…The two fell in love, and Adelasia proposed Aleramo to run away together. So it was that one night the lovers left the court, chased by the Emperor’s guards.

Long time ago a German noble named Aldeprando was going to Rome with his pregnant wife and he crossed the northwestern Italy. It was here that the woman was seized by labor pains and hosted by lords of Sezzadio in their own castle. Here she gave birth to a beautiful baby, Aleramo, whose name derives from the ancient Piedmontese Aler, which means happiness. After a couple of months, the pair resumed his journey towards Rome, leaving the baby to nurse in the country. Unfortunately on the return trip they died. So he was welcomed by the lords of Sezzadio, becoming the squire of a noble.

In the meantime, the Emperor Ottone was descended in Lombardy to quell a revolt. When he asked for some squires, the municipality of Sezzadio sent Aleramo, who liked to Ottone. So it was that he was appointed as knight, and admitted in court. The young, handsome and courteous, collected the admiration of all noblewomen, particularly of Ottone’s daughter, Princess Adelasia.  The two fell in love, and Adelasia proposed Aleramo to run away together. So it was that one night the lovers left the court, chased by the Emperor’s guards.

After many days the lovers stood on the Apennine mountains, near the town of Alassio, so renamed in honor to Adelasia. Life for the two fugitives was immediately difficult. Aleramo was adapted to make the charcoal-burner while his beloved sold her embroideries. During his work, he was noted for his gentle manner by the bishop of Albenga, who decided to appoint him as squire. But the Emperor’s war was not finished, and when Ottone returned to ask for some people the bishop sent to the court Aleramo, as a dishwasher.

The Aleramo’s resurgence came when he was able to rescue Ottone’s nephew by his captors. Brought before the strict

Emperor, Aleramo, an humble dishwasher, had to reveal his identity and expect the ire of the Lord. But Ottone was softened by his story and he decided to take back Aleramo, his daughter and his four grandchildren. Ottone gave him a knighthood and assigned as hallmark, “the sock of red and white color that was a sign of value and the faith of all Aleramo’s heirs”.

Ottone assigned to Aleramo the title of Marquis, giving him possess much land than he would have traveled on horseback over the course of three days. This is the so called “Cavalcata Aleramica” intended to circumscribe the Monferrato, a magical land that Aleramo led until his death.

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