The Duchy of Montferrat is created out of what was left of the March of Montferrat after the last Palaeologus heir had died (1533) and the margraviate had been briefly controlled by Spain (until 1536).

After that brief interlude, it had passed to the Gonzaga Dukes of Mantua.

In 1574, Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, raised Montferrat to the status of a duchy.