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Montferrat (in Piemontèis , '''Monfrà''', '''Mounfrà''' or '''Munfrà''', in Italian , '''Monferrato''') is part of the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy . It comprises the modern provinces of Asti and Alessandria . Within the territory of Montferrat are located the most important centres of Italian Wine and Spumante production. Casale Monferrato was formerly a major centre for the manufacture of Cement , and for Publishing . It also has a strong literary tradition, including the XVIII Century Asti-born poet and dramatist Vittorio Alfieri and the Alessandrian Umberto Eco . Originally a county, it was elevated to Marquess ate under Count Aleramo in 961 , following the transition of power in Northern Italy from Berengar Of Ivrea to Otto I Of Germany . Its marquesses and their family members were related to the Kings Of France and the Holy Roman Emperors . Members of the family participated frequently in the Crusades , and intermarried with the royal family of Jerusalem and the Byzantine Imperial families of Comnenus , Angelus and Palaeologus . For a full list of rulers, see Marquess Of Montferrat . Montferrat was briefly controlled by Spain (1533-1536) before it passed to the Gonzaga Dukes Of Mantua (1536-1708). With the War of the Mantuan Succession ( 1628 - 1631 ) a piece of the marquessate passed to the Duchy Of Savoy , the remainder passing to Savoy in 1708 , as Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor gained possession of the Gonzaga territory. |
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