Marquisate of Incisa
Encyclopedia
The Marquisate of Incisa (Marchesato di Incisa in Italian
) was a lordship of the House of Aleramici in southern Piedmont
, northern Italy
, which existed between the 12th and 16th centuries.
is mentioned for the first time in 984. The marquisate originated from Alberto del Vasto, a descendant of the Aleramici who had been exiled to southern Italy
; here he helped Roger II of Sicily
against the rebel baron, and was made count of Gravina. His son Alberto in 1161 obtained several lands near Incisa. He died in 1181 during a battle, in which his son was also severely wounded; Alberto's wife, Domicella, acted as regent. In 1189 she imprisoned two ambassadors of the Republic of Genoa
, a feat which caused emperor Henry VI
to transfer her fiefs to Boniface I of Montferrat; she was however able to keep her lands by allying with the commune of Asti
.
In 1203 her junior sons Manfredo and Pagano obtained Montaldo and Rocchetta
, starting the branch of Incisa di Rocchetta. During the Angevine wars in Piedmont of the 14th century, the marquisate of Incisa found itself in a dangerous situation, being forced to recognize the authority of Montferrat. In the following century their policy wavered from the alliance with Montferrat or with the Visconti
of Milan
. In 1428 marquis Petrino fought with Milan against Amadeus VIII of Savoy.
In 1497 Oddone d'Incisa was able to regain the control of the whole marquisate, which had been previously split between several branches of the family. In 1513 he allied with Charles II of Savoy to obtain the investiture as marquis of Montferrat; however, he was discovered, and Incisa was besieged and easily captured in 1514 by William IX of Montferrat. Oddone and his son Badone were executed at Nizza della Paglia. After a dispute with the emperor, Incisa was annexed to Montferrat in 1518. The marquisate was returned to the Incisa in 1536, with Giangiacomo. He died in 1545, being succeeded by his cousin Boarello II. The latter renounced to Incisa in 1548 in exchange for the territories of Camerana
and Gottasecca
in favour of the Gonzaga family of Milan, who were also namely marquisses of Montferrat at the time.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
) was a lordship of the House of Aleramici in southern Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
, northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, which existed between the 12th and 16th centuries.
History
The castle of IncisaIncisa Scapaccino
Incisa Scapaccino is a comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km southeast of Turin and about 15 km southeast of Asti....
is mentioned for the first time in 984. The marquisate originated from Alberto del Vasto, a descendant of the Aleramici who had been exiled to southern Italy
Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples, comprising the southern part of the Italian peninsula, was the remainder of the old Kingdom of Sicily after secession of the island of Sicily as a result of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion of 1282. Known to contemporaries as the Kingdom of Sicily, it is dubbed Kingdom of...
; here he helped Roger II of Sicily
Roger II of Sicily
Roger II was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, later became Duke of Apulia and Calabria , then King of Sicily...
against the rebel baron, and was made count of Gravina. His son Alberto in 1161 obtained several lands near Incisa. He died in 1181 during a battle, in which his son was also severely wounded; Alberto's wife, Domicella, acted as regent. In 1189 she imprisoned two ambassadors of the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
, a feat which caused emperor Henry VI
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VI was King of Germany from 1190 to 1197, Holy Roman Emperor from 1191 to 1197 and King of Sicily from 1194 to 1197.-Early years:Born in Nijmegen,...
to transfer her fiefs to Boniface I of Montferrat; she was however able to keep her lands by allying with the commune of Asti
Asti
Asti is a city and comune of about 75,000 inhabitants located in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, about 55 kilometres east of Turin in the plain of the Tanaro River...
.
In 1203 her junior sons Manfredo and Pagano obtained Montaldo and Rocchetta
Rocchetta
Rocchetta may refer to any one of many towns in Italy.comuni:*Rocchetta a Volturno, in the Province of Isernia*Rocchetta Belbo, in the Province of Cuneo*Rocchetta di Vara, in the Province of La Spezia...
, starting the branch of Incisa di Rocchetta. During the Angevine wars in Piedmont of the 14th century, the marquisate of Incisa found itself in a dangerous situation, being forced to recognize the authority of Montferrat. In the following century their policy wavered from the alliance with Montferrat or with the Visconti
House of Visconti
Visconti is the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. There are two distinct Visconti families: The first one in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century who achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia where they became rulers of Gallura...
of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. In 1428 marquis Petrino fought with Milan against Amadeus VIII of Savoy.
In 1497 Oddone d'Incisa was able to regain the control of the whole marquisate, which had been previously split between several branches of the family. In 1513 he allied with Charles II of Savoy to obtain the investiture as marquis of Montferrat; however, he was discovered, and Incisa was besieged and easily captured in 1514 by William IX of Montferrat. Oddone and his son Badone were executed at Nizza della Paglia. After a dispute with the emperor, Incisa was annexed to Montferrat in 1518. The marquisate was returned to the Incisa in 1536, with Giangiacomo. He died in 1545, being succeeded by his cousin Boarello II. The latter renounced to Incisa in 1548 in exchange for the territories of Camerana
Camerana
Camerana is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km southeast of Turin and about 45 km east of Cuneo....
and Gottasecca
Gottasecca
Gottasecca is a comune in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km southeast of Turin and about 50 km east of Cuneo....
in favour of the Gonzaga family of Milan, who were also namely marquisses of Montferrat at the time.