William VIII, Marquess of Montferrat

William VIII, Marquess of Montferrat
Marquess of Montferrat
Reign	1464 - 1483
Predecessor	John IV Palaiologos
Successor	Boniface III Palaiologos
Spouse(s)	Marie de Foix Elizabetta Sforza Bernarde de Brosse
Issue Blanche of Montferrat
Noble family	House of Palaiologos
Father	John Jacob, Marquess of Montferrat
Mother	Joanna of Savoy
Born	July 19, 1420 Casale Monferrato
Died	February 27, 1483 (aged 62) Casale Monferrato

William VIII Palaiologos (Italian: Guglielmo VIII Paleologo; 19 July 1420 – 27 February 1483) was the Marquess of Montferrat from 1464 until his death.

Two of William’s daughters from a fresco in the Cappella di Santa Margherita, Serralunga di Crea by the Maestro di Crea

He was the second son of Marquess John Jacob, and inherited the Marquisate after the death of his elder brother John IV. He obtained by Emperor Frederick III the territories lost to Savoy from 1435. William served as condottiero for Francesco I Sforza of Milan and was later the tutor of the latter's son Galeazzo Maria. When the latter was assassinated, William acted as moderator in the Duchy of Milan.

William married firstly on 19 Jan 1465 Marie de Foix (d.1467) daughter of Gaston IV, Count of Foix; and secondly on 18 Jul 1469 Elizabetta Sforza (1456–1473) daughter of Francesco I Duke of Milan; and finally on 6 Jan 1474 Bernarde de Brosse (d.17 Feb 1485).

Although William was married thrice, but each time without a legitimate son. He thenceforth had his daughters by his second marriage:

• Giovanna, married to Ludovico II del Vasto, Marquess of Saluzzo and
• Blanche of Montferrat, married to Charles I, duke of Savoy.

When he died in Casale Monferrato, he was succeeded by his brother Boniface III.

Ancestry

Ancestors of William VIII, Marquess of Montferrat

16. Theodor I Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat               8. John II Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat                       17. Argentina Spinola               4. Theodore II Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat                             18. James III of Majorca               9. Isabella of Majorca                       19. Constance of Aragon               2. John Jacob Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat                                   20. Henry IV, Count of Bar               10. Robert I, Duke of Bar                       21. Yolande de Dampierre               5. Joanna of Bar                             22. John II of France (=#28)               11. Marie of Valois                       23. Bonne of Bohemia (=#29)               1. William VIII Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat                                         24. Aymon, Count of Savoy               12. Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy                       25. Yolande Palaeologina of Montferrat               6. Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy                             26. Peter I, Duke of Bourbon               13. Bonne of Bourbon                       27. Isabella of Valois               3. Joan of Savoy                                   28. John II of France (=#22)               14. John, Duke of Berry                       29. Bonne of Bohemia (=#23)               7. Bonne of Berry                             30. John I, Count of Armagnac               15. Joan of Armagnac                       31. Beatrice of Clermont