# Tomás Fernández de Medrano

Tomás Fernández de Medrano (16th century — 1616) was a high ranking Basque-Castilian nobleman from Entrena in the court of Philip II and Philip III of Spain, serving as Mayor, Divisero, Chief Magistrate and Lord of Valdeosera in San Román de Cameros, along with the divisa of Regajal. Medrano also served as the adviser and Secretary of State and War for Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, and Princess Catherine Micaela of Spain. Later, he served in the same capacity for the Princes of Savoy. He was also a Knight in the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and The Most Reverend Master and Patron of the convent of Saint John of Acre in Salinas de Añana. In addition to his other roles, Medrano was the Secretary of the Holy Chapters and Assemblies of Castile and manager for the Grand Prior of Castilla San Juan. He also served for eight years under Enrique de Guzmán, 2nd Count of Olivares, and as secretary to Prince Giovanni Andrea Doria, from 1579 to 1581. Medrano was married to Isabel Ibañez de Sandoval, a relative of the 1st Duke of Lerma. In 1605, he printed a brief from Pope Paul V in Latin and Spanish for King Philip III of Spain and the Order of Saint John.
Born into the noble Medrano family of La Rioja, Spain, he became a key figure in the political affairs of the Duchy of Savoy and the Kings of Spain. Medrano is best known for authoring the political treatise República Mista, published at the royal press in 1602 by Juan Flamenco in Madrid, dedicated to the 1st Duke of Lerma.

## Early life and family background

Tomás Fernández de Medrano, son of Juan Fernández de Medrano, was born in Entrena, La Rioja, and became a resident of the royal palace in Madrid after 1561. His father Juan Fernández de Medrano is recorded in a document dated October 20, 1589, stating:
   Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Secretary to the Duke of Savoy, and Gerónimo and Juan Fernández (de Medrano), his brothers, sons of Juan Fernández de Medrano, with the Velillas of Entrena.
Tomás Fernández de Medrano, a nobleman from the House of Medrano, traces his lineage to the esteemed lordship and estate of Valdeosera in La Rioja, linked to the Battle of Clavijo, as well as to Almarza de Cameros, a lordship governed by the descendants of Diego López de Medrano y Zúñiga. The Medrano family’s presence in La Rioja dates back to the 11th century. The presence of a castle and lion on the coat of arms of the municipality of Medrano, La Rioja—alongside the goshawk on the Medrano family crest—indicates an ancient and noble lineage. Traditionally, such symbols were associated with individuals of royal descent.

## Coat of arms of Tomás Fernández de Medrano

The coat of arms of Tomás Fernández de Medrano combines the grand shield of Valdeosera (outer shield) with the heraldic arms of the House of Medrano (inner shield). The escutcheon of Medrano is described as follows:
* a shield divided vertically down the middle. The first quarter features a gules field with an argent hollow cross fleury. The second quarter has an argent field with a sable bend running diagonally from corner to corner, bordered in gules and adorned with eight argent crosses of St. Andrew.
Additionally, the badge of Valdeosera features the Latin script "Let us praise glorious men and our ancestors in their generations."

## Early career
### Secretary for Giovanni Andrea Doria, Marquis of Torrilla (1579-1581)

Charles, the Duke of Savoy (dated 16 October 1596) describes Tomás Fernández de Medrano's service to the crown on the galleys of Genoa. Don Tomás served on the galleys of Genoa for about two years (1579-1581) as a secretary to the Marquis of Torrilla, general for the Dukes of Savoy. This Marquis of Torrilla was none other than Giovanni Andrea Doria, adoptive son of the great Genoese admiral Andrea Doria (his great-uncle), his heir and continuator in the saga of great Genoese admirals. More specifically, in one of his memorials, Tomás, regarding his time on the galleys, says that:
   "I spent some years at sea, near Prince Andrea Doria, with an armada, hunting and capturing enemy vessels."
Corsair warfare was one of the usual tasks of the knights of Saint John, whose operations base in the Mediterranean was Malta. Their corsair campaigns were usually against Barbary pirates. The Barbary pirates frequently attacked Corsica, resulting in many Genoese towers being constructed. By policing the Mediterranean, they augmented the assumed responsibility of the traditional protectors of the Mediterranean, the naval city states of Venice and Genoa.

### In the service of the Lord Count of Olivares in Rome (1582-1590)

Tomás formed a strong relationship with Enrique de Guzmán, 2nd Count of Olivares, during the long time he spent in Rome, from 1582 to 1590, in the papers and other things of the Lord Count of Olivares. Enrique de Guzmán, 2nd Count of Olivares was the father of the most famous Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares, a favorite of Philip IV. The Count of Olivares had served as an ambassador to the Holy See between 1582 and 1591, and Tomás had served with him during that time, occupied serving the Count of Olivares in Rome for eight years (1582 to 1590) in the papers of that embassy.
This is confirmed by a letter from the Duke of Savoy sent to the Count of Olivares on 13 March 1595 to support Olivares' demands for rewards from the king, and in them, he indicates that the Count of Olivares had been satisfied with Medrano's performance.
The relationship Tomás Fernández de Medrano maintained with the father of the Count-Duke must have been good, as it is deduced from the fact that he was the only one who responded positively, around this time, to Carlos Manuel's demands, granting Tomas Fernández de Medrano an allocation of 2,000 escudos.

## Secretary of State and War for the Dukes of Savoy (1591)

The most important position Tomás Fernández de Medrano held was that of Secretary of State and War for the Dukes of Savoy. His appointment corresponds to 1 August 1591, a few years after the marriage of Princess Catalina Micaela of Spain and the Duke of Savoy. A confirmation of the appointment made on 1 May 1594, at the request of the secretary himself, "because the title he held as secretary had been lost," is still preserved:
"Carlo Emanuel, by the grace of God, Duke of Savoy, Gebles, Aosta, and Genoa, Prince and perpetual vicar of the Holy Roman Empire, etc. If kings and princes are accustomed to choosing deserving and competent men for positions and offices of little importance, it is clear that for those in whom they trust not only their intentions and desires but also their hidden thoughts in matters and cases of great importance, they must appoint selected individuals whose fidelity, secrecy, prudence, and many years of experience are known, so that with their skill, diligence, and good management, the necessary steps can be taken in the affairs and the desired end can be achieved. Such persons, with such virtues, deserve the reward and esteem they deserve. Therefore, as we need a Spanish secretary whose hand will pass the correspondences and affairs of state in such a language and those of the war of the people that His Majesty has entrusted and will entrust to us for the enterprises of his royal service and the good of our states, in defense of them and the Catholic religion, and having learned that in the person of you, Tomas Fernandez de Medrano, our secretary of State and War, all the good qualities and qualifications required for such an office and ministry are present, and such a minister should be adorned, we made a very reasonable choice of your person and decided on our last visit to Spain to give you this said position.
And now, as we know from our long experience your virtue, prudence, fidelity, secrecy, and skill in matters requiring such a ministry, regarding those you have dealt with in the places where you have resided, and the good account you have given of them and of those you have dealt with near our person, and the danger to your own person with which we sent you to Spain from Provence to deal with the King, my lord, in matters of his royal service, and finally the love we know you have for us, as further evidence of the satisfaction and willingness we have for you, of our own will and certain knowledge, we again constitute, elect, nominate, and depute you, the said Tomas Fernandez de Medrano, as our Secretary of State (as stated above) and War of the people that His Majesty has entrusted and will entrust to us for the enterprises of his royal service, the good of our states, and defense of the Catholic religion, with all the honors, preeminences, indulgences, privileges, thanks, prerogatives, immunities, rights, and benefits that belong, have belonged, and have been enjoyed by our secretaries of State and War, as well as those of the King, my lord, and his captains general, both in Flanders and elsewhere, as well as the salary and maintenance that we have established for you by our letter made in Turin, with which you shall take the appropriate oath." - Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, 1 May 1594.
The Duke of Savoy commanded his council of the household, and in particular to the majordomo in service, that without any objection, the ordinary ration be given to Tomás Fernández de Medrano from the beginning of the year, for him and two servants, and to ensure that there are no interruptions. He ordered General Gromis to assign the ration immediately. In addition, the Duke of Savoy paid fifty gold Spanish escudo per month for his maintenance near the Duke's person, paid in the Spanish Infantry, effective from 1 August 1591.

### Background

On 1 August 1591 Tomás Fernández de Medrano assumed the significant role of serving as an intermediary between King Philip II of Spain and Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, stationed in Turin. This role was not merely symbolic; Medrano's presence in Turin held vital importance for the relationship between the Monarch of Spain and Savoy, with Spain's protection crucial for the survival of the Duchy. Given the complexities of the situation, Medrano successfully gained the trust of the Dukes, making Charles Emmanuel a key player in Spain's international strategy.
Savoy, situated in the southeast of France, served as an essential ally for Spain on multiple fronts. It provided a strategic base for operations against France, the archenemy of the Spanish crown. Additionally, it strengthened Spain's presence in northern Italy, particularly in Milan, and maintained the traditional alliance with Genoa. Moreover, Savoy played a crucial role as a transit territory for the Spanish Way.
During these years, the Duke deployed a wide array of letters in an attempt to favor Tomás Fernández de Medrano. Among the individuals he solicited support from were officials such as Juan de Idiaquez, Cristobal de Moura (8 December 1594), or the Count of Chinchon (29 September 1596), high-ranking clergymen such as Cardinal Albert VII, Archduke of Austria (20 October 1595) or Cardinal Aldobrandino (19 September 1596), generals such as Alonso de Idiaquez (October 1595), or ambassadors such as Giuseppe de Acuna (Turin, 24 April 1596) or the Duke of Sessa (Rome, 19 September 1596). He would also write to the sources of all grace: King Philip II (16 October 1596), Prince Philip (16 October 1596), and His Holiness Clement VIII (4 November 1595).

### Journey from Provence to Madrid

Tomás Fernández de Medrano was entrusted with a dangerous mission to deal with the Duke of Savoy's political-military affairs in Madrid shortly after his appointment on 1 August 1591, with King Philip II of Spain himself:
   The state of affairs in this Provence and the great and extreme necessity that we are in here have forced me to send to Your Majesty my secretary of state and war, Tomás Fernández de Medrano, so that, as a person through whose hands everything has passed and who infinitely desires the service of Your Majesty, he may understand the importance of your assistance in these parts. And so, whatever he proposes to Your Majesty on my behalf, it will be my pleasure for you to give him the same credit as you would to my own person. And a resolution as soon as possible.
Tomás was affiliated with the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, not as a vowed knight, but as a dedicated member, as his married status prevented him from taking formal vows. In a letter dated October 12, 1593, the Duke of Savoy notified the Grand Master of the Order of St. John that while traveling, Tomás had been ambushed by thieves, resulting in the theft of important documents:
   My secretary Tomás Fernández de Medrano, whom I sent from Provence to deal with His Majesty on some matters of great importance, informed me that among other things, the thieves who ambushed him on the road from Barcelona to Madrid took the papal bulls that Your Most Illustrious Lordship had ordered to be issued in Rome, sealed with lead, when His Holiness graciously granted him the habit of St. John without requiring vows, for certain claims that are shared with his house.
Tomás was even captured by the French during the return journey from France to Spain, with an embassy of business, by soldiers from Marseilles, Medrano wrote that he was:
   ... in great danger; [I have] come with them from France to Spain, with an embassy of business as serious as Your Majesty knows, in the happy life of his great and good father, falling back into the hands of the enemy in Marseilles...

### The Prudent King Philip II of Spain and Tomás Fernández de Medrano

Tomás Fernández de Medrano was secretary to the Duke and his wife, the Infanta Catherine Micaela, Duchess of Savoy, wife of Charles Emmanuel of Savoy and daughter of the King of Spain himself, Philip II. She was born of his marriage to Isabella of Valois, the third of his four wives. According to the biographers of the "Prudent King", Isabella and Catherine Micaela were the apple of the sovereign's eye. The best confirmation of the strong bonds of affection that united the king and his daughters are the letters they wrote to each other over the years, recently edited by Fernando Bouza. In them, Tomás Fernandez de Medrano is quoted on 31 January 1592 by King Philip II:
   I was very pleased with the news of your health and that of my grandchildren, which you conveyed in your letters from the end of last month and the fifth and sixth of this one. And you are quite right in saying that the Duke takes too many risks too often. Although I have already advised him many times, I will now do so again through Medrano, whom I have sent there, and whose decision to visit you I have highly approved.

### The Invasion of Monseñor Ladighiera

In early 1592, Monseñor Ladighiera (Lesdiguières in French), a French general, initiated the invasion of Savoy, marking a significant episode in the Spanish-French conflict of the late 16th century. This conflict unfolded as Philip II supported the Catholic House of Guise against the Huguenots, led by the future Henry IV of France. There were even speculations about Isabella Clara Eugenia, Philip's other daughter, asserting her rights to the French throne as the eldest daughter of Princess Elizabeth of Valois, Philip's third wife.
Tomas Fernandez de Medrano and the Duke of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel I, played pivotal roles in this conflict, with Ladighiera emerging as a crucial figure on the French side. Medrano recalls (as he personally attests to this) the efforts of the Duke of Savoy and Infanta Catalina of Savoy in preventing the spread of protestantism and similar sects from entering Italy and their success in recovering the Marquisate of Saluzzo and re-establishing the Catholic faith in Tonon and its surrounding regions, showcasing the power of true religious and Catholic leadership in restoring unity and adherence to the Apostolic See.
During the French Wars of Religion, his brother Francisco Fernández de Medrano commanded a Spanish garrison from Flanders, under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, stationed in Paris. Ladighiera demonstrated his military prowess by inflicting a significant defeat on the Duke's troops in Garzigliana. His brother Francisco de Medrano had distinguished himself, having been severely wounded, and that for all this and for his relationship with his brother Tomás Fernandez de Medrano, the Duke was trying to achieve his progress in a very particular way: by requesting from the king the appointment of the alcaidía of Los Arcos. It appears that his brother did not secure the desired position. Nonetheless, this setback did not hinder him from attaining a favorable standing. In 1598, his brother was entrusted with the responsibility of assembling a company of 250 infantrymen in Burgos and its environs. Additionally, his brother Francisco received an appointment as a councilor of the state of hijosdalgo in the city of Logroño.

### Testimony of Iñigo López de Mendoza, Ambassador to Venice

On August 23, 1597, Íñigo de Mendoza, Ambassador to Venice, wrote to Philip II of Spain, commending Tomás Fernández de Medrano:
   "I will do very little in serving the Lady Infanta doña Catalina by testifying before Your Majesty about the truth of what I know. Tomás Fernández de Medrano, secretary of the Duke of Savoy, passed through Italy on his way back from Spain, where he was dealing with the Duke's affairs, when Your Majesty ordered the Marquess of Cerralvo to embark. And since that departure was delayed for more than three months (at first waiting for good weather and later due to the death of the Marquess), I had the opportunity to talk to Tomás Fernández and to communicate to him during all that time that I waited for passage to France for the mission that Your Majesty sent me on. And truly, sir, I recognized in him the soul of a servant who was most passionate and devoted to Your Majesty's service, and on the other hand, a great kindness, and great compassion for customs. And as for having seen and read, he possessed an enviable wealth of knowledge. And in matters of the present, he had a very pleasant understanding, in addition to his skill with the pen, which Your Majesty knows. Since then, during the time I have been in Italy (which is approaching two years), I have been even more confirmed in my initial opinion because I have been in contact and communicated with him, and I see with my own eyes what a great servant he is of Your Majesty and what he deserves for it, and the abilities he has to serve in anything that is entrusted to him. And because it seems to me that by serving the Lady Infanta, I am also serving Your Majesty in bearing witness to this, I dare to do so for any future occasions that may arise. - Íñigo de Mendoza, 23 of August, 1597."

### Dismissal and Appointment as Secretary of the Princes of Savoy

A sequence of events will profoundly alter the course of Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano's life. The initial incident involves the demise of the Infanta Catalina Micaela, Duchess of Savoy, who, on 6 November 1597, gave birth and passed away at the age of 30. The second significant event is the signing of the Peace of Vervins with France on 2 May 1598, marking the conclusion of years of hostilities. The third and final event is the passing of King Philip II of Spain, another momentous death. Faced with these challenges, Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, gradually asserted independence from Spanish influence.
An initial step in this direction involved eliminating the surveillance and guardianship that the Spanish monarch could exercise through Tomás Fernandez de Medrano. Despite receiving kind words and being appointed as secretary to the infant sons of the Duke of Savoy, Tomás Fernández de Medrano faced dismissal.

### Appointment as Secretary of State and War for the Princes of Savoy

Plans for a new position were already underway, as evidenced by two letters dated 28 March 1598 from the Duke of Savoy to the King of Spain, and the Marquess of Denia (future Duke of Lerma).
His assumed role as Secretary of State and War of the Princes of Savoy likely commenced in 1603, as confirmed by Prince Manuel Filiberto. In a letter to the Duke of Lerma on 8 April 1606, the prince of Savoy acknowledged that Tomás Fernández de Medrano, the Duke's secretary, displayed remarkable patience, attributing it to his compliance with the Duke's will and his numerous talents and merits accumulated over the years.
On April 8, 1606, Prince Manuel Filiberto of Savoy made efforts to honor Tomás and Isabel:
   We assure you that the Duke, my lord and father, would greatly appreciate seeing him honored, not only for the affection and respect we all owe and feel for Doña Isabel de Sandoval, his wife, and for him, but also because we are certain that any favor bestowed upon him would reflect his loyalty and dedication to all matters of Your Excellency’s service.

### Pension

During Medrano's tenure as Secretary of State and War for the Duke of Savoy, he gained favor for his political acumen, together with his wife Doña Isabel Ibanez de Sandoval, a relative of the Duke of Lerma. Together, they diligently sought new favors, and on 4 November 1595, the Duke even petitioned for a pension from Pope Clement VIII for Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano, recognizing his exemplary qualities and services to the King and Infanta. The Duke of Savoy hoped that the Pope would grant this favor to allow Don Tomás to enjoy it alongside the habit he had received from the Order of Saint John:
   "For the many good qualities that I recognized in Tomas Fernandez de Medrano, my Secretary of State and War, I brought him into my service on the occasions in Provence. And because in all the opportunities that have arisen in the past five years, in the service of the King my lord, of the Infanta my lady, and of mine, he has always given great satisfaction, we both greatly desire his advancement. And that Your Holiness, in consideration of this and of the long time he spent in Rome with the papers and other things of the Count of Olivares, favorably seen by Your Beatitude, may be pleased to grant him some pension so that he may enjoy it with the habit he has of the Order of Saint John, in accordance with what Monsignor Nuncio (with whom he has dealt) writes to Your Holiness, to whom I humbly beg to grant me this grace and favor, as it is one of the things that I can ask Your Beatitude with the greatest sincerity and affection."
However, the Duke's request for a pension was not granted. On 9 October 1598 Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano himself formalized the request to return to Spain. Duke of Savoy gave him the desired permission to make this journey, and the money to do so. With his wife and children, he departed for Spain.

#### Intervention by the Duke of Lerma

In Spain, Tomás Fernández de Medrano obtained his pension through the intervention of the Duke of Lerma. Medrano was under the protection of the most influential figure in the new king's court, the Duke of Lerma. The patronage of the favorite, Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, naturally followed the marriage of Don Tomas Fernandez de Medrano from La Rioja to Doña Isabel de Sandoval. The Duke of Savoy, in a letter dated 24 August 1599, informed the Duke and Marquis of Denia of his efforts for the well-being of Doña Isabel de Sandoval, asking them to show great favor to her and her husband, the secretary. In response to this request and considering past services, the Marquis of Denia made efforts with His Majesty to grant Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano an income of four hundred ducats in Milan on 10 August 1607.
Although the confirmation from the King of Spain would come a year later in a letter to the Constable of Castile, Philip III granted a pension of four hundred escudos per year in that state to Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Secretary of State and War for the Duke of Savoy and the Infanta Doña Catalina, his siblings, on 26 July 1608.
The couple's revenue saw a further increase through the supplementary pension granted to Isabel in recognition of her services to Infanta Catalina and a revision of the one conferred upon Mr. Tomás. According to a decree dated 11 December 1601, a sum of 274,200 maravedis annually was allocated to Tomás Fernández de Medrano, the former secretary of His Highness, and to Doña Isabel de Sandoval, his wife.
This provision remained in effect until an equivalent one was to be granted. Notably, an escudo was valued at 350 maravedis, making the initial pension of 400 escudos amount to 140,000 Maravedís—nearly half of the recognition outlined in the 1601 decree. The precise distribution of the total sum was detailed as follows: 'Fifty gold escudos per month for him at a rate of 13 florins and three grains, and for his wife, 39 thousand maravedis, summing up to a total of 274,200 maravedis.'

## Knight of the Holy Order of Saint John of Jerusalem

Tomas Fernandez de Medrano was a knight of Saint John under the habit of Emmanuel Philibert. With the approval and pleasure of His Holiness Pope Paul V, he granted Tomás the habit of San Juan from his own hand (without vows), for certain claims that are shared with the House of Medrano. This was made official by the papal bulls which King Philip II of Spain ordered to be dispatched from Rome with hanging seals. Letters indicate Tomás Fernández de Medrano's maritime experience was the cause, not the consequence, of obtaining the habit. Nevertheless, he did not completely abandon the sword for the pen, at least according to his words:
   having fought on occasions and encounters, battles and skirmishes for the obligations of my habit.

### French Wars of Religion

Medrano ended up participating in the French Wars of Religion that the Duke of Savoy maintained against France during the last decade of the century:
   [Medrano was] always walking in the squadron of the nobility, near His Highness, on foot and on horseback, with weapons on his shoulders and in charge of batteries in great dangers.

### Manager of the Grand Prior of Castilla San Juan and service to the Princes of Savoy

The princes Philip Emmanuel, Victor Amadeus, and Emmanuel Philibert had been sent on a formative trip to the Spanish court in 1603. Very likely, Tomás Fernández de Medrano took care of their affairs from that date forward. The latter two remained there in 1606. The first one had died a year earlier, and both were about to leave Madrid, so they were trying to secure the position of their dependents, including Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano. Emmanuel Philibert, held the title of Grand Prior and Grand Admiral of Castile in the Order of St. John, to which Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano belonged. For this reason, in view of the prospect of returning to Turin, the prince made the decision to appoint Tomás Fernández de Medrano, his secretary and knight of his habit (in his departure for Italy) as Manager of the Grand Prior of Castilla San Juan, occupied in this court in all matters of the Religion that are the princes responsibility and Medrano's duty.

### Brief from Pope Paul V

In 1605, A brief from Pope Paul V on the privileges of the Order of St. John states that it was printed in these two languages, Latin and Spanish, under the title Brief of Our Most Holy Father Pope Paul V in Confirmation of the Privileges of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem by Tomás Fernández de Medrano at his own expense, secretary to the Serene Princes of Savoy and the Holy Chapters and Assemblies of Castile on behalf of his King and knights of the Order of Saint John. It is dedicated to the Duke of Lerma, as protector of all religions and in particular, the Order of Saint John.

## Ecclesiastical patronage

The Most Reverend Tomás Fernández de Medrano was the patron of the Monastery of San Juan de Acre (Saint John of Acre) in the village of Salinas de Añana. Ecclesiastical patronage, notably unknown to historiography, was one of the greatest demonstrations of supremacy and distinction that the nobility of the time could exercise. The appropriation of patronage afterwards was not as common. María Ramírez de Medrano, Lady of Fuenmayor (another lordship linked to the Battle of Clavijo), founded the hospital, commandery, and convent of San Juan de Acre in Navarrete in 1185. She is an example of early ecclesiastical patronage and land donations by nobility within the Sovereign Order of Saint John in the early 12th century.

### Convent of San Juan de Acre

One of the most significant indicators of nobility and prestige at the time was the privilege of holding a patronage. The Fernández de Medrano family controlled the Monastery of San Juan de Acre, a convent associated with the female branch of the Order of St. John, located in Salinas de Añana, within the Diocese of Burgos. The monastery—still standing today—was situated outside the town walls, in a strategic location due to its proximity to the valuable salt pans, among the most important in Castile. These salt pans were incorporated into the Crown in 1564, while still preserving the property rights of prior owners, including the convent.

### Appointment as Patron

On 22 June 1608, the only four nuns who lived in the oratory, Doña Inés Hurtado de Corcuera y Mendoza, prioress, Doña Manuela Hurtado de Corcuera y Mendoza, Doña María de Xérica and Doña María de Corcuera, met to make a very important decision for their future:
   "Because their ancestors and relatives, and those of Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano, a knight of the Order of Saint John, lord of the town and estate of Valdeosera, and secretary of the Serene Prince Grand Prior, by His Majesty's command, made and founded this said convent, where the said secretary and his ancestors are buried in the side chapel of the main chapel and where they have their coat of arms... considering the great good that the said secretary has done to the said convent, all four said prioress and nuns, together and unanimously in one voice, being as they are in their chapter and meeting, which they have held for the said purpose, named and appointed as patron of this said convent and church and house of the lord Saint John of Acre, with everything annexed and belonging to it in the temporal sense, to the said lords Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano and Doña Isabel de Sandoval, his wife, and to their heirs and successors, succeeding each other..."
The convent of San Juan de Acre was made and founded by Medrano's ancestors and therefore received patronage from Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano and his wife, who had already established their family pantheon in the side chapel of the main chapel, where they have their coat of arms. In immediate recompense for their commitment, the couple, in appreciation, pledged and bestowed upon the prioresses, nuns, and the convent, an annual income of fifty ducats for two lifetimes and a one-time contribution of a thousand ducats from their personal estate.

## Translating statutes for the Order of Saint John

King Philip III personally wrote to Grand Master Fray Aloisio de Vignancourt, commending Tomás' service. Philip III praises his "very dear and beloved friend" Tomás Fernández de Medrano for his loyal service, military and diplomatic contributions, religious devotion, and work in translating the Order’s statutes, urging the Grand Master of the Order of St. John to grant him favor and support. King Philip III of Spain wrote to Friar Vignancourt on 26 July 1608:
   The Most Reverend and of great religion Master of the convent and order of S. John of Jerusalem, our very dear and beloved friend Tomás Fernández de Medrano, knight of that sacred religion, lord (who claims to be) of the town and estate of Valdeosera, secretary to the Princes of Savoy my nephews, by my order and that of the sacred chapters and assemblies of Castile, has served me for many years in papers and other things, with all satisfaction and with much integrity, especially as Secretary of State and War for the Duke of Savoy and Infanta Doña Catalina my siblings, of whom I have had and continue to have honored approvals, and of having served me in the war in particular tasks and ministries and as a soldier in good occasions; at that time he came from France to treat with the King my Lord and father, may he have glory, important matters for his Royal Service, in which he showed great prudence and goodness, and in the time he has served and continues to serve my nephews in Spain, he has been known to have such great zeal in matters of Religion, that I have very approved reports from them and from many others. And finally, the work he has taken on (among others that I know of) of translating the statutes from Latin into our Castilian language, and the diligence he has put into it, I have valued greatly, since it will be of benefit and great utility to the knights and religious of your order. And because he is continuing all of this with much pleasure of mine, I will be glad that in his pretensions and those of his children, you will grant him all the grace and favor that may be possible, and thus I ask you very affectionately, since besides being very just and worthy of the place you hold, I will receive particular pleasure and satisfaction in it. And may he (Most Reverend and of great Religion Master of the Convent and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, our very dear and beloved friend) be our Lord in your continued protection. - King Philip III, 26 July 1608"
Following this letter, The Provincial Chapter of the Order of St. John in Castile, under the leadership of Fray Aloisio de Vignancourt, submitted a request for Juan Fernández de Medrano, his son, to be awarded a half-cross (media Cruz), which would grant him a pension and additional distinctions.

## Divisa of Valdeosera and Regajal
### Valdosera

In 1589, Tomás was officially recognized as a divisero (hereditary noble member of the Solar), along with his brothers, after proving their lineage as descendants of the original lords of Valdeosera. During his tenure, Tomás ensured the Fernández de Medrano family maintained a significant presence in the governance of the Solar. His influence extended to reinforcing the hereditary governance structure, protecting the Solar's traditions, and preserving its historical identity. The lordship of Valdeosera remains a symbol of his family’s noble heritage, linking them to Spain’s medieval history and the religious traditions of the Reconquista.

### Regajal

On October 20, 1589, Tomás Fernández de Medrano formally took possession of the Divisa Regajal within the Solar de Valdeosera. Several years later, on June 13, 1596, his brother Francisco Fernández de Medrano, who was then serving as Chief Magistrate (Alcalde Mayor) of the Solar, officially transferred and re-registered this title. Francisco was the son of Juan Fernández de Medrano and brother to Tomás, Jerónimo, and Juan Fernández de Medrano:
   Thomás Fernández de Medrano, Secretary to the Most Serene Duke of Savoy, along with Ensign Jerónimo Fernández de Medrano and Juan Fernández, his brothers, are seated in the Divisa of Regajal as sons of Juan Fernández de Medrano and having proven themselves as rightful lords descended from the said Solar. They succeed in the two celemines of the Fernández and the Villillas. Done in Baldosera on the thirteenth of June, 1596, during the term of Chief Magistrate Captain Francisco Fernández de Medrano, their brother. And he signed it himself, Francisco Fernández de Medrano.

## Appointment as Chief Magistrate of Valdeosera (1600)

During a general assembly on May 1, 1600, Tomás Fernández de Medrano was formally appointed Chief Magistrate (Alcalde Mayor) and Lord of the Solar de Valdeosera. According to the divisas of Valdeosera, he was "one of the most qualified and ancient lords and gentlemen of this lordship and currencies that resides in the court of His Majesty and in his Royal service," appointed so that he "defends, guards and protects the said lordship and currencies." The official record, which spans six pages, contains the following key excerpt:
   In the town and Solar of Valdeosera, on the first day of May of this present year of sixteen hundred, gathered together at the sound of the bell, inside the church of the said town of Valdeosera… for the purpose of electing the Chief Magistrate of the said Solar and Lordship… they elected and appointed as Chief Magistrate of the said town and Solar of Valdeosera and its jurisdiction and Lordship, Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Secretary of State and War, who is absent at the Court of His Majesty, and in his place, a lieutenant shall serve...

### Attendees

Several notable individuals were present at the assembly, including:
* Francisco Fernández de Medrano, Tomás’ brother, a Captain of Infantry, who was also appointed Deputy for Logroño.
* Diego Ximénez de Tejada, from Funes, Kingdom of Navarre, father of Fra' Don Francisco Ximénez de Tejada y Eslava, later Grand Master of the Order of St. John (1703–1775).
* Pedro Pinillos, a resident of Ajamil.
* Juan Pinillos, from Rabanera.

### Formal Acceptance of Office (Madrid, May 20, 1600)

On May 20, 1600, Tomás Fernández de Medrano formally accepted the position of Chief Magistrate in Madrid. The document was notarized by Gaspar de Aranda, a Royal Public Notary, residing in the Court of His Majesty and originally from the town of Lerma. The official document, summarized, states:
   In the town of Madrid, on the twentieth day of May of the year sixteen hundred, before me, the undersigned notary, appeared the noble lord Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Secretary of State and War to the Most Serene Duke of Savoy, residing in this Court. He declared that he accepted the office of Chief Magistrate of the said Lordship, Town, and Solar of Valdeosera, as it had been conferred upon him by the said noble knights, lords diviseros of the said Lordship for this present year. And he swore to God, Our Lord, and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, His Holy Mother, and upon the words of the Holy Four Evangelists, and by the sign of the cross, as follows.

## Solar de Valdeosera

According to his son Fray Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval, whom belonged to the Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce in Clavijo, his full title was "Tomás Fernández de Medrano, of the habit of San Juan, lord, divisero and mayor of the knights hijosdalgo of the lordship, villa, solar and currencies of Valdeosera, counselor and secretary of State and War, of the Most Serene Highnesses of Savoy."
The very noble, ancient and illustrious solar, lordship and town of Valdeosera, is a historic and prestigious noble estate and town, with origins tracing back to the 11th century. Valdeosera is located in the heart of Camero Viejo in San Román de Cameros. The legal foundation that historically connected and continues to connect the group of diviseros in Valdeosera is of Germanic origin. These family groups within the divisa operated in a manner similar to the sippe, a collective of blood relatives centered around a specific individual.
Belonging to this ancient institution of collective nobility was a rarity in the 16th and 17th century. It played a significant role during the Rioja Reconquista and is considered one of the last surviving examples of the Castilian lordships of behetría—those governed by lineage or kin. The estate was officially recognized as a noble institution in the 15th century, first by Henry IV of Castile in 1460, and later by the Catholic Monarchs in 1481. Valdeosera remains one of the oldest noble corporations in Spain, consisting of prominent knights and families of noble Hidalgo blood, known for their right to bear and display arms.

### Valdeosera Archive

Valdeosera's Archive is located in San Román de Cameros. The Lordship of the Villa and Solar of Valdeosera was still held by the Fernández de Medrano family, evident in a letter and book by the Chaplain and Priest, Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zecineros. Diego was the Lord of the Villa and Solar of Valdeosera, de la Torre and of Sojuela, Knight of 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. Specifically, Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zenizeros urged the Council of Orders to:
   Try to obtain a decree or order from His Majesty to order and command that no informant dare to remove original papers from the said archive [of Valdeosera] or from any other place where they may be.

### Origin of the Lordship of Valdeosera

There is a work written in 1601 by the Licentiate Salinas whose title is "Summary of the Memorable and holy battle of Clavijo, true origin and antiquity of the Lordship and lords of the town, land and currencies of Valdeosera," dedicated to King Philip III of Spain by Medrano's son Friar Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval.
The work by Salinas deals with the battle of Clavijo as the origin of the lordship of the estate of Valdeosera. The battle would have its origin in the refusal of Ramiro I of Asturias to continue paying tribute to the Moorish emirs, with special emphasis on the tribute of 100 virgins. For this reason, Ramiro's Christian troops, led by Sancho de Tejada, would go in search of the Muslims, with Abderramán II in command, but upon reaching Nájera and Albelda they would see themselves surrounded by a large Moorish army made up of troops from the peninsula and levies that would come from the area that currently corresponds to Morocco, with the Christians having to take refuge in the Clavijo castle in Monte Laturce. In the plot of Valdeosera, created according to tradition in the 9th century by King Ramiro, there were 13 "divisas", coinciding with the thirteen offspring of Sancho Fernández de Tejada. According to the Licentiate Salinas, Tomás Fernández de Medrano was a true and legitimate descendant of Sancho Fernández de Tejada, famous knight and general of King Ramiro I at the legendary battle of Clavijo.
In the prologue of the Sumario, Licenciado Salinas writes:
   The neighborhood I have with the lordship and lords of Valdeosera and having seen the archives of their antiquities and closely touched the virtue and nobility of all in general and in particular of V. M. [Tomás Fernández de Medrano] has obliged me to draw a summary apart from the memorable and holy battle of Clavijo; because it is connected with the origin and antiquity of the Solar where they descend from and are lords of, which is one of the notable and worthy of celebration that there is in Spain. And being V. M. now the mayor of the knight sons of diviseros of him, and being in that court with my lady doña Isabel de Sandoval his wife, come from Savoy, it seemed to me that it should be dedicated to such a principal successor, true and legitimate descendant of the field master and captain general of King Ramiro the first of León, and who now represents his same person in dignity: because as the wise man says: The glory of children are their parents.

### Estate of Valdeosera

By the 18th century, the estate of Valdeosera spanned almost 1000 hectares and was home to approximately 11.5 residents. Under the feudal system, the lords of Valdeosera held significant seigneurial rights, receiving rents in the form of 104.7 fanegas of wheat and rye, as well as 36 hens, which together were valued at 1,575 reales.

## Republica Mista (1602)

Republica Mista (The Mixed Republic) is an important political treatise written by Tomas Fernández de Medrano, Lord of Valdeosera, and published in Madrid by Juan Flamenco in 1602. Fray Juan de Salazar states that Don Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, from the house of the Lords of Valdeosera, is the one who assumes the paternity of this book, which appeared in Madrid in 1602 under the label of República Mista. However, he concludes by saying that from what the cover says, the work was written by his father, Tomás Fernández de Medrano.
A letter in the name of Tomás Fernández de Medrano, undated but probably from 1607, indicates the book he wrote on the Republic (addressed to the Duke of Lerma), where he treated, among other things, how important it is for Kings and Princes to be religious in order to be more obedient to their subjects, was pleasing to his Majesty.
Nicolás Antonio unequivocally attributes the authorship of The Mixed Republic to Tomás Fernández de Medrano. This father-son collaboration is echoed in the Orazion Consotoria dedicated to Lord Carlo Emanuel, Duke of Savoy, with Tomás as the author and his son Juan responsible for its publication. Similarly, the funeral oration honoring the virtues of King Philip II is also credited to Tomás Fernández de Medrano.
According to the author himself, The Mixed Republic represents "the first treatise of seven" that he had intended to write. This approach—publishing an initial installment to see its reception—was relatively common at the time. It often served as a preview of more extensive plans or claims, which, in many cases, remained incomplete.

### Approval of Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas

Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas writes to King Philip III of Spain on 16 August 1601 about the fact that he has seen the prologue of the Mixed Republic entitled "On the three precepts that the Ambassador of the Romans gave to King Ptolemy on the good governance of his republic," Antonio writes that the subject matter is very useful and beneficial, full of good doctrine, examples, and history, and that his Highness, being served by it, may grant the license requested to print it.

### Summary of the Mixed Republic

According to the 1601 Royal Decree of King Philip III of Spain, Tomás Fernández de Medrano writes first, concerning the importance of kings and princes being religious in order to be more obedient to their subjects; the second, regarding the obedience owed to them by their subjects and the reverence with which they should speak of them and their ministers, councils, and magistrates; and the third, on the Ambassador's role among the Romans, where he discusses why it is important to reward the good and punish the bad. A summary from Miguel Herrero states:
   The author presents all political doctrine within a fictional narrative reminiscent of the old Spanish literature with Arabic influences. In this invention, the King Ptolemy of Egypt is depicted conversing at length with seven ambassadors from the most flourishing states of the time: Rome, Carthage, Sicily, Rhodes, Athens, Sparta, and Sicyon. Each ambassador outlines the three main principles of their country’s political system. The author concludes that if the twenty-one political principles practiced by the Romans, Carthaginians, Sicilians, Rhodians, Athenians, Spartans, and Sicyonians were mixed or combined, the result would be a mixed republic—or rather, a combined political system that would yield optimal results. The book in our possession only discusses the three principles of Roman politics, as presented by the fictional Roman ambassador: ‘We have great respect and veneration for temples and the homeland. We obediently follow the mandates of our governors and magistrates. We reward the good and punish the wicked severely.’ These three points are the ones explored in the book's 158 pages, focusing exclusively on religious and juridical politics. Preceding this (on page XVIII) is a 16-page prologue on general topics, where politics is defined, and the development of society is traced from family to municipality, from municipalities to provinces or kingdoms. It also addresses government and its auxiliaries, and the three good political regimes—monarchy, aristocracy, and timocracy—along with their three opposites: tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. The author begins the discussion about which regime is best and accepts the theory that ‘any type of republic established on its own and simply will soon degenerate into the nearest vice unless it is moderated by others.’ To endure in good governance, republics must integrate the virtues and properties of the other regimes. This doctrine is later fully embraced by Fray Juan de Salazar in his attempt to define the Spanish monarchy. The body of the book is a compilation of historical texts and examples, partially drawn from other authors, used to demonstrate that the foundation of good government lies in the preservation of religion, the maintenance of authority, and the administration of justice.

### Dedicated to the Duke of Lerma

The Mixed Republic by Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano is dedicated to Francisco de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma by Tomás and his son Juan. Miguel Herrero's assertion in his introductory study to Fray Juan de Salazar's book confirms this is the work of Medrano:
   Addressed to Don Francisco de Sandoval, Duke of Lerma, Marquis of Denia, Cea, and Ampudia, of the Council of State of King D. Felipe III, our Lord, his Chief Equerry and Chief Steward, Grand Commander of Castilla, and Perpetual Alcaide of the Castle of Burgos, and of the Royal Houses of Tordesillas and Valladolid. By Don Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Lord of Valdeosera.
The Duke of Lerma was the favourite (valido) of Philip III and, as such, governed the destinies of the crown on behalf of the sovereign.

### Medrano's response to Machiavelli

Without naming Machiavelli, his dedication is a forceful response to his politics, in which Juan Fernández de de Medrano y Sandoval defends the new system of government imposed in the monarchy after the accession to the throne of Philip III: the favoritism. His father Tomás Fernández de Medrano had close ties to the Duke of Lerma, the first great private and initiator of the phenomenon.
The first volume of the Mixed Republic focuses on the constitutive role of the political order played by religion, obedience and justice and is integrated into the context of the anti-Machiavellian current to the extent that it tries to refute the Florentine's thesis that they attribute to religion a merely strategic role, in no case constitutive of the political order.
In the early 17th century, a strong royalist ideology emerged, asserting that the king was legibus solutus (not bound by laws) in matters of civil law, though still subject to divine and natural law. Phrases like scientia certa, motu proprio, and non obstante facilitated the development of absolute royal sovereignty, which was nevertheless distinguished from tyranny and absolutism. This interpretation of royal power was so prevalent that República mista (1602) by Tomás Fernández de Medrano explicitly defended unrestricted royal authority in civil affairs and outright rejected the notion that subjects had any right to resist.

### Prologue

For the prologue, Tomás Fernández de Medrano arranges all the political doctrine within a novelistic fiction, which recalls the ancient Spanish literature of Arabic origin. When Tolmeo, King of Egypt, was visited by seven ambassadors from the most prosperous republics of that time, he asked each one of them for three points or laws by which they governed themselves. In this invention, King Tolomeo of Egypt appears discussing over dinner with seven Ambassadors from the most flourishing contemporary states: Rome, Carthage, Sicily, Rhodes, Athens, Sparta, and Sicionia. Each Ambassador explains the three main bases of the policy of his country, leading Tomas to conclude that a mixed republic would be the most effective if the twenty-one political principles of the seven states were combined.
It includes a 16-page prologue on generalities, defining politics, and the formation of society, including family, municipality, province, and kingdom. Medrano accepts the theory that any type of republic that is not moderated by others soon degenerates into vice, and for republics to endure in straight government, they must have virtues and properties of the others united in them:
   "For if Kings, Councils, and Magistrates on earth are the image of God, they should also strive to imitate Him in goodness, perfection, and justice, as our superiors imitate Him to the extent of their abilities, in order to induce true piety and virtue to those under their charge with their example (which is the most powerful thing). For just as the heart in the body of animals always remains the last to corrupt, because the last remnants of life remain in it, it seems appropriate that, having some illness entered to corrupt the people, the Prince and Magistrates remain pure and unharmed until the end." - Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Republica Mista, 1602
In the prologue, Medrano discusses the three forms of good and just political regimes which make up a mixed republic: monarchy, aristocracy, and timocracy, and discusses their three opposites: tyranny, oligarchy, and democracy. Medrano's ideas about the mixed republic were influenced by earlier political philosophers such as Aristotle and Polybius, who also wrote about the benefits of combining different forms of government, which prove that the preservation of religion and authority is the foundation of good governance.
   "Thus, the loyalty and silence of subjects toward their king and rightful lord, and toward his councils and magistrates, are crucial virtues within the populace and powerful means of attaining some peace in this life. This peace reminds us that it is not our permanent home nor our final destination and is best suited to remind us that we live and journey toward an eternal life, not this fleeting, mortal, and transitory one."

### Medrano's Mixed Republic

Monarchy, aristocracy and timocracy composed a mixed form of government, according to Medrano, saying that any species of republic established solely and simply degenerates quickly into the closest vice, unless moderated by the others; and in order for republics to endure in upright governance, they must possess the virtues and characteristics of the other forms combined within them, so that no one element grows excessively without proportion, leading it to lean towards its inherent malice and consequently fall into ruin.
For this reason, Tomás Fernández de Medrano states that the republics of the Spartans, Carthaginians, Romans, and other famous states were composed and properly mixed with elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and timocracy. According to Medrano, a mixed republic is a government that combines elements of both monarchy and republicanism using the twenty-one political principles of the seven states combined.
In this system, the monarch is the head of state, but power is shared with a representative assembly that is elected by the people. Tomas believed that the mixed republic offered the best of both worlds: the stability and order of a monarchy, combined with the accountability and representation of a republic. Tomás Fernández de Medrano argued that this system would prevent the abuses of power that often occur in pure monarchies or pure republics.
In a mixed republic, the monarch is constrained by the laws and customs of the land, and is required to consult with and seek the advice of the representative assembly. The assembly, in turn, has the power to veto the monarch's decisions and to enact laws that are in the best interests of the people. He does not hesitate to state that if we do not follow through with careful deliberation, we will end up with "a form of depraved Republic called Democracy, where free and poor men, being in greater numbers, become rulers of the State and act with force against the few."
The book's content is reduced to religious and juridical policy and emphasizes the importance of preserving religion and authority while administering justice. Within the political treatise "Mixed Republic," he also wrote about the natural rights of individuals, arguing that people had certain inherent rights that could not be taken away by the state. He believed that the purpose of government was to protect these natural rights, and that any government that failed to do so was illegitimate. Medrano's ideas had a significant impact on political thought in Europe and the Americas, particularly during the age of Enlightenment.

### Other Works written by Medrano

* Consoling prayer to Sermo Carlo Emanuel, Duke of Savoy, made by Tomás Fernández de Medrano, of the Messrs. of Valdeosera and Almarza de Cameros, Secretary of State and war of their highnesses and their council, Turin, Antonio de Bianqui, 1598.
* Funeral prayer to the gifts of the most powerful Filipo Segundo: Invictissimo King of Spain and of the New World made by Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Secretary of State and War of the Sereneness and catholic Duke of Savoy, and of the serene princes, his sons, and of his council, Milano, Gratiadio Ferioli.

## Death and burial

Tomás Fernández de Medrano died around 1616 and was buried in the family chapel at the Monastery of San Juan de Acre in Salinas de Añana. The Fernández de Medrano family funded the restoration of the collateral chapel at the Monastery of San Juan de Acre in Salinas de Añana, which housed their family burial site and displayed the family coat of arms.

## Marriage and offspring

Tomás Fernández de Medrano was married to Isabel Ibáñez de Sandoval, relative of the first Duke of Lerma, Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas. His wife was the daughter of Maria, a lady-in-waiting to Princess Catalina Micaela of Spain.
Isabel de Sandoval's sister Magdalena de Sandoval was the governess of the children of Cristóbal Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Uceda, first-born son of Francisco de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma.
The 1st Duke of Lerma requested from the King to grant a financial amount to Isabel Ibáñez de Sandoval, who became a widow before her first marriage was consummated, so that she can remarry. On 8 December 1594, the Duke of Lerma already said that Tomás Fernández de Medrano was arranged to marry Isabel de Sandoval from the chamber of the Infanta, his wife. Tomás Fernández de Medrano and Isabel Ibáñez de Sandoval married in 1595. On 24 April 1596 the Duke of Savoy confirmed this: 'Tomás Fernández de Medrano married Doña Isabel de Sandoval.'
Medrano's wife Isabel de Sandoval was also related to Gaspar Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán y Sandoval, 9th Duke of Medina Sidonia, his mother Juana de Sandoval was a daughter of the 1st Duke of Lerma, and his sister Luisa de Guzmán y Sandoval married to the newly proclaimed king John IV of Portugal.

### Testimony of Juan de Urbina

When his daughter, Ana María Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, a Lady-in-waiting for Queen Elisabeth of France, Queen of Spain, married the knight Don Rodrigo Martínez de Fresneda, Juan de Urbina, one of the witnesses involved in the proceedings, wrote:
   [They] asked if he knew the parents of Doña Ana Maria de Medrano. He replied that he met Tomás Fernández de Medrano while serving the Duke of Savoy, wearing the habit of Saint John of Jerusalem, despite being married, out of devotion (...) indicating that if he were not of clean and noble birth, he could not have her. He also mentioned that Doña Isabel Ibáñez de Sandoval was treated as a debt by the Duke of Lerma, who recommended her to the Duke of Savoy to grant her a favor, as she was part of the Duchess's chamber.

### Children

Tomas Fernandez de Medrano and Isabel de Sandoval had two children:
* Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval (b. 1595), first born son, heir and friar at San Prudencio de Monte Laturce.
* Ana María Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval (b. 1608), Lady of Queen Isabel de Borbón. Ana Maria married Rodrigo Martínez de Fresneda, knight of the Order of Montesa. Fray Juan declared his sister, Ana María Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, as universal heir.

#### Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval

His son Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval's will is preserved in the notarial protocols of the Provincial Historical Archive of La Rioja. Consequently, the monastery where Fray Juan Fernandez de Medrano had entered was far from being just another monastery. He was a novice at the monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce of the Order of St. Bernard of Cistercians, in the diocese of Calahorra. It was also an enormously symbolic place for the inhabitants of the region.
Its location coincided with the field of one of the mythical battles of the reconquest in the area: the battle of Clavijo. San Prudencio de Monte Laturce was lord of a nearby village: Villanueva de San Prudencio. The abbey of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce sheltered an average of 20 monks throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Fray Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval owned various lands and had rights in several towns in La Rioja: Clavijo, Lasanta, Tudelilla, Villamediana, Yangüela, Lagunilla, Leza, Alberite, Ribafrecha, El Villar de Arnedo.
Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval contributed 600 ducats for the restoration of the refectory and cells within the monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce. His will included a specific clause that required the amount to be doubled to 1,200 ducats if not delivered within four months. Additionally, his will provided for significant financial disbursements to his family, relatives, and servants.

## Siblings

In the prologue of the Sumario, Licenciado Salinas mentions the brothers of Tomás Fernández de Medrano:
   The neighborhood I have with the lordship and lords of Valdeosera and having seen the archives of their antiquities and closely touched the virtue and nobility of all in general and in particular of His Grace Tomás Fernández de Medrano and three soldier brothers that I have known and know in the service of His Majesty (one who died in the expedition to England, another who is a captain of Spanish Infantry and another ensign, of whose value and qualities we have such great proofs).

### Lazaro Fernández de Medrano

His brother Lázaro served in the military as an ensign. Lázaro Fernández de Medrano, a resident of Entrena, was registered on May 1, 1596 in the land of Valdeosera, from the Velilla branch, Lords of that town.

### Francisco Fernández de Medrano

Tomas had a second brother named Francisco Fernández de Medrano, Lord and Divisero of Regajal, resident and regidor of Logroño, who fought during the French Wars of Religion under Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. Francisco Fernández de Medrano married María 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 the latter are also registered on 1 May 1614: "Don Diego Fernández de Medrano y Espinosa and Don Francisco Fernández de Medrano y Espinosa, his legitimate sons and of Doña María Ana de Espinosa, his wife, Lords of the said Solar and Divisa de Regajal." His son Diego Fernández de Medrano was born in Logroño in 1564, his grandfather had also been a secretary to Charles V 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 even testamentary executor of Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain.
In 1693, Francisco's descendant, Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata, a native of Sojuela and resident of Logroño, owner of the Divisa Regajal, Knight of the Order of Calatrava, became the Governor of the Province of Carrión, valley of Atlixco in Puebla, with his seat in the city of Atlixco. He was the son of Juan Fernández de Medrano, a member of the Holy Office in Logroño, deputy and owner of the Solar de Regajal, and Francisca de Zapata y Medrano, who was a resident of Calahorra in La Rioja.

### The testimony of Pedro Fernández Navarrete

The licenciado Pedro Fernández Navarrete provided testimony in the file of Ana María Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, daughter of Tomás Fernández de Medrano. In his testimony, Navarrete not only provides information about Tomás and his brother's councilorship but also adds that:
   His brother Don Francisco Fernández de Medrano is familiar with the Inquisition of Logroño and that in all serious matters of the Inquisition of that city, the said Captain Francisco is called upon as a qualified person (...) All those mentioned in question are considered principal people, nobles, and hidalgo, and that Captain Francisco de Medrano, who has been a councilman in the sons of the hidalgo estate in this city, is also held in this reputation. He is a brother from both father and mother to the aforementioned Tomás Fernández de Medrano.
This testimony is from Pedro Fernández Navarrete, consultant of the Holy Office, canon of the Holy Church of Santiago el Real de Logroño (in 1593), and secretary of their Majesties (Isabel de Borbón and Felipe IV) and of their Highnesses the Infante Don Carlos and the Cardinal Infante. In the lists of councilors published by José María Bañuelos, a "Captain Francisco de Medrano" appears as a yearly councilor in 1606, another "Captain Medrano" in 1612, 1615, and 1628.

### Diego de Medrano

Tomas had a brother named Diego de Medrano, Squadron General and famous Captain and innovator of the Spanish Galleys, he led the Spanish Empire to victory in the conquest of the Azores and was appointed by King Philp II of Spain to command the São João galleys of Portugal during the 1588 invasion of England with the Spanish Armada.