John IV, Marquess of Montferrat

John IV, Marquess of Montferrat
Marquess of Montferrat
Reign	1445 - 1464
Predecessor	John Jacob Palaiologos
Successor	William VIII Palaiologos
Spouse(s)	Margherita of Savoy
Noble family	House of Palaiologos
Father	John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat
Mother	Joanna of Savoy
Born	June 24, 1413 Casale Monferrato
Died	January 19, 1464 (aged 50) Casale Monferrato

John IV Palaeologus (Italian: Giovanni IV Paleologo) (June 24, 1413 – January 19, 1464) was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1445 until his death.

The eldest of four brothers and two sisters, he was born near Casale in the castle of Pontestura, to John Jacob of Montferrat and Joanna of Savoy, daughter of Amadeus VII (the Red Count of Savoy).^[1] During his father’s unlucky war against Amadeus VIII of Savoy, he was imprisoned by the latter and used as hostage.

He fought as condottiere for the Republic of Venice in the war that ensued after the heirless death of Filippo Maria Visconti of Milan (see Wars in Lombardy). During his reign the Palaeologus family lost the throne of Constantinople, captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

He set his mind rather belatedly to ensuring future of the dynasty, marrying Margherita of Savoy, daughter of Louis of Savoy and Anne of Cyprus, in Casale in December 1458. She brought a dowry of 100,000 scudi, receiving Trino, Morano, Borgo San Martino and Mombaruzzo in return. However they only had one daughter Elena Margherita (1459 – 1496), who married Victor, Duke of Münsterberg.
He also had two illegitimate children : Sara (1462–1503) and Scipione (1463–1485). ^[2]

John IV died, without legitimate heirs, in Casale on 19 January 1464; he was buried there alongside his father in the church of San Francesco.^[1] He was succeeded by his brother William VIII.

Ancestry

Ancestors of John IV, Marquess of Montferrat

16. Theodore I, Marquess of Montferrat               8. John II, Marquess of Montferrat                       17. Argentina Spinola               4. Theodore II, Marquess of Montferrat                             18. James III of Majorca               9. Isabella of Majorca                       19. Constance of Aragon               2. John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat                                   20. Henry IV, Count of Bar               10. Robert I, Duke of Bar                       21. Yolande de Dampierre               5. Joanna of Bar                             22. John II of France (=#28)               11. Marie of Valois                       23. Bonne of Bohemia (=#29)               1. John IV Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat                                         24. Aymon, Count of Savoy               12. Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy                       25. Yolande Palaeologina of Montferrat               6. Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy                             26. Peter I, Duke of Bourbon               13. Bonne of Bourbon                       27. Isabella of Valois               3. Joan of Savoy                                   28. John II of France (=#22)               14. John, Duke of Berry                       29. Bonne of Bohemia (=#23)               7. Bonne of Berry                             30. John I, Count of Armagnac               15. Joan of Armagnac                       31. Beatrice of Clermont

See also

• Wars in Lombardy

References

1. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani 2000.
2. Montferrat

Sources

• "Giovanni IV", Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, LVI, Roma, 2000, pp. 131–135.