Pomellina Fregoso (1387/88 in Genoa – 1468 in Monaco) was Lady Consort of Monaco by marriage to Jean I, Lord of Monaco, and the mother of Lord Catalan. She served as regent of Monaco several times during the absence of her husband between 1437 and 1441, as well as between 1457 and March 1458, as the guardian of her granddaughter Claudine, Lady of Monaco. She was thus the first woman to rule Monaco. Life Pomellina (or Pomelline) was a member of the noble House of Fregoso of Genoa, which included several doges of Genoa among its members. Her father was the Doge Pietro Fregoso (died 1404), and her mother was either Theodora Spinola or Benedetta Doria. Lady of Monaco In 1419, after Monaco had been occupied by Genoa since 1357, her husband became Lord of Monaco in co-regency with his brothers, but ruled alone from 1427 onward. Monaco itself was occupied by the Duchy of Milan in 1436, but freed, upon which Jean placed Pomellina there to manage the fortress in his absent. She was the first Monegasque consort to play an important role. Jean I was often absent from Monaco, and left Pomellina as a de facto regent. Between 1437 and 1441, she was regent of Monaco during the frequent absence of her spouse in warfare in Italy. During this period, Jean I was held prisoner by Filippo Maria Visconti, who threatened to kill him if Monégasque power was not turned over to him. In 1438, Visconti turned Jean over to Louis, Duke of Savoy, and consented to the annexation of Monaco to Savoy. Jean refused his consent to turn over Monaco to Savoy, and sent a message to Pomelina to hold Monaco against Savoy at any cost. Monaco was subjected to an unsuccessful siege by Louis, Duke of Savoy from 1439 to 1440, during which Pomellina was in charge of the fortress of Monaco, and successfully resisted the siege. She managed to preserve the independence of Monaco and still secure the release of her husband. Jean I was finally released in 1441 and allowed to return to Monaco. He continued to be frequently absent from Monaco, in service of Milan and Naples. Regency Jean I died on 8 May 1454, making Pomellina a widow. Prior to his death, Jean I regulated the succession of Monaco, and allowed for female succession provided that a female heir kept her own