The Most Reverend Master andPatron Tomás Fernández de Medrano Divisero, Mayor, High Magistrate, and Lord of Valdeosera | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms of Lord Tomás Fernández de Medrano (middle shield) on top of the coat of arms of Valdeosera (1602) | |
| Secretary of PrinceGiovanni Andrea Doria, Marques de Torilla | |
| In office 1579–1581 | |
| In the service ofEnrique de Guzmán, 2nd Count of Olivares | |
| In office 1582–1590 | |
| Secretary of State and War forCharles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy | |
| In office 1 August 1591 – September 1598 | |
| Secretary of State and War for the Princes of Savoy | |
| In office 1598–1606 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16th century |
| Died | 1616 Monastery of San Juan de Acre in Salinas de Añana |
| Spouse | Isabel Ibañez de Sandoval |
| Relations | Diego de Medrano, Francisco Fernández de Medrano, Lázaro Fernández de Medrano (brothers) |
| Children | Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, Ana Maria Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval |
| Occupation | Crownofficial, ecclesiasticalpatron |
| Profession | Diplomat,Military Administrator,Government official |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Spanish Empire |
| Branch/service | Order of Saint John |
| Rank | Knight of the Order of Saint John (without vows) |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars | French Wars of Religion |
Tomás Fernández de Medrano (died 1616) was a Spanish nobleman, lord anddivisero of Valdeosera and Regajal,author,theologian, and philosopher fromEntrena, who served as a prominentadviser, statesman,diplomat, andcourtier toPhilip II andPhilip III of Spain. He also served as a counselor and Secretary of State and War forCharles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, andPrincess Catherine Micaela of Spain.[1] Later, he served in the same capacity for the Princes of Savoy. As lord anddivisero of Valdeosera, Medrano was appointed Mayor and Chief Magistrate and of Valdeosera inSan Román de Cameros. He was also a Knight of the SovereignOrder of Saint John of Jerusalem, manager for the Grand Prior of Castilla San Juan, andThe Most Reverend Master andPatron of the convent of Saint John of Acre inSalinas de Añana. In addition to his other roles, Medrano was the Secretary of the Holy Chapters and Assemblies ofCastile. He also served for eight years underEnrique de Guzmán, 2nd Count of Olivares, and as secretary to PrinceGiovanni Andrea Doria, from 1579 to 1581. In 1605, he translated and printed abrief fromPope Paul V inLatin andSpanish for King Philip III of Spain and the Order of Saint John.[2]
He became a key figure in the political affairs of theDuchy of Savoy and the Spanish monarchy. Medrano's writings encompasspolitical theory,moral philosophy,theology,jurisprudence,economics, andgovernance, uniting classicalcivic virtue withprecepts oflaw and statecraft to articulate a vision of royal authority and shared civic responsibilities bound by bothdivine andnatural law. He is best known for his treatiseRepública Mista, published at the royal press in 1602 by Juan Flamenco inMadrid and dedicated toFrancisco de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, the firstvalido (royal favorite) of Philip III. Although only the first part was printed, it defined early 17th-century ideas of royal authority, with Fray Juan de Salazar's 1617 work adopting Medrano'streatise anddoctrine to present the Spanish monarchy as guided byvirtue andreason yet bound by divine and natural law. During his time, Philip II and Philip III and Spanish society continued to apply and uphold the longstandingtradition of the House of Medrano. TheDoctrine of Medrano was grounded in their vision of Catholic theology and the Spanish monarchical tradition rather than the secularhumanism of some Italian contemporaries.[3]
Tomás Fernández de Medrano, son of Juan Fernández de Medrano, was born inEntrena, La Rioja.[4] 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 his brothers, sons of Juan Fernández de Medrano, with the Velillas of Entrena.[4]
Medrano, a nobleman from the House ofMedrano, traces his lineage to the esteemed lordship and estate of Valdeosera in La Rioja, linked to theBattle of Clavijo, as well as toAlmarza de Cameros, a lordship governed by the descendants ofDiego López de Medrano y Zúñiga. The Medrano family’s presence inLa Rioja dates back to the11th century. The presence of a castle andlion on thecoat of arms of the municipality ofMedrano, La Rioja—alongside the goshawk on the Medrano family crest—indicates an ancient and noble lineage. Traditionally, such symbols were associated with individuals ofroyal descent.[5]
Tomás Fernández de Medrano resided at theroyal court of Spain. A distinguished figure of theSpanish nobility, Tomás belonged to one of the most prominent families ofjurists serving theSpanish monarchy throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.[6] Status and influence became increasingly tied to proximity to the sovereign, court patronage, and administrative roles, rather than independent territorial rule.[7]
In hisRepública Mista (1602), Medrano states that he studiedmathematics underChristoph Clavius, the Jesuit mathematician and architect of theGregorian calendar reform. He invokes Clavius specifically when criticizing the errors ofjudicial astrology, citing his mathematical training to distinguish legitimatescience fromsuperstition.[3]
Thecoat of arms of Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Lord of Valdeosera, combines the grand shield of Valdeosera (outer shield) with theheraldic arms of the House ofMedrano (inner shield). Theescutcheon of Medrano is described as follows:
Additionally, the badge of Valdeosera features theLatin script "Let us praise glorious men and our ancestors in their generations."[11]
Tomás Fernández de Medrano was married to Isabel Ibáñez de Sandoval, a relative ofFrancisco de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma. Isabel was the daughter of María, a lady-in-waiting to PrincessCatalina Micaela of Spain, wife of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy. As Secretary of State and War to the Duke and Princess, Medrano's close proximity to the Savoyard court enabled him to see Isabel frequently, eventually leading to their marriage.[4]
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.[12] 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.[2] Tomás Fernández de Medrano and Isabel Ibáñez de Sandoval married in 1595.[4] On 24 April 1596 the Duke of Savoy confirmed this: 'Tomás Fernández de Medrano married Doña Isabel de Sandoval.'[13]
Isabel de Sandoval's sister Magdalena de Sandoval was the governess of the children ofCristóbal Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Uceda, first-born son of Francisco de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma.[2] Medrano's wife Isabel de Sandoval was also related toGaspar 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 sisterLuisa de Guzmán y Sandoval married to the newly proclaimed kingJohn IV of Portugal.
Tomas Fernandez de Medrano and Isabel de Sandoval had two children:
When his daughter, Ana María Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, a Lady-in-waiting for QueenElisabeth 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.[2]
His sonJuan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval's will is preserved in the notarial protocols of the Provincial Historical Archive of La Rioja.[15] 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 ofCistercians, in thediocese of Calahorra.[2]
In his early career, Medrano served inGenoa,Rome, and wherever his services were required. A letter from 1607, in the name of Tomás Fernández de Medrano, describes at least 30 years of service to the Spanish Monarchy:
His Majesty and his ministers are well aware of the services he has rendered, by sea and land, in peace and war, over the past thirty years. He has always been diligent and conscientious in his posts, and remains so.[16]
Medrano served on thegalleys of Genoa for about two years (1579-1581) as a secretary to Marquis of TorillaGiovanni Andrea Doria, adoptive son of the great Genoese admiralAndrea Doria (his great-uncle).[17] 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.[18]
Corsair warfare was one of the usual tasks of the knights ofSaint John, whose operations base in theMediterranean wasMalta. Their corsair campaigns were usually againstBarbary pirates. The Barbary pirates frequently attackedCorsica, resulting in manyGenoese towers being constructed. By policing the Mediterranean, they augmented the assumed responsibility of the traditional protectors of the Mediterranean, the naval city states ofVenice andGenoa.[4]
Medrano formed a strong relationship withEnrique de Guzmán, 2nd Count of Olivares during the time he spent inRome from 1582 to 1590.[19] Enrique de Guzmán, 2nd Count of Olivares was the father of the most famousGaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares, afavorite ofPhilip IV. The Count of Olivares had served as anambassador to theHoly 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 thatembassy.[2]
The relationship Medrano maintained with the father of the Count-Duke is deduced from the fact that he was the only one who responded positively to Carlos Manuel's demands, granting Medrano an allocation of 2,000escudos.[20]
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The most important position 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 PrincessCatalina 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.[2]
In a formal letter dated 1 May 1594, Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, praised Medrano as a man of "virtue, prudence, fidelity, secrecy, and skill" in matters of state.[21] The Duke emphasized that individuals entrusted with critical diplomatic and military responsibilities must be selected not only for their competence but also for their loyalty and discretion.[21]
He stated that Medrano had proven himself in various assignments, including delicate missions near the Duke's person and in service to the King of Spain. Acknowledging Medrano's long-standing service, the Duke reaffirmed his appointment as Secretary of State and War for Spanish affairs entrusted to Savoy, granting him the full honors, privileges, and benefits associated with the position.[21]
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 goldSpanish escudo per month for his maintenance near the Duke's person, paid in the Spanish Infantry, effective from 1 August 1591.[22]
On 1 August 1591 Medrano assumed the significant role of serving as an intermediary between KingPhilip II of Spain and Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, stationed inTurin. 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.[2]
Medrano was entrusted with a dangerous mission to deal with the Duke of Savoy's political-military affairs inMadrid shortly after his appointment on 1 August 1591, with KingPhilip II of Spain himself. In a letter to King Philip II, the Duke of Savoy emphasized the urgency of the situation in Provence, stating that the "great and extreme necessity" had compelled him to send Medrano, his secretary of state and war, to court.[2]
The Duke of Savoy described Medrano as "a person through whose hands everything has passed and who infinitely desires the service of Your Majesty," and instructed that "whatever he proposes... it will be my pleasure for you to give him the same credit as you would to my own person," urging a swift resolution.[2]
In 1591, while en route to discuss matters of state and war on behalf of the Duke of Savoy with Philip II of Spain, Tomás Fernández de Medrano was captured by French forces nearMarseille. His capture occurred in 1592, as Medrano was returning to Spain "with an embassy concerning such grave matters as Your Majesty knows," and was seized "in great danger" by the enemy.[2] He eventually returned to the royal court in Madrid by early 1592.[23]
Medrano was secretary to the Duke and his wife, the InfantaCatherine Micaela, Duchess of Savoy, daughter of the King of Spain himself,Philip II. She was born of his marriage toIsabella of Valois, the third of his four wives.[24] 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 KingPhilip 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.[25]
On 12 February 1592, Philip II informed the Duke of Savoy that he had received Tomás Fernández de Medrano,[4] where he "treated important matters for His Royal Service."[23] Satisfied with Medrano's service, Philip II of Spain ordered a payment of 1,000 ducats to cover his travel expenses upon his return.[4]
He took part in the Duke of Savoy’s war againstFrance in the final decade of the sixteenth century, known as theFrench Wars of Religion, serving in the noble squadron near the Duke, both onfoot andhorseback, and was entrusted with commandingartillery in dangerous engagements.[4]
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. The conflict unfolded as Philip II supported the Catholic House of Guise against theHuguenots, 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.
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 ofprotestantism and similarsects from enteringItaly and their success in recovering theMarquisate 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 theApostolic See.[26]
During the French Wars of Religion, his brother Francisco Fernández de Medrano commanded aSpanish garrison fromFlanders, underAlexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, stationed in Paris. Ladighiera demonstrated his military prowess by inflicting a significant defeat on the Duke's troops inGarzigliana. Francisco de Medrano had distinguished himself, having been severely wounded,[27] and that for all this and for his relationship with his brother Tomás, the Duke was trying to achieve his progress in a very particular way: by requesting from the king the appointment of the alcaidía ofLos Arcos.[28] 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 inBurgos and its environs. Additionally, his brother Francisco received an appointment as a councilor of the state of hijosdalgo in the city ofLogroño.[29]
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Medrano was affiliated with theOrder of St. John of Jerusalem, not as a vowed knight—since his married status precluded formal vows—but as a dedicated lay knight. In 1593, with the approval and pleasure ofPope Clement VIII, the habit of Saint John was granted to himmanu propria—"from his own hand"—without vows, in recognition of longstanding claims associated with the House ofMedrano. This distinction was formally documented in papal bulls, issued in Rome with hanging lead seals, which King Philip II of Spain had ordered to be dispatched.[2] In a letter dated 12 October 1593, the Duke of Savoy recounted that his secretary, Tomás Fernández de Medrano, had been sent from Provence to the Spanish court to negotiate urgent matters. During the journey from Barcelona to Madrid, Medrano was ambushed by thieves who stole, among other valuables, the sealed papal bulls—documents conferring the habit of St. John without the obligation of vows, issued by papal grace in recognition of his family's ancestral rights.[2]
Letters indicate Tomás Fernández de Medrano'smaritime experience was the cause, not the consequence, of obtaining the habit. In the Memorial of 1607, Medrano described himself as having been:
forged in encounters and skirmishes, battles and clashes, by the obligations of his habit.[2]
The Duke strategically appealed to individuals positioned at the intersection of political, military, and ecclesiastical power—royal advisors, influential generals and ambassadors, and even the Pope himself—all capable of advancing Medrano’s cause across the various spheres of influence that governed courtly advancement in late 16th-century Spain. Among the individuals he solicited support from included Juan de Idiaquez,Cristobal de Moura (8 December 1594), or the Count of Chinchon (29 September 1596), high-ranking clergymen such asCardinal Albert VII, Archduke of Austria (20 October 1595) orCardinal Aldobrandino (19 September 1596), generals such asAlonso de Idiaquez (October 1595), orambassadors such as Giuseppe de Acuna (Turin, 24 April 1596) or theDuke 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 HolinessClement VIII (4 November 1595).[2]
On August 23, 1597, Íñigo de Mendoza, Ambassador toVenice, 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.[30]
A sequence of events would profoundly alter the course of Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano's life. The initial incident involved the demise of theInfanta Catalina Micaela, Duchess of Savoy, who, on 6 November 1597, gave birth and died at the age of 30. The second significant event was the signing of thePeace of Vervins with France on 2 May 1598, marking the conclusion of years of hostilities. The third and final event was the passing ofKing Philip II of Spain, another momentous death. Faced with these challenges, Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, gradually asserted independence from Spanish influence.[2]
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.[2]
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).[2]
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.[31]
On April 8, 1606, PrinceManuel 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.[32]
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 Isabel Ibanez de Sandoval, a relative of theDuke of Lerma. Together, they diligently sought new favors, and on 4 November 1595, the Duke petitioned for a pension fromPope Clement VIII for 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 Tomás to enjoy it alongside the habit he had received from theOrder 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.[33]
However, the Duke's request for a pension was not granted. On 9 October 1598 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 forSpain.[34]
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In Spain, Tomás Fernández de Medrano came under the protection ofFrancisco de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma—the most powerful figure at the royal court—and obtained his pension through the Duke’s intervention. Thepatronage of thefavorite, Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, naturally followed the marriage of Tomás Fernández de Medrano to Isabel de Sandoval, Lerma's relative. The Duke of Savoy, in a letter dated 24 August 1599, informed the Duke and Marquess of Denia of his efforts for the well-being of Isabel de Sandoval, asking them to show great favor to her and her husband, Medrano. In response to this request and considering past services, the Marquess of Denia made efforts with Philip III to grant Tomás Fernández de Medrano an income of four hundredducats inMilan on 10 August 1607.[2]
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 hundredescudos per year in that state to Tomás Fernández de Medrano, Secretary of State and War for the Duke of Savoy and theInfanta Catalina, his siblings, on 26 July 1608.[35]
The couple's revenue saw a further increase through the supplementary pension granted to Isabel de Sandoval in recognition of her services to Infanta Catalina and a revision of the one conferred upon Medrano. According to a decree dated 11 December 1601, a sum of 274,200maravedis annually was allocated to Medrano, the former secretary of His Highness, and Isabel de Sandoval, his wife.[36]
This provision remained in effect until an equivalent one was to be granted. Notably, anescudo was valued at 350maravedis, 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 goldescudos per month for him at a rate of 13florins and three grains, and for his wife, 39 thousandmaravedis, summing up to a total of 274,200maravedis."[37]
The princesPhilip Emmanuel,Victor Amadeus, andEmmanuel Philibert had been sent on a formative trip to the Spanish court in 1603.[39][40] It was very likely that Medrano took care of their affairs from that date forward. The latter two remained there in 1606. The first 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 andGrand Admiral of Castile in theOrder of St. John, to which Don Tomás Fernandez de Medrano belonged. For this reason, in view of the prospect of returning toTurin, 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 theGrand Prior of Castilla San Juan, occupied in this court in all matters of the Religion that are the princes responsibility and Medrano's duty.[41]
In 1605, a brief fromPope Paul V on the privileges of theOrder of St. John entitledBrief of Our Most Holy Father Pope Paul V in stated:by Tomás Fernández de Medrano at his own expense, secretary to the Serene Princes of Savoy and the Holy Chapters and Assemblies of Castileon 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.[42]
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 ofSalinas de Añana. Ecclesiasticalpatronage, notably unknown tohistoriography, was one of the greatest demonstrations of supremacy and distinction that thenobility of the time could exercise. The appropriation of patronage afterwards was not as common.María Ramírez de Medrano, Lady ofFuenmayor (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.[2]
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.[2]
On 22 June 1608, the only four nuns who lived in the oratory, Inés Hurtado de Corcuera y Mendoza, prioress, Manuela Hurtado de Corcuera y Mendoza, María de Xérica and 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...[43][2]
The convent of San Juan de Acre was made and founded by Medrano's ancestors and therefore received patronage from 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 fiftyducats for two lifetimes and a one-time contribution of a thousand ducats from their personal estate.[44][2]
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King Philip III personally wrote to Grand Master FrayAloisio de Vignancourt, commending Tomás' service. In his letter, Philip III extols Medrano as a man of "great prudence and goodness," noting his loyal service "in papers and other things, with all satisfaction and with much integrity."[23]
He recalls Medrano’s diplomatic mission from France to negotiate with Philip II, where he "treated important matters for His Royal Service," and praises his role as Secretary of State and War to the Duke of Savoy and Infanta Catalina, whom the king calls "my siblings."[23]
The king emphasizes Medrano’s "great zeal in matters of religion," and especially values his translation of the Order’s statutes into Castilian, calling it "of benefit and great utility to the knights and religious of your order." Declaring him "our very dear and beloved friend," Philip III urges the Grand Master to support Medrano and his family’s claims with "all the grace and favor that may be possible," assuring him that to do so would bring the king "particular pleasure and satisfaction."[23]
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.[4]
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’smedieval history and the religious traditions of theReconquista.[4]
On October 20, 1589, Tomás Fernández de Medrano formally took possession of theDivisa Regajal within theSolar 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 theDivisa 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 twocelemines 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.[4]
During a general assembly on May 1, 1600, Medrano was formally appointed Chief Magistrate (Alcalde Mayor) and Lord of the Solar de Valdeosera. According to thedivisas 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."[45] 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...[45]
Several notable individuals were present at the assembly, including:
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.
According to his son Fray Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval, whom belonged to the Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce inClavijo, 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."[2]
Valdeosera is a historic and prestigious noble estate and town, with origins tracing back to the 11th century. Valdeosera is located in the heart ofCamero Viejo inSan 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 thesippe, a collective of blood relatives centered around a specific individual.[46]
Belonging to this ancient institution of collective nobility was a rarity in the 16th and 17th century.[47] It played a significant role during the Rioja Reconquista and is considered one of the last surviving examples of the Castilian lordships ofbehetría—those governed by lineage or kin. The estate was officially recognized as a noble institution in the 15th century, first byHenry 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.[47]
Valdeosera's Archive is located inSan Román de Cameros.[48] 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 Zenizeros.[49] Diego was the Lord of the Villa and Solar of Valdeosera, de la Torre and ofSojuela, Knight of theOrder of Santiago, owner of the House and Tower of La Vega and the Palace ofEntrena,[49] His father had served asCommissioner of Spanish Infantry andAlcaide of the Castles ofVillarejo 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.[50]
A work written in 1601 by theLicentiate Salinas entitled "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,"[51] isdedicated to King Philip III of Spain by Medrano's sonFriarJuan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval.
The work by Salinas deals withthe battle of Clavijo as the origin of the lordship of the estate of Valdeosera. The battle would have its origin in the refusal ofRamiro I of Asturias to continue paying tribute to the Moorish emirs, with special emphasis on thetribute of 100 virgins. For this reason, Ramiro's Christian troops, led by Sancho de Tejada, would go in search of theMuslims, withAbderramán II in command, but upon reachingNájera andAlbelda 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 toMorocco, 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.[52] 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 KingRamiro I at the legendarybattle of Clavijo.[53]
In the prologue of theSumario, 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.[53]
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.[54]
República Mista (The Mixed Republic)[26] is an importantpolitical treatise written by Medrano and published inMadrid by Juan Flamenco in 1602.[56][57][58][59][60] 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 ofRepública Mista. However, he concludes by saying that from what the cover says, the work was written by his father, Tomás Fernández de Medrano.[2]
A letter in the name of Medrano from 1607 indicates the book he wrote on the Republic (addressed to theDuke 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.[61]
Nicolás Antonio unequivocally attributes the authorship of The Mixed Republic to Tomás Fernández de Medrano.[1] 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.[1]
In the 1601 Royal Decree of KingPhilip III of Spain, Medrano writes first about 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 theRomans, where he discusses why it is important to reward the good and punish the bad.[26]
The Mixed Republic by Tomás Fernández de Medrano is dedicated toFrancisco de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma by his sonJuan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval. TheDuke of Lerma was thefavourite (valido) ofPhilip III and, as such, governed the destinies of the crown on behalf of the sovereign.[2]
The first volume of the Mixed Republic focuses on the constitutive role of the political order played byreligion,obedience andjustice and is integrated into the context of the anti-Machiavellian current to the extent that it tries to refute the Florentine'sthesis that they attribute to religion a merelystrategic role, in no case constitutive of thepolitical order.[62]
Without naming Machiavelli, his work is a forceful response to his politics, in which he defends the new system of government imposed in the monarchy after the accession to the throne of Philip III: the valido. His father Tomás Fernández de Medrano had close ties to the Duke of Lerma, the first great private and initiator of the phenomenon.[1]
It includes a 16-pageprologue on generalities, defining politics, and the formation of society, includingfamily,municipality,province, andkingdom. 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.[26]
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.[26]
Medrano accepts the theory that any type of republic that is not moderated by others soon degenerates intovice, 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 ofGod, 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.[26]
Tomás Fernández de Medrano died around 1616 and was buried in the family chapel at the Monastery of San Juan de Acre inSalinas 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.[2]
In the prologue of theSumario, 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).[45]
His brother Lázaro served in the military as an ensign. Lázaro Fernández de Medrano, a resident ofEntrena, was registered on May 1, 1596 in the land of Valdeosera, from theVelilla branch, Lords of that town.[2]
Tomas had a second brother named Francisco Fernández de Medrano, lord anddivisero of Regajal, resident andregidor ofLogroño, who fought during theFrench Wars of Religion underAlexander 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.[2]
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 María Ana de Espinosa, his wife, Lords of the said Solar and Divisa de Regajal." In 1607, Diego Fernández de Medrano y Espinosa was appointed chaplain of honor, judge of the royal chapel, administrator and deputy of the Royal Hospital of the court and even testamentary executor ofMargaret of Austria, Queen of Spain.[2]
In 1693, Francisco's descendant,Diego Fernández de Medrano y Zapata, a native ofSojuela and resident ofLogroño, lord anddivisero of Regajal,[63] Knight of theOrder of Calatrava, became theGovernor of the Province of Carrión, valley of Atlixco inPuebla, with his seat in the city ofAtlixco.[64][65] He was the son of Juan Fernández de Medrano, a member of the Holy Office in Logroño, deputy and lord of the Solar de Regajal,[66] and Francisca de Zapata y Medrano, who was a resident ofCalahorra in La Rioja.[65]
Thelicenciado 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 theInquisition 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.[67]
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.[67] 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.[68]
Tomas had a brother namedDiego 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 KingPhilp II of Spain to command the São João galleys of Portugal during the 1588 invasion of England with theSpanish Armada.[69]