Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon

Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon was the seventh of the same name, head of the ancient House of Medrano in Navarre and a direct descendant of Juan Martínez de Medrano, Lord of Sartaguda, Arróniz, etc., second of the name, regent of the Kingdom of Navarre in 1328.^[3] Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon y Navarra was the heir and namesake son of the noble Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz and Ana de Mauleon y Navarra, both descendants of the Kings of Navarre.^[4][5] His father Juan made his will and testament on 30 April 1531, and his mother Ana de Mauleon made hers on 4 May 1506.^[6]

The Medrano family is a very ancient house of noble origin, it is found in different times and in different places. Many principles are attributed to them by authors and historians:

...for its antiquity, its splendor, for their military prowess and virtue and for every other value of chivalry that prospered with this family, in great numbers, magnificent and generous.^[7] The family origin is very old; [they] were related in some way to royalty.^[8]

On 1 September 1552, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor issued the Carta Ejecutoria de Hidalguía to confirm the noble status of the Medrano family.^[9]

Juan Vélaz de Medrano, Lord of Igúzquiza, was among the 74 nobles who held a seat in the Noble Estate of the Courts of Navarre, a distinction within the ancient nobility. The House of Medrano is considered the oldest of nobility, and as such, Juan was summoned to the noble estate of the Courts of Navarre in the year 1580.^[10]

Among Juan's extensive lordships, one of the most significant was the village of Igúzquiza, a strategic and long-held domain of the House of Vélaz de Medrano, whose lordship over it extended centuries before Juan inherited the title. It remained a symbol of dynastic legitimacy for the family and a representation of sovereign delegated authority in the Kingdom of Navarre, serving as one of the most important cabo de armerías in the region.^[11]

In 1543, Juan Velaz de Medrano held lordship over the village of Orendain, located near Soracoiz. Historically, Orendain had encroached upon the jurisdiction of Igúzquiza in 1410, a domain closely tied to the Medrano lineage. By this time, the pechas of the village had previously been held by Pedro de Navarra, but full control, including its palace and lands, later passed to the Marquess of Vesolla by 1715, a branch of the Vélaz de Medrano family.^[11]

Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon was the son of Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, sixth of the name, Lord of Igúzquiza, Aguinano, Orendain, Zabala, Arroniz, 4th Lord of Learza, merino of the merindad of Estella and the alcaide of the castles of Del Castillo, Santacara, and Monjardin.^[12][13]

His father, Juan, was a key leader in Navarre’s defense against the Castilian invasion and a prominent knight under King John III of Albret. In 1496, the king granted him the estate of Langarot de Yaniz, who had been declared a traitor.^[5] Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon is the nephew of the famous alcaide of Amaiur-Maya, the Navarrese knight and captain, Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz.^[14][15][16]

Juan was the paternal grandson of Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goni and Elvira de Echauz y Beaumont. His grandfather Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goni was the fifth of the name, Lord of Igúzquiza, Agos and Aguinano, the 3rd Lord of Learza, and alcaide of the castle of Monjardin. He was a prominent noble and knight during the reign of John III of Navarre and Catherine of Navarre. His grandfather was the son of Ferran Vélaz de Medrano and Elvira de Goni.^[17]

Juan's grandmother Elvira de Echauz y Beaumont was the daughter of Carlos de Echauz, 15th Viscount of Baigner and Juana Margarita de Beaumont.^[18] Juana Margaret de Beaumont was the daughter of Carlos de Beaumont, the granddaughter of Prince Louis of Navarre, Duke of Durazzo, King of Albania in 1376, and the great-granddaughter of Queen Joan II of Navarre and King Philip III of Navarre, of the House of Évreux, which is a minor branch of the Capetian dynasty.^[17]

Juan's paternal great-grandfather Ferran Vélaz de Medrano was the Lord of Iguzquiza, the 2nd Lord of Learza, and a ricohombre of Navarre.^[19] In 1455, the king gave Ferran Vélaz de Medrano the Pechas de Muez, Mendaza and Legaria as compensation for the two thousand florins he had spent in the conquest of Geneville, and in 1471, he was given the valleys of Allin and Santesteban de la Solana.^[20] In 1456, Ferran Vélaz de Medrano was the alcaide of the castle of Monjardín, and in 1461, he was the baron of the lordship of Igúzquiza.^[21] Ferran rebuilt the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano, which was famous for the splendor of the festivities held by him and his children and grandchildren, which were often attended by the Kings and Queens of Navarre themselves.^[22]

Juan's great-great-grandfather Juan Vélaz de Medrano was the fourth of the name, baron of the lordships of Igúzquiza, Arguiñano, Arzoz, Artazu, Zabal, Orendáin, the 1st lord of Learza, founder of the Vélaz de Medrano mayorazgo in 1437 (the oldest in Viana) and the Royal Chamberlain of the kings of Navarre and Aragon.^[23]

Juan Vélaz de Medrano's mother Ana de Mauleon y Navarra is the daughter of the ricohombre Landron de Mauleon y Claver and Juana de Navarra y Enriquez de Lacarra, the latter being a great-great-granddaughter of King Charles II of Navarre and a descendant of King Enrique I de Navarra.^[4][24] Juana de Navarra y Enríquez de Lacarra is the daughter of Pedro de Navarra y Peralta, III Viscount of Muruzábal and Inés Enríquez de Lacarra y Foxan.

Juan Vélaz de Medrano is the great-great-great-great-grandson of King Charles II of Navarre through his son Prince Leonel de Navarra, first Viscount of Muruzábal. The Viscount of Muruzabal takes its name from an old royal manor town called Muruzabal. In 1407, King Charles III of Navarre included it within the viscount created in favor of his brother Prince Leonel de Navarra, I Viscount of Muruzábal, both sons of King Charles II of Navarre.

The III Vizcountess consort of Muruzábal Ines Enriquez de Lacarra y Foxan, descendant of King Enrique I de Navarra, is the daughter of Beltran "el Joven" Enriquez de Lacarra y Moncayo, IV Lord of Ablitas. Her father Beltran Enriquez de Lacarra y Moncayo, IV Lord of Ablitas, is the grandson of Martín Enríquez de Lacarra, I Lord of Ablitas; great-grandson of Juan Enríquez de Lacarra, Prince of Navarra; great-great-grandson of Henry I the Fat, king of Navarre and Garaztar de Lacarra.

In 1543, Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon married Maria de Piñeiro.^[1] His wife Maria de Piñeiro y Elio, Lady of Eriete and Ipasate, patron of the company of Jesus in Pamplona and Trapani in Sicily, came from a distinguished Galician family recognized by both ancient and modern genealogists.^[25]

Maria de Piñeiro was the daughter of Pedro de Piñeiro y Elio, a knight of Santiago who was a prominent leader in the army of the Great Captain and alcaide of Cutron in Italy, and Ana de Dicastillo, Lady of Eriete, and lady to the Queen Germaine of Foix.^[1][25] Ana de Dicastillo was the daughter of Juan de Dicastillo, Lord of Eriete and Pasate, and Chief Steward of the Duchess of Brittany.^[25]