Viscounts of Azpa
The Viscount of Azpa is a Spanish noble title created between 1556–1598 by Philip II of Spain for Alonso Vélaz de Medrano Navarra y Liédena, a descendant of the Kings of Navarre, and a cavalry captain under the Grand Duke of Alba. The title takes its name from Azpa in the Valle de Egüés, where the Medrano family maintained its palace. The title was no longer in use after the death of Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano, 6th Viscount of Azpa. In 1793 the line was elevated when his son José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante was created 1st Marquess of Fontellas, 1st Viscount of Amaláin, by King Charles IV on 19 April 1793.
Members of the House held municipal and regional offices, exercised seigneurial jurisdiction at Azpa, Ripalda, and Mendillorri, and sat in the Diputación of the Kingdom of Navarre.
The Town of Azpa
Azpa is situated at the southeastern tip of the Egüés Valley and is the final locality accessible via national road 150. Azpa holds significant historical interest, with remnants of its noble past still visible. The town is home to the palace of the Viscount of Azpa who were also granted the Marquesaate of Fontellas by King Charles IV of Spain. It maintained noble status for centuries, and in 1802, the town of Azpa was recorded as a secular lordship.At the entrance of Azpa is a building known as The Palace, which forms a horizontal block, with a semicircular arch as the entrance and a baroque shield on the facade. The House of Medrano ruled Azpa for centuries, and members, including Carlos Vélaz de Medrano, was once the lord of the palaces and pechas of Azpa and Mendillori. The Medrano family is documented on a table of genealogy, linking the Viscounts of Azpa as direct descendants of Queen Joan II of Navarre and King Philip III of Évreux.
The Palace of Azpa appears as a corporal of armory on the official payroll of the Kingdom. Azpa is located 16km east of Pamplona. The palace of Azpa belonged in 1631 to Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Navarra, III Viscount of Azpa, whose guardian, on his behalf, brought a lawsuit in the chamber over the rebate of the barracks. In those years, the firstborn of the Medrano lineage already bore the title of viscounts of Azpa.
1st Viscount
The title Viscount of Azpa was made in favor of Alonso Vélaz de Medrano Navarra y Liédena by Philip II of Spain between 1556 and 1598. It was one of the 115 perpetual and hereditary honorary titles and offices granted in Navarre. As the 1st Viscount of Azpa, he was also lord of the palace and town of Azpa. He married Catalina de Liédena y Larrasoaña, Lady of Mendillorri. Together, they had an heir named Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Liédena, 2nd Viscount of Azpa, Lord of Mendillori.The Palace of Mendillori still exists today. This noble family is well known for its martial prowess. The ancestor of the first Viscount, Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, royal guard of John III of Navarre, captain of the king's standing army, played a critical role in the defense of the Kingdom of Navarre alongside his elder brother Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, Lord of Igúzquiza, merino of the Merindad of Estella, during the Spanish conquest of Navarre. Both were defenders, with Jaime serving as mayor of Amaiur-Maya and alcaide of the Castle of Maya during the historic battle of Amaiur-Maya in 1522.
Alliance with the House of Liédena: Succession of the Palace and Lordship of Mendillorri
Around 1565, the palace of Mendillori passed into the possession of Licenciado Liédena following his marriage to Juana de Larrasoaña. The owners of Mendillorri enjoyed the privilege of sitting in the Kingdom's Cortes and were summoned during the time of the viceroys, the Count of Miranda and the Marquess of Almazán. In 1588, Martín de Rada declared in a lawsuit that the estate was a "palace of great quality."In 1588, the palace of Mendillori was owned by Catalina de Liédena y Larrasoaña, and in 1631, her son Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Liédena, 2nd Viscount of Azpa, received from King Philip IV the grant of lower and middle jurisdiction over the place, in exchange for a service of 800 ducats to the Crown.
The palace was inherited by Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Navarra, 3rd Viscount of Azpa, married to Petronila Pérez de Veraiz e Ibero. In 1690, the Palace of Mendillori was owned by his son José, 4th Viscount of Azpa, who carried out works valued at 750 ducats. He was succeeded by his son Joaquín, 6th Viscount of Azpa, who passed on the palace to his son José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano, 1st Marquess of Fontellas, 1st Viscount of Amaláin.
2nd Viscount
On 6 August 1604, Deputy Alonso Vélaz de Medrano, 2nd Viscount of Azpa, served as the military representative in the Deputation of the Kingdom, where he played a key role in representing the interests of the crown and military. He married a Lady from the royal House of Navarra, herself being a descendant of the Kings of Navarre from the Capetain dynasty.3rd Viscount
Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Navarra, 3rd Viscount of Azpa, and a descendant of Queen Joan II of Navarre and King Philip III of Évreux, married María de Ripalda y Ayanz de Ureta and together they had 8 children in Azpa.On July 16, 1632, at the Palace of Mendillorri, Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Navarra, 3rd Vizcount of Azpa, formally asserted his jurisdictional authority over his estate. He had purchased these rights from the Crown a year earlier for 800 ducats. In a formal act asserting lower and middle jurisdiction purchased from the Crown, he took his place in the palace's main hall, seated on a high‑backed chair and holding the royal staff. He then invited residents to present grievances and remained to adjudicate petitions, publicly exercising seigneurial justice. Addressing the estate's small population, just two households, he invited any aggrieved residents to seek justice. Remaining at his tribunal for an extended period, he publicly administered justice without opposition, solidifying his position as the legal authority over the domain.
On 27 December 1642, Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Navarra was representing the university Deputation of the Kingdom of Navarre.
His family maintained ties with the other nobility in Navarre during the reign of the Spanish Habsburg Monarchy. Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Navarra married Maria de Ripalda. His wife was the daughter of Luis de Ripalda and María Ayanz de Ureta. Luis de Ripalda's parents were Luis Ripalda and Agueda Amatriain. Luis de Ripalda, later known as the Count of Ripalda, married María Sebastián. María Sebastián's father was Salvador Sebastián, who was the uncle of Luis Sebastián y Donamaría, the lord of Iriberri.
Alonso's House had influence that extended to the capital of Navarre. In 1847, the Vélaz de Medrano family from Pamplona held the right to appoint the parish priest of Ripalda.
4th Viscount
José Velaz de Medrano y Ripalda y Navarra, IV Viscount of Azpa, lord of Mendillori, married Ana María de Larrea Zunzarren, also known as Lady Beunza Larrea.Together, they had two children:Josépha Velaz de Medrano y Larrea,, who married Francisco Argaiz Galdeano VI, with descendants.Joaquin Velaz de Medrano y Larrea, V Viscount of Azpa, born around 1690 in Irunea and died in 1770.
The 4th Viscount held several prestigious titles, including IV Viscount of Azpa and Lord of Autol and Mendillorri. He was also the Owner of the Entailed Estate and Palaces of Cape of Arms of Beunza-Larrea and Ripalda.
On 28 February 1692 José Vélaz de Medrano, Viscount of Medrano, IV Viscount of Azpa, was a representative of the Military Deputation. On 16 December 1699 José Vélaz de Medrano, Viscount of Azpa replaced Juan Ventura de Arizcun, Viscount of Arbeloa in the University Deputation.
Don José was the lord of Mendillori and the town of Autol in the 18th century. In 1716, José's daughter Doña María Francisca Vélaz de Medrano was married to Gabriel Cano de Aponte, Royal Governor of Chile from 1717 to 1733. José Vélaz de Medrano, Viscount of Azpa, Lord of Autol, was noted for his claim against the Deputation of the Kingdom, regarding payment of 508 ducats for the expenses of a trip to Madrid.
5th Viscount
Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Larrea, 5th Viscount of Azpa and 19th Lord of Autol, was born around 1690 in Irunea. On 23 March 1726, he served as the university representative in the Deputation of the Kingdom of Navarre alongside Don Elías Íñiguez de Medrano.He married Teresa de Álava. Their daughter, María Josefa Vélaz de Medrano y Álava, married Francisco de Argáiz y Jaso, 6th Lord of Pozuelo, a direct descendant of Juana de Navarra and Luis de Beaumont, Count of Lerín and Constable of Navarre.
María Josefa was the mother of María Joaquina de Argáiz y Vélaz de Medrano, who married Pedro Ximénez de Tejada, later created 1st Marquess of Ximénez de Tejada. Her brother, Francisco Xavier de Argáiz Jaso, became the 7th Lord of Pozuelo and married Ignacia de Esquível.
María Joaquina de Argáiz y Vélaz de Medrano was the mother of Joaquín Antonio Ximénez de Tejada y Argáiz y Vélaz de Medrano, 2nd Marquess of Ximénez de Tejada, who carried the Medrano–Navarrese lineage directly into the marquessate.
Joaquín Antonio was also related to Gabino Gaínza Fernández de Medrano, through Gabino's mother Eulalia Fernández de Medrano y Jiménez de Tejada, daughter of Enrique Fernández de Medrano y Vicuña and Francisca Ximénez de Tejada. Francisca was the sister of Fray Francisco Ximénez de Tejada, Grand Master of the Order of Malta, and of Pedro Gregorio Ximénez de Tejada, later 1st Marquess of Ximénez de Tejada. Through this shared Tejada–Medrano ancestry, the descendants of the Viscounts of Azpa were linked directly to the grand mastership of Malta and to the marquessate.
6th Viscount
Joaquín Antonio Vélaz de Medrano y Alava, 6th Viscount of Azpa, Lord of Mendillorri, Buenzalarrea, labaso, Amalain, Villanuevo, 20th lord of Autol, Yerga, etc. He was born in Villafranca de Navarra on 8 June 1728, and died on August 10 1782.On 29 October 1749, Don Joaquin Velaz de Medrano, Viscount of Azpa and lord of the town of Autol, residing in the city of Pamplona, outlined the legitimacy of his claim in the lawsuit under review by the council. Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano, Viscount of Azpa, with the Prosecutor of the Council, and the Villa de Autol, and in revolt with Doña Juana de la Mota, wrote a proposed memorandum on the reversion to the crown of the said Villa de Autol, its jurisdiction, lordship, and vassalage.
Among the 20 council members repeatedly elected in Pamplona, Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano, Viscount of Azpa was particularly notable, serving 8 times as a councilor and 12 times as a mayor of the borough of San Cernin.
A legal dispute was initiated on 23 May 1748 by Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Puelles, Viscount of Azpa and Lord of Autol, residing in Pamplona, against the Autol council. The case pertains to the enforcement and collection of rights over the produce obtained from the mountain named Segrero.
Palace of Ripalda
The Palace of Ripalda was Listed as a fortified house in the kingdom's official register and as an exempt estate from quarters since 1513. The exemption was confirmed in 1621, with Luis de Ripalda and his son and heir, also named Luis, as owners. In 1723, the count of Ripalda, a title created for Esteban Joaquín de Ripalda, was listed as the owner. In 1745, Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano requested a rebate in the manner enjoyed by his predecessor. According to the Armory Book, the coat of arms was gold with three red bars and two blue fleurs-de-lis, one arising from the first bar and another from the second. These arms were used by the palace in the 16th century.1st Marquess of Fontellas, 1st Viscount of Amaláin
José Joaquín Vélaz de Medrano y Gante, became the 21st Lord of Autol and Yerga, 13th Lord of Quel de Suso, 13th Lord of Ordoyo, 14th Lord of Fontellas and of the Towns and Palaces of Mendillorri and Beúnzalarrea, the town of Amaláin, Lavaiz and Villanueva, and of the palaces and mayorazgos of Liédena, Aioz and Ripalda. He became a Knight of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and was granted the title of 1st Marquess of Fontellas, 1st Viscount of Amaláin. Though was granted the title of Marquis of Fontellas by Charles IV in 1793, he had to pay 843,000 reales for the rights and processing fees.Modern era: Succession and Rehabilitation Dispute
On 11 November 1980, the Undersecretary's office issued a resolution announcing that José Velaz de Medrano y Echevarría had applied for the succession to the title of Viscount of Azpa. This application was made in accordance with Article 10 of the Royal Decree 602/1980 dated 21 March 1980. The vacancy arose following the death of Joaquín Velaz de Medrano y Alava, 6th Viscount of Azpa. The announcement stated that there would be a thirty-day period from the date of publication for any claims or applications related to the title, in line with the Royal Decree of 27 May 1912. This was to ensure that those who believe they have a right to the title could present their case. The notice was signed by the Undersecretary, Arturo Romani Biescas, in Madrid.However, subsequent legal reforms significantly altered the framework for resolving such petitions. Royal Decree 222/1988 of 11 March, which repealed Royal Decree 602/1980, restricted rehabilitations of noble dignities by limiting entail based claims. Many titles therefore became impossible to rehabilitate and remained lapsed, defined as titles that had fallen into lapse and not remained so for more than forty years, with kinship to the last lawful holder not exceeding the sixth civil degree. This situation directly affects several Navarrese dignities, including the Count of Santisteban de Lerín, the Viscount of Azpa, and the Viscount of Castejón.