Secondotto Palaeologus (also Otho or Ottone; died 16 December 1378) was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1372 to his death, the third of the House of Palaeologus-Montferrat. His name Secondotto may derive from his being the second Otto to rule Montferrat in his own right, though he would really be Otto III. More probably it is derived from Saint Secundus (San Secondo in Italian), the patron saint of Asti, which his father treated as the capital of the marquisate.[1] The Otto may be in honour of Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, a close ally of his father.[2]
He was born around 1360 as the first son of John II and Isabella of Majorca.[2] In December 1361, as part of a peace deal made between John II and Galeazzo II Visconti, co-lord of Milan, he was betrothed to the latter's four-year-old daughter Maria. The city of Asti, on which Galeazzo had also had designs, was to count as part of Maria's dowry, and Montferrat would be allowed to retain control of it. The peace was short-lived, however, as Maria died in the May of the following year.[2][3]
He succeeded as a child of around 12, and ruled originally under the co-regency of his uncle Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, and Amadeus VI of Savoy. His father's will had stipulated that he should remain under his uncle's tutelage until the age of 25; however Otto left for Naples in 1376 to marry Queen Joan I.[4]
When Otto of Brunswick's brother attacked and seized Asti, Secondotto called in the aid of his father-in-law, who, with a huge force, retook Asti and maintained it under Milanese control. Secondotto realised at that juncture the danger of his Milanese alliance, but by then it was too late. He gathered a force and led it against the Milanese troops and was defeated. Probably out of fear, he retreated to an unknown destination. He died at Langhirano in the vicinity of Parma in obscure circumstances: he may simply have been the loser in a brawl (he was famously ill-tempered and violent), or he may have been assassinated by an agent of the Visconti. His body was carried to Parma and buried before the high altar of the cathedral.[4][5]
When his uncle received news of his death, he returned at once to the margraviate to handle the succession. He placed Secondotto's brother John III on the Montferrat throne. Despite the involvement of Emperor-elect Wenceslaus, the negotiations which Otto opened with Gian Galeazzo over the recovery of Asti were fruitless.[4]
^John II of Montferrat stipulated in his will that he should be buried in a new chapel in the church of S. Secondo. The will is reproduced in Benvenuto Sangiorgio, Cronica, ed. by Giuseppe Vernazza (Turin: 1780), pp. 209–224; see p. 222.
^ abcA. A. Settia, ‘Giovanni II Paleologo’, Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani.
^Benvenuto Sangiorgio, Cronica, ed. by Giuseppe Vernazza (Turin: 1780), pp. 103.
^ abcdRoberto Maestri, ‘Secondotto’, Circolo culturale: I Marchesi del Monferrato. (The text is apparently extracted from Roberto Maestri Cenni storici sui Marchesi Paleologi di Monferrato (1306–1536), Edizioni Circolo Culturale I Marchesi del Monferrato (Genoa: Tipografia Brigati, 2006, pp. 4–5.)
^Albert Stanburrough Cook, ‘The last months of Chaucer's earliest patron’, Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, 21 (1916), 1–144 (pp. 107–109).
secondotto, palaeologus, also, otho, ottone, died, december, 1378, margrave, montferrat, from, 1372, death, third, house, palaeologus, montferrat, name, derive, from, being, second, otto, rule, montferrat, right, though, would, really, otto, more, probably, de. Secondotto Palaeologus also Otho or Ottone died 16 December 1378 was the Margrave of Montferrat from 1372 to his death the third of the House of Palaeologus Montferrat His name Secondotto may derive from his being the second Otto to rule Montferrat in his own right though he would really be Otto III More probably it is derived from Saint Secundus San Secondo in Italian the patron saint of Asti which his father treated as the capital of the marquisate 1 The Otto may be in honour of Otto Duke of Brunswick Grubenhagen a close ally of his father 2 Secondotto Marquis of MontferratMarquis of MontferratReign1372 1378PredecessorJohn II PalaiologosSuccessorJohn III PalaiologosBorn1358 61Died 1378 12 16 16 December 1378Noble familyPalaeologus MontferratSpouse s Violante Visconti m 1377 wbr FatherJohn II Marquis of MontferratMotherIsabella of MajorcaHe was born around 1360 as the first son of John II and Isabella of Majorca 2 In December 1361 as part of a peace deal made between John II and Galeazzo II Visconti co lord of Milan he was betrothed to the latter s four year old daughter Maria The city of Asti on which Galeazzo had also had designs was to count as part of Maria s dowry and Montferrat would be allowed to retain control of it The peace was short lived however as Maria died in the May of the following year 2 3 He succeeded as a child of around 12 and ruled originally under the co regency of his uncle Otto Duke of Brunswick Grubenhagen and Amadeus VI of Savoy His father s will had stipulated that he should remain under his uncle s tutelage until the age of 25 however Otto left for Naples in 1376 to marry Queen Joan I 4 Weak and inept Secondotto could not carry the weight of government which devolved on his shoulders with the absence of his uncle Secondotto thus decided to marry Violante 2 August 1377 the daughter of Galeazzo II Visconti and widow of Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence and affirm an alliance with that family against the House of Savoy Piedmont and Achaea 4 When Otto of Brunswick s brother attacked and seized Asti Secondotto called in the aid of his father in law who with a huge force retook Asti and maintained it under Milanese control Secondotto realised at that juncture the danger of his Milanese alliance but by then it was too late He gathered a force and led it against the Milanese troops and was defeated Probably out of fear he retreated to an unknown destination He died at Langhirano in the vicinity of Parma in obscure circumstances he may simply have been the loser in a brawl he was famously ill tempered and violent or he may have been assassinated by an agent of the Visconti His body was carried to Parma and buried before the high altar of the cathedral 4 5 When his uncle received news of his death he returned at once to the margraviate to handle the succession He placed Secondotto s brother John III on the Montferrat throne Despite the involvement of Emperor elect Wenceslaus the negotiations which Otto opened with Gian Galeazzo over the recovery of Asti were fruitless 4 Ancestry editAncestors of Secondotto16 Michael VIII Palaiologos8 Andronikos II Palaiologos17 Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina4 Theodore I Marquis of Montferrat18 William VII Marquis of Montferrat9 Irene of Montferrat19 Beatrice of Castile2 John II Marquis of Montferrat20 Sbaralia Spinola10 Opicino Spinola5 Argentina Spinola22 Thomas I Marquis of Saluzzo11 Violante of Saluzzo23 Luigia di Ceva1 Secondotto Marquis of Montferrat24 James II of Majorca12 Ferdinand of Majorca25 Esclaramunda of Foix6 James III of Majorca26 Isnard de Sabran13 Isabelle de Sabran27 Margaret of Villehardouin3 Isabella of Majorca28 James II of Aragon14 Alfonso IV of Aragon29 Blanche of Anjou7 Constance of Aragon30 Gombald d Entenca15 Teresa d Entenca31 Constance of AttillonNotes edit John II of Montferrat stipulated in his will that he should be buried in a new chapel in the church of S Secondo The will is reproduced in Benvenuto Sangiorgio Cronica ed by Giuseppe Vernazza Turin 1780 pp 209 224 see p 222 a b c A A Settia Giovanni II Paleologo Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani Benvenuto Sangiorgio Cronica ed by Giuseppe Vernazza Turin 1780 pp 103 a b c d Roberto Maestri Secondotto Circolo culturale I Marchesi del Monferrato The text is apparently extracted from Roberto Maestri Cenni storici sui Marchesi Paleologi di Monferrato 1306 1536 Edizioni Circolo Culturale I Marchesi del Monferrato Genoa Tipografia Brigati 2006 pp 4 5 Albert Stanburrough Cook The last months of Chaucer s earliest patron Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences 21 1916 1 144 pp 107 109 Preceded byJohn II Margrave of Montferrat1372 1378 Succeeded byJohn III Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Secondotto amp oldid 1185293623, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
