John I Orsini

John I Orsini (Italian Giovanni, died 1317) succeeded his father Richard as count palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos in 1303/1304. In 1292 he married Maria, daughter of Despot Nikephoros I of Epirus, and spent a decade at the Epirote court.

As an Achaean vassal he joined the failed siege of Arta in 1304 and the unsuccessful invasion of Epirus in 1307, when disease struck the Latin troops.

At Manolada in 1316 he led the loyalist first line against Ferdinand of Majorca, who was routed and killed. John died in 1317; a year later his son Nicholas murdered Despot Thomas and seized Epirus.