Blanche of Montferrat

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File:Crea figlie guglielmoVIII.jpg
Blanche, on the left, and her younger sister, Giovanna

Blanche of Montferrat or Bianca di Montferrato (1472 – 30 March 1519), was the Duchess of Savoy and titular Queen consort of Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Armenia as the wife of Charles I of Savoy. She acted as regent for her only son Charles from 1490 until his accidental death in 1496.

Marriage and regency

Blanche was the eldest daughter of William VIII Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat and Elisabetta Sforza, daughter of Francesco I Sforza, Duke of Milan and Bianca Maria Visconti, after whom Blanche was named.

On 1 April 1485, she married Charles I, Duke of Savoy and titular King of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia. The marriage produced two children:

Upon the death of her husband in 1490, she acted as regent for her young son, who had succeeded his father in his regnal and titular titles. She remained the ruler of Savoy until her son, who was seven years old at the time, was accidentally killed in a fall at Moncalieri. Her surviving child, Yolande died three years later, without having produced any children; therefore Blanche's line became extinct.

In her will dated 12 February 1519, she names her choice of burial place which was the chapel of the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Carignano. She names her heir as Charles III, Duke of Savoy, and in default, the latter's younger brother Philippe, Count of Genevois.[1]

Ancestry

Family of Blanche of Montferrat
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16. John II Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8. Theodore II Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17. Isabella of Majorca
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. John Jacob Palaiologos, Marquess of Montferrat
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18. Robert I, Duke of Bar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9. Joanna of Bar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19. Marie of Valois
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. William VIII Palaiologos, Marquess 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. Blanche Palaiologo of Montferrat
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24. Giovanni Attendolo Sforza
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12. Muzio Sforza
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
25. Elisa (Petraccini?)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6. Francesco I Sforza, Duke of Milan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13. Lucia da Torsano
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Elisabetta Sforza
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28. Gian Galeazzo Visconti
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14. Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29. Caterina Visconti
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7. Bianca Maria Visconti
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30. Ambrogio del Maino
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15. Agnese del Maino
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

  1. Charles Cawley, Medieval Lands, Savoy