Jaime Vélaz De Medrano Y Echauz

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz (1475 – 16th century) was a nobleman from the House of Medrano, a Knight of Navarre, royal guard of King John III of Navarre, captain of the kings standing army, alcaide of the Castle of Maya and mayor of Amaiur-Maya. Medrano became one of the leading defenders of the independent Navarrese crown against the Spanish conquest of Iberian Navarre from 1512 to 1522. Jaime Vélaz de Medrano is believed to have served as the alcaide of Maya Castle from 2 October 1521, to 19 July 1522.

Personal life

Jaime was the son of the noble Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goñi, Lord of Iguzquiza and Learza and Elvira de Echauz y Beaumont, daughter of Carlos, Viscount of Baigner ( Baigorri), and Juana Margarita de Beaumont. He is also the brother of Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, Lord of Igúzquiza.

Maternal heritage

His grandmother was the sister of Luis de Beaumont, the first Count of Lerín, and the aunt of Louis de Beaumont, 2nd Count de Lerín. Through her, Jaime is the maternal great-great-great-grandson of king Philip III of Navarre and Queen Joan II of Navarre by way of their son Prince Louis, Duke of Durazzo.

Background

Jaime is a direct descendant of the regent of Navarre, Juan Martínez de Medrano, Lord of Sartaguda and Viana. Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz and his son Luis Vélaz de Medrano are described as an exemplary model of knights and of unconditional loyalty, who defended the castle of Maya:

...in this last act of resistance to the power of Carlos V. The memory of these martyrs of Navarrese liberty, models of fidelity and knights, must be revered and held as one of the purest glories of that nobility.

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano was born in the Palace of Velaz de Medrano around 1475. The Medrano family are a rich and warrior family of the Navarrese high nobility, Jaime's life spanned crucial battles and political turmoil as he fought to keep the Kingdom of Navarre independent. Known as Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Etxauz (Echauz), he became a symbol of Navarrese identity. According to the Editorial Mintzoa, driven by profound loyalty, and marked by virtue, Medrano's enduring legacy is his unwavering resistance to Spanish conquest, embodying the spirit of Navarre's struggle for sovereignty. The Medrano lineage produced knights of great antiquity and nobility. According to N.L.B. in ''La Silva Curiosa'' (1583), The Medrano lineage is recognized as "noble princes, with blood of noble ancestors," whose famed virtue is well known from the men it produced.

Military career (1507–1521)

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano was primarily a noble trained for warfare, deeply rooted in the Agramontese tradition, and even served in the personal royal guard of King John III of Navarre. Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz was a key figure in the Kingdom of Navarre who directly experienced the major military events that occurred, Medrano was present in all of them. He was ordained a knight in Navarre around 1496 (roughly 21 years old).

Captain of the ''Hermandad''

Recognized for his leadership, he was named captain of the Hermandad, the kingdom's standing army, by the Cortes in 1507.

Representative of an independent Kingdom of Navarre

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano consistently represented the independence of Navarre and loyalty to its crown, rejecting any offers from Fernando el Católico that would acknowledge him as the king of Navarre. He emerged as a charismatic leader of the Navarrese resistance, leading his own army to defend Upper Navarre's last bastion. Jaime Vélaz de Medrano raised an army with his relatives and participated in the uprising of Estella-Lizarra in October 1512.

Siege of Estella (October 1512)

Pedro de Arbizu, a seventy-year-old nobleman from Estella, described Medrano and his relatives at the siege of Estella as follows:

When the city of Estella was under King John of Albret, Don Francés de Beaumont went there in the name of the Catholic King to take it, because it had rebelled for King John against the Catholic King. While the fortress of the said city remained under King John, Jaime Vélaz de Medrano descended from it with troops to rally men in the city, leading it to rebel in the name of King John. Since the city and most of its residents, including Pedro Íñiguez de Medrano, had allied with Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, they moved toward Nuestra Señora del Puy to prevent and resist Don Francés from entering the city. During the skirmish, this witness saw Pedro Íñiguez de Medrano, as a brave man, defending the city’s entrance against the aforementioned forces. He saw that he was struck in the forehead with a thrown lance, from which he died.

Attempts to reclaim upper Navarre

He would also attempt to recapture Pamplona in 1512, defended Amaiur-Maya the following year, then went into exile. After 1512, Navarre was divided into two, with Upper Navarre a part of the nascent Kingdom of Spain and Lower Navarre an independent kingdom (incorporated into the Kingdom of France in 1620). He returned with the marshal and narrowly escaped the disaster of Isaba in 1516. He once again returned, this time with Lesparre in 1521, where he would defend Estella.

Battle of Noáin

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz also fought in the important battle of Noáin on 30 June 1521 with his close friend and comrade Juan Remírez de Baquedano, lord of San Martín de Ameskoa, who perished in battle in Irun.

On 30 June 1521, the Franco-Navarrese forces led by Asparrot suffered a pivotal defeat on the plains of Noain near Iruña/Pamplona, leading to the retreat of King Enrique de Albret's loyalists, including Jaime.

Mayor and Alcaide of Amaiur-Maya (2 October 1521)

That autumn, the defeated troops, under Marshal Bonnivet, reclaimed parts of the Navarrese Pyrenees, culminating in the 29 September 1521 siege of Amaiur Castle. On 2 October 1521, Jaime Vélaz de Medrano was appointed as mayor and alcaide of the town, castle and government in Amaiur-Maya.The battle of Amaiur-Maya in 1522 marked the height of his career.

The battle of Amaiur-Maya (1522)

Background

Since the mid-15th century, Navarre experienced significant instability regarding its throne, leading to a split among its nobility into two opposing factions during the Navarrese Civil War (1451–1455) and the War of the Bands: the Beaumonts and the Agramonts. This division had widespread effects both within Navarre and in the broader Basque Country, leaving the region vulnerable to external influences.

Agramont

In the early 16th century, the Agramontese faction was represented by prominent figures such as:

* Marshal Pierre de Navarre, Viscount of Muruzubal and Val d’Ilzarbe
* Alphonse de Peralta, Count of Sant-Esteban
* Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, Lord of Learza and Iguzquiza, among others.

They were joined by notable lords and viscounts, including the Baron of Ezpeleta and various ''merinos'' and alcaides like Pierre de Peralta of Tudela.

Beaumont

In contrast, the Beaumont faction, supporting the constable, included close family and principal captains such as Charles, Philippe, and Jean de Beaumont, his son Louis, and his son-in-law Jean de Mendoza, along with other distinguished lords and barons from regions like Ostabat, Monteagudo, and Béhorléguy.https://www.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus/PDFAnlt/riev/03/03046062.pdf

Alcaide of Amauir-Maya

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano served as the alcaide of Maya Castle from 2 October 1521, to 19 July 1522. For ten months, Jaime ruled over the Castle of Maya. In the Baztán valley's fortress of Maya, 200 Agramontese knights and 8 or 9 nobles led by Jaime Vélaz de Medrano defended the Castle of Amaiur-Maya against the forces sent by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Medrano's entourage included his son Luis Vélaz de Medrano, the brothers Miguel de Jaso and Juan de Azpilicueta, along with their cousin Juan de Olloqui, vigorously they defended an independent Navarre.

By mid-1522, reports from Pamplona revealed that an army was being gathered with the main goal of recapturing Amaiur-Maya. The Abbot of Urdax informed the castellan, Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, of intelligence received from his informants and urged him to stand firm in the defense of the stronghold. On March 13, outposts along the Baztán border were abandoned after the troops suffered a defeat in their unsuccessful attempt to seize Doneztebe, further constricting the siege around Baztán.

Arrival of the Viceroy

On July 3, 1522, the Viceroy's artillery assembled at the Taconera field in Pamplona. Two days later, after bolstering their forces with Castilian and Beamontese troops, they marched toward Baztán, led by the Viceroy, Count of Miranda. On the 5th of July, they arrived in Lantz despite the difficult road conditions. They paused for several days to secure supplies, clear the mountain passes for artillery transport, and assemble the remaining troops joining the main force, which expanded to 1,600 cavalry and 10,000 infantry.

Siege of Amaiur-Maya

On July 10, 1522, Jaime Vélaz de Medrano began resisting the forces of the Viceroy, an army equipped with heavy artillery. Historians note that the tenacity of the Navarrese was remarkable: enduring 9 days of relentless bombardment using rudimentary weapons like stones, crossbows, and possibly a musket, along with tar. Despite facing a force of five thousand fighters equipped with 16 cannons and 300 ladders to seize the castle, they displayed uncommon resolve. When the Spanish viceroy expressed surprise at the fierce resistance of the Amaiur defenders, the Count of Lerín, hailing from Beaumont, remarked, "those, my lord, are Navarrese."

Their breach into the fortress was facilitated by a Guipuzcoan named Mendizabal, who planted explosives on one of the castle's towers. Otherwise, their entry would have been impossible.

By 19 July 1522, Jaime was forced to negotiate a surrender to the new viceroy, the Count of Miranda, and his ally, the Count of Lerín, Don Luis de Beaumont. This surrender marked the final conflict between the Beaumont and Agramont factions, concluding a sixty-year feud that had fueled devastating civil wars and led to the fall of the Old Pyrenean Kingdom.

Casualties

The conflict resulted in numerous casualties on both sides. Medical supplies were sent to a field hospital to treat hundreds for severe injuries, including burns and injuries from destroyed artillery. In the aftermath, instructions were issued to compensate certain individuals with 1 ducat each for burying the dead at the Amaiur church.

Additionally, Diego de Medrano was paid for provisioning 39 prisoners, while the remaining captives had perished in the battle. These prisoners were subsequently transferred to the San Nicolas prison in Pamplona, where they faced strict penalties. Other prisoners were sent to Atienza, under the governance of Garcí Bravo de Medrano, alcaide of the castle of Atienza. Despite the Viceroy Count of Miranda's efforts to protect them, some accounts report Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz and his son Luis were found deceased later that month, suspected to have been poisoned, however there is limited information to verify this.''Euskonews'' https://www.euskonews.eus/0579zbk/gaia57901es.html

Obelisk of Amaiur-Maya

An obelisk was designed to commemorate the battle of Amaiur-Maya on top of where the castle of Maya used to be. Carved on the monolith are the names of: Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, the castle's Alcaide, his son Luis Vélaz de Medrano, Miguel de Jaso, brother of San Francisco Javier, Juan de Olloqui, Juan de Azpiliketa, Luis de Mauleón, Victor de Mauleón, and other Navarrese.

After the Spanish conquest of Iberian Navarre (1512–24), Lower Navarre was restored to the rule of the native king, Henry II of Navarre. Its capitals were Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Saint-Palais.

Letters of Jaime Vélaz de Medrano

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano's correspondence emerged at a time when Navarre had just undergone the battle of Noáin in June 1521, and except for two letters from between 1500 and 1512, all the rest are from November 1521 to seven days before the fall of the castle of Amaiur. The letters are important because "they talk about war plans, the positions of the enemies, the feelings of the resistors, where they are."

Letter from the Admiral of France

A letter from the lord of Bonnivet, Admiral of France, to Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, alcaide of Maya, informs him of the dispatch of the comptroller to pay the garrison of the castle, to be reduced to 100 soldiers, and of the shipment of provisions.

Letters from Clement Le Jarc and the lord of Saint André

Another letter from Clement Le Jarc to Don Jaime Vélaz de Medrano informs him of the dispatch of 20 escudos in payment for the cider and requesting a report of the provisions received. A letter dated 30 November 1521, this time from the Lord of Saint André, lieutenant of Guyenne, to Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, informs him of his departure to Bayonne with the Lord of Bonnivet, Admiral of France, and the needs for the defense of the fortress of Maya.

Letter from the Vicar of Espinal

One letter dated 29 December 1521 from Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, mayor of Maya, reveals he threatened Miguel de Espinal, vicar of Espinal, to reveal the origin of the false rumor about the castle being put up for sale for 4,000 ducats, however the vicar of Espinal denied his responsibility for the false rumor of the sale of the castle and responded to his threats on 30 December 1521.

Letters from King Henry II of Navarre

There is even a letter dated 26 March 1522 from King Henry II of Navarre to Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, regarding the oath of fidelity of the inhabitants of Cinco Villas, Baztán and Tierra de Lerín and to request an end to mistreatment. Another letter from Henry II of Navarre to Jaime Vélaz de Medrano on 26 March 1522 informs him of the dispatch of the Lord of Gelás, his chief squire, with news on his behalf.

Letters from the Abbot of Urdax

A letter dated 7 April 1522 from Juan de Orbara, abbot of Urdax, to Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, seeks to obtain information about the concentration of troops in Pamplona. Juan de Orbara also requested that supplies be sent to Miguel de Javier, lord of Javier, and to the garrison of the church of Ciga.

A crucial letter dated 6 July 1522 from Juan de Orbara, abbot of Urdax, to Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, informs him of the departure from Pamplona of the army led by the Count of Miranda, Viceroy of Navarre, and Luis de Beaumont, Count of Lerín.

Letter from the Lady of Ezpeleta

Jaime's relative Juana de Echauz, Lady of Ezpeleta, wrote to him and informed Medrano of the imminent attack by the Spanish and the arrival of the substitute for the Lord of Saint André, lieutenant of Guyenne.

Letter from the Lord of Javier

Before the battle of Amaiur-Maya, Jaime received letters from Miguel de Javier, Lord of Javier, warning him about the leakage of information regarding their positions by the wine carriers.

Confiscation of the letters

Following the siege of Amaiur, the Spanish military confiscated Medrano's letters to track down and penalize their authors, as notes on the documents suggest. Historian Peio Monteano explains that these letters were later placed in the care of Juan Rena, an army paymaster who later became the bishop of Pamplona.

Rena was tasked with overseeing the assets seized from those who resisted the Spanish conquest. After his death, by imperial decree, these documents were moved to the Chamber of Accounts’ archive. There, amidst extensive administrative records, the letters remained overlooked for almost four centuries, as detailed in Monteano's analysis accompanying the correspondence.

Family background

Jaime was a descendant of the ancient and noble House of Medrano, a family of '' ricoshombres'' and perpetual lords of Igúzquiza. Their ancestral seat was the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano in the Kingdom of Navarre, and they also held a seat among the nobility in the ''Cortes'' of Navarre. At the door of their palace enclosure you can see the noble coat of arms of the Vélaz de Medrano family.Retrieved on site from the ornamental plaque commemorating the palace of Vélaz de Medrano in Igúzquiza, Navarre. Courtesy of the Parliament of Navarre His father Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goñi, Lord of Learza, Igúzquiza, Agos and Aguinano, Alcaide of the castle of Monjardin, was an important member of the royal Navarrese court during the reign of John III of Navarre and Catherine of Navarre.

16th century

For centuries, the Vélaz de Medrano family, Lords of Igúzquiza, were tasked by Navarrese monarchs with defending the Santesteban de la Solana valley from their palace, which also functioned as an armory (Cabo de Armería). After the 1512 invasion of Navarre, Jaime and his brother Juan Vélaz de Medrano, played key roles in the ''Merindad Uprising'' and the Insurrection of Navarre, rallying their kin, distributing arms, and assembling a small army. In 1521, during Navarre's brief restoration, their fortress once again became a stronghold for the legitimist cause. Ultimately, after Navarre's defeat, Medrano's Santacara, Monjardin, and Maya castles were captured and heavily damaged by the invaders.

Royal ties

Jaime and his family were connected to the royal dynasties of Europe, maintaining ties with both the Navarrese and French monarchs. Their influence became particularly significant in 1328 when Charles IV of France, the last French ruler from the House of Capet died. Jaime's direct ancestor, Juan Martínez de Medrano y Aibar, was elected by the Navarrese ''Cortes'' as regent of the kingdom while Queen Juana II, who was in Paris, was unable to assume the throne. The Medrano family intermarried with the descendants of Íñigo Arista, the first King of Navarre and founder of the royal House of Íñiguez; Henry I of Navarre from the House of Blois; Juana II of Navarre from the royal House of Capet, and Philip III of Navarre from the House of Évreux; as well as with descendants of the kings of Castile, León, and Portugal.

Noble titles

Jaime's family was granted several noble hereditary titles, including but not limited to: Barons of Mahave, Vizcounts of Azpa, Marquess of Espinal, Marques of Vessolla, and Marquess of Fontellas.

Ancestry

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz was the son of the noble Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goñi and Elvira de Echauz y Beaumont. He was a descendant of the distinguished and noble lineage of Medrano in Igúzquiza, first established by his family progenitor in the ancient Palace of Vélaz de Medrano. The Medrano family is a very ancient house of noble origin, it is found in different times and in different places. Many principles are attributed to them by authors and historians:

for its antiquity, its splendor, for their military prowess and virtue and for every other value of chivalry that prospered with this family, in great numbers, magnificent and generous.

Paternal ancestry

He was the paternal grandson of Ferran Vélaz de Medrano and Elvira de Goñi. His paternal grandfather was the Lord of Learza and Iguzquiza, and a ricohombre of Navarre. He rebuilt the castle of Veláz de Medrano into a fortified palace, which was famous for the splendor of the festivities held by Ferran Vélaz de Medrano and his children and grandchildren, which were often attended by the Navarrese Monarchs themselves.

Jaime is the paternal great-grandson of Juan Vélaz de Medrano, fourth of the name, lord of Igúzquiza, Arguiñano, Arzoz, Learza, Artazu, Zabal, Orendáin, Alcaide of the castle of Monjardin and Viana, royal chamberlain of King Charles III of Navarre and John II of Aragon and Navarre. Juan Velaz de Medrano IV accompanied Carlos III to France in the year 1397.

Jaime is the paternal great-great-grandson of Álvar Diáz de Medrano y Almoravid, Lord of Iguzquiza, ricohombre of Navarre. In 1380 he was Alcaide of Monjardin Castle, and the following two years he was listed among the Mesnaderos of the king.

Jaime is the paternal great-great-great-grandson of Juan Velaz de Medrano y Sanchez and Bona de Almoravid. Juan Velaz de Medrano, third of the name, was the alcaide of Viana and Dicastillo.

Jaime is the paternal great-great-great-great-grandson of the noble Baron Juan Martínez de Medrano y Aibar, Lord of Sartaguda, Arroniz, Villatuerta, knight, lieutenant and regent of the Kingdom of Navarre in 1328, while awaiting the arrival of his Queen Joan II and her husband Philip III de Évreux.

Maternal ancestry

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz was the great-great-great-grandson of Philip III, King of Navarre and Queen Joan II of Navarre. Jaime was the maternal grandson of the 15th Viscount of Baigorri, Carlos de Echauz, from the House of Echauz, and Juana Margaret de Beaumont.

His maternal grandmother Juana Margaret de Beaumont was the daughter of Carlos de Beaumont, of the House of Beaumont, and Ana de Curton. Juana Margaret de Beaumont was the granddaughter of Prince Louis of Navarre, Duke of Durazzo, son of King Philip III of Navarre, of the House of Évreux, which is a minor branch of the Capetian dynasty.

Despite being linked to the House of Beaumont, Jaime and his brother aligned with the Agramontese faction. However, his maternal grandfather, the 15th Viscount of Baigorri, participated in the unstable political situation in Navarre, which evolved into the conflict between the Beaumontes side and the Agramonteses.

Due to the marriage of the 15th Viscount of Baigorri to Juana Margarita de Beaumont, sister of the head of the Beaumontese, Louis de Beaumont, 1st Count of Lerin; the House of Echauz supported the Beaumontes side, in favor of the Prince of Viana, Carlos de Trastámara. After the conquest of Upper Navarre, by Ferdinand the Catholic, the viscounts of Baigorri withdrew.

Siblings

Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz was the younger brother of Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, sixth of the same name, Lord of Learza, Igúzquiza and Agos, alcaide of the castles of Del Castillo, Santacara and Monjardin, in addition to being the major knight of King John III of Navarre, who gave him in 1496 the property that belonged to Langarot de Yaniz, who was declared a traitor.

The Prince of Viana granted the Santacara estate and its royal castle to Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, a member of the Beaumont family. In 1500, Juan Vélaz de Medrano resided at the castle for eight to ten years, remaining loyal to the Navarrese monarchs. In October 1512, he rebelled against the invading forces of Fernando el Católico from Castile and Aragon. Juan Vélaz de Medrano valiantly resisted the Castilian conquest and, following the successful takeover of Navarre by Fernando el Católico, he followed his rightful king into exile in France. Stationed in France, Jaime, Juan and Julián Íñiguez de Medrano participated in the effort to reclaim the Navarrese throne.

Juan Vélaz de Medrano assumed command of Santacara Castle, where he had been since 1500. The castle fell to Castilian forces in December 1512. As noted by Jerónimo Zurita in the Annals of the Crown of Aragon, several castles including those of Sancho Abarca, Mélida, and Santacara, among others, were demolished in December 1512 after Navarre's unsuccessful bid for independence.

His brother Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz married with Dona Ana de Mauleon y Navarra, daughter of Landron de Mauleon y Claver and Juana de Navarra y Enriquez de Lacarra, a descendant of King Henry I of Navarre and King Charles II of Navarre.

After the conquest of Navarre, the king and queen decreed restrictions on travel for several notable figures, including mossen Juan Velaz de Medrano. He was prohibited from visiting Pamplona, Puente-la-Reina, and Huarte-Araquil, among other locations under the constable's control, except for significant events such as the entry and coronation of Their Highnesses in Pamplona.

Modern analysis and legacy

2025

In recent historical fiction and scholarship, Jaime Vélaz de Medrano has been reinterpreted as a symbolic figure of Navarrese resistance during the kingdom's decline in the early 16th century. Pamplona-born author Josean Beloqui, in his 2025 novel ''Capitanes del Reino'', characterizes Jaime as the "Braveheart of Navarre," portraying him as both a witness and a protagonist of the kingdom's final efforts to maintain its sovereignty. His involvement in decisive battles such as Noáin and Amaiur situates him at the heart of Navarre's last stand against external domination.

Author Josean Beloqui situates Jaime Vélaz de Medrano within the broader transformation of Europe from the medieval to the early modern era, marked by the rise of centralized monarchies, the printing press, and widespread ecclesiastical corruption. Like many nobles of his time, Jaime was caught in a turbulent shift that saw traditional privileges eroded amid growing state power. Rather than portraying him through simplistic moral lenses, Beloqui presents Jaime as a complex figure navigating a world of upheaval. His legacy, Beloqui argues, offers enduring relevance for modern reflections on identity, sovereignty, and the lessons of history.

2023

In 2023, the 500th anniversary of the battle of Amaiur-Maya was celebrated at an event held in the Parliament of Navarra. During the ceremony, the photobook Amaiur'' ''1522-2022''' and a facsimile of the 1922 photographic album were unveiled by Juantxo Agirre, the general secretary of the Aranzadi Society of Sciences. Additionally, engineer Iker Ibero presented a 3D recreation of the castle of Maya.

2022

Historian Peio Monteano Sorbet, in his 2022 study ''Jaime Vélaz, el capitán de Amaiur'', portrays Jaime Vélaz de Medrano as a central figure of Navarrese resistance during the Spanish conquest. Born around 1475 into a warrior lineage, Jaime dedicated his life to defending an independent Navarre. Though long obscured by history, Monteano characterizes him as a valiant and charismatic leader—loyal to his kings, uncompromising in his ideals, and ultimately sacrificing wealth, family, and life in defense of his homeland. While interpretations of his actions remain divided, Monteano emphasizes that Vélaz de Medrano personified the spirit of resistance more than any other, embodying a legacy of integrity, struggle, and fidelity to a cause.

Tributes

A folk-rock band of Basque origin known as Lur Barnea published a trilogy called "Amaiur" on 13 October 2022 in honor of Jaime and the battle of Amaiur-Maya, written by Aingeru Gorrotxategi.

Facsimile

Aritz Otazu, through his publishing house ''Mintzoa'', has released a facsimile edition of the previously unknown letters from the last defenders of Amaiur Castle, entitled "''The Letters from Amaiur in 1521-22''." They provide a first-person account of the events at Amaiur, offering valuable insights into the historical narrative of that period. Historian Peio Monteano provided an analysis of these documents, which reveal the sentiments of loyalty and national identity among the Navarrese during a tumultuous time marked by the battle of Noáin in 1521. This edition, limited to a hundred copies, reveals a pivotal moment in Navarrese history.

notarized and numbered, this collection of the personal correspondence of Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz has been preserved. Medrano provides historians with 51 letters authored by key legitimist figures such as the Lord of Xavier, the notaries of Etxalar and Elizondo, the son of Marshal Pedro de Navarra, the abbot of Urdax, Antonio de Peralta, and Henry II, King of Navarre, along with correspondence from France's leading lieutenants.

The letters are encased in a box featuring a gold-plated, metal-enriched coat of arms of Jaime Vélaz de Medrano. These letters, crucial historical records written by the figures themselves, are the sole surviving firsthand accounts from that era. Accompanying these letters, written in Béarnese, Occitan, French, and Old Spanish, is a book that includes research studies, transcriptions, and translations into both modern Spanish and Basque, documenting the Navarrese resistance.

Biography

*
JAIME VELAZ, EL CAPITÁN DE AMAIUR
' by Peio J. Monteano Sorbet

See also

* Viscounts of Azpa
* José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano
* Juan Martínez de Medrano y Aibar
* Marquessate of Fontellas
* Palace of Vélaz de Medrano

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jaime Velaz de Medrano y Echauz
15th-century nobility from the Kingdom of Navarre
16th-century nobility from the Kingdom of Navarre
1475 births