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.^[1]

John George, Marquis of Montferrat
Marquis of Montferrat
Reign	1530–1533
Predecessor	Boniface IV of Montferrat
Successor	Margaret Palaiologina
Born	20 January 1488 Casale Monferrato
Died	April 30, 1533(1533-04-30) (aged 45) Casale Monferrato
Noble family	Palaeologus-Montferrat
Spouse(s)	Julia Trastamara of Naples
Father	Boniface III, Marquis of Montferrat
Mother	Maria of Serbia

Gold coin of Gian Giorgio Paleologo, 1530–33.

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 allegedly descends and is extant today.^[2]

Sources

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

Ancestry

Ancestors of John George, Marquis of Montferrat

16. John II, Marquis of Montferrat 8. Theodore II, Marquis of Montferrat 17. Isabella of Majorca 4. John Jacob, Marquis of Montferrat 18. Robert I, Duke of Bar 9. Joanna of Bar 19. Marie of Valois 2. Boniface III, Marquis of Montferrat 20. Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy 10. Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy 21. Bonne of Bourbon 5. Joan of Savoy 22. John, Duke of Berry 11. Bonne of Berry 23. Joan of Armagnac 1. John George Palaiologos, Marquis of Montferrat 24. Vuk Branković 12. Đurađ Branković 25. Mara Lazarević 6. Stefan III Brankovic prince of Serbia 26. Demetrios I Kantakouzenos 13. Irene Kantakouzene 27. 3. Maria of Serbia 28. Komnen Arianiti 14. Gjergj Arianiti 29. daughter of Nikollë Zaharia 7. Angelina Arianiti Andrea III Muzaka, Despot of Musacchia 15. Maria Muzaka Kirana Zenebishi, Lady of Grabossa