Boniface of Montferrat (c. 1150-1207) was Marquess of Montferrat and the leader of the Fourth Crusade. He was the third or fourth son of William V of Montferrat and Judith of Babenberg, born after his father's return from the Second Crusade. Events Åhus, Sweden gains city privileges City of Airdrie, Scotland founded King Sverker I of Sweden is deposed and succeeded by Eric IX of Sweden. ... Events Stephen Langton consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury June 17 by Pope Innocent III Births September 8 - King Sancho II of Portugal October 1 - King Henry III of England (d. ... Montferrat was a marquisate in Lombardy during the Middle Ages. ... The Fourth Crusade (1202–1204), originally designed to conquer Jerusalem by taking Egypt first, instead, in 1204, sacked and conquered the Orthodox Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. ... William V of Montferrat (occ. ... Judith of Babenberg (c. ... The Second Crusade was the second major crusade launched from Europe, called in 1145 in response to the fall of the County of Edessa the previous year. ...

Boniface's youthful exploits in the late 1170s are recalled in the famous Epic Letter, "Valen marques, senher de Monferrat", by his good friend and court troubador Raimbaut de Vaqueiras. These included the rescue of the heiress Jacopina of Ventimiglia from her uncle Count Otto, who was intending to deprive her of her inheritance and send her to Sardinia. Boniface arranged a marriage for her. When Alberto of Malaspina, abducted Saldina de Mar, a daughter of a prominent Genoese family, Boniface rescued her, since one of his sisters was Alberto's wife. For the article about the night club in West Hollywood, California, see: Troubadour (nightclub). ... Sardinia (Sardigna, Sardinna or Sardinnia in the Sardinian language, Sardegna in Italian, Sardenya in Catalan), is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (Sicily is the largest), between Italy, Spain and Tunisia, south of Corsica. ... Location within Italy Flag of Genoa Christopher Columbus monument in Piazza Aquaverde Genoa (Italian Genova, Genoese Zena, French Gênes, German Genua, Spanish Genova) is a city and a seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. ...

After 1183, with his father and (from 1187) his older brother Conrad in the East, Boniface was master in Montferrat, and engaged in military campaigns on behalf of his cousin Frederick I Barbarossa against the independent city communes of the Lombard League. In 1191, after Frederick's son Henry VI granted him the county of Incisa, a fifteen-year war broke out against the neighbouring communes of Asti and Alessandria. Boniface joined the Cremona League, while the two cities joined the League of Milan. Boniface defeated the cities at Montiglio in June that year, but the war as a whole went badly for the dynasty's interests. At Quarto, he and Vaqueiras saved his brother-in-law Alberto of Malaspina when he was unhorsed. The first phase of the war ended with a truce in April 1193. By now, Boniface was Marquess of Montferrat, following the tragic death of his brother Conrad, the newly elected King of Jerusalem, the previous year. Events Three-year old Emperor Go-Toba ascends to the throne of Japan after the forced abdication of his brother Antoku during the Genpei War William of Tyre excommunicated by the newly appointed Heraclius of Jerusalem, firmly ending their struggle for power Andronicus I Comnenus becomes the Byzantine emperor Births... // Events May 1 - Battle of Cresson - Saladin defeats the crusaders July 4 - Saladin defeats Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem, at the Battle of Hattin. ... Conrad of Montferrat (c. ... Frederick in a 13th century Chronicle Friedrich I. von Hohenstaufen (1122 – June 10, 1190), also known as Friedrich Barbarossa (Frederick Redbeard) was elected king of Germany on March 4, 1152 and crowned Holy Roman Emperor on June 18, 1155. ... The Lombard League was an alliance formed on December 1, 1167 between 26 (later 30) cities of North Italy, including Cremona, Mantua, Bergamo, Brescia, Milan, Bologna, Padua, Treviso, Vicenza, Verona, Lodi, and Parma. ... // Events May 12 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. ... Portrait of Henry VI from the Codex Manesse (folio 6r). ... This article needs cleanup. ... Alessandria is a strongly fortified and impressive town and capital of the Province of Alessandria. ... This article is about the city of Cremona. ... Milan (Italian: Milano; Milanese dialect: Milán) is the main city in northern Italy, and is located in the plains of Lombardy, the most populated and developed region in Italy. ... Quarto has several meanings: In bookbinding and publishing, quarto indicates the book size which results when four leaves of the book are created from a standard size sheet of paper. ... This is a list of Kings of Jerusalem, from 1099 to 1291, as well as claimants to the title up to the present day. ...

In June 1194, Boniface was appointed one of the leaders of Henry VI's expedition to Sicily. At Messina, amid the fighting between the Genoese and Pisan fleets, Vaqueiras protected his lord with his own shield - an act which helped the troubador win a knighthood from Boniface that year, after the campaign's successful conclusion: Henry's coronation in Palermo. In October 1197, the truce with Asti ended. Boniface made an alliance with Acqui in June 1198. There were numerous skirmishes and raids, including at Ricaldone and Caranzano, but by 1199 it was clear the war was lost, and Boniface entered into negotiations. Events November 20 - Palermo falls to Henry VI, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire December 25 - Henry VI is crowned king of Sicily. ... Sicilian disambiguates here; see also Sicilian language or Sicilian Defence. ... Messina, Italy Strait of Messina, Italy. ... Location within Italy Flag of Genoa Christopher Columbus monument in Piazza Aquaverde Genoa (Italian Genova, Genoese Zena, French Gênes, German Genua, Spanish Genova) is a city and a seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. ... Pisas coat of arms This article is about Pisa in Italy. ... City nickname: Location Location of Palermo within the island of Sicily. ... Events Amalric II succeeds Henry II of Champagne as king of Jerusalem. ... Acqui Terme (Äich in Piedmontese) is a city and episcopal seat of Piedmont, Italy, in the province of Alessandria; it is 21 miles SSW of Alessandria by rail. ... Events End of the reign of Emperor Go-Toba of Japan Emperor Tsuchimikado ascends to the throne of Japan January 8 - Pope Innocent III ascends Papal Throne Frederick II, infant son of German King Henry VI, crowned King of Sicily Births August 24 - Alexander II of Scotland (d. ... Events John Lackland, becomes King of England Births Isobel of Huntingdon (d. ...

Throughout the 1180s-90s, despite the wars, Boniface had nevertheless presided over one of the most prestigious courts of chivalric culture and troubador song. In 12C, the Piemontèis language (which in the present day reflects more French and Italian influences) was virtually indistinguishable from the Occitan of Southern France and Catalonia. Besides Vaqueiras, visitors included Peire Vidal, Gaucelm Faidit, and Arnaut de Mareuil. Boniface's patronage was celebrated widely. To Faidit, he was Mon Thesaur (My Treasure). Curiously, Vaqueiras addressed him as N'Engles (Lord Englishman), but the in-joke is never explained. See also order of chivalry Woman under the Safeguard of Knighthood, allegorical Scene. ... Piedmontese (also known as Piemontèis, Piemontese in Italian) is spoken by some 3 million people in Piedmont, northwest Italy. ... Occitan, or langue doc is a Romance language characterized by its richness, variability, and by the intelligibility of its dialects. ... Capital Barcelona Official languages Spanish and Catalan In Val dAran, also Aranese. ... Arnaut de Mareuil ( late 12th century) was a French troubadour. ...

When the original leader of the Fourth Crusade, Count Theobald III of Champagne, died in 1201, Boniface was chosen as its new leader. He was an experienced soldier, and it was an opportunity to reassert his dynasty's reputation after defeat at home. Boniface's family was well-established in the east; his oldest brother William was the father of King Baldwin V of Jerusalem, and his brother Conrad had been the brother-in-law of Isaac II Angelus, and then briefly King of Jerusalem in the Third Crusade. His younger brother, Renier, had been a son-in-law of Manuel I Comnenus. Theobald III of Champagne (d. ... // Events The town of Riga was chartered as a city. ... William of Montferrat (early 1140s-1177), also called William Longsword (but not related to the other men of the same name), was the eldest son of William V, Marquess of Montferrat and Judith of Babenberg. ... Baldwin V (1177 – 1186) was the son of Sibylla of Jerusalem and her first husband, William of Montferrat. ... Conrad of Montferrat (c. ... Isaac II Angelus (or Isaakios Angelos) (September 1156-1204), was the Byzantine emperor from 1185-1195, and again 1203-1204. ... The Third Crusade (1189–1192) was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin. ... Renier of Montferrat (1162–1183) was the fifth son of William III of Montferrat. ... Fresco of Manuel I Manuel I Comnenus Megas (November 28, 1118? – September 24, 1180) was Byzantine Emperor from 1143 to 1180. ...

Boniface was a cousin of Philip of Swabia, who was married to Irene, a sister of the deposed Byzantine emperor Isaac II Angelus. In the winter of 1201 Boniface spent Christmas with Phillip in Hagenau, and while there also met with Alexius Angelus, Isaac II's son, who had escaped from the custody of his uncle Alexius III Angelus. At this time the three discussed the possibility of using the crusading army to restore Alexius' right to the throne. Both Boniface and Alexius travelled separately to Rome to ask for Pope Innocent III's blessing for the endeavour; however, Boniface was specifically told by Innocent not to attack any Christians, including the Byzantines. Philip of Swabia depicted in a medieval manuscript (about 1200) Philip of Swabia (1177-1208), German king and duke of Swabia, the rival of the emperor Otto IV, was the fifth and youngest son of the emperor Frederick I and Beatrix, daughter of Renaud III, count of Burgundy, and consequently... This is a list of Byzantine Emperors. ... Isaac II Angelus (or Isaakios Angelos) (September 1156-1204), was the Byzantine emperor from 1185-1195, and again 1203-1204. ... Alexius IV Angelus (c. ... Alexius III Angelus, Byzantine emperor, was the second son of Andronicus Angelus, nephew of Alexius I. In 1195, while his brother Isaac II was away hunting in Thrace, he was proclaimed emperor by the troops; he captured Isaac at Stagira in Macedonia, put out his eyes, and kept him henceforth... Innocent III, né Lotario de Conti (Gavignano, near Anagni, ca. ...

The Crusader army was in debt to the doge of Venice, who had provided their fleet. He instructed them to attack the rebellious cities of Trieste, Moglie, and Zara and beat them into submission before sailing for Cairo. The Pope was angered by these Christian cities being attacked by a Crusader army. The doge, Enrico Dandolo, was now the true war leader of this Crusade, with Boniface as only a figurehead. Alexius Angelus made many promises to the Crusaders and their principal financer, the doge of Venice, for riches and honors if they would help him reclaim his kingdom. Dandolo placated the Pope by having Alexius Angelus promise to submit the Orthodox Church to Rome when he was restored to his throne in Constantinople. This being done, the fleet set sail for Constantinople in 1203. Map of Constantinople. ...

After the conquest of Constantinople in 1204, Boniface was assumed to be the new emperor, both by the western knights and the conquered Byzantine citizens. However, the Venetians vetoed him, believing that he already had too many connections in the Empire (and, likely, felt that they would not have as much influence in the new Empire if Boniface was in control). Instead, they chose Baldwin of Flanders. Boniface founded the Kingdom of Thessalonica (where his brother Renier had held territory), and also held territory in Crete, though he later sold Crete to the Venetians. // Events February - Byzantine emperor Alexius IV is overthrown in a revolution, and Alexius V is proclaimed emperor. ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ... Location within Italy Venice (Italian: Venezia), the city of canals, is the capital of the region of Veneto and of the province of Venice, 45°26′ N 12°19′ E, population 271,663 (census estimate 2004-01-01). ... The word veto comes from Latin and literally means I forbid. ... Baldwin I (1172 - 1205), the first emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, as Baldwin IX Count of Flanders and as Baldwin VI Count of Hainaut, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Fourth Crusade, which resulted in the capture of Constantinople, the conquest of the greater part... The Kingdom of Thessalonica was a short-lived Crusader State founded after the Fourth Crusade. ... Greece and Crete Crete, sometimes spelled Krete (Greek Κρήτη / Kriti; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. ...

He was first married around 1170 to Elena del Bosco. She died, leaving one son and 2 daughters:

• William (Guglielmo), b. ca 1170. Marquess of Montferrat
• Agnes, m. the Emperor Henry of Flanders in 1204, and died within three years.
• Beatrice, m. Henry II del Carretto, marquess of Savona, as the second of his three wives; she is the Bel Cavalher (Fair Knight) of Vaqueiras's songs.

Some sources claim that in 1197, Boniface married Eleonora, a daughter of Umberto III, count of Savoie, Aosta and Moriana. If so, she died in 1202, leaving no known children. Usseglio is sceptical of this marriage having taken place: the evidence is thin. Henry (c. ... Savona is a seaport and comune of the province of Savona in the northern Italian region of Liguria, 44°18´N 8°29´E, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea, at sea-level. ... Humbert III (b. ...

In Constantinople he married a Hungarian princess, Margareta, daughter of Bela III of Hungary, who was the widow of Emperor Isaac II Angelus. They had one child: Bela III of Hungary (Hungarian , Slovak: Belo III), born in 1148, was King of Hungary circa 1172_1196. ... Isaac II Angelus (or Isaakios Angelos) (September 1156-1204), was the Byzantine emperor from 1185-1195, and again 1203-1204. ...

• Demetrius, b. ca, 1205. King of Thessalonica

Boniface was killed in an ambush by the Bulgarians on September 4, 1207, and his head was sent to Bulgarian Tsar Kaloyan. The loyal Vaqueiras, who had followed him to the East, probably died with him: it is significant that he composed no planh (lament) in his memory. September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... Events Stephen Langton consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury June 17 by Pope Innocent III Births September 8 - King Sancho II of Portugal October 1 - King Henry III of England (d. ... Tsar (Bulgarian цар, Russian царь, Serbian цар) ▶(?); often spelled Czar or Tzar and sometimes Csar or Zar in English), was the title used for the autocratic rulers of the Bulgarian Empire in 913-1396/1422 and 1908-1946, in Serbia in the middle of the 14th century, and in Russia from 1547 to... Kaloyan Asen, Kalojan, Johannizza, John, The Romankiller (c. ...

Sources

• Brand, Charles M. Byzantium Confronts the West, 1968, ISBN 0751200530
• Goria, Axel. "Bonifacio di Monferrato", Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, vol. XII, Roma 1970, pp. 118-124 (external link)
• Haberstumpf, Walter. Dinastie europee nel Mediterraneo orientale. I Monferrato e i Savoia nei secoli XII–XV, 1995 (external link to downloadable text).
• Linskill, Joseph. The Poems of the Troubadour Raimbaut de Vaqueiras, 1964
• Magoulias, Harry J. (transl.). O City of Byzantium, Annals of Niketas Choniates, 1984, ISBN 0814317642
• Queller, Donald E. and Madden, Thomas F., The Fourth Crusade: The Conquest of Constantinople (2nd Edition, 1999) ISBN 0812217136
• Usseglio, Leopoldo. I Marchesi di Monferrato in Italia ed in Oriente durante i secoli XII e XIII, 1926.
• Vaqueiras, Raimbaut de. The Epic Letter (external link to bilingual text)
• Villehardouin, Geoffrey de, The Conquest of Constantinople, in Joinville and Villehardouin, Chronicles of the Crusades, 1963, ISBN 0140441247