Support For Alfonso X
Though aided immensely by the Angevins, the lords of Montferrat had never been known for loyalty to a cause or party and William was no different, abandoning Charles soon after his success, probably fearful of Charles' rising power in Italy and of being encircled by an Angevin state.
William found an ally in Alfonso X of Castile, who had declared himself the heir of Manfred of Sicily and therefore of the Emperor Frederick II. He joined Alfonso at the head of an anti-Angevin coalition. In order to cement an alliance with the Spanish king, the margrave (widow since 1270) married Beatrice, Alfonso's daughter, at Murcia in 1271. A future marriage between William's only daughter by his first marriage with Isabella de Clare, Margaret, and the infante John of Valencia was also planned.
From Alfonso, William received the promise of military aid in the case of an Angevin attack. Alfonso named his son-in-law as vicar-general of Lombardy, in opposition to Charles' vicar. This last attacked William's lands and despite the promises, he received no aid from Alfonso.
Read more about this topic: William VII, Marquess Of Montferrat
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