Duchy of Montferrat

The Duchy of Montferrat was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in Northern Italy. It was created out of what was left of the medieval March of Montferrat after the last Palaeologus heir had died (1533) and the margraviate had been briefly controlled by Habsburg Spain (until 1536). After that brief interlude, it passed to the Gonzaga dukes of Mantua. In 1574 Emperor Maximilian II raised Montferrat to the status of a duchy.

Duchy of Montferrat

Ducato del Monferrato (it)
Herzogtum Montferrat (de)
15741708
Flag of Montferrat
Arms of Montferrat (House of Aleramo): Argent a chief gules
StatusDuchy
CapitalCasale Monferrato
Common languagesItalian
Religion
Roman Catholicism
GovernmentDuchy
Duke 
 1574–1587
Guglielmo Gonzaga (first duke)
 1665–1708
Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga (last)
Historical eraModern Era
 March of Montferrat raised to a duchy
1574
1628–31
 Claims by House of Savoy confirmed
1648
 Annexed by Duchy of Savoy
1708
 Treaty of Utrecht
1713
Preceded by
Succeeded by
March of Montferrat
Duchy of Savoy

At that time, the state of Montferrat had an area of 2750 km², and consisted of two separate parts bordered by the Duchy of Savoy, the Duchy of Milan, and the Republic of Genoa. Its capital was Casale Monferrato.

With the War of the Mantuan Succession (16281631), a piece of the duchy passed to Savoy; the remainder passed to Savoy in 1708, as Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, gained possession of the principal Gonzaga territory, the Duchy of Mantua.

See also

  • Rulers of Montferrat, for a list of margraves and dukes

References

  • "Casale Monferrato". Merriam-Webster's Geographical Dictionary Merriam-Webster, 1997 pg. 219

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