Palace Of Vélaz De Medrano
The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano was also certified and protected by the Commission of Historical and Artistic Monuments of Navarra, a public body in charge of the conservation and protection of antiquities, a direct precedent, together with the Culture Council, of the current Prince of Viana Institution. The Hispania Nostra Scientific Committee have also recognized and designated this palace under the official red list of the Hispania Nostra.
The lord of Igúzquiza was one of 74 nobles who had a seat in the noble estate of the Courts of Navarre within the ancient nobility. The House of Medrano is considered the oldest of nobility, and as such was summoned to the noble estate of the Courts of Navarre in the year 1580.
Etymology
It is known that the palace name 'Vélaz de Medrano' derives from the Basque 'Vélaz' which means 'goshawk,' and the surname 'Medrano' which means 'abundance, to grow, to prosper, or to improve.' Therefore, its meaning could be translated as the "Palace of the Goshawk of Medrano."
Legacy
The House of Medrano, Lords of Igúzquiza, a family of noble lineage, were always closely tied to the kings of Navarre and appear alongside them in the most notable episodes of Navarrese history.
A tribute event was held on May 21, 2013, at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano in Igúzquiza, Navarra. It commemorated the historical significance of the Vélaz de Medrano family, particularly focusing on their role and impact during the year 1512. The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano received a plaque infront of the palace to commemorate the noble Medrano family, a project initiated by Nafarroa Bizirik in 2010 on the occasion of the fifth centenary of the conquest of Navarre, and includes the placement of a hundred markers in as many emblematic places in the community.
The Medrano family is a very ancient house of noble origin, it is found in different times and in different places. Many principles are attributed to them by authors and historians "for its antiquity, its splendor, for their military prowess and virtue and for every other value of chivalry that prospered with this family, in great numbers, magnificent and generous."
According to the Geographical-Historical Dictionary of the Royal Academy of History in 1802, it was possible to see in the church of Iguzquiza, hanging on the wall of the main chapel, "various military trophies, such as flags, morions, iron gauntlets, and spurs," belonging to the former Medrano lords of the palace. It is mentioned that "the cause and the date when they were placed are unknown."
Location
The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano and Igúzquiza borders Metauten and the Valle de Allín to the North, Ayegui, Dicastillo, Arellano, and the areas of Montejurra and Arambelza to the East, Sesma to the South, and Los Arcos, Etayo, Olejua, Abaigar, and Murieta to the West. The Ega River crosses the territory on the northern part, also serving as the boundary with Metauten, situated on its right bank. It resides within the Valley of Santesteban de la Solana, under the historical district of the Merindad and Judicial District of Estella. Santesteban de la Solana was formed by the current municipalities of Arróniz, Barbarin, Igúzquiza, Luquin, and Villamayor de Monjardín.
Construction
The Palace of Vélaz de Medrano was initially built in the XI century as a fortified castle by the noble Medrano family. First, it consisted of a large palace defensive tower (with machicolations, battlements, saeteras) surrounded by a wall with four towers in the corners, guarded by a moat at the entrance. Subsequently, to the tower was added a building with outbuildings to make the palace more habitable, all built in stone.
The palace itself and a defensive tower stand out, surrounded in part by an ashlar wall with a semicircular portal that features Medrano's deteriorated coat of arms on the keystone. This door opens onto the parade ground, one of whose corners is occupied by the ashlar palace and cushioned ashlar at the base.
Discovery of a medieval water conduit at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano
The archeologist Ramon Campesino's research into the history of the Medrano family and their castle palace led to the discovery of tombs, buried silos, and a significant medieval construction previously unknown and rare in the region. He identified stones with carved cross-cut channels, large slabs collected by locals for house walls as part of a three-kilometer stone conduit built by the Vélaz de Medrano family to transport water from Montejurra's springs to the castle. Ramón and his team excavated about fifty pieces weighing about one hundred kilograms each, with many more pieces still buried.
The water conduit led Ramón to discover the remains of a pilgrim hospital. Located on land once belonging to the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of Jerusalem, the hospital received water from the Vélaz de Medrano canal. Today, only the ruins of a sheep pen, believed to be the former hospital, remain at a site called Cuesta del Hospital.
Rebuilt in the 15th century
.jpg)
The Medieval fortress of Igúzquiza was partially demolished and rebuilt in brick, with a palatial character. This ancient castle, rebuilt as a palace in the middle of the 15th century by Don Ferran Vélaz de Medrano y Ruen, preserves the large courtyard of arms, with its low battlemented walls flanking its entrance, rising in its southeast corner a high square tower, rebuilt in that century on a base of ashlar and the rest of brick. In the northeast corner, there is another stone tower, of lesser elevation at present, covered with ivy, preserving between them. The north side of the castle consists of large stables, dismantled rooms, and other dependencies, among which there is a small oratory, with a dark oil painting, a spacious kitchen with its carved stone fireplace, a spiral staircase, and thick walls, which denote the strength of such a fortress.
The rear part is the oldest. There are evident signs of additions made with a view to establishing granaries, wine cellars, and dwellings for tenants. On both sides of the main gate, the two defensive gun ports for cannon still exist, similar to those found in the native castles of Loyola and Xavier.
Juan Mañé y Flaquer (1823–1901), a Spanish journalist, writer and professor of Latin and Spanish at the University of Barcelona, visited Navarre in 1877 to compose his work "El Oasis, Viaje al país de los Fueros," where he encountered the customs from the locals in the village of Igúzquiza, specifically about "the palace of the Moors," regarding the old stones of the palace of Vélaz de Medrano.
History of the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano
Immediately adjacent to the town of Igúzquiza, but separated from its settlement, the ancient fortified palace of the Vélaz de Medrano family is preserved. Although abandoned for many years, it still retains much of its old warrior status and lordly prestige. The Medrano family were tasked with overseeing one of the kingdom's crucial defenses, namely the defensive perimeter around Estella. Shortly after the city's establishment in the 11th century, both Igúzquiza and Monjardín castles were constructed under the command of the Vélaz de Medrano family. Their duty was to safeguard the routes leading from Álava and Logroño. The strong house of this estate appears as an armory corporal in the official list of the Kingdom of Navarre. It was linked to the noble lineage of the Medrano family.
Progenitor
The history of the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano begins with its family progenitor. Everyone from the House of Medrano is a descendant of a common ancestor named Medrano; the origin of this surname is not merely coincidental. The lineage of the House of Medrano traces back to its progenitor, Don Andrés Vélaz de Medrano, a Moorish prince from the Caliphate of Cordoba, who settled in Igúzquiza, Navarre around the year 979.
This prince arrived in Igúzquiza leading a powerful army. He is supposed to have secretly been devoted to the Blessed Virgin, and as such persecuted by the devil, who, taking human form, was in the position of mayordomo in his service, to assassinate him at an opportune moment; this great lord, being in Igúzquiza accompanied by his diabolical mayordomo, was reciting the Ave Maria, when suddenly a goshawk came, carrying a ribbon written with the angelic salutation in its beak, and alighting on the hand of this prince, the Apostle St. Andres suddenly appeared in the palace, exhorting and baptizing him. The mayordomo fled with great noise and terrifying earthquakes.
This prince was a lord of vassals, a person of great valor in arms, who was fond of the Christian religion, and in particular very devoted to the Virgin Mary, whose Rosary he prayed every day, even before being baptized. He left his lands and lordship in the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba. The king of Pamplona gave him the name Andrés, after the apostle, along with Vélaz or Bélaz, which in Basque means goshawk, after the one that alighted on his hand.
Since prince Andrés Vélaz was very powerful among the Moors, having great riches, which he lost at that time; the Caliph of Cordoba, Hisham II, amazed at his transformation and departure, and that he had thus left his Umayyad lands and lordship, asked about prince Don Andrés Vélaz many times afterwards saying:
"Medra o no?" (Does he prosper or no?) to which the Caliph's courtiers replied "no," Don Andrés Vélaz, having knowledge of this, claimed the Caliph's question and his courtiers answer as his surname, and called himself Medrano.
Prince Andrés Vélaz de Medrano's descendants, the lords of Igúzquiza, of the Medrano lineage, were entrusted by the kings of Navarre with the task of organizing the defense of the valley of Santesteban de la Solana, from the site of the palace, where the weapons of war were stored (Cabo de Armeria). The Medrano family, ricohombres of Navarra were also the governors of the famous Monjardín castle, whose prodigious cross is said to have been collected by one of these knights when it appeared to one of his shepherds.
14th century
.svg)
Don Alvar Diaz de Medrano y Almoravid was the lord of Igúzquiza and of the ancient Palace of Vélaz de Medrano in the 14th century. He commanded a retinue or company of armed people in the service of the king. Mesnadero, (In Basque: Mesnadaria) is one who served in the mesnadas. It comes from Mesnada, which would mean house, because it was a troop of the Royal House. Mesnadero's were the cadet sons of a Ricohombre. The kings granted Alvar Diaz de Medrano a certain income with the obligation to serve him with weapons and horses for a limited time when necessary.
Alvar Diaz de Medrano y Almoravid
Don Alvar Diaz de Medrano y Almoravid was the son of Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Sánchez and Dona Bona de Almoravid. His father Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano appeared as the Alcaide of the Tower of Viana in 1328. He received an emolument of 35 pounds. Don Juan Velaz de Medrano, third of the name, Alcaide of Viana and Dicastillo, died in 1342. Don Alvar Diaz de Medrano y Almoravid is the paternal grandson of the famous Don Juan Martínez de Medrano, regent of the Kingdom of Navarre in 1328, and his wife Aldonza Sánchez. The House of Medrano gained prominence when the Capetian main line went extinct, as Don Juan Martínez de Medrano became regent of the Kingdom of Navarre in awaiting the arrival of his Queen Joan II and her husband Philippe d'Erveux. Medrano's leading role in the political scene came after the death of the last Capetian sovereign, Charles the Fair, on 1 February 1328.
Juan Vélaz de Medrano IV
Don Alvar Diaz de Medrano y Almoravid is the father of Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano IV, knight, royal chamberlain of the Kings of Navarre and Aragon, and the baron and lord of Igúzquiza, Arguiñano, Arzoz, Artazu, Zabal, Orendáin, the 1st lord of Learza and the alcaide of Monjardín Castle and Viana. Juan Velaz de Medrano IV was the father of Don Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano y Ruen, lord of Igúzquiza in the 15th century.
15th century
In 1456, Don Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, ricohombre of Navarre, became the Alcaide of the castle of Monjardín, and in 1461, he was the lord of Igúzquiza. He was the son of Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano IV, lord of Igúzquiza, Arguiñano, Arzoz, Learza, Artazu, Zabal, Orendáin, alcaide of Monjardín castle and Viana, royal chamberlain of the Kings of Navarre and Aragon.
Don Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano
Regarding the antiquity of the Medrano palace in Igúzquiza, when Don Ferran Velaz de Medrano married Doña Elvira de Goñi, it was already considered ancient. Don Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano rebuilt the castle-palace of Vélaz de Medrano in the mid-15th century, which was famous for the splendor of the festivities held by Don Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano and his children and grandchildren, which were often attended by the Navarrese Monarchs themselves.
Don Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, lord of Igúzquiza in 1461, became the 2nd Lord of Learza in 1450. By 1452, he participated in the siege of Genevilla, held by supporters of Prince Don Carlos. In 1455, King John II of Aragon and Navarre awarded him the taxes from Mués, Mendaza, and Legaria, plus the palaces and revenue that Juan de Sarasa owned in the first of these villages, as compensation for the 2,000 florins he expended in the recapture of Genevilla. He served as the alcaide of Monjardín Castle in 1456. Further, in 1471, King John III gifted him the taxes from the valleys of Allín and Santesteban de la Solana, forming a wealthy and militarily powerful territory under the House of Medrano.
Don Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, lord of Igúzquiza had a daughter named Doña María Vélaz de Medrano. Don Ferrán was the maternal grandfather of Don Frey Juan López Vélaz de Eulate y Medrano, was born in Estella around 1470. Don Frey Juan was the son of the distinguished lord Don Juan López Martínez de Eulate and his mother Doña Maria Vélaz de Medrano, daughter of Don Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano, lord of Igúzquiza and Learza. He was the grandson on his father's side of Don Lope Martínez de Eulate, who served as Fiscal Provisor of the Kingdom of Navarra and was a member of the king's council, and Doña Juana Lopiz de Sarasa.
On his mother's side, he was the grandson of Don Ferrán Vélaz de Medrano and Doña Elvira de Goñi, daughter of Mosén Juan de Goñi. By 1506, Ferrán's grandson had become Commander of Indurain. In 1525, he participated in the general Courts of the Kingdom of Navarra, representing the ecclesiastical branch. He wrote his will in Estella on November 29, 1537, with Gabriel de Aguirre as witness, and passed away shortly after, being laid to rest in a tomb he had prepared in the church of San Miguel de Estella.
Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goñi
Ferrán's son and heir Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goñi, fifth of the name, Lord of Iguzquiza, Agos and Aguinano, 3rd lord of Learza, Alcaide of the castle of Monjardin, married Doña Elvira de Echauz y Beaumont, daughter of the XV Viscount of Baiguer [es], Carlos de Echauz y Diaz de Villegas and Doña Jean Marguerite de Beaumont y Courton. Juana Margaret de Beaumont was the granddaughter of Prince Louis of Navarre, Duke of Durazzo, son of King Philip III of Navarre, of the house of Évreux, which is a minor branch of the Capetian dynasty.
16th century
In the early 16th century, Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Goñi's namesake son and heir Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz was the lord of Igúzquiza. A detailed list of the towns, markets, and fortresses in the Kingdom of Navarre, dating around 1512, preserved in the Simancas Archive, includes lord Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz's Palace of Vélaz de Medrano among the defensive constructions that could pose a threat to Castilian domination, so a military man by the name of Colonol Villalba was appointed as its alcaide. The fortified house of Igúzquiza was always considered an armory headquarters palace.
Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz
Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz was the sixth of the same name, 4th lord of Learza, Iguzquiza, and Agos, Alcaide of the castle of Del Castillo and Castle of Monjardin and major knight of King Don Juan de Albret. Don Juan Velaz de Medrano married with Dona Ana de Mauleon y Navarra, daughter of Landron de Mauleon y Claver and Juana de Navarra y Enriquez de Lacarra. Juana de Navarra y Enriquez de Lacarra was the daughter of Pedro de Navarra y Peralta, III Viscount of Muruzábal and Inés Enríquez de Lacarra y Foxan. The Vizcountess Ines Enriquez de Lacarra y Foxan was the daughter of Beltran "el Joven" Enriquez de Lacarra y Moncayo, IV Lord of Ablitas and his wife Isabel de Foxan, Lady of Eriete and Posante.
Juana de Navarra y Enriquez de Lacarra's father was the son of Don Felipe IV de Navarra, II Vizconde de Muruzábal and Juana de Peralta y Ezpeleta. Don Filipe IV de Navarra was the son of the first viscount of Muruzabal, Prince Leonel de Navarra and Maria Juana Elsa de Luna. The Viscount of Muruzabal takes its name from an old royal manor town called Muruzabal. In 1407, King Carlos III included it within the viscount created in favor of his brother Prince Leonel de Navarra. Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz and Dona Ana de Mauleon y Navarra were the parents of the noble Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauelon y Navarra, lord of Iguzquiza and of the ancient Palace of Vélaz de Medrano, maternal great-great-great-great-grandson of King Charles II of Navarre.
After the invasion of Navarre in 1512, this palace became strategic during the uprising of the Merindad and the Insurrection of Navarre. The lords, in the face of an external threat, summoned the Medrano surname, distributed arms and organized a small army to join the other Navarre valleys in support of Henry II of Navarre. Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, lord of Iguzquiza, learza, etc., defended the royal castles of Del Castillo, Monjardin and Santacara. After the defeat of Navarre, these fortresses along with those of Cabrega and Aberin were conquered by the invaders and suffered major demolitions. After the regaining of Navarre's independence, the House of Medrano and the royal fortress of Amaiur-Maya played a leading role in the defense of the legitimists.
Don Juan's brother Don Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz was the Alcaide and Mayor of Amaiur-Maya, prominent in the defense and resistance of the last royal castle in Navarre, the castle of Maya. Don Jaime Vélaz de Medrano and his son Luis Vélaz de Medrano defended his castle with a few other nobles and 200 knights against 5000 troops sent by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. By 19 July 1522, Jaime was forced to negotiate a surrender to the new viceroy, the Count of Miranda, and his ally, the Count of Lerín, Don Luis de Beaumont. After the defeat, Jaime Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz and his son Don Luis Vélaz de Medrano were transferred to the prison of the castle of Pamplona in 1522.
Don Juan Velaz de Medrano y Mauleon y Navarra was the seventh of the name, 5th Lord of Learza, Igúzquiza, Agos, Arguiñaro, Orendain, Zabala and Arroniz. He was the son of Don Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz and Dona Ana de Mauleon y Navarra. He is a maternal great-great-great-great-grandson of King Charles II of Navarre. In 1543, he married Dona Maria de Pinerio, Lady of Eriete, patron of the company of Jesus in Pamplona and Trapani (Sicily). Jeronimo's mother Dona Maria de Pinerio belonged to an illustrious family of Galicia, well known from ancient and modern genealogists. Jeronimo married Dona Isabel de Lapena y Huidobro. He had a son and heir named Don Jeronimo Vélaz de Medrano y Piniero, who became the lord of Igúzquiza, Learza, Agos, Aguinaro, Orendain, Zabala and Arroniz.
Viscounts of Azpa
Around 1564 the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano was owned by Don Alonso Vélaz de Medrano, lord of Igúzquiza and the 1st Viscount of Azpa, a title granted by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. In 1564, Captain Alonso Vélaz de Medrano, 1st Vizcount of Azpa and lord of Igúzquiza, enjoyed an accommodation grant of 40,000 maravedís.
His son Alonso Vélaz de Medrano, II Vizcount of Azpa, lord of Iguzquiza, another 30,000 from 1595, which in 1636 would pass to his heir Alonso Vélaz de Medrano y Navarra, who also had the same name as the previous two.
In 1587, Doña Sebastiana Vélaz de Medrano, residing at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano, was involved in a legal dispute with the villagers of Arguiñano. They had refused to pay her the taxes they owed, she had to remind them that they were obligated as farmers to pay taxes, without intending to insult them. Diego Ramirez de Baquedano wrote, "the principal quality of nobility that the palaces and principal houses of this kingdom have is to have vassals who pay them taxes."
In the judicial proceedings produced by the Corte Mayor de Navarra, spanning from January 13, 1598, to April 17, 1598, Diego Huidobro de Lapeña and Sebastiana Velaz de Medrano, lords of Learza and Orendain (Guirguillano), along with others, were plaintiffs. They filed charges against Sancho Fernandez de Arizaleta, Juan Ochoa de Jaurrieta, Miguel de Eneriz, and fellow residents of Mendigorria. The accusations included theft of firewood and an assault on Juan Sanchez, a guard of Orendain (Guirguillano).
Diego Vélaz de Medrano y Udobro, was the lord of the palaces of Igúzquiza and the places of Learza and Orendáin at the end of the 16th century.
17th century
Built by the Vélaz de Medrano family in the beginning of the 11th century, the palace was requested by Don José Piñeiro de Elio in 1685 to be registered as a head of armory of the Kingdom.
18th century
By the 18th century, ownership of the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano had transferred to the Marquessate of Vessolla, descendants of the lords of Igúzquiza. Today, although the palace is somewhat deteriorated, it continues to display its historical martial and aristocratic essence. Fading with time, the coat of arms in the outer area features a trefoil cross in gold and their progenitor's hand clutching a silver goshawk, encircled by the family motto inscription "AVE MARIA, GRATIA PLENA, DOMINUS TECUM."
In the 18th century, José de Elío y Ayanz de Navarra de Esparza Artieda y Vélaz de Medrano, who was made I Marquess of Vessolla on September 6, 1702, inherited the ancient palace of Vélaz de Medrano from his father Gaspar Piñeiro de Elío y Esparza de Artieda y Vélaz de Medrano, son of Dona Antonia Vélaz de Medrano y Lapeña, daughter of Jeronimo Vélaz de Medrano y Piniero, lord of Learza, Igúzquiza, Agos, Aguinaro, Orendain, Zabala, Arroniz etc.; son of Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Mauleon, seventh of the name, Lord of Learza, Igúzquiza, Agos, Arguiñaro, Orendain, Zabala and Arroniz; son of Juan Vélaz de Medrano y Echauz, Alcaide of the Castle of Monjardin and Santacara, and his wife Ana de Mauleon y Navarra. Ana is the daughter of Don Ladrón de Mauleón and Juana de Navarra y Enríquez de Lacarra, sister of Marshal Pedro de Navarra and descendant of Kings Enrique I and Charles II of Evreux.
Related Palaces
Other Navarrese lordships of the Medrano family belonged to Francisco Argaiz Vélaz de Medrano, lord of the house of Argaiz in Peralta, Francisco Roque Velázquez de Medrano, Lord of Saldaiz and of the Artázcoz Palace. Luis Velázquez de Medrano and Carlos Velázquez de Medrano, José Vicente Velázquez de Medrano y Marichalar, José Vicente Velázquez de Medrano y Marichalar and Manuel Velázquez de Medrano y Zaro, were all lords of the palace of Artázcoz.
Gallery
-
Main tower at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano -
Additional view of the Palace of Velaz de Medrano -
Northeast side of the Palace of Velaz de Medrano, covered in ivy -
Corner of the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano -
Side view of the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano -
Palace of Velaz de Medrano -
Fire at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano. -
Plaque on display at the Palace of Vélaz de Medrano -
Distant view of the Palace of Velaz de Medrano from the town of Igúzquiza -
Front of the Palace of Velaz de Medrano (side view) with the plaque, coat of arms of Medrano and royal banner of the Kingdom of Navarre
.jpg)
.jpg)