{{Infobox noble , name = Diego López de Medrano y Vergara , title =

Lord Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power (social and political), power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the Peerage o ...

of San Gregorio and

Cañaveruelas Cañaveruelas is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality in Province of Cuenca, Cuenca, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 223. Arcavica Within the territory of the present-day municipality once stood the town of Ercavica (or Arcav ...

, image = File:Medrano Coat of Arms of the Castle of San Gregorio.jpg , caption = Coat of arms of Diego López de Medrano at the Castle of San Gregorio , alt = , CoA = , more = no , succession = , reign = , tenure = , reign-type = , predecessor = , successor = , suc-type = , spouse = Magdalena Bravo de Lagunas y Cienfuegos , spouse-type = , issue-type = , issue = Diego López de Medrano,

Garcí Bravo de Medrano Garcí Bravo de Medrano (Soria, 20 November 1478 – Atienza, 16th century) was a Castilians, Castilian-Basques, Basque Nobility, nobleman and military leader from the House of Medrano, serving as the perpetual Alcaide (Governor) of Castle of At ...

, Francisco de Medrano, María Bravo de Medrano, Leonor de Medrano,

Luisa de Medrano Luisa de Medrano y Bravo de Lagunas y Cienfuegos (Atienza 9 August 1484 – 1527) was a Basques, Basque-Castilians, Castilian poet, Philosophy, philosopher, professor, and scholar from the Kingdom of Castile. By 1508, she is widely believed to ...

, Luis de Medrano, Isabel Bravo de Medrano,

Catalina de Medrano y Bravo de Lagunas Catalina de Medrano y Bravo de Lagunas (Soria, 31 October 1479 – Atienza, 2 December 1541) was a noblewoman, a lady-in-waiting for Queen Isabella I of Castile and an ecclesiastical Patronage, patron from the Kingdom of Castile. Catalina is known ...

, issue-link = , issue-pipe = , full name = , native_name = , styles = , other_titles =

Ricohombre The ricohombre (a magnate, literally, a Spanish word for "richman") or ricahombría, was a high ranking nobility title in mediaeval kingdoms on the territories of modern Spain and Portugal, replaced by a title of grandee in the late 14th-early 15th ...

, noble family = House of

Medrano Medrano is a Spanish surname of Basque language, Basque origin that means "abundance, to grow, to prosper, or to improve." It is a surname of high nobility established in the old Kingdoms of Kingdom of Navarre, Navarre, Kingdom of Aragon, Aragon, k ...

, house-type = , father = Diego López de Medrano , mother = Juana de Vergara , birth_name = , birth_date = , birth_place =

Kingdom of Castile The Kingdom of Castile (; : ) was a polity in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. It traces its origins to the 9th-century County of Castile (, ), as an eastern frontier lordship of the Kingdom of León. During the 10th century, the Ca ...

, christening_date = , christening_place = , death_date = June 1487 , death_place =

Málaga Málaga (; ) is a Municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain, capital of the Province of Málaga, in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia. With a population of 591,637 in 2024, it is the second-most populo ...

, burial_date = , burial_place = Main chapel in the Franciscan monastery of Atienza , occupation = knight, lord , memorials = , website = , module = Diego López de Medrano y Vergara (

Soria Soria () is a municipality and a Spanish city, located on the Douro river in the east of the autonomous community of Castile and León and capital of the province of Soria. Its population is 38,881 ( INE, 2017), 43.7% of the provincial populatio ...

, c. XV century –

, June 1487) was a ''

ricohombre The ricohombre (a magnate, literally, a Spanish word for "richman") or ricahombría, was a high ranking nobility title in mediaeval kingdoms on the territories of modern Spain and Portugal, replaced by a title of grandee in the late 14th-early 15th ...

'' and nobleman from the House of Medrano,

of San Gregorio and

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

, a member of the 12 lineages of Soria, and a member of His Majesty's Council in the

.''Revista de Soria. Segunda Época'', no. 113, Verano 2021. page. 58 (59). https://revistadesoria.dipsoria.es/storage/2023/05/RS113.pdf He died at the siege of Malaga in June 1487.Index of the Salazar y Castro Collection: 28313. Royal Academy of History.

Early life

Diego López de Medrano was the son of Diego López de Medrano, Lord of San Gregorio es">:es:San Gregorio (Soria)">es

, de la Torre and

Almarza de Cameros Almarza de Cameros is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta ...

, and Juana de Vergara, from the aristocratic

Vergara family The Vergara family is one of the most Aristocracy, aristocratic families of Colombia and Chile with origins in Bergara, Spain. The House of Vergara had its period of greatest influence between the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The family is spr ...

.{{Cite web , title=Tabla genealógica de la familia de Medrano, condes de Torrubia, señores de San Gregorio. anuscrito, url=https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/344/https___hispana_mcu_es_lod_oai_bibliotecadigital_rah_es_50321_ent0 , access-date=2024-08-08 , website=www.europeana.eu , language=en-GB''Diccionario de appelidos enciclopedia heraldica y genealogica'' page. 188 He belongs to the ancient Medrano family, one of the most noble lineages from the Kingdoms of Navarre and Castile. His mother Juana de Vergara was the daughter of the heir to the mayorazgo and the Vergara estate in the mountains. Diego's father, who died before 1482, was the

alcaide Alcaide is a Portuguese and Spanish name, meaning 'castle commander'. It is borrowed from the Arabic term , which literally means 'commander'. Etymology From the Arabic 'commander' it becomes the Spanish form alcayde or alcaide, origin of the ...

of the

castle of Medinaceli The Castle of Medinaceli is a medieval fortress in Medinaceli (Province of Soria, Castile and León, Spain). It was built in the 9th century and rebuilt in the 15th century. Almanzor died here in 1002. History Medinaceli is located at the so ...

for Luis de la Cerda y de la Vega, 1st Duke of Medinaceli.{{Cite web , title=Tabla genealógica de la familia de Medrano, vecina de Soria. anuscrito, url=https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/344/https___hispana_mcu_es_lod_oai_bibliotecadigital_rah_es_54162_ent0 , access-date=2024-08-14 , website=www.europeana.eu , language=en-GB Diego’s paternal uncle, Blasco de Medrano, married Catalina de Morales in 1517. Together, they had a long line of descendants.

Lordship of San Gregorio

Diego was the grandson of Garcia González de Medrano, Lord of San Gregorio, and the great-grandson of Catalina Rodríguez de Medrano, founder of the

Mayorazgo ''Majorat'' () is a French term for an arrangement giving the right of succession to a specific parcel of property associated with a title of nobility to a single heir, based on male primogeniture. A majorat ( fideicommis) would be inherited by ...

of San Gregorio in 1394, in favor of her son Garcia González de Medrano. His great-grandmother Catalina married with Gregorio Gil de Cabanillas in the 14th century. A genealogical chart of the Medrano family, Lords of San Gregorio, Cavañuelas and

Fuenmayor Fuenmayor is a town located in the province of La Rioja, Spain. It is located ten kilometers from Logroño, the capital of La Rioja. The town borders the Ebro The Ebro (Spanish and Basque ; , , ) is a river of the north and northeast of the ...

, recorded in a manuscript, traces a lineage from Diego López de Medrano,

mayordomo Mayordomo ( 'butler') or Chocolate Mayordomo ( 'chocolate butler') is a brand of Mexican (English: 'table chocolate') produced by the company Chocolate Mayordomo De Oaxaca, S. De R.L. De C.V., and based in Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico. The company man ...

and

guardian Guardian usually refers to: * Legal guardian, a person with the authority and duty to care for the interests of another * ''The Guardian'', a British daily newspaper (The) Guardian(s) may also refer to: Places * Guardian, West Virginia, Unit ...

of King

John II of Castile John II of Castile (; 6 March 1405 – 20 July 1454) was King of Castile and León from 1406 to 1454. He succeeded his older sister, Maria of Castile, Queen of Aragon, as Prince of Asturias in 1405. Regency John was the son of King Henry ...

, who made his will in 1434, to his fifth-generation descendant, ''

Maestre de Campo ''Maestre de campo'' was a rank created in 1534 by the Emperor Charles I of Spain, inferior in rank only to the '' capitán general'' and acted as a chief of staff. He was chosen by the monarch in the Council of State, and commanded a ''tercio'' ...

'' Diego López de Medrano, ''Comendador'' of the

encomienda The ''encomienda'' () was a Spanish Labour (human activity), labour system that rewarded Conquistador, conquerors with the labour of conquered non-Christian peoples. In theory, the conquerors provided the labourers with benefits, including mil ...

Villahermosa Villahermosa ( , ; "Beautiful Town") is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Tabasco, and serves as the municipal seat (governing county) of the state. Located in Southeast Mexico, Villahermosa is an important city because of its ...

Atienza

Diego López de Medrano was a prominent ''

'', lord, knight, noble and councilor of His Majesty in the

. His father-in-law, Garcí Bravo de Lagunas, migrated from

(or

Sigüenza Sigüenza () is a city in the La Serranía, Serranía de Guadalajara Comarcas of Castile-La Mancha, comarca, Province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. History The site of the ancient ''Segontia'' ('dominating over the valley') of the C ...

) to establish an estate in

Atienza Atienza () is a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Spain. According to the 2023 census ( INE), the municipality had a population of 434 inhabitants. The Castle of Atienza is situated here. There were ancient Celtiberian se ...

. When Garcí Bravo assumed the role of

Alcaide Alcaide is a Portuguese and Spanish name, meaning 'castle commander'. It is borrowed from the Arabic term , which literally means 'commander'. Etymology From the Arabic 'commander' it becomes the Spanish form alcayde or alcaide, origin of the ...

of Atienza Castle, he relocated with his entire family, bringing along his wife, children, and sons-in-law. Among those who came with him were his daughter Magdalena Bravo de Lagunas and her husband, Diego López de Medrano, as well as their children: Diego, Garcí, Luis, Catalina, and Isabel. After settling in Atienza, Magdalena and Diego had at least four more children, including

.{{Cite journal , last=Oettel , first=Thérèse , date=1935 , title=Una catedrática en el siglo de Isabel la Católica: Luisa (Lucía) de Medrano , url=https://www.cervantesvirtual.com/obra/una-catedratica-en-el-siglo-de-isabel-la-catolicaluisa-lucia-de-medrano/ , journal=Una catedrática en el siglo de Isabel la Católica: Luisa (Lucía) de Medrano , language=es

Garcí Bravo de Lagunas

At the onset of Queen Isabella the Catholic's reign in Castile, Atienza, like the rest of the kingdom, faced a crucial decision: whether to remain loyal to the reigning king or to support the prospective queen, Isabella. During the Castilian War of Succession, Diego’s father-in-law, Garcí Bravo de Lagunas, Alcaide of Atienza, played a pivotal role in securing the city of Sigüenza for Queen Isabella.

Siege of Sigüenza

In a decisive act during the conflict, Garcí Bravo de Lagunas and his relative, Pedro de Almazán, bravely scaled Sigüenza Castle, capturing Bishop Diego López of Madrid, a supporter of Juana la Beltraneja, thereby advancing Isabella’s cause. Garcí Bravo, Alcaide of Atienza Castle, along with Pedro de Almazán, assisted in the ascent of Garcí Bravo’s men, securing both the castle and the town, ensuring its allegiance to Queen Isabella I.

Alcaide of Sigüenza

Consequently, the descendants of Garci Bravo wielded considerable influence in Sigüenza and Atienza. Following the city's restoration to the Catholic Monarchs, Garci Bravo de Lagunas assumed the role of Alcaide of Sigüenza maintaining a prominent position in the castle of Atienza.

Family

Diego López de Medrano y Vergara was born into the noble

family, the son of Diego López de Medrano and Catalina de Vergara. The House of Medrano was one of the most powerful in the Sierra de Cameros es">:es:Camero Nuevo">esand in

. The House of Medrano, Lords of the towns of

Cabanillas Cabanillas (very exceptionally in Basque: ''Kapanaga'') is a town and municipality located in the province and autonomous community of Navarre, northern Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern an ...

, San Gregorio, and many other entailed estates of the Medrano lineage in Soria and its region, are

s of great antiquity and

nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally appointed by and ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. T ...

.''The Pérez de Araciel de Alfaro'' By Manuel Luis Ruiz de Bucesta y Álvarez Member and Founding Partner of the ARGH Vice Director of the Asturian Academy of Heraldry and Genealogy Correspondent of the Belgian-Spanish Academy of History Pages. 50-51 https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/3991718.pdf Their sheep grazed in those lands, and hundreds of times they walked to the pastures of

Extremadura Extremadura ( ; ; ; ; Fala language, Fala: ''Extremaúra'') is a landlocked autonomous communities in Spain, autonomous community of Spain. Its capital city is Mérida, Spain, Mérida, and its largest city is Badajoz. Located in the central- ...

or the royal valley of Alcudia, in

La Mancha La Mancha () is a natural region, natural and historical region in the provinces of Spain, Spanish provinces of province of Albacete, Albacete, province of Cuenca, Cuenca, province of Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real and province of Toledo, Toledo. It ...

.{{Cite book , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jzYg5AN1x28C&pg=PA153 , title=Revista Hidalguía número 9. Año 1955 , publisher=Ediciones Hidalguia , pages=181 , language=es According to genealogical proofs provided by his descendant

García de Medrano y Castejón García de Medrano y Castejón (Burgo de Osma-Ciudad de Osma, El Burgo de Osma, c. 1550 – Valladolid, 1604) was a Nobility, nobleman and Aristocracy (class), aristocrat from the Medrano, House of Medrano, a historian and knight of the Order of ...

, this branch of the family not only owned the entailed estate and fortress of San Gregorio but also possessed 15,000

sheep Sheep (: sheep) or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are a domesticated, ruminant mammal typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to d ...

. Educated at the University of Salamanca in

Civil Civil may refer to: *Civility, orderly behavior and politeness *Civic virtue, the cultivation of habits important for the success of a society *Civil (journalism) ''The Colorado Sun'' is an online news outlet based in Denver, Colorado. It lau ...

and Canon Law, the Medrano family prepared for roles as corregidores,

judges A judge is an official who presides over a court. Judge or Judges may also refer to: Roles *Judge, an alternative name for an adjudicator in a competition in theatre, music, sport, etc. *Judge, an alternative name/aviator call sign for a membe ...

, and

advisors An adviser or advisor is normally a person with more and deeper knowledge in a specific area and usually also includes persons with cross-functional and multidisciplinary expertise. An adviser's role is that of a mentor or guide and differs catego ...

to the Crown’s Councils. Originating from

and Viana and linked to the castles of San Gregorio and Barajas (Madrid), they initially settled in

Ciudad Real Ciudad Real (, ) is a municipality of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha, capital of the province of Ciudad Real. It is the 5th most populated municipality in the region. It was founded as Villa Real in 1255 as a ro ...

.{{Cite web , title=Luisa de Medrano, primera mujer en una cátedra de universidad (1484–1527) , url=https://lavozdetomelloso.com/33370/luisa_medrano_primera_mujer_catedra_universidad_14841527 , access-date=2025-01-09 , website=lavozdetomelloso.com , language=es Here, members of the Medrano family participated in the Reconquest of

Alarcos Alarcos is a small hill and archaeological site located in the Campo de Calatrava region of the Iberian Peninsula. Standing at 675 metres above mean sea level, the hill is made of quartzite rocks together with lithic components of volcanic origin, ...

in 1212 alongside

Alfonso VIII of Castile Alfonso VIII (11 November 11555 October 1214), called the Noble (El Noble) or the one of Las Navas (el de las Navas), was King of Castile from 1158 to his death and King of Toledo. After having suffered a great defeat with his own army at Alarc ...

at the

Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, known in Islamic history as the Battle of Al-Uqab (), took place on 16 July 1212 and was an important turning point in the ''Reconquista'' and the Spain in the Middle Ages, medieval history of Spain. The Christian ...

and served as lords of the Torre de la Galiana.{{Cite web , last=ciudad-real.es , title=Torre de Galiana de Ciudad Real , url=https://www.ciudad-real.es/turismo/torregaliana.php , access-date=2025-01-09 , website=www.ciudad-real.es , language=es In the 15th century they became close aides to the

Catholic Monarchs The Catholic Monarchs were Isabella I of Castile, Queen Isabella I of Crown of Castile, Castile () and Ferdinand II of Aragon, King Ferdinand II of Crown of Aragón, Aragon (), whose marriage and joint rule marked the ''de facto'' unification of ...

. The Medrano family later established themselves in

Daimiel Daimiel is a municipality in Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 17,342, and a mechanical industry. The football club is Daimiel CF. The Tablas de Daimiel National Park, a well-known but endangered wetland natural res ...

, holding positions as high mayors,

governors A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

, and chief justices of the

Order of Calatrava The Order of Calatrava (, ) was one of the Spanish military orders, four Spanish military orders and the first Military order (society), military order founded in Kingdom of Castile, Castile, but the second to receive papal approval. The papal bu ...

. Their influence extended to

Toledo Toledo most commonly refers to: * Toledo, Spain, a city in Spain * Province of Toledo, Spain * Toledo, Ohio, a city in the United States Toledo may also refer to: Places Belize * Toledo District * Toledo Settlement Bolivia * Toledo, Or ...

, where the Medrano family served as Marshals of Castile and lords of Caudilla and Novés, and finally to

Tomelloso Tomelloso () is a municipality located in the northeast of the province of Ciudad Real, within the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha in Spain. Situated in the geographic center of the natural region of La Mancha and with a population of 36 ...

, with ties to the Ginel na h-Alba von Leuchtenberg y de Medrano & de Ugena Mondragón families.

High Castilian nobility

According to Luis Núñez Burillo y Ginel de Medrano, a branch of the de Medrano y Mendoza de Borbón family lineage, which included the Counts of Coruña,

Dukes of Bourbon Duke of Bourbon () is a title in the peerage of France. It was created in the first half of the 14th century for the eldest son of Robert of France, Count of Clermont, and Beatrice of Burgundy, heiress of the lordship of Bourbon. In 1416, wit ...

(Peers of France), Marquesses of Santillana, and Dukes of Infantado—was renowned for its academic and intellectual achievements. Juliana de Medrano, a noblewoman of the House of Medrano, married Don Juan Garcés de Almazán, son of Don Juan de Almazán and Doña Francisca Mendoza, thereby linking the Medrano family to the powerful House of Mendoza, one of Castile’s most prominent noble lineages. Through Doña Francisca Mendoza, the family descended from

Íñigo López de Mendoza, 1st Marquess of Santillana Inigo is a masculine given name deriving from the Castilian rendering (Íñigo) of the medieval Basque name Eneko. Ultimately, the name means "my little (man)". While mostly seen among the Iberian diaspora, it also gained a limited popularity ...

, whose heirs included multiple Constables of Castile. Further ties were formed through Juliana’s brother-in-law, Don Garci Garcés de Almazán, who married María de Tovar of the House of Tovar, heiress to the Marquessate of Berlanga and also linked to the Constableship of Castile. Juliana de Medrano made her last will and testament in Tarazona on 29 June 1371, as a widow, and died shortly after on 31 July 1371. She left four children: Juliana, Juan, Hernando, and Isabel, continuing the Medrano-Almazán line within the upper echelons of Castilian nobility.Familias ilustres de la monarquía española. Segunda edición, Librería de Don Miguel Guijarro, 1866. p. 113 https://www.raicesreinovalencia.com/sala/Biblioteca/Nobleza/Diccionario_hist__rico__geneal__gico_y_h(8).pdf

Siblings

*Francisco de Medrano y Vergara was the Lord of

. Francisco married María de Vinuesa, sister of Juan de Vinuesa. Their offspring included Diego López de Medrano y Vinuesa, who inherited the title of ''Lord of Cabanillas''. *Francisca de Medrano y Vergara married Tristán del Arco in Borja. *García de Medrano y Vergara, from

, who married a woman from the House of Barrionuevo, one of the 3 main lineages of the 12 from Soria, with numerous offspring.

Alliances

Through strategic marriages, the House of Medrano integrated with prominent noble families of Daimiel and Almagro, including Garnica, Rotolo/Rótulo (from

Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...

), Carrillo de Albornoz, von Schüren/Juren (a family belonging to the Westphalian

gentry Gentry (from Old French , from ) are "well-born, genteel and well-bred people" of high social class, especially in the past. ''Gentry'', in its widest connotation, refers to people of good social position connected to Landed property, landed es ...

), Schedler/Jedler (from

Cologne Cologne ( ; ; ) is the largest city of the States of Germany, German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with nearly 1.1 million inhabitants in the city pr ...

and

Kempten Kempten (; ) is the largest town of Allgäu, in Swabia, Bavaria, Germany. The population was about 68,000 in 2016. The area was possibly settled originally by Celts, but was later taken over by the Romans, who called the town ''Cambodunum''. K ...

Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...

, Germany), and

Calderón Calderón () is a Spanish and occupational surname. It is derived from the Vulgar Latin "''caldaria''" ("cauldron") and refers to the occupation of tinker. "Calderón" without any further specifics usually refers to Pedro Calderón de la Barca, t ...

. Subsequent generations moved to

Argamasilla de Alba Argamasilla de Alba is a municipality in the Province of Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 6,791. According to local legend, ''Don Quixote'' author Miguel de Cervantes was held prisoner here, and refers to the munici ...

, where the Medrano family became notaries, town council secretaries, and lords of the House of Medrano in Argamasilla de Alba, established in the late 16th century by Jorge Pacheco and Ana de Anaya. In Almagro, the Medrano family became connected to the von Schüren/Juren family, either through inheritance or purchase of houses that had once belonged to them, as noted by an investigative board in the town:

On the said day, month, and year, we visited the houses where Juan de Medrano y Zúñiga currently resides, in relation to his deposition and presentation of documents. Upon inspection, we confirmed that they are among the most distinguished houses in this town, located in the ''Pradillo de las Franciscas'' ... We documented this as part of our inquiry and signed accordingly.{{Cite web , last=Nivel 13 , title=Noticia -Lo que no se sabía acerca de las Casas de Mayorazgo de Juan de Juren y Juan Jedler factores alemanes de los banqueros Fugguer -Fúcares- en Almagro siglo XVI- Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Almagro - Ciudad Conjunto Histórico-Artístico , url=https://www.almagro.es/el-cronista-oficial/noticia/lo-que-no-se-sabia-acerca-de-las-casas-de-mayorazgo-de-juan-de-juren-y-juan-jedler-factores-alemanes-de-los-banqueros-fugguer-fucares-en-almagro-siglo-xvi , access-date=2025-02-09 , website=Noticia -Lo que no se sabía acerca de las Casas de Mayorazgo de Juan de Juren y Juan Jedler factores alemanes de los banqueros Fugguer -Fúcares- en Almagro siglo XVI- Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Almagro - Ciudad Conjunto Histórico-Artístico , language=es

It remains unclear whether Juan de Medrano y Zuñiga acquired the houses through purchase, though it is believed that by that time, no direct members of the Juren family remained. However, he was related to them in some capacity.

Construction of the castle of San Gregorio

Diego's castle of San Gregorio was catalogued as a

National Monument A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure. The term may also refer to a sp ...

in 1949 and declared a Cultural Interest Asset in 1980. The lordship of San Gregorio is located in the Almarza region ( Comarca de Almarza). Above the door is the coat of arms of the Medrano family. A license was granted to build this medieval castle, signed by Juan de Oviedo, secretary to King Henry IV, in favor of Diego López de Medrano, the owner of the mayorazgo estate founded in 1394 by Catalina Rodríguez de Medrano.{{Cite web , last= , first= , title=Casa Fuerte de San Gregorio , url=https://guiadesoria.es/patrimonio/monumentos-de-soria/813-casa-fuerte-convento-e-iglesia-de-san-gregorio.html , access-date=2024-08-02 , website= , language=es-es This license allowed him:

''to make, work on, and build the said house and tower with its barrier in the place of San Gregorio...''

Diego's descendant Garcia de Medrano, of the Royal Council and Chamber of Castile, commissioned a renovation or construction at the castle of San Greogrio in 1677, which was commemorated in stone above the entrance. The title of Count of Torrubia was granted on August 29, 1694, to his son García de Medrano y Mendizábal, a knight of the Order of Calatrava and lord of San Gregorio.

Origin of the castle

The origin of the castle of San Gregorio is recorded in the document drawn up in

Medina del Campo Medina del Campo is a town and municipality of Spain located in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Part of the Province of Valladolid, it is the centre of a farming area. It lies on the banks of the Zapardiel river, in the centre of t ...

and dated July 29, 1461, by which King Henry IV gave Diego López de Medrano permission to build this fortified house on the lands of the

mayorazgo ''Majorat'' () is a French term for an arrangement giving the right of succession to a specific parcel of property associated with a title of nobility to a single heir, based on male primogeniture. A majorat ( fideicommis) would be inherited by ...

established by his ancestor Catalina Rodríguez de Medrano in favor of her son Garcia Gonzalez de Medrano, lord of San Gregorio. Catalina was the widow of Gregorio Gil de Cabanillas, lord of las Amayuelas,{{Cite web , title=Tabla genealógica de la familia de Medrano, señores de las Amayuelas. anuscrito, url=https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/344/https___hispana_mcu_es_lod_oai_bibliotecadigital_rah_es_53157_ent0 , access-date=2024-08-04 , website=www.europeana.eu , language=en-GB in 1394.{{Cite web , title=Castle Casa Fuerte de San Gregorio - OpenTripMap , url=https://opentripmap.com/en/card/W424190091 , access-date=2024-08-02 , website=OpenTripMap.com , language=en{{Cite web , title=Casa Fuerte de San Gregorio - Historia , url=https://www.casafuertesangregorio.es/historia.html , access-date=2024-08-02 , website=CasaFuerte San Gregorio , language=es{{Cite web , title=Fortified House / Convent / Church of San Gregorio , url=https://www.turismocastillayleon.com/en/art-culture-heritage/monuments/churches-chapels/fortified-house-convent-church-san-gregorio , access-date=2024-03-03 , website=Official Portal of Tourism. Junta de Castilla y Leon , language=en According to Juan Loperraez Corvalán, the Medrano family, Counts of Torrubia, controlled the surrounding area of San Gregorio, where a fortified structure, nearly modern in design, was constructed alongside a church and a house by Diego López de Medrano, a member of His Majesty's Council. He had established a Congregation of Fathers of Saint Philip there, but they soon left due to inadequate funding.

Architecture

Diego López de Medrano chose to build a solid square house with a coat of arms, a central

courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary a ...

, defended with a barrier, part of which still exists, along with

battlement A battlement, in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet (a defensive low wall between chest-height and head-height), in which gaps or indentations, which are often rectangular, occur at intervals ...

s on its walls, and

round towers Round or rounds may refer to: Mathematics and science * Having no sharp corners, as an ellipse, circle, or sphere * Rounding, reducing the number of significant figures in a number * Round number, ending with one or more zeroes * Round (crypto ...

on three of its corners that still retain the stone-carved

gargoyle In architecture, and specifically Gothic architecture, a gargoyle () is a carved or formed Grotesque (architecture), grotesque with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, thereby preventing it from ...

s and the artillery tubes from the 15th century. The castle of San Gregorio was designed in the medieval

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, a Germanic people **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Gothic alphabet, an alphabet used to write the Gothic language ** Gothic ( ...

-style, attached to a

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...

church and cloister. The San Gregorio estate covers an area of more than 1,500 m². It is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

architectural complex.{{Cite web , date=2017-06-08 , title=Casafuerte San Gregorio , url=https://www.labastilla.com/espacios/casafuerte-san-gregorio , access-date=2024-08-02 , website=La Bastilla , language=es

Dominican convent of San Gregorio

Later, under the protection of his son Don Francisco de Medrano, a Dominican

convent A convent is an enclosed community of monks, nuns, friars or religious sisters. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The term is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...

was founded in the 16th century, giving up a house and a estate for its establishment. The church and convent has different rooms of various sizes and uses, with a total usable area of 430 m² and a maximum capacity for 300 guests. Francisco de Medrano, who provided a house and estate to support a group of Dominican monks, died, and his heirs withdrew their support, forcing the monks to leave. The church and convent were built by Francisco de la Piedra, a master stonemason. The architectural complex is well preserved, due to recent restoration. The church, attached to the Castle of San Gregorio, has a Latin cross plan and has a central

nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

with tiercerons, a wide

dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...

and a beautiful

portal Portal may refer to: Arts and entertainment Gaming * ''Portal'' (series), a series of video games developed by Valve ** ''Portal'' (video game), a 2007 video game, the first in the series ** '' Portal 2'', the 2011 sequel ** '' Portal Stori ...

. A classic

polychrome Polychrome is the "practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." The term is used to refer to certain styles of architecture, pottery, or sculpture in multiple colors. When looking at artworks and ...

choir is preserved under which there is a

baptismal font A baptismal font is an Church architecture, ecclesiastical architectural element, which serves as a receptacle for baptismal water used for baptism, as a part of Christian initiation for both rites of Infant baptism, infant and Believer's bapti ...

from

medieval times In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and t ...

. The Church was a

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christianity, Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest#Christianity, priest, often termed a parish pries ...

for many years under the patronage of the House of Medrano, Lords of San Gregorio. The

cloister A cloister (from Latin , "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open Arcade (architecture), arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle (architecture), quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cat ...

consists of two arcaded buildings at an angle and is paved with pebble stones in the traditional style of the great houses of

. It is now used for special events and wedding ceremonies.

Marriage

Medrano Coat of Arms of the Castle of San Gregorio

Diego López de Medrano married Magdalena Bravo de Lagunas in 1476. Magdalena Bravo de Lagunas came from

Berlanga de Duero Berlanga de Duero is a municipality located in the province of Soria, in the autonomous region of Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2017 census (conducted by the INE), the municipality has a population of 902 inhabitants. Geography Berla ...

and

in the Kingdom of Castile and was the daughter of Garci Bravo de Lagunas,

of Atienza and

, and his wife Catalina Núñez de Cienfuegos. Magdalena Bravo de Lagunas was the great-great-granddaughter of

Alonso Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno Alonso is a Spanish name of Germanic origin that is a Castilian variant of ''Adalfuns''. The original Visigothic name ''Alfonso'' suffered the phonetic change of the phoneme /f/ into the mute /h/ in the Early Middle Ages (around 9th Century), w ...

, progenitor of the Dukes of Medina-Sidonia. His wife was also the first cousin of the

comuneros Comunero may refer to: * Revolt of the Comuneros, a rebellion in Castile in 1520–1521 * Revolt of the Comuneros (Paraguay), a revolt in Paraguay in 1721–1735 * Revolt of the Comuneros (New Granada) The Revolt of the Comuneros was a p ...

captain of

Segovia Segovia ( , , ) is a city in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It is the capital and most populated municipality of the Province of Segovia. Segovia is located in the Meseta central, Inner Pl ...

, Juan Bravo de Lagunas y Mendoza.

Maternal majorat

The will of Magdalena Bravo de Lagunas was written in Atienza and dated December 1, 1527, preserved in the Archive of the Dukes of Villahermosa, and was opened on July 18, 1531, a few days after Magdalena's death. According to her will, the children who were still alive and had the right to their mother's inheritance in 1527 were Diego López de Medrano, Garcí Bravo de Medrano, Catalina and Isabel de Medrano. After her husband's death, Magdalena was received as the Lady of the Queen's Palace, with her daughter Catalina de Medrano, the latter appearing constantly within the retinue of the king. The maternal majorat was founded on July 4, 1504, in

, in favor of Magdalena's second son

, head of the House of Bravo in

Children

The history of Diego López de Medrano and Magdalena Bravo's children is traced through Magdalena's will, dictated in

on December 1, 1527, and preserved in the Archive of the Dukes of Villahermosa. This document reveals that at least three of their children went to

Salamanca University The University of Salamanca () is a public research university in Salamanca, Spain. Founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX, it is the oldest university in the Hispanic world and the fourth oldest in the world in continuous operation. It ha ...

. They had numerous children: * Diego López de Medrano, heir to the paternal estate, and to the fortress of San Gregorio, near Soria. He was born on July 30, 1477. He died after 1531. He married to Francisca de Vinuesa. *

, heir to the maternal estate, was born on November 20, 1478. * Francisco de Medrano, born on May 15, 1481, the date of his death unknown. * María Bravo de Medrano, born on May 9, 1492, a nun in Soria, according to the will of her sister Catalina. * Leonor de Medrano, the other nun sister, was born on June 14, 1483. *

, born in Atienza on August 9, 1484, first female professor at the University of Salamanca, died in 1527. * Luis de Medrano, rector of the University of Salamanca from 1507-1511, born on November 9, 1485, and died before 1527. * Isabel Bravo de Medrano, born on January 6, 1487, and died after 1531. *

Catalina de Medrano Catalina de Medrano (15th century – 2 September 1547) was a wealthy noblewoman from the House of Medrano, a supplier of fine cloth for the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, a Businessperson, businesswoman, the widow of the Lieutenant Governor of Hav ...

, born on October 31, 1479, and died without children, in Atienza, on December 2, 1541, being buried in San Francisco.

Luisa de Medrano

Lucio Marineo Siculo Lucio Marineo Siculo (Vizzini, 1444 or 1445 – Spain, 1533) was a Sicily, Sicilian Humanism, humanist, historian and poet, known as a prominent figure of the Spanish Renaissance. He first taught Greek and Latin literature in Palermo. He moved ...

chaplain A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...

and royal

chronicle A chronicle (, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events ...

r of King

Ferdinand Ferdinand is a Germanic name composed of the elements "journey, travel", Proto-Germanic , abstract noun from root "to fare, travel" (PIE , "to lead, pass over"), and "courage" or "ready, prepared" related to Old High German "to risk, ventu ...

and Queen

Isabella Isabella may refer to: People and fictional characters * Isabella (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Isabella (surname), including a list of people Places United States * Isabella, Alabama, an unincorpo ...

, wrote a

letter Letter, letters, or literature may refer to: Characters typeface * Letter (alphabet), a character representing one or more of the sounds used in speech or none in the case of a silent letter; any of the symbols of an alphabet * Letterform, the g ...

to Diego's daughter

, the first female professor in

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

and

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

at the University of Salamanca. Part of it reads:

''You are not only learned and eloquent, but also beautiful and charming, surpassing all the Spanish men in eloquence in the Latin language. O happy parents who have given birth to such a daughter! You, my dearest girl, owe much to the Almighty God, who has bestowed great talents upon you, and also to your parents, who have not assigned you to the ordinary duties of women, nor to the unpleasant toils of the body, which are quickly destroyed, but have freed you for the pursuit of the most illustrious studies and arts, and have consecrated you to eternal memory.''

Diego López de Medrano

Diego's namesake son and heir, Diego López de Medrano y Bravo de Lagunas, married Francisca de Vinuesa. Together, they had two sons: * Diego López de Medrano y Vinuesa * García de Medrano y Vinuesa

Diego López de Medrano y Vinuesa

Diego López de Medrano y Vinuesa, Lord of San Gregorio, was the ''mayordomo mayor'' (High Steward) to Empress Isabel, wife of

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) ...

. Diego López de Medrano y Vinuesa was the father of: * Diego López de Medrano, Alcaide of Aranjuez, and the ''

Caballerizo Mayor The Caballerizo mayor (Great Equerry) was the Officer of the Royal Household and Heritage of the Crown of Spain. This role included oversight of the trips, the mews, and the hunt of the King of Spain. Regime during the 16th to 18th centuries ...

'' (Chief Equerry) to Prince

Philip Philip, also Phillip, is a male name derived from the Macedonian Old Koine language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominen ...

(the future Philip II of Spain) * Francisco de Medrano, who served as

accountant An accountant is a practitioner of accounting or accountancy. Accountants who have demonstrated competency through their professional associations' certification exams are certified to use titles such as Chartered Accountant, Chartered Certif ...

and

treasurer A treasurer is a person responsible for the financial operations of a government, business, or other organization. Government The treasury of a country is the department responsible for the country's economy, finance and revenue. The treasure ...

to Prince Carlos, son of Philip II. On 21 May 1550, Diego López de Medrano, a resident and

regidor A regidor (plural: ''regidores'') is a member of a council of municipalities in Spain and Latin America. Portugal also used to have the same office of ''regedor''. Mexico In Mexico, an ayuntamiento (municipal council) is composed of a municipa ...

of Soria and Lord of San Gregorio, pursued a legal case against the council of Gallinero. The dispute centered on the price of

meat Meat is animal Tissue (biology), tissue, often muscle, that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted and farmed other animals for meat since prehistory. The Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of vertebrates, including chickens, sheep, ...

supplies for the house of San Gregorio. Diego López de Medrano is the ancestor of Francisco Antonio de Agurto y Salcedo Medrano Zúñiga, 1st Marquess of Gastañaga, who served as Governor and Captain General of the Habsburg Netherlands. He was the son of Catalina de Salcedo Medrano and the great–grandson of Diego López de Medrano y Zúñiga, the Lord of the ancestral House of San Gregorio with spiritual and temporal domain, and Maria Melchora Vallejo y Aguirre.

García de Medrano y Vinuesa

He was the father of his second son Garcia de Medrano y Vinuesa, who married Catalina de Castejon in November 1548. Together they had a son,

, born in 1550. A table of genealogy exists for García de Medrano, it begins with himself, as the brother of the Lord of San Gregorio. It ends with his seventh grandson, Martín de Castejón Medrano e Ibáñez de Leguizamón, the second

Marquess A marquess (; ) is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German-language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman with the rank of a marquess or the wife (or wid ...

Velamazán Velamazán is a municipality located in the province of Soria, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating popu ...

.{{Cite web , title=Tabla genealógica de la familia de Medrano, vecina de Soria. anuscrito, url=https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/344/https___hispana_mcu_es_lod_oai_bibliotecadigital_rah_es_53002_ent0 , access-date=2024-08-04 , website=www.europeana.eu , language=en-GB

Confirmation of nobility

On 1 September 1552,

issued the ''Carta Ejecutoria de Hidalguía'' to confirm the noble status of the Medrano family. The document presents detailed genealogical records supporting their claim to nobility. Created in

Valladolid Valladolid ( ; ) is a Municipalities of Spain, municipality in Spain and the primary seat of government and ''de facto'' capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Castile and León. It is also the capital of the pr ...

and Arenas, Spain, it concludes with official signatures and seals affirming their noble status. It also contains copies of earlier documents issued in the names of the Countess Juana Pimentel, King Henry III,

Álvaro de Luna Álvaro de Luna y Fernández de Jarava (between 1388 and 13902 June 1453), was a Castilian statesman, favourite of John II of Castile. He served as Constable of Castile and as Grand Master of the Order of Santiago. He earned great influence in ...

, and others.{{Cite web , title=Carta ejecutoria: Carta ejecutoria de hidalguia a pedimento de Bernardino de Medrano, Pedro López de Medrano y Francisco de Medrano by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, 1500-1558 , 1552-09-01 · Special Collections and Archives , url=https://library.missouri.edu/specialcollections/items/show/1673 , access-date=2024-07-20 , website=library.missouri.edu , language=en-US Through a comprehensive presentation of genealogical records and legal proceedings, it establishes the noble status of Bernardino de Medrano, Pedro López de Medrano, and Francisco de Medrano. The opening lines honor Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.

Siege of Málaga and death (1487)

As a

, Don Diego López de Medrano and his father in-law Garcí Bravo died in the Queen's service at the Siege of Málaga in June 1487. The Chronicle of the Catholic Monarchs by Don Juan M. Carriazo confirmed the news that Garci Bravo de Lagunas and Diego López de Medrano had died in battle. Juan Bravo's wife Catalina Núñez de Cienfuegos, on the occasion of the death of her husband and son-in-law in that action, received a heartfelt letter of condolences and gratitude from the Catholic Monarchs on June 7, 1487. The death of Diego López de Medrano during the siege of Malaga in 1487 is well-recorded.''LUISA DE MEDRANO, Y DE ATIENZA (Biblioteca Virtual de Castilla-La Mancha. Arriaca. 1/12/2012.)'' by Tomás Gismera Velasco Page 12 https://ceclmdigital.uclm.es/pdf.raw?query=id:0001785745&page=12&lang=en&view=prensa Mosén Diego de Valera writes about this battle:

''"And the Christians had received very great damage at the beginning and more than fifty of them were killed and others wounded. Among them, three principal men were killed: Garci Bravo, governor of Atienza; Diego de Medrano, his son-in-law; and Gabriel de Sotomayor, brave knights of noble lineage."''''Chronicle of the Catholic Monarchs, edition and study'' by Don Juan M. Carriazo, Madrid, 1927, page 253

Burial in the convent of San Francisco

Diego López de Medrano y Vergara died in battle and was buried in the convent of San Francisco in

, together with his wife Dona Magdalena Bravo de Lagunas (d. 1531) and later his daughter Catalina de Medrano was buried alongside them (d. 1541).Tomás Gismera Velasco, Guadalajara in Memory, New Alcarria Newspaper, Guadalajara, August 7, 2020

References

{{reflist {{authority control {{DEFAULTSORT:Medrano y Salvadores, Diego López de 15th-century births 1487 deaths 15th-century Castilian nobility