John George, Marquess of Montferrat

Who was John George, Marquess of Montferrat?

John George of Monferrat was the last Marquess of Montferrat of the Palaeologus dynasty.

John George was Bishop of Casale, when his nephew Boniface IV, Marquess 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 than to become the new Marquess. 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.