The Most Excellent García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos Lord of San Gregorio, Knight of Santiago
Coat of arms of Garcí Bravo de Medrano y Mendoza (García's ancestor)
Judge of Studies
In office 1630–1632
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Mayor and Prosecutor of the Audiencia of Seville
In office 1632–1636
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Professor at the University of Salamanca
In office October 17, 1636 – September 4, 1638
Prosecutor of the Chancery of Valladolid
In office 1641 – February 10, 1643
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Auditor of Valladolid
In office February 10, 1643 – January 17, 1645
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Regent of the Kingdom of Navarre
In office January 17, 1645 – 1648
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Preceded by	Philip IV of Spain
Succeeded by	King Charles II of Spain
Auditor of the Treasury Council and Council of the Indies
In office September 17, 1648 – September 11, 1652
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Prosecutor of the Council of Castile
In office September 11, 1652 – September 25, 1652
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Regent of the Audiencia of Seville
In office September 25, 1652 – 1657
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Preceded by	García de Porres
President of the Chamber of Magistrates in Seville
In office 1657–1664
Monarch	Philip IV of Spain
Member of the Council of Inquisition
In office September 10, 1664 – June 1678 (first term) January 1, 1680 – September 3, 1683 (second term)
Monarchs	Philip IV of Spain (initial term), Charles II of Spain (reinstated term)
Preceded by	García de Porres
Personal details
Born	July 20, 1604 Valladolid, Crown of Castile
Died	September 3, 1683 (aged 79) Empire of Spain
Spouse	María Ignacia de Mendizábal y Uribe
Children	García de Medrano y Mendizábal, I Count of Torrubia Andrés de Medrano y Mendizábal, 2nd Count of Torrubia Domingo de Medrano y Mendizábal
Alma mater	University of Salamanca
Known for	Regency of Navarre and Seville
Awards	Knight of the Order of Santiago

García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos (Valladolid, July 20, 1604 – 3 September 1683)^[1] was the regent of Navarre, prosecutor, mayor and regent of Seville, Lord of San Gregorio, professor at the University of Salamanca, Knight of the Order of Santiago, a crime prosecutor of the Chancery of Valladolid, auditor of Valladolid, auditor of the Council of Finance and the Council of the Indies, Minister of the Treasury, Minister of the Indies, President of the Chamber of Magistrates in Seville, councillor of His Majesty's Council, prosecutor and councillor of the Council of Castile, Minister of Justice, Minister of Castile and of its Chamber, Councillor of the Inquisition and again Councillor of Castile until his death in 1683.^[2]

Don García de Medrano y Alvarez de los Rios, Lord of San Gregorio, was one of the most prominent figures of the Medrano family in his era. He was born in Valladolid as the son of García de Medrano y Castejón, who was a knight of Santiago and a member of the Royal Council of Castile in the Kingdom of Castile.^[3]

He was the fourth nephew of Catalina de Medrano and Luisa de Medrano, the latter being the first female professor at the University of Salamanca and Europe in the early 16th century.^[4]

Garciá's son Don García de Medrano y Mendizabal became the 1st Count of Torrubia, a Spanish noble title created on 29 August 1694, by King Carlos II of Spain. His second son Andrés de Medrano y Mendizábal, succeeded his brother who died without heirs, as the 2nd Count of Torrubia.^[5]

In 1677, the illustrious Lord García de Medrano added a new construction or renovation to the Castle of San Gregorio, commemorated in stone above the entrance.

Don García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos was born in Valladolid, and baptized in the parish of Santa María Magdalena on July 20, 1604. He was the son of Don García de Medrano y Castejón, owner of the Casa Fuerte de San Gregorio and lord of San Gregorio (Soria), and Maria de los Rios y Mendoza. His mother was born in Soria and baptized in the parish of Santa María Magdalena on September 27, 1561. This marriage was the root and origin of one of the most widespread families of legal professionals serving the monarchy during the 17th and 18th centuries.^[3]

García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos is the paternal grandson of García de Medrano y Vinuesa, born in Soria, and his wife Catalina de Castejon. His grandfather was lord of San Gregorio and the second cousin of Luisa de Medrano. The castle of San Gregorio is a fortified castle house built by his direct ancestor Diego López de Medrano, on July 29, 1461. García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos was born into the house of Medrano, ancient and well-known high nobility from the Kingdom of Navarre.^[6]

García de Medrano is also the great-uncle of Francisco Antonio de Agurto Salcedo Medrano Zúñiga, Captain General and Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, and a contemporary and relative of Tomas Fernandez de Medrano and Pedro Velaz de Medrano.^[7]

His father Garcia de Medrano y Castejon earned his bachelor's degree in Laws, and was admitted to the College of San Bartolomé in Salamanca on March 1, 1573. His father then obtained a master's degree in Laws. Medrano's father continued to study at the college until he was appointed as an alcalde del Crimen (criminal judge) of the Royal Audiencia and Chancery of Granada on February 17, 1584, replacing Licenciado Escobar.^[8]

Philip III ascended to the Spanish throne in 1598. Garcia's father was granted the role of prosecutor in the Council of Orders, for which he swore an oath in the court on May 4, 1599. He held this position for a short time. On March 3, 1600, his father took office as a minister in the Council of Orders and was granted a habit of the Order of Santiago in 1600. Finally, he was promoted to a supernumerary position in the Royal Council of Castile on February 21, 1604. He began to serve in this position a few months later, on February 21, 1604, and he remained in it until his death. Just before his passing, while already ill, he requested (on August 23, 1604) to be granted the encomienda of Ocaña from the Order of Santiago.^[9]

Don García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos and his father Don García de Medrano y Castejon were knights of the Order of Santiago, the latter held a seat in the Council of Orders. His father García made significant changes to the laws within the Order of Santiago, compiled within a book he wrote for the Order. Medrano's work was published in Madrid in 1605 called "Compilation of the Chapter Laws of the Order of Knighthood of Santiago of the Sword, Compiled and arranged by Licenciado Don García de Medrano, of the Royal Council of Justice".^[10]

On October 18, 1626, Don García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos entered the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé (Salamanca), graduating in Canons.^[11] According to Ruiz y Vergara:

"He graduated as a Licentiate in Canons at the College in 1636. On October 17, the Council gave him the position of Sixth Chair of Property, above all the other professors who had been promoted before him."^[12]

In the year 1630, he was a judge of studies, and two years later, he was appointed to hold the mayorship and prosecutorship of the Audiencia of Seville until 1636.^[12]

His academic career led him to occupy the Chair of Canons on 17 October 1636, and that of Sextus (Sextus Decretalium) and Clementines (Clementine Constitutions) at the University of Salamanca, as professor. He was Doctor of Canons on September 4, 1638.^[2]

In 1641, Philip IV of Spain appointed him prosecutor of the Chancery of Valladolid and on February 10, 1643, auditor of Valladolid.^[2]

García de Medrano was elected regent of Navarre on January 17, 1645.^[2] The appointment as regent of Navarre is a rare and distinguished honour. Such appointments were not handed out casually and were reserved for individuals of exceptional capability and loyalty to the crown. In November 1645, he presided over the interim viceroy position in Navarre and participated in the Cortes of 1645.^[13]

Two years later, he became auditor of the Treasury Council and the Council of the Indies on September 17, 1648.^[2][14] He was also appointed prosecutor of the Council of Castile on September 11, 1652.^[2]

Shortly after, on September 25, 1652, he was elected regent of the Audiencia of Seville and therefore, Councilor of Castile.^[2]

Garcia de Medrano was appointed counselor of the Spanish Inquisition on September 10, 1664, he replaced García de Porres, a position he swore on December 23, 1664.^[2]

In 1657, he presided over the Chamber of Magistrates in the Audiencia of Seville and was appointed by the king as a visitor and reformer to the University of Alcalá.^[2]

On March 26, 1670, he was elected a member of the Council Chamber. Retired in June 1678, he was reinstated in his office on January 1, 1680. He died three years later, on September 3, 1683.^[2]

In the 17th century, the kings' oversight of the universities they established or safeguarded prompted the dispatch of visitors and reformers. Don García de Medrano was the main envoy sent to the University of Alcala. The reforms implemented marked the conclusion of the university's independence, a principle previously endorsed by the Catholic Church.^[16] In the year 1657, Don Garcia de Medrano presided over the Hall of Mayors of Castile and was visitor of the University of Alcalá. A reformation ordered by Philip IV was carried out at the University of Alcalá de Henares. The overseer and reformer for this task was Doctor Don Garcia de Medrano, a member of His Majesty's council and chamber, and of the Supreme Council and General Inquisition.^[17][18]

García de Medrano was tasked with executing the reformation and fulfilling the visitation in the year 1665, with the implementation being carried out in the subsequent year, 1666.^[15] The reforms instituted by visitor García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos in 1665 stipulated that chairs in law, theology, and medicine would undergo a competitive process every six years. As for the eight chairs in arts, they held a tenure of only four years, resulting in two chairs becoming vacant annually.^[19] Whenever a vacancy arose for any reason, the information was announced in classes and posted publicly for fifteen days. At the conclusion of this period, individuals interested in competing for the chair would present themselves before the rector and councilors of the College of San Ildefonso.^[17]

This group oversaw the "taking of points" (tomas puntos). Trial lecture topics were assigned by a boy or "other persons above suspicion" inserting a knife blade into three places in the text assigned to that specific chair. The rector designated three texts or distinctions from these pages, allowing the contestant to choose one as the subject for their lecture. Contestants selected their points based on seniority by degree and faculty, after which they were allocated twenty-four hours to prepare a Latin lecture, subsequently delivered on the assigned topic.^[17] Originally, these competitive lectures were heard by the students, who then cast their votes based on preference. However, despite stringent regulations, this process led to considerable tumult and corruption. Consequently, the crown eventually annulled this provision of the founder, reserving the final selection for the Council of Castile.^[20]

Student voting for chairs at Salamanca was abolished in 1641, it seems likely that similar steps would have been taken at Alcalá about the same time. By the mid-eighteenth century, the council had shifted to allocating chairs solely based on seniority and college connections. Additionally, Medrano's six-year limit on tenure was observed only in a formal manner. Vacancy edicts were posted for only three days in the classroom of the professor whose term had ended. This professor would naturally enter the competition, be assumed as the sole candidate, and thus "repossessed" of their chair without a genuine contest.^[17]

Furthermore, the powers of the cloister were confined by Medrano to matters related to granting degrees, waiving courses, and the minutiae of academic administration. The cloister lacked control over the university's finances, the selection of professors, and the design of the curriculum.^[21] However, it did possess the privilege to choose councilors from the faculties of theology, canon law, and medicine to represent its interests in the rector's deliberations.^[22] Despite this formal right, these appointed officers appeared to exert minimal influence on actual policy in practice.

García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos was married to María Ignacia de Mendizábal y Uribe, daughter of Gregorio López de Mendizábal,^[23] and together they had three sons:

• García de Medrano y Mendizábal, I Count of Torrubia, born in Madrid on September 7, 1652, and died on March 3, 1695. He was a Knight of the Order of Calatrava, lord of San Gregorio, alcalde of hijosdalgo in Valladolid (1675), oidor of Valladolid (1680), alcalde of Casa y Corte (1684), and a member of the Council of Orders (1690). He is the first born son and heir, and held the title of first Count of Torrubia. The county of Torrubia is a Spanish noble title created on August 29, 1694, by King Carlos II in favor of Don García de Medrano y Mendizabal. He was perpetual regidor of the city of Soria, and procurator of Cortes for the city of Soria (1660). He entered the major college of the archbishop of Salamanca in 1671. He became rector of the University of Salamanca after his brother Domingo. He was granted the title of Count of Torrubia shortly before his death on November 23, 1692. As he died without any descendants, he was succeeded by his brother Andrés (1695).

• Andrés de Medrano y Mendizábal, 2nd Count of Torrubia, Born in Seville on November 5, 1654, and died in Madrid on December 22, 1720, Knight of the Order of Calatrava and a councilor of Castile.^[24] Like his father, he became counselor and collegiate of San Bartolomé at the University of Salamanca. Born in Seville on November 5, 1654, and died in Madrid on December 22, 1720. Andrés became the chief judge of Vizcaya and then an oidor in Valladolid, before being promoted to a supernumerary position in the Council of Finance. Andrés was later appointed as a councilor of the Royal Council of Castile and served in this position until his retirement.^[25] He was then granted a place in the Council of Castile, where he remained until his death. The Counts of Torrubia would inherit the County of Mollina, Grande de España, Marquisate of Villamayor, and unite with the Dukes of Villahermosa, Dukes of Sotomayor, Dukes of Alba, Marquisate of Salamanca and the Marquisate of Las Nieves. Don Andres de Medrano married Maria Francisca de Angulo y Albizu, sister of María de las Nieves Angulo y Arbizu, I Marquesa de las Nieves, daughters of Juan de Angulo, Secretary of State of the Universal Dispatch, and Manuela de Albizu y Villamayor.^[25]

• Domingo de Medrano y Mendizabal born in 1650, died in 1672. Domingo de Medrano y Mendizábal was baptized in Madrid on March 15, 1650. He became a Knight of Calatrava at just nine years old and inherited the family estate of San Gregorio, which he left to his younger brother, García, as he had no heirs. He died at a young age. While serving as colegial mayor of Santa Cruz de Valladolid, he started his administrative career, having taken on the role of auditor for the audience of Seville on November 11, 1672, when he passed away.^[26] in 1668-1669, Domingo de Medrano was a professor and rector at the University of Salamanca. Domingo is also the fourth nephew of Luisa de Medrano. He married María de Robles. On May 10, 1664, Francisco de Aragüés y Medrano, son of José de Aragüés y Abarca and María de Medrano, married Águeda de Medrano, daughter of Domingo de Medrano and María de Robles. The couple were second cousins.^[27]

For at least about 160 years, many members in the House of Medrano were linked to the University of Salamanca: in 1508, Luis de Medrano was the rector and his sister Luisa de Medrano was the first female professor at the University of Salamanca and potentially all of Europe.^[4] The next generation of the Medrano family also produced two rectors at the University of Salamanca: Domingo and García de Medrano y Mendizábal, both fourth nephews of Luisa de Medrano and knights of the Order of Calatrava. The Book of the university's Claustro for the year 1668-1669 describes Domingo's abdication and García's election for the rest of the year very clearly. The Book of the university's Claustro of 1668-1669 indicates that Domingo de Medrano, due to urgent business in Madrid, was forced to resign, and was succeeded by García de Medrano y Mendizábal, undoubtedly his brother.^[28]

Garcia de Medrano's great-great-granddaughter Maria became Duchess of Gor, Grandee, by marriage. The title's name refers to the town of Gor in the province of Granada. García de Medrano's great-great-granddaughter Duchess María del Carmen Chacón de Medrano married Nicolás Mauricio Álvarez de las Asturias Bohorques y Vélez Ladrón de Guevara, Verdugo y Enríquez de Sevilla, I Duke of Gor.^[29]