Francesca's marriage to Constantine was likely arranged by her step-mother, Maria of Serbia, the groom's niece, as she was the daughter of his elder sister Angelina Arianiti. She brought a good dowry to the marriage, which enabled Constantine to be able to purchase some fiefs.
After the death of her husband in 1531, Francesca gained a position at the court of Christina of Denmark in Milan, as chief lady in waiting to the young duchess. Later, during Christina's second marriage, she was appointed as governess to the duchess' daughters, Renata and Dorothea.[3][4]
Francesca was seen as an ideal candidate because of her husband's loyalty to the pope, as well as, her daughter Deianira's husband, being a loyal subject to Francesco Sforza. Moreover, she was the paternal aunt of Margaret Paleologa, the Marquise regnant of Montferrat. After leaving the position and returning to Italy, Francesca was given 4000 scudi by Charles III, Duke of Lorraine,[4] Christina's son. She died sometime after 1561.[5]
Family
Francesca of Montferrat had seven children with Constantine Arianiti:
Arianitto: served as captain in the army of the Papal States, until his death in 16 November 1551. Arianitto had only one daughter, therefore, his death ended the male line of the Arianiti family in Italy.
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