Palace of Vélaz de Medrano

The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano (Basque: Vélaz de Medranotarren Gaztelua-Jauregia; Spanish: Palacio de Vélaz de Medrano, also known as Castillo Palacio de Cabo de Armería de los Vélaz de Medrano de Igúzquiza) is a historic castle-palace located in Igúzquiza, Navarre, within the valley of Santesteban de la Solana. It served as a palacio de cabo de armería (armory corporal) of the Kingdom of Navarre in the merindad of Estella, and stood as the ancestral seat and principal residence of the noble Medrano family, the hereditary lords of Igúzquiza for centuries. From their fortified castle-palace, they safeguarded the routes leading from Álava and Logroño, while defending the valley of Santesteban de la Solana. Today, the building remains privately owned and is recognized as part of Spain's Historical Heritage. It has been protected under the general declaration of 22 April 1949 and the provisions of Law 16/1985 on Spanish Historical Heritage. The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano was also certified and protected by the Commission of Historical and Artistic Monuments of Navarre, a public institution responsible for the conservation and safeguarding of antiquities. This commission served as a direct predecessor, alongside the Council of Culture to the modern Prince of Viana Institution, which oversees Navarre's cultural heritage. In addition, the palace has been recognized by the Scientific Committee of Hispania Nostra, which has included it in the official Red List of Heritage at Risk (Lista Roja del Patrimonio). Seat in the noble estate of the Courts of Navarre Situated at the palace, the Medrano family, particularly the lords of Igúzquiza, were among the 74 nobles who held a seat in the Noble Estate of the Courts of Navarre, a distinguished assembly of the ancient nobility. In 1580, Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon, lord of Igúzquiza, was recognized as the eldest among the nobility and was therefore summoned to the Noble Estate of the Courts of Navarre. Etymology The Vélaz de Medrano surname is derived from the progenitor of the Medrano family. It combines the Basque word Vélaz, meaning goshawk, with the verb medrar, meaning to flourish, grow, prosper, and improve for the common good, which together form the etymological foundation of Vélaz de Medrano. The name may therefore be interpreted literally as "the palace of the goshawk of prosperity" or "the palace of the goshawk of medrar," invoking both noble vigilance and dynastic advancement. This etymological fusion, encoded in the family's very name, grounds the Doctrine of Medrano with vocation, in which hereditary improvement becomes the moral and political path of lawful growth, sacred duty, and generational service. Location Igúzquiza is a village located on flat terrain, surrounded by a large oak forest that, in the late 18th century, extended for about a league and a half. To the north flows the Ega River, and perched above its escarpment stands a stone and brick castle belonging to the Vélaz de Medrano family, who were the lords of the area. Within Igúzquiza itself, the palace remains standing, attesting to the historical presence of the family in the area. The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano and Igúzquiza borders Metauten and the Valle de Allín to the North, Ayegui, Dicastillo, Arellano, and the areas of Montejurra and Arambelza to the East, Sesma to the South, and Los Arcos, Etayo, Olejua, Abaigar, and Murieta to the West. The Ega River crosses the territory on the northern part, also serving as the boundary with Metauten, situated on its right bank. It resides within the valley of Santesteban de la Solana, under the historical district of the Merindad and Judicial District of Estella. Santesteban de la Solana was formed by the current municipalities of Arróniz, Barbarin, Igúzquiza, Luquin, and Villamayor de Monjardín. Igúzquiza in the valley of Santesteban de la Solana Igúzquiza is a municipality and district located approximately 4 kilometres west of Estella, in the autonomous community of Navarre. The district comprises the town of Igúzquiza together with the villages of Azqueta, Labeaga, and Urbiola. The central area is relatively flat, while to the north rises the height of El Olivar, at whose base lies the Rosas sinkhole. The Ega River forms the western boundary, and the southeastern limit is marked by the hill of San Ciprián. The area is connected by regional roads linking Estella with Vitoria and Pamplona with Logroño. Historically, the settlements of the district were part of the valley of Santesteban de la Solana and shared its coat of arms: a red field with gold chains arranged in orle, cross, and saltire, without the central emerald. When Arróniz, Villamayor, Barbarin, and Luquin became independent municipalities, the remaining communities continued to be administered jointly and retained the collective arms of the valley. In 1263, King Theobald II of Navarre granted fueros to the four towns, exempting agricultural workers from the obligation of providing weekly labour for royal service in exchange for an annual payment of two and a half sueldos. Urbiola, as the central settlement of the valley, served as the meeting place for local authorities and the repository of administrative records, while each town maintained its own mayor. All the communities of the district traditionally made pilgrimage to Monjardín. The population was recorded as 295 inhabitants in 1818, declining to 50 in 1900, and later rising to 415 by 1950. Feudal dues (pechas) The feudal dues (pechas) from the valley of San Esteban de la Solana were originally assigned to the House of Medrano, Lords of Igúzquiza. These feudal dues were paid by the municipalities of Arróniz, Barbarin, Igúzquiza, Luquin, and Villamayor de Monjardín. These rights were later transferred to the Constables of Navarre, now known as the Dukes of Alba, with royal confirmation granted in 1520. Coat of arms Keystone at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano It is noted that this coat of arms was situated above the door of the old Palace of Vélaz de Medrano, near Estella. Others from the palace of Medrano depicted a gules field with a silver trefoil cross. The border featured the Ave Maria motto. The progenitors goshawk bearing the "Ave Maria" on the keystone of the palace was not a passing symbol. It became the enduring emblem of the House of Medrano across centuries, etched into the keystone of their ancestral palace in Igúzquiza, borne by the ricoshombres of that same region and beyond, and enshrined in the crowned arms of the barons of Mahave. Ricoshombres Ricoshombres were traditionally distinguished by the royal grant of the Pendón y Caldera, a banner and a cauldron, symbolic emblems bestowed by the monarch upon those elevated to this noble rank. The banner represented the authority to raise and command troops; the cauldron, the power to sustain them. As described in the Origen de las dignidades seglares de Castilla y León, "with the banner they were granted the faculty to raise men for war; the cauldron signified that they were powerful enough to sustain and maintain them." The coat of arms at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano displays a divided shield: 1) A cross, gules, charged with a trefoil cross, Or, and quartered: a) argent, a goshawk; b) Or, three caldrons, sable in fess; c) argent, a wolf, proper; d) argent, two roundels, vert. 2) Quarterly of three: a) Or (gold), a branch of three shoots, vert; b) divided, gules and argent; c) Or, a rake, azure; d) triangulated, argent and azure. The general border is silver, with the motto in sable letters: "Ave María Gratia Plena Dominus Tecum". Caldrons The Medrano family of Igúzquiza bore three caldrons on their shield, affirming their ricohombre rank and their long-standing leadership in both war and peace. Royal tradition held that this honor was bestowed only after a night of prayer in the church most revered by the knight. Ricoshombres of Navarre The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano was the ancestral seat of the ancient lords of Igúzquiza, considered among the oldest of Navarrese nobility. The Medrano family were known as ricoshombres, or parientes mayores, 'greater kinsmen', a noble title reserved for the leading landowners of the Basque region who held vast territorial dominions. The lords of the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano were direct heirs of the progenitor of their lineage, the one who acquired Igúzquiza, its inhabitants, and the resources to build the castle, and who gave his name to the surname. Starting in the 13th century, the Medrano family forged marital alliances with several of the original twelve ricoshombres of Navarre, including the houses of Aibar, Almoravid, Mauleón, Baztán, and Lehet (or Leet). Head of armory in the Kingdom of Navarre The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano (Castillo Palacio de Cabo de Armería de los Vélaz de Medrano de Igúzquiza) was recognized as a palacio de cabo de armería [es], a head of armory, within the Kingdom of Navarre. The strong house is listed as an armory corporal in the official records of the kingdom and was historically linked to the noble lineage of the Medrano family. The fortified house of Igúzquiza was always considered an armory headquarters palace. The palacios de cabo de armería, also known as casas de cabo de armería, were regarded as the heads of noble lineages and the ancestral seats of the oldest aristocracy. Due to this fact, the Medrano family held their palace as one of the original strongholds of Navarre's most ancient noble houses. Viscounts of Azpa and Marquesses of Fontellas The Viscounts of Azpa, whose seat was the Palace of Azpa registered as a palacio de cabo de armería, and their successors the Marquesses of Fontellas, descend from the Kings of Navarre and France and are linked to the ancestral Palace of Vélaz de Medrano. Around 1564, Captain Alonso Vélaz de Medrano Navarra, a resident of Igúzquiza, enjoyed an accommodation grant of 40,000 maravedís. His son Alonso Vélaz de Medrano, also a resident of Iguzquiza, another 30,000 from 1595, which in 1636 would be granted to his son Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Navarra, who also had the same name as the previous two. Merinos and defenders of the borders and routes of Navarre and St. James Shortly after Estella's establishment in the 11th century, both Igúzquiza and Monjardín castles were constructed under the command of the Vélaz de Medrano family. Their duty was to safeguard the routes leading from Álava and Logroño. According to Ander Izagirre, the Medrano family were tasked with overseeing one of the kingdom's crucial defenses, namely the defensive perimeter around the merindad of Estella. By the early 11th century, the Kingdom of Navarre had expanded its control over territories including Castile, Álava, and parts of La Rioja under King Sancho III. Following his death in 1035, these frontier regions became increasingly volatile as Castile began to assert its independence and territorial ambitions. In response to these growing pressures, Navarre fortified key western zones such as the Merindad of Estella. Founded as a fortified settlement in 1090 by King Sancho Ramírez, Estella served both as a military bastion against Muslim-held lands and as a secure station for pilgrims traveling the Way of St. James. Firmly established as a strategic frontier region, this territory was entrusted to the noble House of Medrano for its defense, particularly the protection of routes leading from Álava and Logroño. Valley of Santesteban de la Solana According to the Bulletin of the Commission of Historical and Artistic Monuments of Navarra, the Vélaz de Medrano family were entrusted by the kings of Navarre with organizing the defense of the valley of Santesteban de la Solana from their ancestral seat at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano, where weapons of war were stored in the Cabo de Armería. Recognized as ricoshombres (rich-men) of Navarre, the Medrano family also served as governors (alcaides) of the renowned Castle of Monjardín, whose cross was said to have been discovered by one of their knights after it appeared to his shepherd. Under Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, the family and palace continued to flourished. Ferran was named 2nd Lord of Learza in 1450. He participated in the 1452 siege of Genevilla, which had been seized by supporters of Prince Carlos of Viana. In recognition of his role in the reconquest, King John II of Navarre granted him in 1455 the pechas (tax revenues) of Mués, Mendaza, and Legaria, along with the associated palaces and incomes previously held by Juan de Sarasa in Mués, until repayment of the 2,000 florins Ferran had spent on the campaign. By 1456, he had been appointed alcaide of the Castle of Monjardín and was recognized as Lord of Igúzquiza in 1461. In 1471, the king further rewarded him with the pechas of the valleys of Allín and Santesteban de la Solana. Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano was the son of Juan Vélaz de Medrano, a royal chamberlain of the Kings of Navarre and Aragón, alcaide of the Castles of Viana and Monjardín, and a prominent baron who held the lordships of Igúzquiza, Arguiñano, Arzoz, Artazu, Zabal, and Orendáin, and was the first Lord of Learza in the Kingdom of Navarre. As head of the House of Medrano in Navarre, Juan established the mayorazgo of Vélaz de Medrano in 1437, the oldest known hereditary mayorazgo in Viana, securing his family's legacy in Navarrese nobility. History of the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano The House of Medrano, Lords of Igúzquiza, a family of noble lineage, were always closely tied to the kings of Navarre and appear alongside them in the most notable episodes of Navarrese history. Immediately adjacent to the town of Igúzquiza, but separated from its settlement, the ancient fortified palace of the Vélaz de Medrano family is preserved. Although abandoned for many years, it still retains much of its old warrior status and lordly prestige. The lords of Igúzquiza from the House of Medrano in Navarre were also widely recognized as Marquesses of Espinal. Spanish conquest of Navarre After the Castilian invasion of Navarre in 1512, the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano and the Medrano family became central to the resistance during the defense of the Merindad of Estella and the broader Insurrection of Navarre, which lasted until 1522. Leadership of the Navarrese defense fell to prominent nobles, particularly Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, alcaide of Viana, merino of Estella and caballero mayor (Chief Knight) of the kingdom, and his brother Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, a royal captain, alcaide, lieutenant of the king's guard, and commander of the king's standing army. From his ancestral seat in Igúzquiza, and in his capacity as merino and caballero mayor, Juan Vélaz de Medrano, alongside his brother Jaime, distributed arms, rallied vassals under the Medrano name, and organized a small force to join other Navarrese valleys in loyal support of Henry II of Navarre, the exiled monarch they recognized as the kingdom's rightful sovereign. Jaime Vélaz de Medrano would go on to serve as Mayor and Alcaide of Amaiur-Maya in October 1522 and lead the defense of its fortress during the critical siege of Amaiur-Maya in 1522, one of the final battles of Navarrese independence. A detailed list of the towns, markets, and fortresses in the Kingdom of Navarre, dating around 1512, preserved in the Simancas Archive, includes Lord Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz's Palace of Vélaz de Medrano among the defensive constructions that could pose a threat to Castilian domination, so a military man by the name of Colonol Villalba was appointed as its alcaide. The fortified house of Igúzquiza was always considered an armory headquarters palace. Post conquest After the conquest of Navarre, the main Medrano lineage of Navarre accepted the general pardon in 1524. On 1 September 1552, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor issued the Carta Ejecutoria de Hidalguía to re-affirm the noble status of the Medrano family. The Vélaz de Medrano family were the original owners of the palace. In 1685, José Piñeiro de Elio y Vélaz de Medrano petitioned the Kingdom to recognize it as a cabo de armería (a noble military estate). By the 18th century, ownership had transferred to José de Elío y Ayanz de Navarra de Esparza Artieda y Vélaz de Medrano, 1st Marquess of Vesolla. Construction The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano was initially built in the XI century as a fortified castle by the noble Medrano family. First, it consisted of a large palace defensive tower (with machicolations, battlements, saeteras) surrounded by a wall with four towers in the corners, guarded by a moat at the entrance. Subsequently, to the tower was added a building with outbuildings to make the palace more habitable, all built in stone. A 3D model of the palace in its current state was digitally rendered by Jorge Cortez. The palace itself and a defensive tower stand out, surrounded in part by an ashlar wall with a semicircular portal that features Medrano's deteriorated coat of arms on the keystone. This door opens onto the military parade ground, one of whose corners is occupied by the ashlar palace and cushioned ashlar at the base. Discovery of a medieval water conduit at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano The archeologist Ramon Campesino's research into the history of the Medrano family and their castle palace led to the discovery of tombs, buried silos, and a significant medieval construction previously unknown and rare in the region. He identified stones with carved cross-cut channels, large slabs collected by locals for house walls as part of a three-kilometer stone conduit built by the Vélaz de Medrano family to transport water from Montejurra's springs to the castle. Ramón and his team excavated about fifty pieces weighing about one hundred kilograms each, with many more pieces still buried. Supplying water to the Order of St. John The water conduit led Ramón to discover the remains of a pilgrim hospital. Located on land once belonging to the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of Jerusalem, the hospital received water from the Vélaz de Medrano canal. Today, only the ruins of a sheep pen, believed to be the former hospital, remain at a site called Cuesta del Hospital. Rebuilt in the 15th century The Medieval fortress of Igúzquiza was partially demolished and rebuilt in brick, with a palatial character. This ancient castle, rebuilt as a palace in the middle of the 15th century by Ferran Vélaz de Medrano y Ruen, preserves the large courtyard of arms, with its low battlemented walls flanking its entrance, rising in its southeast corner a high square tower, rebuilt in that century on a base of ashlar and the rest of brick. In the northeast corner, there is another stone tower, of lesser elevation at present, covered with ivy, preserving between them. The north side of the castle consists of large stables, dismantled rooms, and other dependencies, among which there is a small oratory, with a dark oil painting, a spacious kitchen with its carved stone fireplace, a spiral staircase, and thick walls, which denote the strength of such a fortress. The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano exemplifies the architectural evolution of medieval castles and fortifications. Initially designed with embrasures and arrow slits for archers, these defensive features were adapted in the 16th century to accommodate musket fire and, in the case of the palace itself, even small-caliber artillery. The rear part is the oldest. There are evident signs of additions made with a view to establishing granaries, wine cellars, and dwellings for tenants. On both sides of the main gate, the two defensive gun ports for cannon still exist, similar to those found in the native castles of Loyola and Xavier. Juan Mañé y Flaquer (1823–1901), a Spanish journalist, writer and professor of Latin and Spanish at the University of Barcelona, visited Navarre in 1877 to compose his work "El Oasis, Viaje al país de los Fueros," where he encountered the customs from the locals in the village of Igúzquiza, specifically about "the palace of the Moors," regarding the old stones of the palace of Vélaz de Medrano. Progenitor The Medrano family's origins are widely recognized by historians and scholars as historically grounded , with their progenitor, Andrés Vélaz de Medrano, anchored in documented noble traditions, archival references, and linguistic evidence. The family name itself, derived from the verb medrar ("to improve, advance, prosper"), is etymologically and historically intertwined with the political and social grammar of noble prosperity in medieval and early modern Spain, a system reaffirmed across both classical and contemporary scholarship. The Medrano origin account is documented in their coats of arms, state records, and major historical sources, including the Boletín de la Comisión de Monumentos Históricos y Artísticos de Navarra (1923), through the work of Pedro Emiliano Zorrilla and Navarrese chronicler Julio Altadill [es], in Etnografía Histórica de Navarra, Vol. 2 (1972) by Julio Caro Baroja, and as early as 1612 in Francisco Mosquera de Barnuevo’s La Numantina. These works bridge local memory and national nobiliary history, firmly anchoring the Medrano progenitor in the architectural, spiritual, and dynastic fabric of the Kingdom of Navarre. This account is further preserved in the Auñamendi Eusko Entziklopedia, a leading Basque and Navarrese encyclopedic resource, further affirming the progenitors importance within regional nobiliary history. Early modern period and the Bourbon era Within the Medrano family's noble historical record, an ode by N. L. B. dedicated to Julián Íñiguez de Medrano in La Silva Curiosa (1583) describes him as a descendant of: Noble princes, with blood of noble ancestors, from the Medrano lineage, whose famed virtue is well known from the men it produced (Latin: principibus viris, sanguis parentum nobilium, genus Medraneum, sat nota virtus quos domus illa tulit virorum). In the 18th century, Charles III of Spain, who was personally educated by Giovanni Antonio Medrano, a prominent royal architect and military engineer from the Medrano family, launched wide-ranging enquiries into the Iberian Peninsula's Muslim past, even after ascending to the Spanish throne. Within this same intellectual and political context, Pedro Pineda's 1740 bilingual-dictionary provides a formal historical reference to the Medrano family's origins, explicitly affirming their princely and Moorish descent: Medrano, the Sir-name of a Noble Family in Spain, lineally descended from a Moorish Prince, who was converted and baptized 800 years ago. This alignment between official hereditary testimony, royal inquiry, noble lineage, and scholarly documentation preserved the Medrano family's progenitor and their prominent role within the historical and cultural reassessment of Spain's noble past before and during Charles III's reign. This collective body of evidence, spanning linguistic, archival, and nobiliary sources, secures the Medrano family's origins as one of the most enduringly documented noble lineages in Spain, integrated into both historical scholarship and the cultural memory of the Kingdom of Navarre. Testimony to the Council of Castile by Antonio Vélaz de Medrano, 1st Marquess of Tabuérniga The continuity of this lineage is attested not only in legend and literature but also in royal and administrative archives. In his informaciones de méritos submitted to the Council of Castile on 13 April 1676, Antonio Vélaz de Medrano, Governor of Nieuwpoort and later 1st Marquess of Tabuérniga, presented a detailed record of his own service and that of his ancestors. Antonio began with his military campaigns in Flanders, Catalonia, Extremadura, and Galicia, and continued by listing the deeds of his forebears: his father, General Pedro Vélaz de Medrano; his grandfather, Antonio Vélaz de Medrano y Mendoza; his great-grandfather, Rodrigo Vélaz de Medrano; and his great-great-grandfather, Hernán Vélaz de Medrano. Each had served the Crown in distant parts of the empire, from Sicily to Brazil and Málaga, demonstrating the family's unbroken record of loyalty and governance. Antonio himself affirmed his descent from the progenitor Andrés Vélaz de Medrano, whom he stated had been favored by King García of Pamplona in the early eleventh century. In recognition of this lineage and his own record of service, Antonio was granted the title of Marquess of Tabuérniga de Vélazar by King Charles II of Spain in 1682, as compensation for his relinquishment of the Principality of Tobago. His testimony of Andrés and elevation to the marquessate stand as a direct continuation of the family's founding legacy of faith, loyalty, and hereditary service to the Crown. Progenitor of the House of Medrano: Andrés Vélaz de Medrano Everyone from the House of Medrano descends from the same ancestor named Medrano. The origin of this surname is not coincidental; it is tied to a Moorish prince who led a powerful army into Navarra around the year 979. Testimony by Licenciate Mosquera (1612) The Licenciate Francisco Mosquera de Barnuevo recorded in La Numantina (1612) that the progenitor of the Medrano family was a Moorish prince who came from the royal court and army of Caliph Abd al-Rahman III of Córdoba. According to Mosquera, "this prince was a lord of vassals, a person of great valor in arms," who was fond of the Christian religion, and in particular very devoted to the Virgin Mary, whose Rosary he prayed every day, even before being baptized. Nearing the end of his life (d. 961), Caliph Abd al-Rahman III requested that this prince should one day take part of the army to cut down the region of Igúzquiza in the valley of Santesteban de La Solana. Mosquera affirms that instead of conquering the region, he migrated to Igúzquiza in the Kingdom of Pamplona (Navarre), converted to Christianity, earned favor from the king, and became the progenitor of the Medrano lineage. His entry into Pamplona (Navarre) marked the beginning of the Medrano family's rise within the nobility of the realm. Testimony by the Bulletin of the Commission of Historical and Artistic Monuments of Navarra Despite centuries of deterioration and human intervention, substantial portions of the historic ancestral palace of the Vélaz de Medrano remain extant. According to tradition, the family name is traced to a Moorish prince who is said to have entered Navarre with a military following around the year 979. Historical accounts describe the progenitor of the Medrano family as a Moorish prince secretly devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Due to this hidden devotion, he was targeted by the devil, who infiltrated his household in the guise of a mayordomo, intending to assassinate him. While praying the Ave Maria in the palace of Igúzquiza, a goshawk descended carrying a ribbon inscribed with the Angelic Salutation. The goshawk landed on his hand, and at that moment, the Apostle Saint Andrew appeared, exhorting him and performing his baptism while the false mayordomo fled amid "great crashes and terrifying earthquakes." The knight received the Christian name of Andrés, after Andrew, the apostle, along with Vélaz or Bélaz, which in Basque means goshawk, after the one that landed on his hand. The knight, who was "regenerated to grace" by Saint Andrew, took the name Andrés "Vélaz," and added both the goshawk on his hand bearing the Ave Maria, and 8 saltire crosses in honor of Saint Andrew to his coat of arms. Now a Christian, he became a leader of his new faith, which caused sorrow for the Caliph of Córdoba. Formerly a powerful figure among the Moors with immense wealth, he lost it all after his conversion, receiving little support from the king of Pamplona, whom he had loyally served, prompting the Caliph to repeatedly inquire about Andrés Vélaz, asking: "Medra o no?" ("Does he prosper or no?") to which the Caliph's courtiers replied "no." Andrés Vélaz, having knowledge of this, claimed the Caliph's question and his courtiers answer as his surname, and called himself Medrano. The origin of the Medrano name is widely accepted within the family and supported by archival, heraldic, architectural, and linguistic evidence. Later, they acquired the gold fleur-de-lis cross on a gules field, which also appears on their coat of arms above the main doorway of the palace of Igúzquiza. The origin legend of the Vélaz de Medrano lineage, ricoshombres of Navarre, parallels the story of Teodosio de Goñi and Saint Michael [es]. Through Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, Lord of Igúzquiza, who married Elvira de Goñi, daughter of Mosén Juan de Goñi, the House of Medrano and the House of Goñi united. Predecessors The Medrano family is a very ancient House of noble origin, it is found in different times and in different places. The House of Medrano played a pivotal role in the political, military, and religious history of medieval Navarre. 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. In his La Numantina (1612), Francisco Mosquera de Barnuevo affirms: The Medrano family, whose nobility is so notorious that there is no house in Spain that surpasses it... are natives of Navarre. 11th century Blas Íñiguez de Medrano, cited in 1044 as owning land near a ford in Viero, then under the jurisdiction of the monastery of Santa María la Real of Nájera, claimed descent from the House of Íñiguez, the first kings of Pamplona. 12th century In 1185, María Ramírez de Medrano, Lady of Fuenmayor, established the hospital, commandery, and convent of San Juan de Acre for the Knights Hospitaller, supporting pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, and preserving the Medrano family's high noble status and capacity for military-religious patronage as early as the 12th century. Alongside her son Martín de Baztán y Medrano, Bishop of Osma, they built the church and hospital in Navarrete. 13th century Pedro González de Medrano, who carried the family banner bearing a gules field with an argent hollow cross fleury, fought at Las Navas de Tolosa (1212) in the royal retinue of Sancho VII of Navarre, while Martín López de Medrano, who bore the same banner in or, fought for Alfonso VIII of Castile in his retinue at the same battle. The Medrano family brought the family banner to the battle of Baeza (1227), and to the battle of Río Salado (1340). Pedro's son, Íñigo Vélaz de Medrano, Lord of Sartaguda, joined the Eighth Crusade (1270) alongside Kings Louis IX of France and Theobald II of Navarre. His seal appears in a 1268 donation to the Monastery of Leyre. He was the father of Juan Martínez de Medrano, and the grandfather of Juan Martínez de Medrano y Aibar. His great-great-grandson, Álvar Díaz de Medrano, son of Juan Vélaz de Medrano, inherited the Lordship of Igúzquiza. By the late 13th century, the House of Medrano had maintained its place among the highest ranks of Navarrese nobility, wielding broad political and territorial influence across the kingdom. The family served both the Crown of Navarre and the Crown of France in key roles, including as royal representatives, lords, barons, diplomats, ricohombres, crusaders, knights, alcaides, and members of the clergy. Closely aligned with the Capetian dynasty, the Medranos rose rapidly in power. Their advancement may have been supported by royal favor, particularly from Philip IV of France (I of Navarre). The Medrano family was among the few noble houses of the period to strategically pursue authority across multiple ecclesiastical centers, reinforcing their position through a combination of military, legal, and religious offices. 14th century By the early 14th century, members of the family had secured the priorate of Roncesvalles and contested the bishopric of Pamplona. In 1304, Rodrigo Ibáñez de Medrano, then precentor of the Cathedral of Pamplona, contested the Bishopric of Pamplona but ultimately withdrew his claim in 1308 before his death. Around the same time, Andrés Ruiz de Medrano served as Prior of Roncesvalles until 1321. Juan Martínez de Medrano y Aibar, a direct ancestor of the Lords of Igúzquiza, was appointed Regent of Navarre in 1328 following the death of Charles IV of France. He used the Medrano family seal to represent the kingdom of Navarre without a king, exercising full sovereign authority. As regent, he and his fellow nobles convened the Cortes of Navarre in the Plaza del Castillo of Pamplona on 1 May 1328, where the kingdom formally recognized Joan II of Navarre and Philip III as sovereigns. He and his son Álvaro reformed the Fueros of Navarre in 1330. Lords of Igúzquiza Alvar Diaz de Medrano y Almoravid Heir to an ancient barony and lordship, Álvar Diaz de Medrano y Almoravid inherited the lordship of Igúzquiza, and became a ricohombre of Navarre. He was the hereditary owner of the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano in the late 14th century. In 1380 he was alcaide of Monjardin Castle, and the following two years he was listed among the King's Mesnaderos. His Majesty granted Álvar Díaz de Medrano a certain income with the obligation to serve him as a mesnadero with weapons and horses for a limited time when necessary. Álvar Díaz de Medrano y Almoravid was the son of the ricohombre Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Sánchez and Bona de Almoravid, from the House of Almoravid, one of the twelve original ricoshombres in Navarre. His father appeared as the Alcaide of the Tower of Viana in 1328. He received an emolument of 35 pounds. Juan Vélaz de Medrano, third of the name, Alcaide of Viana and Dicastillo, died in 1342. Álvar Diaz de Medrano y Almoravid is the paternal grandson of Juan Martínez de Medrano, regent of the Kingdom of Navarre in 1328, and his wife Aldonza Sánchez. His grandfather's leading role in the political scene came after the death of the last Capetian sovereign, Charles the Fair, on 1 February 1328. Juan Vélaz de Medrano Álvar Díaz de Medrano y Almoravid passed the title of Lord of Igúzquiza to his son and heir, Juan Vélaz de Medrano, the fourth of his name. A ricohombre, knight, and royal chamberlain to the Kings of Navarre and Aragon, Juan Vélaz de Medrano was also made the 1st Lord of Learza. He established the oldest mayorazgo de los Vélaz de Medrano in Viana, which encompassed the Lordships of Igúzquiza, Arguiñano, Arzoz, Artazu, Zabal, Orendáin, and Learza. Additionally, he served as the alcaide (governor) of Monjardín Castle and Viana. Juan married Bianca de Ruen and was the father of Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano y Ruen, who succeeded as Lord of Igúzquiza in the 15th century. Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano y Ruen In 1456, Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, ricohombre of Navarre, became the Alcaide of the castle of Monjardín, and in 1461, he inherited the lordship of Igúzquiza from his father, Juan Vélaz de Medrano. Under Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, the palace was already considered ancient. He rebuilt the Castle of Vélaz de Medrano into a fortified palace in the mid-15th century, which was famous for the splendor of the festivities held by Ferrán and his children and grandchildren, which were often attended by the Navarrese Monarchs themselves. Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano married Elvira de Goñi, daughter of Mosén Juan de Goñi. Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, Lord of Igúzquiza had a daughter named María Vélaz de Medrano y Goñi. Ferrán was the maternal grandfather of Fray Juan López Vélaz de Eulate y Medrano, born in Estella around 1470. Fray Juan was the son of the distinguished Lord Juan López Martínez de Eulate and his mother Maria Vélaz de Medrano, daughter of Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, Lord of Igúzquiza and Learza. By 1506, Ferrán's grandson had become Commander of Indurain. Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goñi Ferrán's son and heir, Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goñi, fifth of the name, became the Lord of Iguzquiza, Agos, Aguinano, the 3rd Lord of Learza, and the alcaide of the castle of Monjardin. He married Elvira de Echauz y Beaumont, daughter of the 15th Viscount of Baiguer [es], Carlos de Echauz y Diaz de Villegas and Jean Marguerite de Beaumont y Courton. 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. Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz Medrano's heir, Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, sixth of the same name, became the Lord of Iguzquiza, Agos, and the 4th Lord of Learza, major knight of King Juan de Albret, Alcaide of Del Castillo and the castle of Monjardin. Juan Vélaz de Medrano married with Ana de Mauleon y Navarra, daughter of Landron de Mauleon y Claver and Juana de Navarra y Enriquez de Lacarra, sister of Marshal Pedro de Navarra and a descendant of Kings Enrique I and Charles II of Évreux. His wife Juana de Navarra y Enriquez de Lacarra was the daughter of Pedro de Navarra y Peralta, III Viscount of Muruzábal and Inés Enríquez de Lacarra y Foxan. The Vizcountess Ines Enriquez de Lacarra y Foxan was the daughter of Beltran "el Joven" Enriquez de Lacarra y Moncayo, IV Lord of Ablitas and his wife Isabel de Foxan, Lady of Eriete and Posante. Her father was the son of Felipe IV de Navarra, II Viscount of Muruzábal and Juana de Peralta y Ezpeleta. Filipe IV de Navarra, 2nd Viscount of Muruzábal was the son of the 1st Viscount of Muruzabal, Prince Leonel de Navarra and Maria Juana Elsa de Luna. The Viscount of Muruzabal takes its name from an old royal manor town called Muruzábal. In 1407, King Carlos III included it within the Viscount created in favor of his brother Prince Leonel de Navarra. Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz and Ana de Mauleon y Navarra were the parents of Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauelon y Navarra, Lord of Igúzquiza and of the ancient Palace of Vélaz de Medrano, maternal great-great-great-great-grandson of King Charles II of Navarre. Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon y Navarra Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon y Navarra was the seventh of the name, Lord of Igúzquiza, Agos, Arguiñaro, Orendain, Zabala, Arroniz and the 5th Lord of Learza. He was the son of Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz and Ana de Mauleon y Navarra. He is a maternal great-great-great-great-grandson of King Charles II of Navarre. In 1543, he married Maria de Piñeiro, Lady of Eriete, patron of the company of Jesus in Pamplona and Trapani (Sicily). Maria de Piñeiro belonged to an illustrious family of Galicia, well known from ancient and modern genealogists. Jeronimo Vélaz de Medrano y Piñeiro Juan Vélaz de Medrano's son and heir Jeronimo Vélaz de Medrano y Piñeiro became the Lord of Igúzquiza, Agos, Aguinaro, Orendain, Zabala, Arroniz and the 6th Lord of Learza. Jeronimo married Isabel de Lapena y Huidobro. They were the parents of Antonia Vélaz de Medrano. Her line became collateral when her father produced no male heir to inherit the family mayorazgo and associated lordships, castles and privileges of the Lords of Igúzquiza. Antonia Vélaz de Medrano Piñeiro Mauleon Dicastillo Jeronimo's daughter Antonia Velaz de Medrano Pinerio Mauleon y Dicastillo, became the Lady of Igúzquiza, Eriete, Orendain, Agos, the 7th Lady of Learza, etc., she also became the patroness saint of the company of Jesus in Pamplona and Trapani, in whom the four houses of their surnames met. Her descendants (her first-born) all carried the Vélaz de Medrano surname, after those of Esparaza and Artieda. She married with Francisco de Elio Esparza y Artieda, having a son called Don Gaspar Pineiro de Elio Esparza y Artieda Vélaz de Medrano, Lord of Elio, Vesolla, Eriete, Igúzquiza and Learza. Gaspar Piñeiro de Elío y Esparza de Artieda y Vélaz de Medrano Gaspar Piñeiro de Elío y Esparza de Artieda y Vélaz de Medrano became the Lord of the Palace and Town of Igúzquiza, Orendain, 8th Lord of Learza, etc., inherited through his mother Antonia Vélaz de Medrano y Lapeña. José Piñeiro de Elío y Vélaz de Medrano By 1671, the palace was owned by José Piñeiro de Elío y Vélaz de Medrano, son of Gaspar Piñeiro de Elío y Vélaz de Medrano, who engaged in a legal conflict over pasture rights. Built by the Vélaz de Medrano family in the beginning of the 11th century, the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano was requested by José Piñeiro de Elio in 1685 to be registered as a head of armory of the Kingdom. In 1704, local jurors accused him of abusing neighborhood rights, but the ecclesiastical court dismissed the case. By 1723, the palace had officially come into the possession of the Marquess of Vessolla, a title granted by King Philip V in 1702 to José de Elío y Ayanz de Navarra de Esparza Artieda y Vélaz de Medrano, the equerry and royal steward to Queen Mariana de Austria. In 1755, the Marquess filed a lawsuit against the local vicar over preeminences, as the vicar had interfered with traditional practices during All Saints' and Souls' Days. The court mostly sided with the Marquess but upheld the vicar's prohibition on extinguishing candles against the church walls. Today, although the palace is somewhat deteriorated, it continues to display its historical martial and aristocratic essence. Fading with time, the coat of arms in the outer area features a trefoil cross in gold and their progenitor's hand clutching a silver goshawk, encircled by the family motto inscription "AVE MARIA, GRATIA PLENA, DOMINUS TECUM." Diego Vélaz de Medrano y Udobro Diego Vélaz de Medrano y Udobro, was the lord of the palaces and towns of Igúzquiza, Learza and Orendáin in Navarre at the end of the 16th century. Sebastiána Vélaz de Medrano Sebastiana Vélaz de Medrano, who married Diego Huidobro de la Peña, faced legal battles in 1609 and 1617 regarding the patronage of the church of Arzoz. Her daughter, Polonia Huidobro y Vélaz de Medrano, continued these disputes in 1625. In 1587, Sebastiana Vélaz de Medrano, owner of the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano, was involved in a legal dispute with the villagers of Arguiñano. They had refused to pay her the taxes they owed, she had to remind them that they were obligated as farmers to pay taxes, without intending to insult them. Diego Ramirez de Baquedano wrote, "the principal quality of nobility that the palaces and principal houses of this kingdom have is to have vassals who pay them taxes." In the judicial proceedings produced by the Corte Mayor de Navarra, spanning from January 13, 1598, to April 17, 1598, Diego Huidobro de Lapeña and Sebastiana Velaz de Medrano, lords of Learza and Orendain (Guirguillano), along with others, were plaintiffs. They filed charges against Sancho Fernandez de Arizaleta, Juan Ochoa de Jaurrieta, Miguel de Eneriz, and fellow residents of Mendigorria. The accusations included theft of firewood and an assault on Juan Sanchez, a guard of Orendain (Guirguillano). In 1617, Sebastiana Vélaz de Medrano, owner of the palaces of Igúzquiza, Learza, and Orendiáin, joined several non-resident landholders (vecinos foranos) from Zufía in petitioning the Royal Court. They protested that the resident neighbors were unlawfully selling portions of the communal lands to outside herders and dividing the profits among themselves, violating both customary rights and the kingdom’s laws, which prohibited such sales without the consent of the non-resident stakeholders. Church of San Andrés in Igúzquiza The parish church of Saint Andrew is located in the town of Igúzquiza and should not be confused with the church of San Andrés in Villamayor de Monjardín, 2.5 km away. According to the Geographical-Historical Dictionary of the Royal Academy of History in 1802, it was possible to see in the Roman parish church of Igúzquiza, hanging on the wall of the main chapel, "various military trophies, such as flags, morions, iron gauntlets, and spurs," belonging to the descendants of Andrés Vélaz de Medrano, lords of that region. It is mentioned that "the cause and the date when they were placed are unknown." The parish church of Saint Andrew in Igúzquiza, consecrated in 1179, is an example of rural Romanesque architecture. It features a rectangular plan divided into three bays with an apse, along with later structural additions. Its late Baroque main altarpiece includes sculptures of Saint Joseph, Saint Andrew, and Saint Isidore. The Romanesque portal, formed by a semicircular arch, is decorated with capitals bearing stylized vegetal and geometric motifs. Located on the outskirts, the Hermitage of the Immaculate Conception dates to the 17th century and is set within a small oak grove. Inside, it contains a Rococo altarpiece with representations of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Barbara. Legacy The Palace of the Vélaz de Medrano, located in Igúzquiza, Navarra, hosted a significant commemorative event on 18 May 2013, to honor its historical role in the defense of the Kingdom of Navarra. Organized by the Igúzquiza District Council in collaboration with the Igúzquiza Council, the event included the installation of a commemorative milestone at the entrance of the palace. A guided tour of the palace was conducted by historian Toño Ros, Followed by the official inauguration of the milestone. The commemorative plaque was a project initiated by Nafarroa Bizirik in 2010 on the occasion of the fifth centenary of the conquest of Navarre, and includes the placement of a hundred markers in as many emblematic places in the community. Early modern period According to Las Mercedes Nobiliarias del Reino de Navarra by Iñaki Garrido Yerobi, the Medrano family formed a deeply entrenched branch of the titled nobility of the kingdom. Juan Martínez de Medrano's descendants, including the Lords of Igúzquiza, Learza, and Arróniz, intermarried with the royal House of Évreux, securing maternal descent from Kings Philip III, Charles II, and Enrique I of Navarre. This royal lineage continued through the Viscounts of Azpa and Marquesses of Fontellas, culminating in figures such as Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda, Bourbon-era Regent of Navarre. As shown in Garrido Yerobi’s genealogical table, Pedro Antonio de Medrano and his line also trace their ancestry to Íñigo Arista, the first King of Pamplona, placing the Medrano family in direct descent from both the founding monarch of Navarre and its later Capetian rulers. Additional figures Descendants of the Medrano family held a wide range of noble titles over the centuries. Through Andrés de Medrano y Mendizábal, 2nd Count of Torrubia, Medrano descendants became Dukes of Gor. Another descendant, Fernando Vélaz de Medrano y Bracamonte, Marquess of Tabuérniga and a Knight of the Order of Malta, inherited the title Grandee of Spain, twice. Later Medrano regents include García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos (1645, Habsburg) and Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda (1702, Bourbon). Traditions The family’s noble heritage was matched by a set of enduring traditions, chivalric values, and legendary deeds, many of which became embedded in the cultural memory of Navarre. A knight of the Medrano lineage, featured in a 15th-century anecdote, reveals the chivalric traditions associated with the Medrano family's extensive history, as described by Ramírez de Avalos. Medrano's duel with Derbiti While traveling between Sangüesa and Aibar, a knight from the Medrano lineage encountered Sancho Derbiti, also known as Sancho de Erviti, who was described as "the stubborn brave man rather than a Christian." Derbiti, who had adopted the motto "yes, no," was criticized by this knight of the Medrano lineage for his obstinacy and his chosen motto. This led to a confrontation where the Medrano knight declared, "I'll unleash the Devil to fight you." Derbiti accepted the challenge, allegedly fought the demon, and then reconciled with the Medrano knight. They proceeded to duel with halberds, leaving Derbiti so shaken that he remained bedridden for two months. Testimony of Juan Baños de Velasco Juan Baños de Velasco, general chronicler of Castile and the Cronista Rey de Armas (king of arms), collects a legend, according to which, a knight of the Medrano lineage, relative of the King of Navarre, while fighting against the Moors, raised his eyes to the sky and saw the sun tinged in blood and crowned by a cross with four arms of silver. Astonished by the vision, he addressed his family and said these words: "Courage, for the Lord is showing us a sign in the sky, and we shall defeat them." Medrano's legendary vision described by Juan Baños de Velasco aligns closely with documented atmospheric phenomena, notably a "parhelion," or sundog. Medieval knights and warriors often interpreted such celestial occurrences as divine signs. A famous example is the Battle of Mortimer's Cross (1461), during the Wars of the Roses, where Edward of York (later King Edward IV) witnessed a parhelion displaying three suns. He interpreted this phenomenon as symbol of God, inspiring his troops to victory. Heraldic tradition In 1555, Juan de Medrano held the title of Castilla y Inglaterra Rey de Armas (King of Arms of Castile and England) under Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Juan de Medrano co-signed a grant of arms in 1555 during a ceremony of the prestigious Order of the Golden Fleece in Antwerp, an event which positioned him among the foremost heraldic authorities of the Habsburg empire. His role in 1555 as Rey de Armas followed a 1552 imperial decree by Charles V reaffirming the Medrano family's noble status, thereby linking the family and palace's symbolic legacy to both royal service and heraldic tradition. Tomás Fernández de Medrano, in his 1602 political treatise República Mista, reflects on the dignity and privileges of the Reyes de Armas (Kings of Arms), court officials entrusted with overseeing noble titles and heraldic law. This reverence for heraldic office had deep familial relevance. Drawing on ancient authors and imperial precedent, he describes them as "ministers and servants of princes," whose profession, he concludes, "ought to be venerated and respected." Quoting the words attributed to Bacchus, he introduces the figure of the Rey de Armas as one who is exempt from war and burden, honored by princes, and empowered to serve the republic. Tomás describes the Rey de Armas as follows: They are said to possess a profession akin to the heroic, as they are responsible for the distribution of arms and coats of arms. This legacy of royal heraldic service, deeply embedded in both philosophical reflection and documented office, cements the Medrano family's stature not only as military, ecclesiastical and political figures, but as custodians of the kingdom's heraldic and legal memory. Related palaces Other Navarrese lordships of the Medrano family belonged to Francisco Argaiz Vélaz de Medrano, Lord of the house of Argaiz in Peralta. There was also Francisco Roque Velázquez de Medrano, Lord of Saldaiz and of the Artázcoz Palace. Gaspar Vélazquez de Medrano, Luis Velázquez de Medrano and Carlos Velázquez de Medrano y Vergara, José Vicente Velázquez de Medrano y Marichalar and Manuel Velázquez de Medrano y Zaro, were all Lords of the palace of Artázcoz. The palace of Artázcoz still stands with two sections, several coats of arms, a tower, and houses with arched entrances. The palace of Artázcoz was officially listed as a "cabo de armería" in the Kingdom's registry, as confirmed by its owner Carlos de Elío y Arbizu in 1679. He and his son-in-law Carlos Velázquez de Medrano sought an exemption for the palace in 1702. By 1723, it belonged to Luis Velázquez de Medrano y Elío, and by 1766, it was owned by Lord Francisco Roque Velázquez de Medrano. Gallery References