Don Garcia de Medrano y Alvarez de los Rios (Valladolid, July 20, 1604 – 1683) was the regent of Navarre and Seville, professor at the University of Salamanca, Knight of the Order of Santiago, a crime prosecutor in Valladolid, Judge of Valladolid, Minister of the Treasury, Minister of the Indies, prosecutor of the Council of Castile, Minister of Castile and of its Chamber, Minister of Inquisition and again counselor of Castile until his death. He was a member of the powerful and academic Medrano family, and a relative of Luisa de Medrano, the first female professor at the University of Salamanca. His son Don Garcia de Medrano y Mendizabal was the first Count of Torrubia, a Spanish noble title created on August 29, 1694 by King Carlos II.
Family
Don Garcia de Medrano y Alvarez de los Rios was born in Valladolid, and baptized in the parish of Santa María Magdalena on July 20, 1604. He was the son of Don Garcia de Medrano y Castejon, lord of the House of Medrano in 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.
His father 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. His 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, who had been appointed as an oidor (judge) in the Contaduría Mayor de Hacienda on December 23, 1583. His 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.
Don Garcia de Medrano y Alvarez de los Rios is the paternal grandson of Don Garcia 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 house built by his direct ancestor Don Diego Lopez de Medrano, father of Luisa de Medrano, in July 29, 1461. Don Garcia de Medrano y Alvarez de los Rios was born into the Medrano family, ancient and well-known high nobility from the Kingdom of Navarre. He is a direct descendant of the Navarrese regent Juan Martinez de Medrano; and a relative of Tomas Fernandez de Medrano and Pedro Velaz de Medrano.
Career and Death
On October 18, 1626, he entered the Mayor of San Bartolomé (Salamanca), graduating in Canons. In the year 1630, he was a judge of studies and two years later, he was appointed to occupy the mayor's office and prosecutor's office of the Court of Seville until the year 1636. 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". From this year, his academic career led him to occupy the Chair of Canons on 17 October 1636, and that of Sextus (Sextus Decretalium or the Liber Sextus) and Clementines (Clementine Constitutions) at the University of Salamanca, as professor. He was Doctor of Canons on September 4, 1638. In 1641, the King appointed him prosecutor of the Chancery of Valladolid and on February 10, 1643, Judge of Valladolid.