Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda

Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda
Regent of the Kingdom of Navarre
Tenure	9 May 1702 – 1705
Predecessor	Juan Antonio de Molina
Successor	José de Hualte
Born	14 December 1642 Calahorra
Died	December 1721 Empire of Spain
Spouse(s)	Teresa Josefa Alvarez de Arellano Echauz y Velasco
Issue	Don Pedro de Medrano y Alvarez de Arellano
Father	Pedro de Medrano y Echauz
Mother	Josepha de Albelda Barron y Tejada

Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda (December 14, 1642 – December 1721)^[1] was an important knight of the Order of Alcántara and nobleman from the House of Medrano in La Rioja, he became the highest ranking judge of the Royal Audiencias and Chancillerías in the Spanish Empire. Don Pedro was elected regent of the Royal Council of Navarre on May 9, 1702, for king Philip V of Spain. Medrano was a professor in Valladolid, interim judge of Vizcaya in the Chancery of Valladolid and the Biscayan lordship, oidor of the Valladolid Chancery and oidor in the Council of Orders.^[2][3] Medrano was a descendant of the first King's of Navarre, from the royal House of Íñiguez.

Don Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda lived through several major European conflicts. He witnessed the Franco-Dutch War (1672–1678), the War of the Reunions (1683–1684), and most notably, he lived through the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714).^[1]

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; and 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.^[4][3]

On 9 May 1702, Pedro Antonio de Medrano was appointed regent of the Royal Council of Navarre, 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 signing 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.^[5] 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]

Born into the noble House of Medrano in Logroño, La Rioja, Don Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda was the son of Don Pedro de Medrano y Echauz (b. October 28, 1620, Calahorra, Spain) and Josepha de Albelda Barron y Tejada (b. April 11, 1615), daughter of Teresa Manuela de Echáuz y Velasco (a descendant of Philip III and Joan II of Navarre) and Fernando José Álvarez de Arellano Malo y del Río.^[7]

A table of genealogy,^[7] and 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]

Through his mother Josepha de Albelda Barron y Tejada, Pedro was apart 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.^[8][9] This lineage was originally from Abelda or Abelda de Iregua (from which it took its name), near Logroño.^[8]

His father Pedro de Medrano y Echauz^[10] was the son of Pedro de Medrano y Íñiguez (b. July 14, 1582, in Murillo de Rio Leza, La Rioja, Spain)^[11] and Mariana de Echauz, (b. on March 6, 1594, in Calahorra, La Rioja, Spain).^[12] 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 father Pedro de Medrano y Echauz is noted for having penned a 6-page funeral eulogy in 1686 for Manuel Diego López de Zúñiga y Sarmiento de Silva, 10th Duke of Béjar, in which he "described a portion of the generous ardor with which, on all occasions, the distinguished Valor of the Duke of Béjar stood out, being the first in the Assault of Buda," in 3 sonnets.^[13]

Pedro de Medrano y Íñiguez was the son of Pedro de Medrano^[14] and Ana de Íñiguez, the latter married on November 10, 1581 in Murillo de Río Leza, La Rioja.^[15] Through his father, Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda was the paternal great-grandson of Ana de Íñiguez from the royal Navarrese house of Íñiguez, making him descended from the royal house of Íñiguez, also known as the first kings of Navarre.

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^[16] married Captain Jose Enriquez de Lacarra Cervantes y Angulo, both relatives of the IV Marquesses of Vessolla.^[17] Pedro was also a relative of the 1st viscounts of Azpa from the House of Medrano.^[7]

Don Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda married Teresa Josefa Alvarez de Arellano Echauz y Velasco Malo y de Vera in 1705.^[18] His wife was the daughter of Joseph Fernando Alvarez de Arellano Malo y del Rio and Teresa Manuela de Echauz y Vera.^[19]

His wife was the maternal granddaughter of Martin de Echauz y Velasco (b. 1626, Calahorra, La Rioja, Spain), a descendant of Prince Louis of Navarre, Duke of Durazzo.^[19][20] Teresa Josefa was the maternal great-granddaughter of the III lord's of Santa Cruz del Valle Urbión, Soto, and Garganchón (Pradoluengo, Burgos), and V of Riocavado de la Sierra, Cathalina de Velasco y Roxas and Jeronimo de Echauz y Velasco.^[19][21]

Don Pedro and Dona Teresa had a son and heir named Don Pedro de Medrano y Alvarez de Arellano, born in 1702, Logrono, La Rioja, Spain.^[19][22]

His son Don Pedro de Medrano y Alvarez de Arellano married Maria Francisca de Blancas y Ezpeleta in 1738, and together they had a daughter named María Micaela de Medrano, and one son and heir named Pedro Manuel de Medrano, born in 1740.^[19][23]

His great-grandson Don Pedro Manuel de Medrano married Joaquina González Samaniego in 1757, together they had a daughter named Mª Vicenta de Medrano (born in 1771). In 1804, his daughter Vicenta married Manuel Mª Mancebo, and together they had one son named Francisco de Paula Mancebo y Medrano (1805-1877).^[19]

Francisco married Micaela Ágreda in 1834 and together they had one son named Pelayo Mancebo (1845-1912). Pelayo married Casilda de Igón in 1872.^[19]

Their son Francisco de Paula Mancebo de Igón (1873-1935) became the II Count of Ríocavado, who married Mª Josefa Tremoya in 1901, with succession [es].^[19] His grandson, the 4th Count of Ríocavado, was named Francisco Javier de Miranda y Mancebo (b. 1928).^[7]