Irene of Montferrat

Yolande (also Irene) of Montferrat ( – 1317 in Drama), also known as Violante, then Empress Eirene or Irene, was the second wife of Andronikos II Palaiologos and thus Empress of the Byzantine Empire. She was the heiress of the Kingdom of Thessalonika and the last surviving member of the Ottonian branch of the Aleramici, heirs to the Margraviate of Montferrat.

Life Born in Casale, she was the daughter of William VII, Marquess of Montferrat and his second wife infanta Beatrice of Castile. Her maternal grandparents were King Alfonso X of Castile

According to Nicephorus Gregoras, she died of fever in 1317 in the city of Drama, located in present-day northeastern Greece, where she had a residence. She was initially buried there, possibly in the surviving Church of the Taxiarches, before her daughter Simonis Palaiologina transported her remains to Constantinople.

Issue John Palaiologos (c. 1286–1308), despotēs. Bartholomaios Palaiologos (born 1289), died young. Theodore I, Marquis of Montferrat (1291–1338). Simonis Palaiologina (1294–after 1336), who married King Stefan Milutin of Serbia. no issue. Theodora Palaiologina (born 1295), died young. Demetrios Palaiologos (1297–1343), despotēs. Father of Irene Palaiologina. Isaakios Palaiologos (born 1299), died young. Asporca Hatun (born c.1300), wife of Orhan I