Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda

Born in Logroño, La Rioja, Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda was the son of Pedro de Medrano y Echauz (b. 28 October 1620, Calahorra, Spain) and Josepha de Albelda Barron y Tejada (b. 11 April 1615),^[4] daughter of Teresa Manuela de Echáuz y Velasco and Fernando José Álvarez de Arellano Malo y del Río. His grandfather Pedro de Medrano y Íñiguez (b. 14 July 1582) came from Murillo de Rio Leza in La Rioja. His grandmother Mariana de Echauz (b. 6 March 1594) came from Calahorra in La Rioja. Pedro de Medrano is a relative of the Counts of Torrubia, the Viscounts of Azpa and Marquesses of Fontellas.^[5]

Through his maternal grandmother, Teresa Manuela de Echáuz y Velasco, Pedro de Medrano was a direct descendant of Joan II of Navarre and Philip III of Navarre, extensively detailed in a table of genealogy.^[5] Through his paternal grandfather, Pedro de Medrano y Íñiguez, he was also a descendant of the royal House of Íñiguez. A handwritten manuscript still exists, certifying the genealogy and qualifications of Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda y Echauz, a knight of Alcántara from Logroño, for his appointment as a counselor of Orders in 1705.^[6]

Pedro Antonio de Medrano began his education, focusing on Latin and literature in Logroño. Subsequently, he pursued Canon Law studies at the University of Valladolid, earning his bachelor's degree on March 30, 1669.^[1]

On February 15, 1672, he entered the Colegio Mayor de la Santa Cruz in Valladolid by public examination and in 1672; he began to teach as extraordinary professor in the Faculty of Canons. During this period, he covered various subjects, presided over conclusion events, and replaced several faculty members. During this time, he lectured on the following topics:

• in the academic year 1672–1673, he covered the subject of De Tutela;
• in 1673–1674, he discussed the first book of the institute; in 1674–1675, he addressed the topic of De Legatis;
• in 1675–1676, he delved into the subject of Quibus modis ne contrahitur obligationis, specifically the third book of the institute;
• in the academic year 1676–1677, he focused on the fourth book regarding De obligationibus quae ex delicto nascuntur;
• in the academic year 1677–1678, he explored the topic of De Legatis;
• in the academic year 1678–1679, he covered the first book of the institute.^[1]

Furthermore, during this period he also presided over five concluding acts:

• Defense of the Matter De Impossibilibus (1673)
• on Institutionibus captatoris (1674)
• on the title De infantibus exposis (1676)
• defending the matter De multiplicis causa iucresibae (1677)
• and defending De cautione fructuaria tam in usufructo quam in quasi usufructum (1678)

During the years 1672 to 1679, he replaced various holders in his professorships. He also studied law, graduating from high school on May 10, 1681. On March 12, 1685, he won the Chair of Minor Decrees of the Faculty of Canons by competition, and on September 27, 1686, he obtained, also by competition, the Chair of Old Code, of the same Faculty. He taught from this chair for six years until in 1690 he won the Sixth in the Faculty of Canons (March 8) and the Vespers in the Faculty of Law.^[1]

Pedro Antonio de Medrano initiated his legal career in 1686, temporarily replacing the judge of Vizcaya in the Chancery of Valladolid as interim, a position he held in the academic years 1686-1687 and 1688–1689. He also became interim judge of the Biscayan lordship in 1690.^[1]

In 1691, Licenciado Don Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda replaced Licenciado Don Pedro Nicolás de Orellana as Guest Collegiate of Santa Cruz due to Orellana’s health issues. In 1692, Licenciado Don Benito de Omaña served as interim Collegiate and Professor while Medrano was absent in Logroño, Haro, and other places to deal with matters of state and other proceedings. Medrano returned to his position in December 1694 and was appointed Oidor on 19 August 1695.^[7][3]

On 9 May 1702, Pedro Antonio de Medrano was appointed regent of the Royal Council of Navarre [es], succeeding Juan Antonio de Molina.^[1] This title has an important detail, since it is the only document appointing a regent that the King did not sign throughout the 18th century. Cardinal Portocorrero signed on behalf of the absent King Felipe V, absent in Italy.^[1]

Due to the king's absence, Medrano was not appointed as interim viceroy of Navarre, a role that would have granted him full authority over the region. As a result, his responsibilities were limited to the regency of the high court of Navarre.^[8] Nevertheless, Medrano had already given an account of his appointment to the Diputación with a letter dated in Valladolid on April 4.^[1]

He was the third noble in the House of Medrano to obtain the coveted regency of Navarre, the previous being García de Medrano in 1645 and the first being Juan Martínez de Medrano in 1328, immediately after the succession crisis of the Capetian dynasty.

Pedro Antonio de Medrano served three years as regent before being promoted to a position as an oidor in the Council of Orders in 1705.^[1][6]

In 1705, Pedro Antonio de Medrano received the habit of Santiago and assumed his role in the Council of Orders. He continued to serve in this capacity until his death in December 1721, at the age of seventy-one.^[1]

Through his mother Josepha de Albelda Barron y Tejada, Pedro was a member of the House of Albelda, from the Carcaixent branch. His mother's coat of arms displays an azure field, an Or band, accompanied at the top and bottom by an argent tower, charged with gules.^[9][10] This lineage was originally from Abelda or Abelda de Iregua (from which it took its name), near Logroño.^[9]

His father Pedro de Medrano y Echauz was the son of Pedro de Medrano y Íñiguez (b. July 14, 1582, in Murillo de Rio Leza, La Rioja, Spain) and Mariana de Echauz, (b. on March 6, 1594, in Calahorra, La Rioja, Spain). His father Pedro de Medrano y Echauz was a knight of the Order of Alcántara, mayor of the Holy Brotherhood in Logroño in 1650 and ruler of Calahorra and its castle in the years 1673 and 1687.

His paternal grandfather Pedro de Medrano y Íñiguez was the son of Pedro de Medrano^[11] and Ana de Íñiguez, the latter married on November 10, 1581 in Murillo de Río Leza, La Rioja.^[12] Ana de Íñiguez was from the royal Navarrese House of Íñiguez, and therefore Medrano was a descendant of the royal House of Íñiguez, also known as the first kings of Navarre.^[1]

Pedro was a relative of García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos. Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda's aunt Ambrosia de Medrano y Echauz married Captain Jose Enriquez de Lacarra Cervantes y Angulo, both relatives of Fausto Joaquín de Elío y Alduncín Esparza y Artieda Vélaz de Medrano, IV Marquess of Vessolla. Pedro was also a relative of the 1st viscounts of Azpa from the House of Medrano.^[5]