William VIII, Marquess of Montferrat
Encyclopedia
William VIII Palaiologos (19 July 1420 – 27 February 1483) was the Marquess of Montferrat from 1464 until his death.
He was the third son of Marquess John Jacob
, and inherited the Marquisate after the death of his elder brother John IV
. He obtained by Emperor Frederick III
the territories lost to Savoy
from 1435. William served as condottiero for Francesco I Sforza
of Milan
and was later the tutor
of the latter's son Galeazzo Maria
. When the latter was assassinated, William acted as moderator in the Duchy of Milan.
William married firstly on 19 Jan 1465 Marie de Foix (d.1467); and secondly on 18 Jul 1469 Elizabetta Sforza (1456-1473); and finally on 6 Jan 1474 Bernarde de Brosse (d.17 Feb 1485).
Although William was married thrice, but all the times without legitimate son. He thenceforth had his daughters by his second marriage, Giovanna married to Ludovico I of Saluzzo
and Blanche of Montferrat
to Charles II of Savoy.
When he died in Casale Monferrato
, he was succeeded by his brother Boniface.
John Jacob of Montferrat
John Jacob Palaeologus was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1418 to 1435....
, and inherited the Marquisate after the death of his elder brother John IV
John IV of Montferrat
John IV Palaeologus was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1445 until his death....
. He obtained by Emperor Frederick III
Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick the Peaceful KG was Duke of Austria as Frederick V from 1424, the successor of Albert II as German King as Frederick IV from 1440, and Holy Roman Emperor as Frederick III from 1452...
the territories lost to Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
from 1435. William served as condottiero for Francesco I Sforza
Francesco I Sforza
Francesco I Sforza was an Italian condottiero, the founder of the Sforza dynasty in Milan, Italy. He was the brother of Alessandro, with whom he often fought.-Early life:...
of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
and was later the tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
of the latter's son Galeazzo Maria
Galeazzo Maria Sforza
Galeazzo Maria Sforza was Duke of Milan from 1466 until his death. He was famous for being lustful, cruel and tyrannical....
. When the latter was assassinated, William acted as moderator in the Duchy of Milan.
William married firstly on 19 Jan 1465 Marie de Foix (d.1467); and secondly on 18 Jul 1469 Elizabetta Sforza (1456-1473); and finally on 6 Jan 1474 Bernarde de Brosse (d.17 Feb 1485).
Although William was married thrice, but all the times without legitimate son. He thenceforth had his daughters by his second marriage, Giovanna married to Ludovico I of Saluzzo
Ludovico I of Saluzzo
Ludovico I del Vasto was Marquess of Saluzzo from 1416 until his death.The son of Marquess Thomas III, he held the Marquisate of Saluzzo for much of the 15th century, under its period of greatest splendour...
and Blanche of Montferrat
Blanche of Montferrat
Blanche of Montferrat or Bianca di Montferrato , was the Duchess of Savoy and titular Queen consort of Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Armenia as the wife of Charles I of Savoy...
to Charles II of Savoy.
When he died in Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
, he was succeeded by his brother Boniface.