The Prudent King and Tomás Fernández de Medrano

Don Juan Ruiz Calderón specified even more by indicating that the said Tomás Fernández de Medrano was secretary to the Infanta Catalina, Duchess of Savoy, wife of Charles Emmanuel of Savoy and daughter of the King of Spain himself, Philip II. She was born of his marriage to Isabella of Valois, the third of his four wives.^[11]

According to the biographers of the "Prudent King", Isabella and Catherine were the apple of the sovereign's eye. The best confirmation of the strong bonds of affection that united the king and his daughters are the letters they wrote to each other over the years, recently edited by Fernando Bouza. In them, Tomás Fernandez de Medrano is quoted on 31 January 1592 by King Philip II: "He was very happy with the news of your health and my grandchildren that you give me in the letters of the end of last month and the 5th and 6th of this month, and you are absolutely right that the Duke should not take so many risks as he does. Although I have already asked him many times to be careful, I will do it again now with Medrano, whom he has sent here, and I really approve of your decision to come and visit."^[12]

Journey from Provence to Madrid

Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano was entrusted with a dangerous mission to deal with the Duke of Savoy's political-military affairs in Madrid shortly after his appointment on 1 August 1591 with the king himself: "The state of affairs in this Provence and the great and extreme necessity that we are in here have forced me to send to Your Majesty my secretary of state and war, Tomás Fernández de Medrano, so that, as a person through whose hands everything has passed and who infinitely desires the service of Your Majesty, he may understand the importance of your assistance in these parts. And so, whatever he proposes to Your Majesty on my behalf, it will be my pleasure for you to give him the same credit as you would to my own person. And a resolution as soon as possible".^[13]

King Philip II himself gives more information on Medrano's journey to Madrid in letters written in his own handwriting to Carlos Manuel after receiving the Dukes letter of 28 December from Medrano: "I received your letter of December 28 with Medrano, and it was very well considered to send you here after Avignon (and) with the relationship (of) what happened there, because otherwise the notices that came from other places would have been more careful".^[14]

On that trip, the Duke of Savoy reveals in a letter that Medrano was robbed and important documents were taken from him: "My secretary Tomás Fernández de Medrano, whom I sent from Provence to deal with His Majesty on some matters of great importance, informed me that among other things, thieves robbed him on the road from Barcelona to Madrid, and that the Papal bulls which Your Majesty ordered to be dispatched from Rome with hanging seals, when with the approval and pleasure of His Holiness he granted him the habit of San Juan from his own hand (without vows), for certain claims that are shared with his house".^[15]

Don Tomas was even captured by the French during the return journey from France to Spain, with an embassy of business, by soldiers from Marseilles, Medrano wrote that he was "(...) in great danger; and come with them from France to Spain, with an embassy of business as serious as Your Majesty knows, in the happy life of his great and good father, falling back into the hands of the enemy in Marseilles..."^[16]

The Invasion of Monseñor Ladighiera

In early 1592, Monseñor Ladighiera (Lesdiguières in French), a French general, initiated the invasion of Savoy, marking a significant episode in the Spanish-French conflict of the late 16th century. This conflict unfolded as Philip II supported the Catholic House of Guise against the Huguenots, led by the future Henry IV of France. There were even speculations about Isabella Clara Eugenia, Philip's other daughter, asserting her rights to the French throne as the eldest daughter of Princess Elizabeth of Valois, Philip's third wife.

Tomas Fernandez de Medrano and the Duke of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel I, played pivotal roles in this conflict, with Ladighiera emerging as a crucial figure on the French side. During the French Wars of Religion, his brother Don Francisco Fernández de Medrano commanded a Spanish garrison from Flanders, under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, stationed in Paris. Ladighiera demonstrated his military prowess by inflicting a significant defeat on the Duke's troops in Garzigliana.

His brother Don Francisco de Medrano had distinguished himself, having been severely wounded,^[17] and that for all this and for his relationship with his brother Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano, the Duke was trying to achieve his progress in a very particular way: by requesting from the king the appointment of the alcaidía of Los Arcos.^[18] It appears that he did not secure the desired position. Nonetheless, this setback did not hinder him from attaining a favorable standing. In 1598, he was entrusted with the responsibility of assembling a company of 250 infantrymen in Burgos and its environs. Additionally, he received an appointment as a councilor of the state of hijosdalgo in the city of Logroño.^[19]

Testimony of Iñigo López de Mendoza, Ambassador to Venice

"I will do very little in serving the Lady Infanta doña Catalina by testifying before Your Majesty about the truth of what I know. Tomás Fernández de Medrano, secretary of the Duke of Savoy, passed through Italy on his way back from Spain, where he was dealing with the Duke's affairs, when Your Majesty ordered the Marquess of Cerralvo to embark. And since that departure was delayed for more than three months (at first waiting for good weather and later due to the death of the Marquess), I had the opportunity to talk to Tomás Fernández and to communicate to him during all that time that I waited for passage to France for the mission that Your Majesty sent me on. And truly, sir, I recognized in him the soul of a servant who was most passionate and devoted to Your Majesty's service, and on the other hand, a great kindness, and great compassion for customs. And as for having seen and read, he possessed an enviable wealth of knowledge. And in matters of the present, he had a very pleasant understanding, in addition to his skill with the pen, which Your Majesty knows. Since then, during the time I have been in Italy (which is approaching two years), I have been even more confirmed in my initial opinion because I have been in contact and communicated with him, and I see with my own eyes what a great servant he is of Your Majesty and what he deserves for it, and the abilities he has to serve in anything that is entrusted to him. And because it seems to me that by serving the Lady Infanta, I am also serving Your Majesty in bearing witness to this, I dare to do so for any future occasions that may arise. - Íñigo de Mendoza, 23 of August, 1597."^[20]

Dismissal and Appointment as Secretary of the Princes of Savoy

A sequence of events will profoundly alter the course of Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano's life. The initial incident involves the demise of the Infanta Catalina Micaela, Duchess of Savoy, who, on 6 November 1597, gave birth and passed away at the age of 30. The second significant event is the signing of the Peace of Vervins with France on 2 May 1598, marking the conclusion of years of hostilities. The third and final event is the passing of King Philip II of Spain, another momentous death. Subsequently, both the courts in Turin and Madrid descended into turmoil and intrigue. Compounding these challenges, Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, gradually asserted independence from Spanish influence. An initial step in this direction involved eliminating the surveillance and guardianship that the Spanish monarch could exercise through Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano. Despite receiving kind words and being appointed as secretary to the infant sons of the Duke of Savoy, Tomas Fernandez de Medrano faced dismissal. Plans for a new position were already underway, as evidenced by two letters dated 28 March 1598 from the Duke of Savoy to the king and the Marquis of Denia (future Duke of Lerma). His assumed role as Secretary of State and War of the Princes of Savoy likely commenced in 1603, as confirmed by Prince Manuel Filiberto. In a letter to the Duke of Lerma on 8 April 1606, the prince acknowledged that Tomás Fernández de Medrano, the duke's secretary, displayed remarkable patience, attributing it to his compliance with the duke's will and his numerous talents and merits accumulated over the years.^[21]

Origin of the lordship of Valdeosera in the Battle of Clavijo

Valdeosera, of the municipality of San Román de Cameros in La Rioja (Spain)

There is a work written in 1601 by the lawyer Salinas whose title is "Summary of the Memorable and holy battle of Clavijo, true origin and antiquity of the Lordship and lords of the town, land and currencies of Valdeosera," dedicated to King Philip III of Spain by Don Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval: "All sources and rivers (my lord) originate from the sea and return to it. Therefore, having addressed Secretary Tomás Fernández de Medrano, my father, regarding the summary and compendium of the memory and holy battle of Clavijo (in which Your Majesty is so interested on behalf of the glorious King Ramiro), along with the origin, nobility, and antiquity of the lordship and lords of the village, land, and insignia of Valdeosera (since they are connected), it seemed fitting to him (before it was made public) for me to dedicate it to Your Majesty".^[27]

The work by Salinas deals with the battle of Clavijo as the origin of the lordship of the estate of Valdeosera. In the plot of Valdeosera,^[28] created according to tradition in the 9th century by King Ramiro, there were 13 "divisas", coinciding with the thirteen offspring of Don Sancho Fernández de Tejada.^[29] Valdeosera is located in the heart of Camero Viejo.

A letter from King Philip III

"Most Reverend and of great religion Master of the convent and order of S. John of Jerusalem, our very dear and beloved friend Tomás Fernández de Medrano, knight of that sacred religion, lord (who claims to be) of the town and estate of Valdeosera, secretary to the Princes of Savoy my nephews, by my order and that of the sacred chapters and assemblies of Castile, has served me for many years in papers and other things, with all satisfaction and with much integrity, especially as Secretary of State and War for the Duke of Savoy and Infanta Doña Catalina my siblings, of whom I have had and continue to have honored approvals, and of having served me in the war in particular tasks and ministries and as a soldier in good occasions; at that time he came from France to treat with the King my Lord and father, may he have glory, important matters for his Royal Service, in which he showed great prudence and goodness, and in the time he has served and continues to serve my nephews in Spain, he has been known to have such great zeal in matters of Religion, that I have very approved reports from them and from many others. And finally, the work he has taken on (among others that I know of) of translating the statutes from Latin into our Castilian language, and the diligence he has put into it, I have valued greatly, since it will be of benefit and great utility to the knights and religious of your order. And because he is continuing all of this with much pleasure of mine, I will be glad that in his pretensions and those of his children, you will grant him all the grace and favor that may be possible, and thus I ask you very affectionately, since besides being very just and worthy of the place you hold, I will receive particular pleasure and satisfaction in it. And may he (Most Reverend and of great Religion Master of the Convent and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, our very dear and beloved friend) be our Lord in your continued protection. - King Philip III, 26 July 1608"^[30]

Knight of St. John

Tomas Fernandez de Medrano was a knight of Saint John under the habit of Emmanuel Philibert. Tomas Fernandez de Medrano was granted the Habit of San Juan de Acre in the town of Salinas de Añana, made official by the Papal bulls which King Philip II ordered to be dispatched from Rome with hanging seals, when with the approval and pleasure of His Holiness he granted him the habit of San Juan from his own hand (without vows), for certain claims that are shared with his house.

Village of Salinas de Añana, La Rioja

Letters indicate Medrano's maritime experience was the cause, not the consequence, of obtaining the habit. Nevertheless, he did not completely abandon the sword for the pen, at least according to his words: "having fought on occasions and encounters, battles and skirmishes for the obligations of his habit" and ended up participating in the war that the Duke of Savoy maintained against France during the last decade of the century, "always walking in the squadron of the nobility, near His Highness, on foot and on horseback, with weapons on his shoulders and in charge of batteries in great dangers." In 1605, A brief from Pope Paul V on the privileges of the Order of St. John states that it was printed in these two languages, Latin and Spanish, by Tomás Fernández de Medrano at his own expense, secretary to the Serene Princes of Savoy and the Holy Chapters and Assemblies of Castile on behalf of his King and knights of the Order of Saint John. It is dedicated to the most excellent Duke of Lerma, as protector of all religions and in particular of that of Saint John.^[31]

Manager of the Grand Prior of Castilla San Juan and Service to the Princes of Savoy

The princes Philip Emmanuel, Victor Amadeus, and Emmanuel Philibert had been sent on a formative trip to the Spanish court in 1603.^[32][33] Very likely, Tomás Fernández de Medrano took care of their affairs from that date forward. The latter two remained there in 1606. The first one had died a year earlier, and both were about to leave Madrid, so they were trying to secure the position of their dependents, including Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano. Victor Amadeus I would succeed his father, Charles Emmanuel I in 1630.

His younger brother, Emmanuel Philibert, held the title of Grand Prior and Grand Admiral of Castile in the Order of St. John, to which Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano belonged. For this reason, in view of the prospect of returning to Turin, the prince made the decision to appoint Tomás Fernández de Medrano, his secretary and knight of his habit (in his departure for Italy) as Manager of the Grand Prior of Castilla San Juan, occupied in this court in all matters of the Religion that are the princes responsibility and Medrano's duty.^[34]

Medrano's Patronage of the Convent of Saint John of Acre

San Juan de Acre in the town of Salinas de Añana

Tomas Fernandez de Medrano's patronage of the Monastery of San Juan de Acre is in the town of Salinas de Añana. Ecclesiastical patronage, notably unknown to historiography, was one of the greatest demonstrations of supremacy and distinction that the nobility of the time could exercise. The appropriation of patronage afterwards was not as common.

View over Valle Salado ("Salty Valley") at Salinas de Añana

The convent of San Juan de Acre belonged to the women's section of the Order of Saint John and was located - still today it is - outside the walls of the town of Salinas de Añana, in the diocese of Burgos. This was a strategic location due to the presence of its coveted salt pans, one of the most important in Castile, which had been incorporated into the crown in 1564, respecting the rights of its previous owners, including the said convent. On 22 June 1608, the only four nuns who lived in the oratory, Doña Inés Hurtado de Corcuera y Mendoza, prioress, Doña Manuela Hurtado de Corcuera y Mendoza, Doña María de Xérica and Doña María de Corcuera, met to make a very important decision for their future:

"Because their ancestors and relatives, and those of Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano, a knight of the Order of Saint John, lord of the town and estate of Valdeosera, and secretary of the Serene Prince Grand Prior, by His Majesty's command, made and founded this said convent, where the said secretary and his ancestors are buried in the side chapel of the main chapel and where they have their coat of arms, and seeing that the religion of Saint John and the Grand Priors have completely abandoned the protection of this said convent of San Juan de Acre and that the church, house and walls of it have fallen (due to age and antiquity), with the help and favor of their relatives, they have made the said church of stone again... considering the great good that the said secretary has done to the said convent, all four said prioress and nuns, together and unanimously in one voice, being as they are in their chapter and meeting, which they have held for the said purpose, named and appointed as patron of this said convent and church and house of the lord Saint John of Acre, with everything annexed and belonging to it in the temporal sense, to the said lords Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano and Doña Isabel de Sandoval, his wife, and to their heirs and successors, succeeding each other, so that as such patrons they may do and dispose of all things annexed and concerning the said monastery and house and its goods in the temporal sense, as said above, as the said prioress and nuns could and as if it were their own property."^[35]

The convent of San Juan de Acre received patronage from Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano and his wife, who had already established their family pantheon in one of the convent's chapels. In immediate recompense for their commitment, the couple, in appreciation, pledged and bestowed upon the prioresses, nuns, and the convent, an annual income of fifty ducats for two lifetimes and a one-time contribution of a thousand ducats from their personal estate.^[35]

Dedication to the Duke of Lerma

Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, First Duke of Lerma

The Mixed Republic by Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano is dedicated to Francisco de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma:

"'Addressed to Don Francisco de Sandoval, Duke of Lerma, Marquis of Denia, Cea, and Ampudia, of the Council of State of King D. Felipe III, our Lord, his Chief Equerry and Chief Steward, Grand Commander of Castilla, and Perpetual Alcaide of the Castle of Burgos, and of the Royal Houses of Tordesillas and Valladolid. By Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano de Medrano, Lord of Valdeosera.^[39]

The ship that is governed by two captains is in danger without a storm. The Empire that depends on more than one, experience teaches us, cannot be preserved. If another sun were to join the fourth heaven where the sun that illuminates us is, the earth would burn. Although this kingdom and monarchy appears to be an image of many bodies, it is only one, and only one soul governs and rules it when the members (as they are) are united, attending and looking only to the preservation of their individual, which is the public good. Our lord the King made Your Excellency (God made it so) the patron of this ship, the soul of this body, and the sun that illuminates us, knowing (as a Wise man) the equality of the light that was in the subject for this purpose, since from its birth it was as great as it is now in matter and form, which is a realization that only needed to give it a shadow so that under it (as its secondary cause) it would exercise and communicate the rays of its virtues to everything that is subject to it on this globe, seeming to him (and to the world) that Your Excellency's spirit and heart were (like Augustus's) capable of such greatness.

His Majesty knows this truth more and more every day from the effects that confirm his choice. And since there is no one (who has good zeal) who does not desire the duration of this good and show himself grateful to the one who receives it from Your Excellency, I, as a more obliged servant, the son of very recognized servants, bring these three bouquets of Religion, Obedience, and Justice with some politeness (a shade of the cape with which Your Excellency has always covered yourself) for having found them composed as they are (of select flowers) in my father's garden, which although it is general for everyone, there is no plant or flower that does not desire to cultivate it in particular for Your Excellency's service. As the universal father of the republic, to whom everything is owed, and to whom I humbly beg to order that they be put (so that they do not dry out) in the vessels of your grace, continuing the favor that Your Excellency has always shown us (as our lord), in whose virtue and merits we hope for what we can expect from such a great prince. Therefore, corresponding to such a debt, I will say only as Ausonius, 'Neither does your fortune require the reward of our service, nor does our suggestion provide the means of restitution.' In Madrid, on August 22, 1601. Tomas Fernández de Medrano".^[40]

The Duke of Lerma was the favorite (valido) of Philip III and, as such, governed the destinies of the crown on behalf of the sovereign. At his impulse, in 1601, the court had been moved to Valladolid, benefiting, in passing, from a planned real estate speculation operation. Without naming Machiavelli, his dedication is a forceful response to his politics, in which Don Tomas Fernandez de Medrano defends the new system of government imposed in the monarchy after the accession to the throne of Philip III: the favoritism. Tomás Fernández de Medrano had close ties to the Duke of Lerma, the first great private and initiator of the phenomenon.^[41]

Summary of the Mixed Republic

The text focuses on the constitutive role of the political order played by religion, obedience and justice and is integrated into the context of the anti-Machiavellian current to the extent that it tries to refute the Florentine's thesis that they attribute to religion a merely strategic role, in no case constitutive of the political order. The Mixed Republic published, according to the author himself, corresponds "to the first treaty of seven that has written", a relatively frequent occurrence at this time, of the publication of a first installment, "to see how it is received", of a draft of claims broader, which were never consummated.^[1]

Prologue

For the prologue, Tomás Fernández de Medrano arranges all the political doctrine within a novelistic fiction, which recalls the ancient Spanish literature of Arabic origin. When Tolmeo, King of Egypt, was visited by seven ambassadors from the most prosperous republics of that time, he asked each one of them for three points or laws by which they governed themselves. In this invention, King Tolomeo of Egypt appears discussing over dinner with seven Ambassadors from the most flourishing contemporary states: Rome, Carthage, Sicily, Rhodes, Athens, Sparta, and Sicionia. Each Ambassador explains the three main bases of the policy of his country,^[42] leading Tomas to conclude that a mixed republic would be the most effective if the twenty-one political principles of the seven states were combined.

Mista Republica

He writes first, concerning the importance of kings and princes being religious, Among other things, he writes about how important it is for Kings and Princes to be religious in order to be more obedient to their subjects; the second, regarding the obedience owed to them by their subjects and the reverence with which they should speak of them and their ministers, councils, and magistrates; and the third, on the Ambassador's role among the Romans, where he discusses why it is important to reward the good and punish the bad. Tomás Fernández de Medrano's ideas about the mixed republic were influenced by earlier political philosophers such as Aristotle and Polybius, who also wrote about the benefits of combining different forms of government, which prove that the preservation of religion and authority is the foundation of good governance. Tomás Fernández de Medrano also discusses the three good political regimes: monarchy, aristocracy, and timocracy, with their three opposites: tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy.^[36]

These three species of government composed a mixed form, according to Medrano, saying that any species of republic established solely and simply degenerates quickly into the closest vice, unless moderated by the others; and in order for republics to endure in upright governance, they must possess the virtues and characteristics of the other forms combined within them, so that no one element grows excessively without proportion, leading it to lean towards its inherent malice and consequently fall into ruin. For this reason, Tomás Fernández de Medrano states that the republics of the Spartans, Carthaginians, Romans, and other famous states were composed and properly mixed with elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy.^[36]

According to Medrano, a mixed republic is a government that combines elements of both monarchy and republicanism using the twenty-one political principles of the seven states combined. In this system, the monarch is the head of state, but power is shared with a representative assembly that is elected by the people. Tomas believed that the mixed republic offered the best of both worlds: the stability and order of a monarchy, combined with the accountability and representation of a republic. Tomás Fernández de Medrano argued that this system would prevent the abuses of power that often occur in pure monarchies or pure republics. In a mixed republic, the monarch is constrained by the laws and customs of the land, and is required to consult with and seek the advice of the representative assembly. The assembly, in turn, has the power to veto the monarch's decisions and to enact laws that are in the best interests of the people. He does not hesitate to state that if we do not follow through with careful deliberation, we will end up with "a form of depraved Republic called Democracy, where free and poor men, being in greater numbers, become rulers of the State and act with force against the few".^[36]

The book's content is reduced to religious and juridical policy and emphasizes the importance of preserving religion and authority while administering justice. It includes a 16-page prologue on generalities, defining politics, and the formation of society, including family, municipality, province, and kingdom. Medrano accepts the theory that any type of republic that is not moderated by others soon degenerates into vice, and for republics to endure in straight government, they must have virtues and properties of the others united in them.

Within his work on The Mixed Republic, Tomas also wrote about the natural rights of individuals, arguing that people had certain inherent rights that could not be taken away by the state. He believed that the purpose of government was to protect these natural rights, and that any government that failed to do so was illegitimate. Tomás Fernández de Medrano's ideas had a significant impact on political thought in Europe and the Americas, particularly during his time and the age of Enlightenment.

Other Works written by Medrano

Other works written by Tomas Fernandez de Medrano: Consoling prayer to Sermo Carlo Emanuel, Duke of Savoy, made by Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano, of the Messrs. of Valde Osera and Almarza, Secretary of State and war of their highnesses and their council, Turin, Antonio de Bianqui, 1598; Funeral prayer to the gifts of the most powerful Filipo Segundo: Invictissimo King of Spain and of the New World made by Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Secretary of State and War of the Sereneness and catholic Duke of Savoy, and of the serene princes, his sons, and of his council, Milano, Gratiadio Ferioli.^[1]

Solar Primitive of Medrano

The Solar Primitive: "Gules, a flordelized cross, hollow, argent border, with the inscription, in sable letters: "Ave María, Gratia Plena, Dominus Tecum"^[46]

Marriage to Doña Isabel de Sandoval (April 24, 1596)

Tomas Fernandez de Medrano was married to Doña Isabel de Sandoval, relative of the first Duke of Lerma Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas. Isabel's sister was Magdalena de Sandoval, the mother of the children of the Duke of Uceda. Isabel de Sandoval was also related to Gaspar Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán y Sandoval, 9th Duke of Medina Sidonia, his mother Juana de Sandoval was a daughter of the Duke of Lerma, and his sister Luisa de Guzmán y Sandoval married to the newly proclaimed king John IV of Portugal. The Duke of Lerma requested from the King to grant a financial amount to Doña Isabel de Sandoval, who became a widow before her first marriage was consummated, so that she can remarry. On 8 December 1594, the Duke of Savoy already said that Tomás Fernández de Medrano was arranged to marry Doña Isabel de Sandoval from the chamber of the Infanta, his wife. It is most likely that Tomas and Isabel married sometime in 1595.^[47] On April 24, 1596, the Duke states: 'Tomás Fernández de Medrano married Doña Isabel de Sandoval.'^[48]

Children

Tomas Fernandez de Medrano and Isabel de Sandoval had two children:

• Don Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval, first born son, heir and friar at San Prudencio de Monte Laturce.
• Doña Ana María Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, Lady of Queen Isabel de Borbón. Dona Ana Maria married Don Rodrigo Martínez de Fresneda, knight of the Order of Montesa.^[49] Fray Juan declared his sister, Doña Ana María Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, as universal heir.

His son Don Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval's will is preserved in the notarial protocols of the Provincial Historical Archive of La Rioja.^[50] Consequently, the monastery where Fray Juan Fernandez de Medrano had entered was far from being just another monastery. He was a novice at the monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce of the Order of St. Bernard of Cistercians, in the diocese of Calahorra. It was also an enormously symbolic place for the inhabitants of the region. Its location coincided with the field of one of the mythical battles of the reconquest in the area: the battle of Clavijo. San Prudencio de Monte Laturce was lord of a nearby village: Villanueva de San Prudencio. Fray Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval owned various lands and had rights in several towns in La Rioja: Clavijo, Lasanta, Tudelilla, Villamediana, Yangüela, Lagunilla, Leza, Alberite, Ribafrecha, El Villar de Arnedo. The abbey of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce sheltered an average of 20 monks throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

Refectory Building at the Abbey of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce

Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce

At the beginning of the 17th century, the best sign of the prosperity in which the oratory was living was, without a doubt, the expansion of the facilities to which Fray Juan Fernandez de Medrano alluded in his will. For an extended period, art historians have deliberated on the dating of the remarkable refectory building within the abbey of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce. This structure has notably endured the ravages of neglect and decay that plagued the abbey after its abandonment in 1835. The remains of the refectory, discovered in the 17th century, have been dated to approximately 1616, thanks to the insights provided by historical accounts, particularly those of Medrano. In support of the restoration efforts for the refectory and cells within the monastery, Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval generously donated 600 ducats of 20 Castilian reales. In a testamentary clause, Friar Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval stipulated that, should this amount not be delivered within four months of the will's signing, he would obligate himself to double the donation, amounting to 1,200 ducats. These financial provisions extended beyond the monastery, encompassing significant disbursements to his family, relatives, and servants.

Siblings

Tomas had a brother named Francisco Fernandez de Medrano, lord and divisero of Regajal, who fought during the French Wars of Religion under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. Francisco Fernandez de Medrano married Maria Ana de Espinosa. Captain Francisco Fernández de Medrano was registered in the census of divisional knights: "captain, neighbor of Entrena. Registered on May 1, 1596. Divisa de Regajal."

Two sons of the latter are also registered: "this said day, month and year (May 1, 1614), his mercy of said lieutenant ordered to register in this Currency the captain D. Francisco Fernández de Medrano and Don Diego and Don Francisco Fernández de Medrano y Espinosa, his legitimate sons and of Doña María Ana de Espinosa, his wife, because of the information he gave him, to be lords of the said Solar and Divisa de Regajal, and so he provided and ordered it." El Regajal is a unique estate located in the municipality of Aranjuez, at the southern border of the Community of Madrid, known to entomologists around the world since the mid-19th century.

Origins of the House of Medrano

They are all descendants of a common ancestor who was called Medrano. The origin of the Medrano surname is not a mere coincidence.^[44] In fact, It is common knowledge amongst historians and scholars that the noble Medrano family lineally descend from their progenitor, a Moorish Prince from Umayyad Andalusia.^[61] This Prince settled in Iguzquiza under the protection of King Sancho II of Pamplona.^[62] He arrived in Iguzquiza leading a powerful army, entering Navarra around the year 979. He is supposed to have secretly been devoted to the Blessed Virgin, and as such persecuted by the devil, who, taking human form, was in the position of mayordomo in his service, to assassinate him at an opportune moment; this great lord, being in Igúzquiza accompanied by his diabolical mayordomo, was reciting the Ave Maria, when suddenly a goshawk came, carrying a ribbon written with the angelic salutation in its beak, and alighting on the hand of this prince, the Apostle St. Andres suddenly appeared in the enclosure, exhorting and baptizing him. The mayordomo fled with great noise and terrifying earthquakes.^[63]

Coat of Arms of Medrano (1568 AD)

This Prince was a lord of vassals, a person of great valor in arms, who was fond of the Christian religion, and in particular very devoted to the Virgin Mary, whose Rosary he prayed every day, even before being baptized. He left his lands and lordship in the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba. The king of Pamplona gave him the name Andres (after the apostle) along with Velaz or Belaz (Basque for goshawk, after the one that alighted on his hand). Since Andrés Velaz was very powerful among the Moors, having great riches, which he lost at that time; the Caliph of Cordoba, amazed at his change, and that he had thus left his lands and lordship, asked about Don Andrés Velaz many times afterwards saying, "Medra o no?" (Does he prosper or no?) to which the Caliph's courtiers replied "no". Don Andrés Velaz, having knowledge of this, took the Caliph's question and his people's answer as his surname, and called himself Medrano. The palace of Andres Velaz de Medrano and his lordship of Iguzquiza became the family seat of the Medrano family for over 800 years.^[64]

The Palace of Velaz de Medrano was rebuilt in the 15th century by Don Ferran Velaz de Medrano, Lord of Iguzquiza and Learza. The Palace of Velaz de Medrano was famous for the splendor of the festivities celebrated there by its Lord Ferran Velaz de Medrano, his sons, and his grandchildren, which were often attended by the Navarrese monarchs themselves.^[65][66]