John George, Marquis of Montferrat explained

John George, Marquis of Montferrat
Succession:Marquis of Montferrat
Reign:1530–1533
Predecessor:Boniface IV of Montferrat
Successor:Margaret Palaiologina
Noble Family:Palaeologus-Montferrat
Father:Boniface III, Marquis of Montferrat
Mother:Maria of Serbia
Spouse:Julia Trastamara of Naples
Birth Date:20 January 1488
Birth Place:Casale Monferrato
Death Place:Casale Monferrato

John George of Monferrat (20 January 1488 – 30 April 1533) was the last Marquis of Montferrat of the Palaeologus-Montferrat family.

He was a son of Boniface III, Marquis of Montferrat and his third wife Maria of Serbia, daughter of Stefan Branković, Despot of Serbia and Angelina Arianiti, an Albanian princess.

Reign

John George was Bishop of Casale when his nephew Boniface IV, Marquis of Montferrat unexpectedly died in 1530 without an heir.

As the last of his family and despite his poor health, John George had no option but to become the new Marquis. In a desperate attempt to produce an heir, he married the 41-year-old Julia, daughter of Frederick IV of Naples, on 21 April 1533. He died 9 days later.

After a Spanish occupation of 3 years, Montferrat came under Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, who had married his niece Margaret Paleologa in 1531.

Descendants

John George had an illegitimate son, Flaminio, from whom the Paleologo-Oriundi line descends and is extant today.[1]

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: I Paleologi di Monferrato dopo il 1533. www.marchesimonferrato.com.