath of Secondotto's retreat, John declared war on the Visconti of Milan, but was forced to sign a peace before fighting had begun, under the pressure of the Antipope Clement VII of Avignon, who wished to have Otto of Brunswick at his court. Otto consequently signed the treaty and confirmed the borders of the margraviate during his absence. In order to guarantee the survival of the margraviate, Otto placed it under the protection of the Kingdom of France.

Later, John followed Otto to the court of the Kingdom of Naples, but during his absence troubles arose. When Charles III was declared King of Naples and Joan I successively fled, John and Otto found themselves fully immersed in the war over the Neapolitan succession and unable to return to Montferrat. On 25 August 1381, they were involved in a battle in which Otto was captured and the young John slain. He succeeded by his younger brother Theodore II, Marquess of Montferrat.

Ancestry

Ancestors of John III, Marquess of Montferrat

16. Michael VIII Palaiologos               8. Andronikos II Palaiologos                       17. Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina               4. Theodore I, Marquess of Montferrat                             18. William VII, Marquess of Montferrat               9. Irene of Montferrat                       19. Beatrice of Castile               2. John II, Marquess of Montferrat                                   20. Sbaralia Spinola               10. Opicino Spinola                       5. Argentina Spinola                             22. Thomas I, Marquess of Saluzzo               11. Violante of Saluzzo                       23. Luigia di Ceva               1. John III, Marquess of Montferrat                                         24. James II of Majorca               12. Ferdinand of Majorca                       25. Esclaramunda of Foix               6. James III of Majorca                             26. Isnard de Sabran               13. Isabelle de Sabran                       27. Margaret of Villehardouin               3. Isabella of Majorca                                   28. James II of Aragon               14. Alfonso IV of Aragon                       29. Blanche of Anjou               7. Constance of Aragon                             30. Gombald d'Entença               15. Teresa d'Entença                       31. Constance of Attillon

Sources

• Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani LV Ginammi – Giovanni da Crema. Caravale, Mario (ed). Rome, 2000.

1. cit: Secondotto, Marquess of Montferrat, John III, Marquess of Montferrat, Theodore II, Marquess of Montferrat and Guglielmo, who were the sons of Elisabeth, daughter of James III of Majorca, and of John II, Marquess of Montferrat, have been called Dukes. Historiae et Urbium Regionum Italiae rariores, Volume 114, Cronica del Montferrato, Benvenuto Sangiorgio, Arnaldo Forni Editore 1780.