Marquisate of Ceva
Marquisate of Ceva Marchesato di Ceva(Italian) | |||||||
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| 1125–1427 | |||||||
 Coat of arms
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| Capital | Ceva | ||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||||
| Government | Marquisate | ||||||
| Marquis | |||||||
• 1125 | Anselmo | ||||||
| History | |||||||
• Death ofBoniface del Vasto,establishment of the Marquisate | 1125 | ||||||
• Annexion toSavoy | 1427 | ||||||
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TheMarquisate of Cevawas a small independentstatein north-westernItaly,situated at the foot of theApennines,[1]with its seat atCeva,in what is now a part ofPiedmont.
Establishment
[edit]The marquisate was created in 1125 at the death ofBoniface del Vasto,of theAleramicifamily, his son Anselmo becoming the first marquis of the newly formed state. He subsequently acquired a part of the provinceClavesanafrom his brother Ugo, but at Anselmo's death Ceva (assigned to his son Guglielmo) was again divided from Clavesana, which went to the other son Bonifacio.
The marquisate was partitioned in several petty states between Guglielmos, and its fortunes began to decline. Marquis Giorgio Nano had thus to submit to the increasingly powerfulcommuneofAsti,which had previously helped marquis Guglielmo II in extending his territories during the 12th century. Further weakened by internal strife, the marquisate submitted toAmadeus V of Savoyon 22 February 1313. During the wars between the marquisates ofSaluzzo,Monferratoand theAngevins,Ceva swore loyalty toJohn II of Montferrat.In 1352 it was conquered by theViscontiofMilan,who were pushed back by the marquis in 1356.
The fragmented marquisate was eventually acquired by the French Duke of Orleans, and ultimatelySavoyin 1531.[2]