John George, Marquis of Montferrat

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 prince Stefan Branković of Serbia.

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.

Sources

• Haberstumpf, Walter (2009). Regesti dei Marchesi di Monferrato (secoli IX-XVI). Alessandria: San Giorgio Editrice.

Ancestry

References

1. Boniface III, Marquis of Montferrat
2. Palaeologus-Montferrat
3. Boniface IV, Marquis of Montferrat
4. List of rulers of Montferrat
5. Margaret Paleologa
6. Theodore I, Marquis of Montferrat
7. 1488
8. Palaiologos
9. Gjergj Arianiti
10. 1533
11. Anne of Alençon
12. John George
13. Francesco of Saluzzo
14. Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
15. Count of St. Germain
16. 1480s
17. 1530s
18. Paleologo-Oriundi
19. Charles I Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
20. List of state leaders in the 14th century