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William IX, Marquess of Montferrat

1486–1518

Born
19 Aug 1486, Pontestura
Country of birth
Italy
Died
14 Oct 1518, Trino
facts
7
sources
1
images and files
0

Facts and their sources

Tap a fact to see where it comes from.

  • Birth19 Aug 1486, PontesturaProbable1 source
  • Titlemarquis of Montferrat, 1494–1518Confirmed1 source
  • Death14 Oct 1518, TrinoProbable1 source
  • UnionAnne d'AlençonConfirmed1 source

A life in time

  1. Born · Pontestura

    Birth, Pontestura

  2. Event · marquis of Montferrat

    Event

  3. Child born: Maria Paleologa

    Birth, Casale Monferrato

  4. Child born: Margaret Paleologa

    Birth, Casale Monferrato

  5. Died · Trino

    Death, Trino

What was it like?

The world around Pontestura, 1486: who ruled, who else was alive, how people lived. This is general history, not a record about the family, and every item shows where it comes from.

William was marquis of Montferrat from 1494 to 1518.

Known for

Titles held

  • marquis of Montferrat1494–1518
Fashion
Around 1500–1524

Extreme fabric usage in winter garments

In April 1511, some winter garments were so voluminous that they required up to 35 braccia of fabric, making them so heavy that they were difficult to wear.

Around 1500–1524

Lavish gift of a priestly vestment

In 1514, a diplomatic gift to the Pope included a priestly vestment embroidered with pearls and precious stones, valued at over 25,000 ducats.

Music
Around 1500–1524

Domestic Instruments and Decorated Keyboards

By the mid-16th century, musical instruments like lutes, harpsichords, and spinets were found in households of various social levels, from noble families to barbers and merchants. Owners often decorated their keyboard instruments with mottoes such as There is dancing when I sing.

Around 1500–1524

Popular Carnival Songs and Street Performances

Ordinary people in Florence during the early 16th century enjoyed carnival songs, which were popular secular tunes performed during processions, parades, and street revelry. These songs often featured witty texts about trade guilds or products, such as the Song of the Chimney Sweepers, and were sung by costumed groups.

Getting around
Around 1500–1524

Mountain travel time to Bologna

Travel between Florence and Bologna through the Apennine passes on horseback or mule typically took two to three days.

Around 1500–1524

Transport via pack animals and ox carts

In the 16th century, mountain road transport was done entirely by pack animals, while carts pulled by oxen were only used on flat roads with rudimentary paving.

Daily life
Around 1500–1524

Dining arrangements in the home

Florentine homes lacked dedicated dining rooms; instead, tables were set up wherever convenient, such as in front of a fireplace during winter. Food was passed to diners who sat only on one side of the table.

Around 1500–1524

Practical schooling and early childhood guidance

Merchant children attended abacus schools that taught reading, writing, and arithmetic in a practical way specifically for trade. By age four or five, play toys like swords and hobby horses were used to direct children toward their future societal roles.

Food
Around 1500–1524

Daily meal schedule for the poor

The poor consumed three scarce daily meals: bread soaked in wine upon waking, lunch around eleven, and dinner after sunset.

Around 1500–1524

Meat reserved for special celebrations

Meat was reserved for special occasions like holidays, and when a family slaughtered a pig, they typically offered blood sausage to neighbors as a gesture of friendship.

Prices and wages
Around 1500–1524

Cost of footwear

While basic shoes were affordable at around 2 soldi, a pair of nice shoes could cost as much as 2 florins, equivalent to about 140 soldi.

Around 1500–1524

Food costs and extreme shortages

Food prices fluctuated greatly, with meat like veal costing 3 soldi per pound in stable times, but skyrocketing during shortages when even mice were sometimes sold as food.

Work
Around 1500–1524

Common Jobs in the Wool Industry

The wool industry was the primary employer in Florence, relying on many unskilled laborers known as the Ciompi who prepared raw wool in merchant-owned workshops. Other common roles included silk production, construction, and various specialized artisanal trades.

Around 1500–1524

Festive Kingdoms and Social Exclusion

Lower-class workers formed festive groups called potenze to reclaim social status, where they elected their own kings and turned their districts into mock kingdoms during holidays like May Day. Additionally, the Wool Guild once funded the massive Cathedral project, yet the subordinate wool-beaters who did the actual work remained excluded from guild politics.

News and letters
Around 1500–1524

Methods for sending letters

For short distances, people sent letters via acquaintances or passing carters, while merchants often hired innkeepers to manage regular courier services.

Around 1500–1524

Speed of postal delivery

Regular couriers typically traveled on foot or horseback, covering about 60 to 70 kilometers per day, while those needing faster delivery could pay extra for a dedicated courier.

Family

Spouses

Children

Ancestors and children

Open the full tree

Four generations back to the right, the children to the left. The number beside a child counts the generations of descendants known after them.