The Marchioness and Duchesses of Montferrat[1] were the consorts of the rulers of a territory in Piedmont south of the Po and east of Turin called Montferrat.
The March of Montferrat was created by Berengar II of Italy in 950 during a redistribution of power in the northwest of his kingdom.
In 1574, Montferrat was raised to a Duchy by Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor (see Duchy of Montferrat).
In 1536 Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor granted the marquisate, despite competing claims from Savoy and from the Marquis of Saluzzo, to the Gonzagas.
[2] In 1574, Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor raised the Gonzaga marquis to a duke and the "march" became the Duchy of Montferrat.