Notes |
- BIOGRAPHY
Guilhem I (floruit 924) stands at the head of the Aleramici family which ruled Monferrato for four centuries. He was the father of the first margrave Aleramo.
According to the _Gesta Berengarii Imperatoris,_ Guilhem was a Frank who crossed the Alps leading 300 armed retainers in 888-889 to fight alongside Guido III of Spoleto (the future emperor and king of Italy) against Berengar, margrave of Friaul (the future Emperor Berengar I) for the Iron Crown of Lombardy. He apparently established himself in northwestern Italy, probably supported by Guido, where he eventually received the title of _Comes._ It is also probable that he gave his support to Berengar after Guido's death, for he appears in 921 along with Lambert, archbishop of Milan, and two other counts, Giselbert and Samson, as _dilectissimi fideles_ of the Emperor. The counts were also cited as _illustres comites._ They stood opposed to Adalbert, margrave of Ivrea (future joint-king of Italy) and others in rebellion against Berengar.
Guilhem transferred his allegiance again following the death of Berengar. He appears for the last time alive in 924, intervening on behalf of the bishop of Piacenza with Rudolf II, king of Burgundy, a claimant for the Italian crown. Never again does he appear in history and a diploma of his son dating to around 933 fixes his death sometime between those two years (924-933).
|