House of Medrano

The Shield of Medrano, Palace of Velaz de Medrano in Iguzquiza (A Goshawk lands on the hand of the Prince)

The House of Medrano is an ancient family of high nobility established in the Kingdom of Pamplona, and later, France, Castile, Aragon, Naples, and many other kingdoms. The family's progenitor was a Moorish Prince from the Caliphate of Cordoba, given the Christian name of Andrés Vélaz de Medrano in 979. This Prince settled at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano in Iguzquiza, Navarre, where the family has held lordship since ancient times.

Etymology

Corominas, vol. IV, p. 19 (41) first documents: “medranza ant.” [‘improvement in heredity', doc. From 1076 with ultracorrect spelling metranza, M. P., Orig., 184...] In other words, Menéndez Pidal is the first to cite a document in which a word that is close in meaning and form to Medrano appears.

The Gascon Rolls also give a variation: Moderano

Nebrija says: “Medrar: to improve. proficio, is” And Monlau, p. 329, (40): “Medrar, Corrupted from meliorar, formed from I. melior, the best, best thing; it is worth as much as improve, advance, prosper.” This is the exact meaning of Mosquera’s source and Caliph Abderramán's question: “does he improve his position, does he prosper?”

Origins

Medrano, the Sir-Name of a Noble Family in Spain, lineally descended from a Moorish Prince who was converted and baptized 800 years ago. The family had a prosperous branch in the kingdom of Castile, whose offspring have spread to various provinces, mainly in Aragon, Valencia and Andalusia. From this house came the Marquises of La Lapilla, the Counts of Torrubia and the Lords of Almarza and Fuenmayor. One of the illustrious sons of Medrano in Navarre was noted at the battle of Las Navas and took up arms: Gules Shield and the silver cross, figured as that of Calatrava.

Medrano is a very ancient house of noble origin. It is found in different times and in different places. Many are the principles that the researchers and authors gave of this family. The house for its antiquity, its splendor, for the military and virtue and for every other value of chivalry prospered in the past in great numbers, magnificent and generous.

The Palace of Velaz de Medrano: It is accessed through a rebuilt 16th century semicircular arch with marked voussoirs. This door opens onto the parade ground, one of whose corners is occupied by the ashlar palace and cushioned ashlar at the base.  In the southeast angle rises the cubic tower, also rebuilt in the 16th century, on a base of ashlar and the rest of brick. It has arrow slits and is covered in the upper area by machicolations to harass the enemy.  The rear part is the oldest and there is a square-shaped tower built in ashlar and increased in brick, with the wall opened by loopholes and a lowered arch.

Battered by time and by men, a large part of their noble and ancient estate of the Vélaz de Medrano family still stands, whose illustrious surname is legendarily derived from a Moorish Prince who, at the head of a powerful army, entered Navarre in the year 979.

Main Tower at the Palace of Velaz de Medrano

The strong house of this estate appears as an armory corporal in the official list of the Kingdom of Navarre.

“Medrano! What to say about Medrano? In times that destroy everything, man responds with images (Michel Tournier). Medrano is a name that comes with a coat of arms. They are all descendants of a common ancestor who was called Medrano. The origin of the surname Medrano is not a personification of chance. In truth, the Medranos have also written history, in the shadow of great characters; and the Medrano coat of arms are not enough to explain the reasons for your curiosity. All "Medrano" images, in the passage of time, symbolize the permanence of the Medrano in History."

“Since the inclusion of the lion element, which is the noblest of the figures together with the (falcon, goshawk or) eagle, means that, the family origin is very old; generally, we could think that the holders of such a symbol were related in some way to royalty. The enamels of the weapon of the Medrano family include the following values: Gold is the symbol of the Sun, origin of life, its spiritual characteristics correspond to faith, mercy, temperance, charity and justice, on the other hand said enamel points to the family with happiness, love, nobility and splendor, that is, it is the noblest of metals.” - The Heraldry Institute of Rome"

“The study of the family heraldic coat of arms "tells us" about those who formed the origin of the Medrano family, since that was its function, to manifest to the others its differential elements, since the inclusion of the castle element is the characteristic of the feudal domain, belonging to families with memory prior to the XI century, it is a symbol of authority, government and protection. The enamels of the Medrano arms proclaim the following values: Azure corresponds to the symbol of water, of the continuity of life, it is a color of nobility, beauty, chastity and fidelity, besides other virtues characterized the family, such as economic abundance, perseverance, luck, fame and the desire for victory."

Navarrese, Spanish and French hereditary titles under Medrano

The Medranos were Marquess of the following titles and with it, Grandee’s of Spain:

The Marquess of Tabeurniga, The Marquess of Fuente la Sol, The Marquess of Espinal, The Marquess of Fontellas, The Marquess of Canete (Grandee of Spain), The Marquess of Navamorcuende (Grandee of Spain), The Marquis of Medrano (French Peerage), The Marquess of las Nieves, The Marquess of La Lapilla, The Marquess of Haro, The Marquess of Villarías, The Marquess of Llano, The Marquess of Vessolla, The Marquess of Villamayor.

The Medrano’s were Counts of the following titles:

Spanish: Counts of Canete, Counts of Tabuerniga, Counts of Muruzábal, Counts of Guendulain, Viscounts of Val de Erro, Viscounts of Azpa, Counts of Ayanz, Counts of Torrubia, Counts of Amalin, Counts of Azpa, Counts of Mollina, Counts of la Cañada.

The Medrano’s were Lords of the following:

Navarrese and Spanish: Lords of Iguzquiza, Lords of Sartaguda, Lords of Arroniz, Lords of Villatuerta, Lords of Learza, Lords of Fuenmayor, Lords of Almarza, Lords of San Gregorio, Lords of Valdeosera, Lords of Agos, Lords of Aguinano, Lords of Orendain, Lords of Zabala, Lords of Eriete, Lords of Elio, Lords of Vessolla, Lords of Esparza, Lords of Artieda, Lords of Bértiz, Lords of the Village of Castle of the Rock, Lords of Berriozar, Lords of Tajonar, Lords of Luzaide, Lords of Torres, Lords of Beriáin, Lords of Irurozqui, Lords of Zugazqui, Lords of Alduides, Lords of Orcoyen, etc.

French: Lords of Mauhic, Lords of Autol, Lords of Yerga, Lords of Verlus, Lords of Laguian, Lords of Mandillori, lords of Marquefave, Lords of Maumusson, Lords of Coudret, Lords of Laguian, Lords of Coladrey, Lords of Gouts, Lords of Mont-Pardiac.

The Medranos have held the Pechas and Valleys of the followings locations:

Navarrese: Pechas of Muez, Pechas of Mendoza, Pechas of Legaria, Valley of Allin, Valley of Santesteban de la Solana, Pechas of Uli, Pechas of Mugueta, Pechas of Imirizaldu, Pechas of Ozcoidi, Pechas of Artajo, Pechas of Arzoz, Pechas of Arguiñano.

Regents (1328-1705)

1. Don Juan Martinez de Medrano - Regent of Navarre for Queen Juana II (1328-1329): In the 14th century, Don Juan Martinez de Medrano served as the regent of Navarre for Queen Juana II. During his regency from March 1328 to March 1329, he took on the responsibility of governing the kingdom on behalf of the queen, who was absent in Paris at the time.
2. Garcia de Medrano - Double Regency (1645): Garcia de Medrano held two regencies during his time. He was appointed as the Regent of the Audience of Seville, which gave him judicial authority in that region. Additionally, on January 17, 1645, he was elected as the Regent of Navarre for King Charles II. This meant that he had significant power and responsibilities both as a regional regent and as a regent for a specific kingdom.
3. Don Pedro Antonio Medrano Albelda - Regent of the Royal Council of Navarre (1702-1705): In the early 18th century, Don Pedro Antonio Medrano Albelda served as the regent of the Royal Council of Navarre for King Philip V. This position made him the highest executive authority in Navarre during the time when the king was absent. He governed and represented the region on behalf of King Philip V.

The Medrano family's long-standing involvement in the regency of Navarre is well known. Their repeated appointments as regents reflect the trust and confidence placed in the family's capabilities and loyalty to the monarchy. Such regencies were essential during times of monarchs' absence or incapacity to rule, ensuring the stability and governance of the kingdom. The Medrano family's contributions to the regency of Navarre have left a lasting impact on the history and governance of the region.

Giovanni Antonio Medrano and the Royal Palace of Capodimonte (1738)

The Royal Palace of Capodimonte designed by the military engineer and architect Giovanni Antonio Medrano, Royal Mathematician for the Kingdom of Naples during the reign of Charles III

One of the most prestigious and important royal palaces built by the Medrano family was the Royal Palace of Capodimonte for King Charles III. In 1738, Giovanni Antonio Medrano (Juan Antonio Fernandez de Medrano) began, this time alone, the construction of the new Country House of the Palace of Capodimonte, where the Farnese artistic collections were to be housed from the outset. Our architect proposed three variants, of which the closest to what was executed had a patio with a double ramp staircase, while a hexagonal staircase remained at one end. All surviving drawings of the Palace of Capodimonte bear Giovanni Antonio Medrano’s signature, most scholars give him complete credit. Moreover, the façades sober articulation adheres more closely to Herreran monuments in Spain and the output of the military engineer Medrano. Even in its incomplete state, the first palace Charles of Bourbon commissioned thus fulfilled its role as an instrument of dynastic authority. Medrano started work on this in 1738, but the building was not finally completed until 1840.

The vast collection at the museum traces its origins back to 1738. During that year King Charles VII of Naples and Sicily (later Charles III, king of Spain) decided to build a hunting lodge on the Capodimonte hill, but then decided that he would instead build a grand palace, partly because his existing residence, the Palace of Portici, was too small to accommodate his court, and partly because he needed somewhere to house the fabulous Farnese art collection which he had inherited from his mother, Elisabetta Farnese, last descendant of the sovereign ducal family of Parma. The King turned to Medrano to build the most important project in Naples; his new Royal Palace of Capodimonte. Giovanni Antonio Medrano already built the San Carlo Opera theatre (the largest in the world) and the obelisk of Bitonto to commemorate the reigning Bourbon dynasty.

in 1731 he left Seville to accompany the Infante don Carlos, Duke of Parma and Piacenza, on his trip to Italy. From 1732 to 1734 Medrano remained in the service of the prince, teaching him geography, history and mathematics, as well as military engineering and architecture during his stay in the cities of Florence, Parma and Piacenza; The fact that he was promoted in 1733 to lieutenant and ordinary engineer and, later and already in Naples, in 1737, to brigadier and chief engineer, along with his close ties to the Royal family testifies to his efforts and work.

Bibliography

The Medrano family is registered in the "General Armorial", which proves that in the past the House of Medrano was distinguished for its indisputable value, a nobility that is also demonstrated by documents passed down through the generations. To this name, a distinctive sign of nobility is attributed, represented by the coat of arms, which also confirms, from a historical and heraldic point of view, the certainty of a remarkable value.

The history and heraldry of the family name Medrano appears in the "Armorial Lusitano" by Antonio Sergio, so that, the Medrano are linked to Portuguese nobility or with branches in Portugal. We must bear in mind that the Portuguese nobles are linked to the Castilian-Leonese and Galician nobility, in addition, Portugal was once united to Spain.

The Blasonario of the Iberian Consanguinity, where appear the heraldry of Medrano, consists of seven volumes, starting the first in the year 1979 and the last in the year 1997, being its authors Ampelio Alonso de Cadenas, the King of Arms Don Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent (maximum authority of Spanish heraldry) and Liliana Ruiz Carrasco.

The Medrano of Aragón, according to Don Bizén d'O Río Martínez, carried: “In silver field, saber band, gules border with eight gold knots (of San Andres).”

The family crest and coat of arms of Medrano appears in Rietstap Armorial General that is a multi-volume work on the coats-of-arms of the world; it is both monumental and without equal, and is the most exhaustive undertaking of its kind. The Armorial General is the most authoritative work on the coats-of-arms in the world. Many blazons of Aragon, among which are those of the family name Medrano, that presents the great work of this author "Dictionary of Aragonese Heraldry", which in many cases, have also been proven in churches, hermitages and cemeteries. All have been carefully recorded and above all, with its proven provenance. Centuries of history have shaped these blazons, among which are those of the family name Medrano and throughout the Aragonese geography we can admire mansions and facades that still conserve the armeros stones that emblazon the lineage of the ancient infanzons, in most cases today inhabited by descendants, such as the name Medrano. Medrano, conscious of their duty and displaying the nobility of their race, they often promoted their troops at their expense and, leaving their homes and estates, set out to reconquer, enlarging the Aragonese kingdom and conforming with his effort and sacrifice what would later be the Crown of Aragon.

Juan Baños de Velasco collects a legend, according to which a knight of the Medrano lineage, a relative of the King of Navarre, while fighting, raised his eyes to the sky and saw the sun as if dyed in blood and crowned by a four-armed cross. Silver. Admired by the vision, he addressed his family and said these words to them: ''Courage, the Lord shows us a sign in heaven and we have to defeat them.''

Medrano is a surname established in the region of Navarra and La Rioja. The family name Medrano has a coat of arms certified by the Chronicler and King of Arms Don Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent. Persons with the name Medrano proved their nobility in Real Chancilleria of Valladolid, as recorded in the archives of this institution. A list of bibliographies that collects the history and the coat of arms for the family Medrano:

1. Repertorio de Blasones de la Comunidad Hispanica, by the Spanish King of Arms Don Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent.
2. Apendice al Repertorio de Blasones de la Comunidad Hispanica, by the Spanish King of Arms Don Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent.
3. Armorial General de Johan Baptiste Rietstap. Contains blazons, descriptions and drawings of coats of arms, crests, origins of family names and nobility
4. Heraldica de los apellidos canarios, by Lino Chaparro D`Acosta.
5. Heraldario Hispanoamericano y Europeo, by Ampelio Alonso de Cadenas y Lopez and the Spanish King of Arms don Vicente de Cadenas y Vicent.
6. Nobiliario Espanol, by Julio de Atienza. Studied by Jaime de Querejeta or other writers in names of Basque and Navarre origin.
7. El Solar Catalan, valenciano y balear, by Garcia Carraffa.
8. El Solar Vasco Navarro, by Arturo and Alberto Garcia Carraffa.
9. Enciclopedia Hispanoamericana de Heraldica, Genealogia y Onomastica, by Arturo and Alberto Garcia Carraffa.
10. Nobiliario de Extremadura, by Adolfo Barredo de Valenzuela y Arrojo, and Ampelio Alonso de Cadenas y Lopez.
11. Diccionario de Heraldica Aragonesa, by Bizen Do Rio Martinez.
12. Los Apellidos en Canarias, by Carlos Platero Fernandez.
13. Armorial Lusitano, by Antonio Sergio.
14. Blasonario de la Consanguinidad iberica.

See also

Andrés Vélaz de Medrano

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