Renier I of Montferrat
Encyclopedia
Renier or Rainier was the ruler of the state of Montferrat
in north-west Italy
from about 1100 to his death, and the first such to be identified in contemporary documents as Margrave of Montferrat.
Renier was a powerful lord in his own time, appearing extensively in the contemporary documentation. With him the Aleramici of Montferrat first begin to throw off the shroud of obscurity and demonstrate a degree of influence in Italian politics. The beginning of his reign, nevertheless, is not clearly known, as he first appears in a document of 23 March 1111 as Raynerius de Monteferrato marchio. He appears with this same title years later in 1126 and 1133 when, with other members of his family, he founded the Cistercian monstery of Santa Maria di Lucedio near Trino
.
Around the time of his appearance in the pages of history, c. 1111, Renier was a follower of the Emperor Henry V. In that year he obtained an imperial concession for the citizens of Turin
: a diploma regarding the Via Francigena
which passed through the town. Also that year, with his cousin Oberto I of Occimiano, he donated to the Chapter
of Saint Evasius
of Casale
the church of San Martino di Zenzano infra castrum Aucimianum (in the castle of Occimiano
). That this act took place in Occimiano testifies to the importance of that locality, which had in the past been the seat of kings.
In 1113, Renier donated his portion of the Langiano to the monastery of San Secondo di Terra Rossa, affiliated with the Abbey of Fruttuaria
. On 23 May 1116, Renier was present with the Emperor when the latter bestowed the castles of Celle
, Frassinello
, Fubine
, and Cuccaro
on his nephew Conrad
and Guido Cane.
, already the widow of Humbert II of Savoy
and mother of Adelaide of Maurienne, who, in 1115, became the second queen of Louis VI of France
. She and Renier had three or four daughters:
They also had a son, William, who succeeded to the march.
Montferrat
Montferrat is part of the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy. It comprises roughly the modern provinces of Alessandria and Asti. Montferrat is one of the most important wine districts of Italy...
in north-west 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...
from about 1100 to his death, and the first such to be identified in contemporary documents as Margrave of Montferrat.
Renier was a powerful lord in his own time, appearing extensively in the contemporary documentation. With him the Aleramici of Montferrat first begin to throw off the shroud of obscurity and demonstrate a degree of influence in Italian politics. The beginning of his reign, nevertheless, is not clearly known, as he first appears in a document of 23 March 1111 as Raynerius de Monteferrato marchio. He appears with this same title years later in 1126 and 1133 when, with other members of his family, he founded the Cistercian monstery of Santa Maria di Lucedio near Trino
Trino
Trino is a comune in the Province of Vercelli in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km northeast of Turin and about 15 km southwest of Vercelli, at the foot of the Montferrat hills....
.
Around the time of his appearance in the pages of history, c. 1111, Renier was a follower of the Emperor Henry V. In that year he obtained an imperial concession for the citizens of Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
: a diploma regarding the Via Francigena
Via Francigena
The Via Francigena is an ancient road between Rome and Canterbury, passing through England, France, Switzerland and Italy. In mediaeval times it was an important road and pilgrimage route...
which passed through the town. Also that year, with his cousin Oberto I of Occimiano, he donated to the Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
of Saint Evasius
Evasius
- Further reading : A short article which favours a fourth-century life and Arian opponents.*The article in Volume 2 of The Catholic Encyclopedia places him in the eighth century. Part of an altarpiece from the church of S. Francesco in Casale Monferrato by an artist himself probably born in that...
of Casale
Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
the church of San Martino di Zenzano infra castrum Aucimianum (in the castle of Occimiano
Occimiano
Occimiano is a comune in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km east of Turin and about 20 km northwest of Alessandria...
). That this act took place in Occimiano testifies to the importance of that locality, which had in the past been the seat of kings.
In 1113, Renier donated his portion of the Langiano to the monastery of San Secondo di Terra Rossa, affiliated with the Abbey of Fruttuaria
Fruttuaria
thumb|300px|Bell tower of the abbey.Fruttuaria is an abbey in the territory of San Benigno Canavese, about twenty kilometers north of Turin, northern Italy.-History:...
. On 23 May 1116, Renier was present with the Emperor when the latter bestowed the castles of Celle
Celle
Celle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
, Frassinello
Frassinello Monferrato
Frassinello Monferrato is a comune in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 50 km east of Turin and about 25 km northwest of Alessandria....
, Fubine
Fubine
Fubine is a comune in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km east of Turin and about 15 km northwest of Alessandria....
, and Cuccaro
Cuccaro Monferrato
Cuccaro Monferrato is a comune in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 km east of Turin and about 15 km northwest of Alessandria....
on his nephew Conrad
Conrad III of Germany
Conrad III was the first King of Germany of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. He was the son of Frederick I, Duke of Swabia, and Agnes, a daughter of the Salian Emperor Henry IV.-Life and reign:...
and Guido Cane.
Family
In 1105, Renier married Gisela, daughter of William I, Count of BurgundyWilliam I, Count of Burgundy
William I , called the Great , was Count of Burgundy and Mâcon from 1057 to 1087. He was a son of Renaud I and Alice of Normandy, daughter of Richard II, Duke of Normandy...
, already the widow of Humbert II of Savoy
Humbert II of Savoy
Umberto II, surnamed the Fat , was Count of Savoy from 1080 until his death in 1103. He was the son of Amadeus II of Savoy....
and mother of Adelaide of Maurienne, who, in 1115, became the second queen of Louis VI of France
Louis VI of France
Louis VI , called the Fat , was King of France from 1108 until his death . Chronicles called him "roi de Saint-Denis".-Reign:...
. She and Renier had three or four daughters:
- Giovanna, who married William ClitoWilliam ClitoWilliam Clito was the son of Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, by his marriage with Sibylla of Conversano...
, Count of FlandersCount of FlandersThe Count of Flanders was the ruler or sub-ruler of the county of Flanders from the 9th century until the abolition of the position by the French revolutionaries in 1790....
, in 1127, and was widowed a year later - Matilda, who married Alberto Zueta, Margrave of Parodi
- Adelasia, who became a nun
- one possibly named Isabella, who married Guido, Count of Biandrate (although it is possible that this may be a second marriage of Joanna)
They also had a son, William, who succeeded to the march.
Sources
- Usseglio, Leopoldo. I Marchesi di Monferrato in Italia ed in Oriente durante i secoli XII e XIII. 1926.
- ‘Ranieri’, freely adapted by Roberto Maestri from Aldo di Ricaldone, Annali del Monferrato (951–1708), and published online by the circolo culturale I Marchesi del Monferrato.