Manfred I Lancia

Manfred I (fl. 1160–1214), known as Manfredi Lancia, was the second Margrave of Busca, famous for his financial difficulties and his Occitan poetry. He was the first person to adopt the surname Lanza or Lancia, giving rise to the Lanza family.

The reasons behind Manfred's adoption of the surname Lancia are unknown. Early commentators, like Iacopo d'Acqui and Antonio Astesano, believed it had been granted to him by the emperor, presumably Frederick I. It is more likely that he adopted it to distinguish himself from his contemporary and namesake, Manfred II of Saluzzo. The first recorded instance of the surname comes in a document dated 2 July 1210 at Turin, when Manfred met with the Emperor Otto IV.

Manfred was born in the first half of the twelfth century, the second son of Guglielmo del Vasto, son of Bonifacio del Vasto of a branch of the Aleramici. He inherited the part of the county of Loreto between the Tanaro and the Belbo from his uncles Bonifacio di Cortemiglia and Ottone Boverio, dividing it with his elder brother, Berengar, and other relatives. Busca fell to Berengar, and Manfredi made his residence at the castle of Dogliani.

In 1160 Manfred and Berengar sold lands at Moretta, the earliest record of Manfred as an adult. In 1168 he sold land near Dogliani, the first signs of financial trouble, and on 30 August 1187 he sold Dogliani for 1,150 lire to Manfred of Saluzzo. In 1180 he sold his rights in Busca to the marquis of Saluzzo. He pawned his rights in the county of Loreto to the city of Alba for a loan of 1,033 lire genovesi in 1187. In 1191 he sold some woodland near Cortemiglia.

...
Wikipedia