Ottone, elder son of Enrico Guercio, holds the inland half of the old march of Savona on the road to the Langhe: Cairo, Dego, the castle of Carretto, Cortemilia and half of Carcare.
He sold his rights in Savona to its commune on 10 April 1191 and Quiliano and Albisola on 22 November 1192. He was Genoa's podestà in 1194, helped Henry VI conquer Sicily that year, and since 1198 has fought for Boniface of Montferrat against Asti and Alessandria, taking the castle of Montechiaro from Alessandria in 1199.
Who he is
- Name
- Ottone Del Carretto
- Title
- Marquis of Savona (Del Carretto)
- Since
- about 1185 (division with his brother Enrico)
- Born
- not pinned
- Family
- Del Carretto (Aleramici); wife Alda, probably daughter of Hugh III Embriaco of Gibelet (first attested 1193); sons Ugo (podestà of Savona 1202, died 1228) and Enrico [births not pinned]
- Confidence
- high
en.wikipedia, from the Codex Astensis and Savona charters.
Overlord
The emperor; sworn citizen of Genoa (1182)
What it holds
- Cairo, Dego, Carretto, Cortemilia
- Castano (probably Castino), Torre Bormida, Torre Uzzone
- Half of Carcare (with Enrico)
How it was acquired
Division of his father's march about 1185.
Allies and rivals
Boniface of Montferrat; Genoa; Savona (protected commune). Rivals: Alessandria, Asti.
How things stand that morning
Holds his castles; Montechiaro taken from Alessandria in 1199 [whether still held on 1 January 1200 not pinned].
Wealth
Tolls on the Savona-Langhe road over the Cadibona pass.
Military
Castles at Cairo, Dego, Cortemilia, Carretto; served Montferrat in 1198-1199.
Threats
- Alessandria and Asti
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
In 1200
- 1200Witnesses the transfer of Manzano's castle to Alba.Depends on: Peace in the Langhe. Stopped by: War.
Later, on the likely course
- March 1202Agreement with Alessandria: he buys land there and sends soldiers to its militia.Depends on: Montferrat's peace with Alessandria. Stopped by: Continued war.
Places of note
- Carretto castle: Family castle near Cairo
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Dated charters for each act.
On the map: Drawn from his named castles; the exact edges with his brother and with the Ceva marquises are not pinned.
Primary sources for Del Carretto
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Genoa, by Caffaro and his continuators, with Ogerio Pane for 1197 to 1219, Ogerio Pane and the other official annalists of Genoa (year by year under the commune's authority; the 1197 to 1219 section by Ogerio Pane). The official record of the commune. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.