Ottone del Carretto

Ottone del Carretto (died 1237×42), a patron of troubadours and an imperialist, was the margrave of Savona (c.1185–91) and podestà of the Republic of Genoa (1194–95) and of Asti (1212). He was the founder of the Del Carretto family. Childhood The earliest record of Ottone dates to 1179, when he subscribed with his younger brother, Enrico (II), to the charter of their father, Enrico Guercio, whereby the commune of Savona was granted fiscal and judicial independence. In 1181, the brothers again subscribed their father's chatter, this time granting the commune of Noli the right to hold a market and to fortify itself, in return for the commune's recognition of the marquis's suzerainty, including the right to fodder and the ban. The same year (1181), Ottone, still a minor, witnessed the treaty between Manfred II of Saluzzo, his relative, and the commune of Alba. As a result of this agreement, Manfred released some merchants of Alba whom he had been holding hostage. Career