# García de Medrano y Mendizábal, I Count of Torrubia

García de Medrano y Mendizábal, I Count of Torrubia (b. Madrid, September 7, 1652 – d. March 3, 1695) was a Basque-Castilian nobleman and aristocrat from the House of Medrano, Lord of San Gregorio, and a knight of the Order of Calatrava. He served as alcalde of hijosdalgo supernumerary in the Royal Audiencia and Chancery of Valladolid (1675), oidor (magistrate) of Valladolid (1680), alcalde de Casa y Corte (1684), rector of the University of Salamanca, Councilor of the Council of Orders (1690), and Councilor of the Chamber of His Majesty. He was the son of the regent of Navarre, García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos and María Ignacia de Mendizábal y Uribe.

## Early life

García José Francisco de Medrano y Mendizábal, I Count of Torrubia was the son of García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos (b. 20 July 1604), and María Ignacia de Mendizábal y Uribe, born in Seville and baptized in the parish of Santa María Magdalena (27 September 1561).
His father García de Medrano y Alvarez de los Rios was a member of His Majesty's Council and Chamber, regent of Navarre and Seville, Lord of San Gregorio, professor at the University of Salamanca, knight of the Order of Santiago, a crime prosecutor in Valladolid, Judge of Valladolid, Minister of the Treasury, Minister of the Indies, perpetual regidor of the city of Soria and procurator of Cortes for it (1660), prosecutor of the Council of Castile, Minister of Inquisition and again counselor of Castile until his death.

## Education

After earning his bachelor's degree, García de Medrano enrolled in the Colegio Mayor del Arzobispo of Salamanca in 1671. After four years, he left the college upon being appointed alcalde de hijosdalgo supernumerario of the Royal Audiencia and Chancery of Valladolid.

## Career
### Alcalde and oider in Valladolid (1675–1680) Corregidor of Guipúzcoa

Four years later, he left the college and was appointed as a supernumerary alcalde of noble birth in the Royal Audiencia and Chancery of Valladolid on August 31, 1675. Subsequently, he was regularly promoted to the position of oidor in the same Tribunal on October 4, 1680, officially assuming this role a few days later on October 9, 1680. He continued his career by serving as the corregidor of Guipúzcoa.

### Alcalde of Casa y Corte (1684–1690)

Garciá de Medrano was appointed as an Alcalde of Casa y Corte ("Magistrate of the Royal House and Court") on February 18, 1684, and took the oath a month later on March 23, 1684. He spent six years in this prestigious position.

### Rector of the University of Salamanca (1668–1669)

For at least 160 years, Garcia's family were linked to the University of Salamanca. In 1668, García de Medrano y Mendizábal was appointed rector of Salamanca University until 1669. The Book of the university's Claustro for the year 1668–1669 describes Domingo's abdication and García's election for the rest of the year very clearly. The Book of the university's Claustro of 1668–1669 indicates that Domingo de Medrano, due to urgent business in Madrid, was forced to resign, and was succeeded by García de Medrano y Mendizábal, his brother.

### Supernumerary Minister of the Council of Orders (1690)

García was promoted to supernumerary minister of the Council of Orders on May 23, 1690. He received his official title months later on August 17, 1690.

### Knight of the Order of Calatrava (1690)

In 1690, Lord García de Medrano became a Knight of the Order of Calatrava. This fulfilled a previous grant made to his father on December 30, 1673, which had promised a habit for his son.

## Marriage

The 1st Count of Torrubia married Doña María Ignacia de Hernani y Mendiçaval, without succession. A legal document from 1670 exists, written in defense of Don García de Medrano y Mendizábal, a member of the Council and Chamber of His Majesty, and his wife, Doña María Ignacia de Hernani y Mendiçaval. The document addresses the succession of the entail and majorat founded by Licentiate Juan Ybañez de Hernani, priest, involving claims about the freedom of the goods used to establish the majorat. It also discusses disputes with Doña Juana Olaçaran over the tenure of the majorat and with the town of Hernani regarding the patronage of pious works founded by Lazaro de Hernani.

## Count of Torrubia

The County of Torrubia is a Spanish noble title created by Royal Decree of 23 November 1692 by King Charles II of Spain, and granted by Royal Order on 29 August 1694, in favor of García de Medrano y Mendizábal, a Knight of the Order of Calatrava, Lord of San Gregorio. The County of Torrubia is located within the province of Soria. Just before his passing, he was honored with the title of Count of Torrubia on 29 August 1694.

### Succession

As he had no heirs, his brother Andrés de Medrano succeeded him in 1695. Andrés de Medrano, II Count of Torrubia had a distinguished career, serving as a collegian of Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé, chief judge of Biscay in 1676, oidor in Valladolid in 1683, advisor of Finance in 1693, and becoming a member of the Council of Castile in 1697, later also joining its Chamber in 1720. He had a son and heir named José Juan de Medrano y Angulo, who became the Marquess of Villamayor.

### III Count of Torrubia

José Juan de Medrano y Angulo (died in 1765), III Count of Torrubia, IV Marquess of Villamayor, married to Isabel de Luján y Colón de Larreátegui, daughter of Juan Francisco de Luján, superintendent and magistrate of Madrid, and Josefa Colón. Isabel de Luján y Colon de Larreategui was a direct descendant of Cristopher Colombus. José Juan de Medrano inherited the Marquessate of Villamayor from his grandmother Manuela de Albizu y Villamayor, wife of Juan de Angulo.
He was succeeded by his son Joaquín de Medrano y Luján (died in 1799), IV Count of Torrubia, V Marquess of Villamayor. Later, the County of Torrubia inherited the County of Mollina which came with Grandee of Spain, and the Marquessate of Las Nieves.

## Family

He was the son of García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos and María Ignacia de Mendizábal.

### Paternal grandparents

He was the paternal grandson of García de Medrano y Castejon, owner of the fortified house of San Gregorio and lord of San Gregorio, and María de los Rios y Mendoza.

### Maternal grandparents

His maternal grandparents were Gregorio López de Mendizábal, born in the town of Oñate and baptized in the parish of San Miguel (1590), knight of the Order of Santiago, who died as a councilor of Castile, and Teresa de Inzaurraga y Uribe, baptized in the town of Lekeitio, in the lordship of Biscay (July 9, 1606).

### Brothers

Andrés de Medrano y Mendizábal, 2nd Count of Torrubia (b. Seville, November 5, 1654 - d. Madrid, December 22, 1720) was a knight of the Order of Calatrava, a counselor and collegian of San Bartolomé, chief judge of Biscay (1676), oidor in Valladolid (1683), advisor of Finance (1693), of the Council of Castile (1697) and of its Chamber (1720). Andrés became the chief judge of Vizcaya and then an oidor in Valladolid, before being promoted to a supernumerary position in the Council of Finance. Andrés was later appointed as a councilor of the Royal Council of Castile and served in this position until his retirement. He was then granted a place in the Council of Castile, where he remained until his death.
Domingo de Medrano y Mendizábal (1650–1672) was a knight in the Order of Calatrava, Judge of Degrees in Sevilla (1672), a Chief Judge of Vizcaya (June 2, 1676), an oidor in Valladolid (1683), a counselor of Finance (1693), a counselor of Castile (1697) and its Chamber (1720), professor and rector at the University of Salamanca. Domingo is also the fourth nephew of Luisa de Medrano.