Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda

Don Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda (December 14, 1642 – December 1721) was a noble from the House of Medrano in La Rioja. Pedro was elected regent of the Royal Council of Navarre on May 9, 1702, for king Philip V of Spain. Medrano was a professor in Valladolid, knight of the Order of Santiago, interim judge of Vizcaya in the Chancery of Valladolid and the Biscayan lordship, oidor of the Valladolid Chancery and oidor in the Council of Orders. Medrano was a descendant of the first King's of Navarre.

Family and royal ancestry
Born into the noble House of Medrano in Logroño, La Rioja, Don Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda was the son of Don Pedro de Medrano y Echauz (b. October 28, 1620, Calahorra, Spain) and Josepha de Albelda Barron y Tejada (b. April 11, 1615). His father was a knight of the Order of Alcántara, mayor of the Holy Brotherhood in Logroño in 1650 and ruler of Calahorra and its castle in the years 1673 and 1687. His father Pedro de Medrano y Echauz is noted for having penned a 6-page funeral eulogy in 1686 for Manuel Diego López de Zúñiga y Sarmiento de Silva, 10th Duke of Béjar, in which he "described a portion of the generous ardor with which, on all occasions, the distinguished Valor of the Duke of Béjar stood out, being the first in the Assault of Buda," in 3 sonnets.

His father Pedro de Medrano y Echauz was the son of Pedro de Medrano y Íñiguez (b. July 14, 1582, in Murillo de Rio Leza, La Rioja, Spain) and Mariana de Echauz, (b. on March 6, 1594, in Calahorra, La Rioja, Spain).

Pedro de Medrano y Íñiguez was the son of Pedro de Medrano and Ana de Íñiguez, the latter married on November 10, 1581 in Murillo de Río Leza, La Rioja. Through his father, Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda was the paternal great-grandson of Ana de Íñiguez from the royal Navarrese house of Íñiguez, making him descended from the royal house of Íñiguez, also known as the first kings of Navarre. Undoubtedly, Pedro de Medrano y Íñiguez was a relative of Julián Íñiguez de Medrano, also a descendant of the first King's of Navarre, famous explorer and author of La Silva Curiosa, dedicated to Queen Margaret de Valois.

Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda's aunt Ambrosia de Medrano y Echauz married Captain Jose Enriquez de Lacarra Cervantes y Angulo, both relatives of the IV Marquises of Vessolla.

Marriage and heir
Don Pedro Antonio de Medrano y Albelda married Teresa Josefa Alvarez de Arellano Echauz y Velasco, daughter of Joseph Fernando Alvarez de Arellano Malo y del Rio and Teresa Manuela de Echauz y Vera. His wife was the maternal granddaughter of Martin de Echauz y Velasco (b. 1626, Calahorra, La Rioja, Spain). Teresa Josefa was the maternal great-granddaughter of the III lord's of Santa Cruz del Valle Urbión, Soto, and Garganchón (Pradoluengo, Burgos), and V of Riocavado de la Sierra, Cathalina de Velasco y Roxas and Jeronimo de Echauz y Velasco.

Don Pedro and Dona Teresa had a son and heir named Don Pedro de Medrano y Alvarez de Arellano, born December 14, 1642, in Logrono, La Rioja, Spain. Don Pedro de Medrano y Alvarez de Arellano married Maria Francisca de Blancas y Ezpeleta in 1738, and they had one son and heir also named Pedro Manuel de Medrano, born in 1740.

Early life and education (1650–1669)
Pedro Antonio de Medrano began his education, focusing on Latin and First Letters in Logroño. Subsequently, he pursued Canon Law studies at the University of Valladolid, earning his bachelor's degree on March 30, 1669.

Academic career and teaching (1672–1690)
On February 15, 1672, he entered the Colegio Mayor de la Santa Cruz in Valladolid by public examination and in 1672; he began to teach as extraordinary professor in the Faculty of Canons. During this period, he covered various subjects, presided over conclusion events, and replaced several faculty members. During this time, he lectured on the following topics: in the academic year 1672–1673, he covered the subject of De Tutela; in 1673–1674, he discussed the first book of the institute; in 1674–1675, he addressed the topic of De Legatis; in 1675–1676, he delved into the subject of Quibus modis ne contrahitur obligationis, specifically the third book of the institute; in the academic year 1676–1677, he focused on the fourth book regarding De obligationibus quae ex delicto nascuntur; in the academic year 1677–1678, he explored the topic of De Legatis; and in the academic year 1678–1679, he covered the first book of the institute.

Furthermore, during this period he also presided over five concluding acts: During the years 1672 to 1679, he replaced various holders in his professorships. He also studied law, graduating from high school on May 10, 1681. On March 12, 1685, he won the Chair of Minor Decrees of the Faculty of Canons by competition, and on September 27, 1686, he obtained, also by competition, the Chair of Old Code, of the same Faculty. He taught from this chair for six years until in 1690 he won the Sixth in the Faculty of Canons (March 8) and the Vespers in the Faculty of Law.
 * Defense of the Matter De Impossibilibus (1673)
 * on Institutionibus captatoris (1674)
 * on the title De infantibus exposis (1676)
 * defending the matter De multiplicis causa iucresibae (1677)
 * and defending De cautione fructuaria tam in usufructo quam in quasi usufructum (1678)

Legal career and judicial appointments (1686–1693)
Pedro Antonio de Medrano initiated his legal career in 1686, temporarily replacing the judge of Vizcaya in the Chancery of Valladolid as interim, a position he held in the academic years 1686-1687 and 1688–1689. He also became interim judge of the Biscayan lordship in 1690. Three years later, he was appointed oidor of the Valladolid Chancery, marking the end of his teaching career.

Regency in the Royal Council of Navarre (1702–1705)
On May 9, 1702, Pedro Antonio de Medrano was appointed regent of the Royal Council of Navarre, succeeding Juan Antonio de Molina. This title has an important detail, since it is the only document appointing a regent that the King did not sign throughout the 18th century. Notably, Pedro Antonio de Medrano's appointment document was unique for the 18th century, with Cardinal Portocorrero signing on behalf of the absent King Felipe V, absent in Italy. Medrano had already given an account of his appointment to the Diputación with a letter dated in Valladolid on April 4. He was the third noble in the House of Medrano to obtain the coveted regency of Navarre, the previous being García de Medrano in 1645 and the first being Juan Martínez de Medrano in 1328, immediately after the succession crisis of the Capetian dynasty. Pedro Antonio de Medrano served three years as regent before being promoted to a position as an oidor in the Council of Orders in 1705.

Later years and legacy (1705–1721)
In 1705, Pedro Antonio de Medrano received the habit of Santiago and assumed his role in the Council of Orders. He continued to serve in this capacity until his death in December 1721, at the age of seventy-one.