Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval

Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval (born 1595) was the son of Tomás Fernández de Medrano, adviser and secretary of State and War to the 11th Duke of Savoy, and Isabel Ibáñez de Sandoval, a member of the House of Sandoval and lady-in-waiting to Princess Catalina Micaela, Duchess of Savoy and daughter of King Philip II of Spain.^[2] He was the paternal grandson of Juan Fernández de Medrano.^[3] His father was a resident of the Royal Palace of Madrid.^[1] His family hailed from the Cameros region of La Rioja, Spain, and was deeply rooted in the nobility of the area, being connected to the Lords of Almarza de Cameros, and the Lords of the Solar de Valdeosera, a historical institution of collective nobility founded in the 9th century during the Reconquista.^[1]

The ancient House of Medrano is one of the most powerful noble families in the Sierra de Cameros and Soria.^[4] Juan grew up in a politically influential household. His father, Tomás, held significant positions within the Spanish monarchy and the court of Savoy, as well as being a member of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.^[5] His father was the author of an important political treatise called Republica Mista, originally published in Madrid in 1602.^[6]

The economic and political stability of the family enabled Juan to pursue a monastic life. He joined the Cistercian monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce, where he was well-regarded for his substantial donations and pious commitments.^[2] The wealth he inherited from his parents and the financial support of King Philip III allowed him to make significant contributions to the monastery, including funding the construction of new facilities. The family's patronage extended to religious institutions, including the Monastery of San Juan de Acre, where they held burial rights and supported its reconstruction during the 17th century.^[1]

The Medrano family, Lords of Agoncillo, were also generational patrons of the Franciscan Order, generously donating some of their land in 1211, including a tower, situated close to the Ebro River within the city of Logroño as a gift to Francis of Assisi himself, establishing the first Spanish convent of his Order there.^[4]

His sister, Ana María Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval (b. 1608), a lady-in-waiting for Queen Elisabeth of France, Queen of Spain, married Rodrigo Martínez de Fresneda y Bonivern, knight of the Order of Montesa.^[7]

His mother, Isabel de Sandoval, was closely tied to the powerful House of Sandoval, which included the Duke of Lerma, the favorite of King Philip III. This connection provided the family with both protection and access to the upper echelons of Spanish and Savoyard society.^[1]

His mother Isabel de Sandoval was a noblewoman of significant influence, deeply connected to the Spanish and European aristocracy. As a lady-in-waiting to Princess Catalina Micaela of Spain, Duchess of Savoy, Isabel played a vital role in the household of the daughter of King Philip II of Spain. Isabel was part of the powerful House of Sandoval, whose influence peaked during the reigns of Philip II and Philip III through figures like Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, the Duke of Lerma. Her connection to this family provided her children, Juan and Ana María de Medrano, with access to opportunities and protections in court and church circles.^[1]

The Fernández de Medrano family was also associated with various military and ecclesiastical achievements. Juan's uncles included Francisco Fernández de Medrano, a captain in the Spanish infantry, Lázaro Fernández de Medrano, a Spanish ensign, and Diego de Medrano, squadron general and captain of the Spanish and Portuguese galleys, who served in the Invincible Armada and other significant military campaigns.^[3]

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, and El Villar de Arnedo.^[1]

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, the son of Tomás and Isabel de Sandoval, to be awarded a half-cross (media Cruz), which would grant him a pension and additional distinctions. He received this recognition following a letter sent on 26 July 1608, by King Philip III, who personally wrote to Grand Master Fray Aloisio de Vignancourt, praising Tomás' service:

For having served me in war, in particular missions and ministries, and as a soldier in significant occasions; during which he traveled from France to discuss with the King, my late father, may he rest in glory, urgent matters of royal service. He has shown great devotion in religious affairs... and has undertaken the task (among other works I am aware of) of translating the statutes from Latin into our Castilian language.^[3]

In 1616, Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval joined the Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce, a Cistercian community in the diocese of Calahorra, Spain. Renouncing the privileges of his noble birth, he committed himself to a life of religious devotion. Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval played an active role in the spiritual and administrative affairs of the Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce. His contributions are documented in various legal and financial records.^[1]

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.^[1]

He participated in the day-to-day governance and broader financial stability of the Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce. Among his most significant contributions was the commissioning of a new altarpiece, which served as a focal point for worship.^[1]

Juan's will is preserved in the notarial protocols of the Provincial Historical Archive of La Rioja. Juan drafted his will on October 26, 1616, as required by the statutes of his order prior to taking his monastic vows.^[2] In it, he expressed his desire to be "more free and unencumbered from the things of the world" in order to fulfill his holy profession. His will provided for significant financial disbursements to his family, relatives, and servants. This document provides rich insight into both his piety and the extensive wealth he managed, which he distributed among family members and religious institutions:

In dei nomine amén. Let those who see this letter of testament, last and final will, know that I, Friar Juan Fernández de Medrano, son of Tomás Fernández de Medrano and Doña Isabel de Sandoval, neighbors of Madrid, novice at present in the monastery of St. Prudencio of the Order of St. Bernard of Cistercians, in the diocese of Calahorra, being as I am about to profess in the said monastery, Diocese of Calahorra, and I wish to comply with the decree of the Holy Council and statutes of my holy religion, so that I may celebrate my holy profession, I order my will and, affirm my will.^[2]

Juan's will allocated 2,000 ducats, sourced from two primary assets:^[2]

• His share of his parents' estate, which had been auctioned.
• Payments owed to him and his father by the Crown, specifically funds related to assistance for the Medrano family in Milan.

His contributions included:^[2]

• 600 ducats to the Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce for its upkeep and operations.
• 100 ducats to his uncle, Captain Francisco Fernández de Medrano, who resided in Logroño, in perpetuity.
• 200 ducats to his aunt, Magdalena de Sandoval, governess to the children of the first Duke of Uceda.
• 200 ducats to his cousins, Pedro and Felipe.
• 50 ducats to Juana and Melchora del Cavia, residents of Madrid.
• The remainder of his estate to his sister, Ana María Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, named as his universal heir.

Regarding 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.^[1]

His father, Tomás Fernández de Medrano, a man of deep faith, proclaimed in his República Mista (1602):

Better to preserve than to tear down, to repair and rebuild a noble temple rather than construct it anew.^[6]

Following his father's example, in 1616, Juan allocated funds in his will for the reconstruction of parts of the San Prudencio de Monte Laturce monastery. In the early 17th century, the prosperity of the oratory was evident through the expansion of its facilities, as referenced by Fray Juan Fernandez de Medrano in his will. Thanks to his detailed will and testament, art historians have determined that the refectory building within the abbey of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce, which was discovered in the 17th century and had survived the neglect following the abbey's abandonment in 1835, dates back to around 1616.^[1]

Juan Fernandez de Medrano y Sandoval contributed 600 ducats for the restoration of the refectory and cells within the monastery. Specific projects carried out by Juan during this period included:^[1]

• Renovation of the Cloister: Repairs to the cloister ensured it remained functional for monastic life, supporting both the spiritual practices and communal activities of the monks.
• Reinforcement of the Monastery Walls: Structural improvements were made to fortify the monastery against environmental wear, ensuring its long-term preservation.
• Restoration of the Monastic Chapel: The chapel underwent repairs and enhancements to accommodate growing liturgical needs and maintain its sanctity as a place of worship.

A power of attorney dated July 9, 1617 was issued, giving full authority to Fray Plácido Corral, Procurator General of the conventual order and resident at the monastery in Madrid, to act on behalf of the monastery.^[8] Fray Plácido was authorized to collect and recover the remaining 306 ducats of the 600-ducat bequest that Fray Juan Fernández de Medrano had allocated to the Monastery of San Prudencio in his will.^[8] This also included any other bequests or dues owed to the monastery, whether in Madrid or elsewhere, ensuring that all obligations from Fray Juan's estate and others were fulfilled.^[8]

The last known record of Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval dates to February 10, 1618, when he participated in a chapter meeting at the Monastery of San Prudencio de Monte Laturce.^[1] During this meeting, Juan and his fellow monks gathered to deliberate on significant administrative and operational matters of the monastery, including property management and internal governance. The records reveal his role as a signatory on various legal and financial agreements.^[1]

In Madrid, on 22 August 1601, Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval, in the República Mista, a doctrinal treatise authored by his father, Tomás Fernández de Medrano, addresses Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas, 1st Duke of Lerma, principal political figure and valido of King Philip III of Spain:

The ship that is governed by two captains faces the storm at peril. The Empire that depends on more than one leader, as experience teaches us, cannot sustain itself. If in the fourth heaven where the Sun that illuminates us resides, another Sun were to join it, the Earth would burn. Although this Kingdom and Monarchy may appear as an image of many bodies, it is no more than one, governed and guided by a single soul, while the members, united as they are, attend solely to the preservation of their own being, which is the public good. The King, our Lord, made Your Excellency (God made him) the Father of this Ship, the soul of this body, and the Sun that illuminates us, recognizing (as wise) the equality of light, which therefore should belong to the subject. For, from his birth, he was as great as he is now in matter and form, which is real, requiring only a shadow under which, as a secondary cause, he might exercise and communicate the rays of his virtues to all who are his subjects in this globe, as it appeared to him (and to the world) that the spirit and heart of Your Excellency were, like that of Augustus, capable of such greatness. Each day, His Majesty recognizes this truth through the effects that confirm it, for no one with good zeal does not wish for the continuation of this good, showing gratitude for what Your Excellency has received. As the most obliged servant, the son of well-recognized servants, I bring these three bouquets of Religion, Obedience, and Justice, with some refinement (shades of the cloak that Your Excellency has always worn) as I found them composed as they are of select flowers in my father's garden. Although it is general for all, there is no silver or flower that does not wish to be cultivated especially for the service of Your Excellency, as the universal father of the republic, to whom all owe their due. And I humbly implore that he order them placed, so they do not wither in the recesses of his grace, continuing the favor that Your Excellency (our lord) has always shown us, in whose virtue and merits we hope for what we can expect from a Prince so great. To respond to such debt, I will only say with Ausonius: "Your fortune does not desire the return of a reward, nor does ours suggest the capacity to repay."^[6]

The first volume of his father's República Mista discusses three precepts: religion, obedience, and justice. The first volume, originally published in 1602, is described as the first of seven treatises written by Tomás.^[6]

Juan Fernández de Medrano y Sandoval's religious devotion is documented in the broader Fernández de Medrano family's legacy of faith and noble patronage. His father, Tomás Fernández de Medrano, was a knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and secretary of state and war to the Duke of Savoy.^[5]

On June 22, 1608, the nuns at the Monastery of San Juan de Acre in Salinas de Añana convened a meeting to confirm his parents as patrons of the monastery.^[9] The nuns decision emphasized the family's ongoing contributions, stating:

Because of the contributions made by their ancestors and relatives, including the establishment and endowment of this convent, we unanimously name Señor Tomás Fernández de Medrano and Doña Isabel de Sandoval as patrons of this monastery and its annexed church.^[9]

The Fernández de Medrano family's patronage was particularly notable at the Monastery of San Juan de Acre in Salinas de Añana. The monastery, which belonged to the female branch of the Order of St. John, was strategically located near the highly valuable salt mines of the region. The family held burial rights at the monastery and contributed to its reconstruction and upkeep during the 17th century.^[1]

Specific contributions at the Monastery of San Juan de Acre in Salinas de Añana included:^[1]

• Renovation of the Chapel: The Fernández de Medrano family funded the restoration of the collateral chapel, which housed their family burial site and displayed the family coat of arms.
• Structural Repairs: Records indicate that the monastery underwent significant structural repairs under the patronage of Tomás Fernández de Medrano and his wife, Isabel de Sandoval, to ensure its continued use as a religious and burial site.
• Support for the Nuns: The family also provided financial support for the resident nuns, ensuring the sustainability of their religious practices and the preservation of the monastery's heritage. The Medrano family 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.