Julián Íñiguez de Medrano
Julián Íñiguez de Medrano y Ocáriz was a nobleman, knight, courtier to the Kings of Navarre, poet, playwright of the Spanish Golden Age, and author. He held the title of Lord of Maumusson and was a descendant of Íñigo Arista and the first Kings of Navarre. In 1521, he participated in the failed attempt to secure an independent Kingdom of Navarre. After the 1524 general pardon, Julián participated in the battles and campaigns during the Ottoman-Habsburg wars under Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Afterward, he served as an interpreter and guide in Germany and Hungary for Antonio de Peralta y Velasco, 2nd Marquess of Falcés. He served as a man-at-arms for Henry II of Navarre during his stay with the prince in Paris. He later became part of the court of Queen Margaret of Valois in Nérac. Born into the noble Medrano family, he is best known for his book, La Silva Curiosa, which he dedicated to Queen Margaret of Valois. Before joining her court, Medrano spent many years traveling extensively through Spain, Italy, Sicily, France, Flanders, Portugal, the Indies, and Africa. He was renowned as a Navarrese gentleman, distinguished for his knowledge and celebrated for his journeys across much of the known world. Julián Íñiguez de Medrano started a prolific lineage, who became seigneurs of various noble houses in the south of France.
Early life
Julián Íñiguez de Medrano was the son of Pedro Íñiguez de Medrano and María de Ocaris. Through his father Pedro Íñiguez de Medrano, Julián claimed he was also a descendant of the Navarrese royal house of Íñiguez, also known as the first Kings of Pamplona. It was first thought that Julián was from Igúzquiza and born in the 1540s, and later through that he was born around the 1520s in Estella. However, it is now known that he was born in Estella before October 1512, when his father died defending the city of Estella. Julián Íñiguez de Medrano grew up with four brothers. His brother Miguel Íñiguez de Medrano accompanied Julián to France, earned a doctorate in theology at the University of Avignon in 1538, was naturalized by Henry II of France in 1553, and later became a parish priest in Sos, near Nérac.11th century
Julián's ancestor Blas Íñiguez de Medrano is documented on 2 November 1044 in a donation list regarding the properties that belonged to the jurisdiction of the monastery of Santa María la Real de Nájera during the reign of García Sánchez III of Pamplona. In Viero, below a ford and adjacent to it, a piece of land belonged to Blas Íñiguez de Medrano.Background
Julián Íñiguez de Medrano's paternal lineage traced back to Murillo de Río Leza, where his great-grandfather, Juan Íñiguez, was originally from. Juan married María Martínez, and their son, known as Juan Íñiguez "the younger," later wed Mencía López de Medrano, who was reportedly the daughter of the Alcaide of Viana, Juan Vélaz de Medrano, Lord of Igúzquiza, royal chamberlain of Charles III of Navarre and John II of Aragon. The couple initially resided in Santo Domingo de la Calzada before moving to Los Arcos, where they had three sons: Andrés, Lope, and Pedro Íñiguez de Medrano, father of Julián Íñiguez de Medrano.His father Pedro Íñiguez de Medrano settled in Estella, where he married María de Ocáriz. María was the daughter of a butcher. Records from the late 15th century mention a butcher in Estella named Martín Ochoa de Ocáriz, also known as Oscáriz.
Relatives
Their relative Captain Oger de Medrano, a native of Santa Cruz de Campezo, was the Alcaide of Los Arcos and frequently dined with the Íñiguez de Medrano family. Oger de Medrano was married to Mariana de Bearin, through whom they held the pechas of Aizpún, Goñi, and Urdañoz. These rights were originally granted by King Juan de Labrit to Mariana's father, Juan de Bearin, and later confirmed by King Ferdinand the Catholic in 1514. In 1543, Catalina de Medrano and her daughters sold the local tribute rights for 700 ducats, allowing the residents to free themselves from taxation. She was likely the daughter of Oger de Medrano and Mariana de Bearin, who had inherited jurisdiction over the area from Mariana's father, Juan de Bearin.File:Coat of Arms of the Medrano Family.png|thumb|right|Coat of arms of the Vélaz de Medrano family in IgúzquizaHis family—particularly his father, and his relatives, Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, Lord of Igúzquiza and Learza, Merino of the Merindad of Estella, and Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, Alcaide and Mayor of Amaiur-Maya—fought to defend the independent Kingdom of Navarre in 1512 against the Spanish conquest of Navarre. Their resistance culminated in 1522 when Emperor Charles V completed the conquest after his forces besieged Jaime Vélaz de Medrano in the town and royal castle of Amaiur-Maya.
Juan and his brother, Jaime, lived near Julián's hometown of Estella, at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano, where the Medrano family also owned the Palace of the Kings of Navarre—a Romanesque royal residence that served as the seat of Navarrese monarchs from the late 12th century to the mid-15th century.
Invasion of Estella (October 1512)
His father, Pedro, remained loyal to the Navarrese crown and lost his life in the fight for independence "in the city of Estella in the service and favor of King John III of Navarre, and that the wound from which he died was inflicted by those who came in service of the Catholic King when they sought to take the city of Estella." A seventy-year-old squire from Estella named Pedro de Arbizu recounted:
When the city of Estella was under King John of Albret, Don Francés de Beaumont went there in the name of the Catholic King to take it, because it had rebelled for King John against the Catholic King. While the fortress of the said city remained under King John, Jaime Vélaz de Medrano descended from it with troops to rally men in the city, leading it to rebel in the name of King John. Since the city and most of its residents, including Pedro Íñiguez de Medrano, had allied with Jaime Vélaz de Medrano, they moved toward Nuestra Señora del Puy to prevent and resist Don Francés from entering the city. During the skirmish, this witness saw Pedro Íñiguez de Medrano, as a brave man, defending the city's entrance against the aforementioned forces. He saw that he was struck in the forehead with a thrown lance, from which he died.
Alonso Chasco, a resident of Los Arcos and a witness in Julián's 1548 trial, stated that Julián's father was present during the capture of Estella by the forces of Ferdinand the Catholic in October 1512 and died in the conflict:
At the time when the city of Estella rebelled against the Catholic King, this witness, along with other residents of this town of Los Arcos, entered and took the said city. There, Pedro Íñiguez de Medrano was wounded by the troops of the Catholic King and was taken to his home, where he died. He saw how Lope de Porres, captain and warden of this town, who held the Church of San Juan in the said city, did not allow him to be buried in that church, saying that he was a schismatic. This witness and other residents of Los Arcos were responsible for guarding the San Francisco Gate of the said city and asked that he be allowed to be buried in the monastery. He replied that they should bring him when the people had settled down, and so they did. That night, they brought him and buried him in the said Monastery of San Francisco.
A resident of Melgar within the jurisdiction of Los Arcos, stated that he was in Estella when the events took place. He confirmed that Julián's father Pedro Íñiguez remained unburied for two days.
Marriages and issue
Julián was first married to Francisca de Luca, with whom he had three children:● Julián Íñiguez de Medrano y Luca
● François Iñiguez de Medrano y Luca
● Marie Iñiguez de Medrano y Luca
One of them, Julián Íñiguez de Medrano y Luca, named after his father, was ordained a priest, and, thanks to the surviving ordination letter, dated 1573. It is known that both de Medrano, father of the ordained, like his mother, Francisca, were originally from Estella.
Sérène de Montauban
With his second wife, Sérène de Montauban, he had one child:● Pierre Íñiguez de Medrano y Montauban
When his first wife died, Julián Iñiguez de Medrano went to France, where he was part of the court of the kings of Navarre, Enrique II and Margarita de Angoulême. There is a marriage contract between Julián Íñiguez de Medrano and Sérène de Montauban, dated 18 July 1550; but it seems that Sérène was his second wife. It was precisely because of his place at court, thanks to the intercession of the queen, that Medrano managed to marry Sérène de Montauban, daughter of Bertrand de Montauban, lord of Flourès, Marciac, Riscle and Maumusson.
Lords of Maumusson
Through this marriage, Julián Íñiguez de Medrano became lord of Maumusson, a title that passed to his son Pierre Íñiguez de Medrano y Montauban. This would mark the beginning of Julian Íñiguez de Medrano's lineage in Gascony. In southern France, the Medrano family would become abundant.Medrano's trial (1548)
Medrano was involved in a legal trial in 1548 following a dispute between Bernardino de Gomonsoro. At the heart of the brawl was, apparently, the noble status that both parties claimed for themselves while refusing to recognize it in the other. According to the 1488 marriage contract of Bernardino's parents, María Pérez de Erdara and Juan de Azpeitia, his grandfather, Juan de Azpeitia “the elder,” was married to Gracia, sister of Don Ochoa de Ocáriz. This made Julián's mother, María de Ocáriz, Gracia's niece, establishing a first-cousin relationship between Bernardino's father and Julián's mother. As a result, Julián and Bernardino were second cousins.Julián's dispute in Estella
On a Sunday in October 1547, while descending Carrera Luenga after attending the novena of Ramón de Aguirre at the Church of San Juan de Estella, Julián Íñiguez de Medrano and Bernardino de Gomonsoro became engaged in a heated dispute. The confrontation stemmed from an incident a few days earlier, during which Gomonsoro had reportedly spoken disparagingly of Dr. Miguel Íñiguez de Medrano, Julián's brother. Seizing the opportunity, Julián confronted Bernardino, stating that had he been present at the time, he would have made him answer for his words. Although none of the questioned witnesses seemed to fully grasp what Gomonsoro had said to Miguel Íñiguez de Medrano that day, it is evident that his words were a direct affront to his noble lineage. However, one witness also noted that the later altercation between Gomonsoro and Julián was sparked by an exchange regarding the Observant and Cloistered Friars of San Francisco, though the exact words remain unknown.Unmoved by the rebuke, Gomonsoro reaffirmed his previous remarks about Miguel. The exchange intensified when Julián, pointing to his forehead, vowed, "By this, I swear you will pay for it." Before any further action could be taken, Bernardino departed for his home, retorting, "And who are you, you vile scoundrel?"
Julián remained in the street, seething with anger, when Miguel de Erdara, Bernardino's uncle, approached him and objected to his treatment of Bernardino, insisting that his nephew was "a very honorable man" and just as worthy as Julián. Rather than calming the situation, Erdara's words further enraged Julián, who retorted, "I am just as good as him, if not better—and even better than you."
As tensions grew, more neighbors gathered. Among them, Pedro de Baquedano approached Julián and whispered something in his ear, prompting Julián to lash out, attempting to strike him with the back of his left hand. The altercation escalated, with bystanders stepping in to separate the parties. However, the conflict reached a critical point when Julián drew his sword and threatened Miguel de Erdara. The intervention of the gathered neighbors ultimately deescalated the situation, allowing Erdara to withdraw safely to his home.