John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat

Who was John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat?

John Jacob Palaeologus was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1418 to 1435.

He was born in Trino, Piedmont, the son of Theodore II of Montferrat, with whom he collaborated in the government of the marquisate from 1404. In 1412 he married Joanna of Savoy, sister of Duke Amadeus VIII, who gave him numerous children.

After his father's death in 1418, John Jacob received the investiture as marquess by emperor Sigismund. He distinguished himself for some brilliant military campaign in the Apennines area; he also increased his prestige through the marriage between his sister Sofia and the second last Byzantine Emperor, John VIII Palaeologus.

John Jacob's expansion, however, spurred the reaction of the Dukes of Savoy and of Filippo Maria Visconti of Milan. In 1431 they signed an alliance aiming at the cancellation of the Montferrat state. John Jacob was therefore compelled to ask support to France. In 1432 he was defeated anyway and sued for peace, ceding several territories to Savoy but retaining the seigniory over Montferrat, although with the status of Savoy vassal.