Aleramici

The Aleramici (also Aleramids) were a Northern Italian princely and royal dynasty of Frankish origin. They ruled over various northwestern Italian principalities in Piedmont and Liguria from the 10th to the 17th century, as well as over the Kingdoms of Jerusalem and Thessalonica from the 12th to 13th centuries.

Considered one of the foremost crusader dynasties, the Aleramids notably extended their influence across the Eastern Mediterranean, thrice appointed as successors to the Eastern Roman Imperial throne (under the title of Caesar), without ever ensuring their effective installation. They nevertheless produced two Imperial consorts, one of which (Irene) effectively ruled over part of the Empire under the title of Augusta. Other females of the dynasty also appear as consort-regents in several European states.

The Aleramids were only later named as such by historians seeking to identify the extensive lineage derived from the Frankish Count Aleramo, proclaimed first sovereign Marquis (or Markgrave) of Western Liguria by the Emperor Otto the Great in the year 967. Further research has allowed the division of the lineage into two main branches: the senior Marquises of Savona (later surnamed del Vasto), and the junior Marquises of Monferrat. The last became extinct during the 14th century in the Empress Irene (with female succession in the House of Palaiologos-Montferrat). The senior line of Savona carried on through multiple descending branches, mainly ruling over the Marquisates of Saluzzo and Finale until the 17th century.

Broadly, their decadence in Northern Italy can be linked to the communal movement and the consecutive loss of Imperial dominance in the region in favor of Papal or Ecclesiastical rule (12th century). By the 13th century the Aleramids had lost most of their territorial sovereignty in favor of the Republic of Genoa and the Duchy of Milan. Some late exponents (mainly del Carretto) appear as vassal-lords to the Dukes of Milan and of Savoy, while others became sovereign patricians of the Republic of Genoa. Several others (mainly Lanza) relocated to the Kingdom of Sicily where they continued to exercise a notable influence. One branch (Grana) remained in service of the Holy Roman Empire until their extinction in the 18th century (with female succession in the House of Arenberg).

The Aleramids are ancestors (through female lines) of most European royal families.