Aleramici

in the Abbey of Grazzano to the House of Gonzaga The Aleramici (also Aleramids) were a Northern Italian princely and royal dynasty of Frankish origin. They ruled over various northwestern Italian principalities in Piedmont and Liguria from the 10th to the 17th century, as well as over the Kingdoms of Jerusalem and Thessalonica from the 12th to the 13th century. Considered one of the foremost crusader dynasties, the Aleramids notably extended their influence across the Eastern Mediterranean, thrice appointed as successors to the Eastern Roman Imperial throne (under the title of Caesar), without ever ensuring their effective installation. They nevertheless produced two Imperial consorts, one of which (Irene) effectively ruled over part of the Empire under the title of Augusta. Other females of the dynasty also appear as consort-regents in several European states. The Aleramids were only later named as such by historians seeking to identify the extensive lineage derived from the Frankish Count Aleramo, proclaimed first sovereign Marquis (or Markgrave) of Western Liguria by the Emperor Otto the Great in the year 967. Further research has allowed the division of the lineage into two main branches: the senior Marquises of Savona (later surnamed del Vasto), and the junior Marquises of Monferrat.…

in the Abbey of Grazzano]] to the House of Gonzaga]] The Aleramici (also Aleramids) were a Northern Italian princely and royal dynasty of Frankish origin. They ruled over various northwestern Italian principalities in Piedmont and Liguria from the 10th to the 17th century, as well as over the Kingdoms of Jerusalem and Thessalonica from the 12th to the 13th century. Considered one of the foremost crusader dynasties, the Aleramids notably extended their influence across the Eastern Mediterranean, thrice appointed as successors to the Eastern Roman Imperial throne (under the title of Caesar), without ever ensuring their effective installation. They nevertheless produced two Imperial consorts, one of which (Irene) effectively ruled over part of the Empire under the title of Augusta. Other females of the dynasty also appear as consort-regents in several European states. The Aleramids were only later named as such by historians seeking to identify the extensive lineage derived from the Frankish Count Aleramo, proclaimed first sovereign Marquis (or Markgrave) of Western Liguria by the Emperor Otto the Great in the year 967. Further research has allowed the division of the lineage into two main branches: the senior Marquises of Savona (later surnamed del Vasto), and the junior Marquises of Monferrat. The last became extinct during the 14th century in the Empress Irene (with female succession in the House of Palaiologos-Montferrat). The senior line of Savona carried on through multiple descending branches, mainly ruling over the Marquisates of Saluzzo and Finale until the 17th century. Broadly, their decadence in Northern Italy can be linked to the communal movement and the consecutive loss of Imperial dominance in the region in favor of Papal or Ecclesiastical rule (12th century). By the 13th century the Aleramids had lost most of their territorial sovereignty in favor of the Republic of Genoa and the Duchy of Milan. Some late exponents (mainly del Carretto) appear as vassal-lords to the Dukes of Milan and of Savoy, while others became sovereign patricians of the Republic of Genoa. Several others (mainly Lanza) relocated to the Kingdom of Sicily where they continued to exercise a notable influence. One branch (Grana) remained in service of the Holy Roman Empire until their extinction in the 18th century (with female succession in the House of Arenberg). The Aleramids are ancestors (through female lines) of most European royal families.

History

The abundant procreation of males amongst the Aleramids led to the continuous fragmentation of the original March (in accordance to Salic Law), and the subdivision of both Marches (particularly that of Savona) into smaller jurisdictions presided by the different members of the lineage (all preserving the princely rank of Marquis). The junior Ottonian branch was only divided into the Marches of Monferrat and Occimiano (conferred to a junior line later surnamed "Camar"), while the Anselmian line initially formed the three extensive Marches of Savona, Bosco and Sezzadio. The Aleramids of Sezzadio soon became extinct, and their territory returned to their most immediate agnatic relatives of Savona and Bosco. By the 12th century, the surviving Anselmians (Savona and Bosco) had also distinguished their respective lines by the adoption of the surnames del Vasto and del Bosco. The senior Aleramids del Vasto (descendants of Otto III of Savona) formed the Marquisates of Savona, of Finale, Dego, Incisa, Loreto, Cortemilia, Ceva and Clavesana (later adding Saluzzo, and Busca through the Arduinic inheritance of the lower-half of the March of Turin). The successive Marquises of Savona later abandoned the surname del Vasto and instead took the surname del Carretto. The junior Anselmian Aleramids del Bosco (descendants of Ugo II of Bosco) formed the Marquisates of Bosco, Ponzone, Albisola, Varazze, Ussecio and Pareto. File:Arms of the house of Del Vasto.svg|Primitive heraldry of the Anselmian Aleramids del Vasto and del Bosco File:Blason marquisat it Montferrat 1.svg|Primitive heraldry of the Ottonian Aleramids del Monferrato and Occimiano File:Coat of arms of the House of Del Carretto.svg|Later heraldry of the Anselmian Aleramids del Carretto File:Arms of the house of Ceva.svg|Later heraldry of the Anselmian Aleramidsdi Ceva File:Arms of the house of Ponzone.svg|Later heraldry of the Anselmian Aleramidsdi Ponzone

Rulers of the Aleramid dynasty

Aleramid dynasty

Family tree

See also

March of Montferrat Marquisate of Saluzzo Marquisate of Finale Marquisate of Ceva

Notes

References

Works cited

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1374672055 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.