# Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata

Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata (XVII – VXIII century) Lord and Divisero of the Solar de Regajal, was a nobleman and aristocrat from the House of Medrano in the lordship of Sojuela, La Rioja. His Excellency, a Knight of the Order of Calatrava, rose to prominence as a colonial official and general in New Spain, serving as Governor of the Province of Carrión in the Valley of Atlixco (present-day Puebla, Mexico) from 1693 to 1706.

## Governor of the Province of Carrión (1693– 1706)

Before Medrano became governor, the city of Atlixco and the surrounding area was under the jurisdiction of Huejotzingo, but in 1632, it became a local independent seat of government.
In 1693, His Excellency Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata became the governor of the province of Carrión, in the valley of Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico, with his seat in the city of Atlixco, from 1693 to 1706.
The region was historically significant for its role in the Flower Wars, ritual battles fought by the Aztec Empire and their rivals from 1454 to 1519. These conflicts originate from Atlixco’s strategic importance and fertile land, which later made it a vital agricultural center in New Spain during Diego Fernández de Medrano's governorship.
During his governance, Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata witnessed the transition of power from the House of Habsburg to the House of Bourbon after the death of Charles II of Spain, who left no male heir, which led to the War of the Spanish Succession and ultimately the Bourbon Reforms.
In 1706, the area came under the direct control of the Spanish Crown, with Philip V from the House of Bourbon granting José Sarmiento de Valladares, the royal title of Duke and Lord of Atlixco.

## Portrait

The portrait of Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata, created in 1693, is a remarkable example of the 17th-century New Spanish School's artistry (Escuela Novohispana). This oil-on-canvas painting measures 182 x 108 cm. The portrait recently garnered significant attention when it was auctioned, with its price surging from 3,000 to 16,000 euros.

## Biography

Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata was a Basque-Castillian nobleman and colonial administrator in New Spain, born in Sojuela, and later a resident of Logroño in La Rioja. The Lordship of Sojuela was ruled by his relative Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zeniceros, who was also Lord of Valdeosera, author, commissioner of Spanish infantry, priest, chaplain, etc.

### Family

Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata was a knight of the prestigious Order of Calatrava, and the son of Juan Fernández de Medrano, a notable member of the Holy Office in Logroño and the owner of the Solar de Regajal, and Francisca de Zapata y Medrano, a former resident of Calahorra. The couple had two sons, Diego and Francisco Antonio Fernández de Medrano y Zapata.

#### Will and testament

The Toledo Archivo de la Nobleza (Dukes of Baena) contains a copy, dated October 15, 1750, of the wills executed in Calahorra by three members of the Fernández de Medrano family: his father Juan Fernández de Medrano on March 22, 1665; Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata on August 3, 1708; and his son Enrique Fernández de Medrano on September 29, 1735.

### Heir

Enrique Fernández de Medrano, son of Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata, was involved in proceedings for the granting of the title of Knight of the Order of Calatrava in 1702. Enrique Fernández de Medrano y Vicuña Zapata y Echavarri, a native of Sojuela, was confirmed as a knight. In 1723, documentation was also prepared for Francisca Jiménez de Tejada Eslava López de Mirafuentes y Vicuña, a native of Funes, to marry Enríque Fernández de Medrano, who was by then a Knight of the Order of Calatrava.

#### Eulalia Fernández de Medrano y Jiménez de Tejada

His son Enríque had a daughter named Eulalia Fernández de Medrano y Jiménez de Tejada, who married José Javier de Gaínza y Monzón, lord of the Gaínza estate. Eulalia Fernández de Medrano and José were the parents of Gabino Gaínza Fernández de Medrano, Knight of the Order of Saint John, and the last governor and captain-general of the Kingdom of Guatemala, famous for declaring independence on 15 September 1821, becoming the first ruler of a united and independent Central America.
Diego's granddaughter Eulalia Fernández de Medrano was the great-niece of Friar Francisco Jiménez de Tejada, 69th Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta in the early 18th century. Eulalia is also related to the 1st Marqueses of Ximénez de Tejada, Pedro Gregorio Ximénez de Tejada y Eslava (1708-1794) and Joaquina de Argaiz y Vélaz de Medrano (Peralta, b. 1711). Joaquína de Agraiz y Vélaz de Medrano, 1st Marchioness consort of Ximénez de Tejada, was the daughter of Josefa Vélaz de Medrano y Larrea, who in turn was the daughter of José Vélaz de Medrano y Navarra, 4th Viscount of Azpa, and Ana Maria de Larrea y Zunzzaren.

### Relatives

Diego's ancestor Francisco Fernández de Medrano was the brother of Tomás Fernández de Medrano, mayor, high magistrate, divisero and Lord of Valdeosera, knight in the Order of Saint John, Secretary of State and War for the Dukes of Savoy, author of the important political treatise "Republica Mista" published in 1602; Lázaro Fernández de Medrano, ensign; and General Diego de Medrano, famous naval commander in the Spanish Armada.

#### Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zeniceros

Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata was also a close relative of the Chaplain and Priest Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zeniceros, lord and divisero of the Villa and Solar of Valdeosera, and of the town of Sojuela, knight in the Order of Santiago, owner of the House and Tower of La Vega and the Palace of Entrena, Commissioner of Spanish Infantry and Alcaide of the Castles of Villarejo de Salvanés and Fuentidueña (Guadalajara), which belong to the Order of Santiago.
Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zeniceros, Lord of Valdeosera and Sojuela, was the author of the panegyric and political treatise "Heroic and Flying Fame of the Most Excellent Lord Don Luis Méndez de Haro, Count-Duke of Olivares" and the political treatise "Mirror of Princes: Crucible of their Virtues, Astonishment of their Failings, Soul of their Government and Government of their Soul" dedicated to Don Philip Prospero, Prince of Asturias, of the House of Austria.
In the registry of the Divisa Regajal, on May 1, 1624, Diego Fernández de Medrano and his son Diego were registered on leaf 109, Lords of the Villa of Sojuela. Diego de Medrano served as alcalde mayor of the Solar of Valdeosera in the years 1624-1625 and 1643–1644.

#### Clemente Fernández de Medrano

King Philip IV of Spain, through a Royal dispatch dated June 23, 1638, issued a report detailing the services of Diego's relative Clemente Fernández de Medrano, employed by His Majesty and recorded in the documents of the secretary of state and war of the Government of the Kingdom of Sicily, based on his original papers, which were submitted by his grandsons, Francisco and Nicolás Fernández de Medrano, in Palermo on July 25, 1690.

## Lord and Divisero of Regajal

Regajal is a village that belonged to the Community of Villa and Tierra de Jubera. The Solar of Regajal is connected to the Solar of Valdeosera, one of the most ancient corporations in Spain, associated with the battle of Clavijo. His father Juan Fernández de Medrano was a prominent figure who took possession of the Divisa Regajal on June 13, 1596. His father was associated with the Holy Office of Logroño, with residency in Santo Domingo de la Calzada. On May 1, 1664, Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata took possession of the Divisa Regajal.

### Lords of Regajal

His ancestor Francisco Fernandez de Medrano, from Navarrete, lord and divisero of Regajal, fought during the French Wars of Religion under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. Francisco Fernandez de Medrano married Maria Ana de Espinosa. Captain Francisco Fernández de Medrano was registered in the census of divisional knights as a captain, and neighbor of Entrena, registered on 1 May 1596, Divisa de Regajal.
Two sons of Francisco are also registered on 1 May 1614: Don Diego Fernández de Medrano y Espinosa and Don Francisco Fernández de Medrano y Espinosa, legitimate sons of Francisco Fernandez de Medrano and of María Ana de Espinosa, his wife, lords of the said Solar and Divisa de Regajal.
Diego Fernández de Medrano y Espinosa was born in Logroño in 1564, his grandfather had also been a secretary to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, himself. In 1607, he was appointed chaplain of honor, judge of the royal chapel, administrator and deputy of the Royal Hospital of the court and testamentary executor of Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain. In the Archive of Valdeosera, Francisco and Diego Fernández de Medrano y Espinosa were both registered as natives and descendants in the direct male line of the manor and Divisa de Regajal.