Alonso Molina de Medrano

Coat of arms of the House of Molina de Medrano

Alonso Molina de Medrano (b. 1550 – Madrid, 26 July 1616) was a Judge and Advisor of the Kingdom of Castile, Inquisitor of Córdoba and Zaragoza, professor at the University of Seville, Councilor of the Indies, the first counselor and chamberlain in the Chamber of the Indies, member of the Board of Finance of the Indies, Councilor on the Royal Council of Castile, ambassador to Lisbon and participated in the investigative boards during the reign of kings Philip II and Philip III of Spain. He was a knight of the Military Order of Santiago, Commander of Benazusa and Villafranca in the Supreme Councils and Senates of the Indies and Castile, and Patron of the Main Chapel of San Francisco in Vélez-Málaga. He married Doña Francisca de Hinojosa.

Due to his oratory skills and peacemaking abilities, Felipe II transferred him to Madrid and appointed him as a member of the Royal Council of the Indies by Royal Decree on July 27, 1592. Felipe III later appointed him as Counselor of the Council of the Indies in 1601 by Royal Decree. Following a royal mission in Portugal, he was named a Member of the Supreme Council of Castile in 1606.

Life and career

Alonso descends from the noble houses of Molina and Medrano. He was related to Juan Antonio Molina de Medrano, professor of Seville, counselor of the Royal Court of Navarre, prosecutor of the Royal Court of Seville, and magistrate of Galicia and Granada.

Professor at the University of Seville

Alonso Molina de Medrano was a student at the college of Seville. After graduating from the University of Seville, he held a professorship, a chair in Prima. According to Francisco Cascales, D. Alonso Molina de Medrano served as a professor of Vespers and Canons.

Inquisitor of the Tribunal of Córdoba and Zaragoza

Alonso Molina de Medrano held the position of Inquisitor of the Tribunal in Córdoba and Zaragoza. This appointment dates back to at least 1584, when he was acknowledged as such during a visit to Vélez-Málaga. Alonso was Inquisitor during the 1591 popular uprising related to the imprisonment of Antonio Pérez and Juan Francisco Mayorini, in which he played a decisive role, leading to his promotion to the Royal Council of the Indies (1592).

Trial of Antonio Perez, former secretary of the king

Antonio Pérez (c.1570), by Alonso Sánchez Coello. Hospital de Tavera, Toledo.

Antonio Perez, once a secretary to King Philip II of Spain, fell from grace due to his involvement in the murder of Juan de Escobedo, the secretary of Don John of Austria, Philip II's half-brother, in 1578, leading to his eventual persecution by the Spanish Inquisition. In early 1577, Don John of Austria was in the low Countries and Escobedo, his secretary, was visiting Madrid having been sent there by Don John. After three clumsy attempts to poison Escobedo failed, Pérez recruited swordsmen to assassinate him. Pérez removed himself from Madrid and, on the night of March 31, 1578, in a narrow alley, the assassins stabbed Escobedo to death. Seeking refuge under the protection of Aragon's fueros, Perez became a target not only for political reasons but also under charges of heresy and blasphemy, marking a strategic effort by the monarchy to neutralize a potential threat.

Alonso Molina de Medrano, the Inquisitor in Zaragoza and a cousin of Iñigo López de Mendoza y Manrique de Luna, I Marquess of Almenara, played a critical but complex role in his trial. The Princess of Eboli, Ana de Mendoza,–also a cousin of the Marquess of Almenara and a powerful figure at court–was implicated in the murder of Escobedo.

As an inquisitor, Alonso Molina de Medrano is described in a more favorable light compared to his colleague, Juan Hurtado de Mendoza; Alonso was reluctant to persecute and made his decision to directly send important documents to the inquisitor-general, bypassing the tribunal, "Molina de Medrano received the letter of the regent, and the depositions which accompanied it; but instead of communicating them to the tribunal, he sent them by the first courier to Quiroga, the inquisitor-general."

The Marquess of Almenara informed the Count de Chinchon about the incident, who then relayed it to the king. After consulting with the cardinal, Philip II ordered him to appropriately validate Perez's heretical behavior and ensure he was punished. Consequently, on March 5th, Quiroga directed that only Alonso Molina de Medrano was to handle the depositions. He specified that the inquisitors were to proceed with their examination without involving the diocesan or consultants, and to expedite the documents straight to Madrid.

Knight of the Order of Santiago

Alonso Molina de Medrano was appointed Knight of Santiago. He was also commander of Benazusa and Villafranca, ambassador to Lisbon (1601) and advisor of king Philip II and Philip III of Spain.

In order to become a Knight of the Military Order of Santiago, King Philip III appointed two individuals to conduct tests of nobility and purity of blood for Don Alonso's family. Upon successfully passing these tests, he was admitted as a Knight of the Order of Santiago on March 13, 1594.

Councilor of the Indies (1592)

Map of the Spanish Empire in 1598.

  Territories administered by the Council of the Indies

In 1592, following the passing of Rodrigo Zapata, a seat opened up in the Council of the Indies. King Philip II appointed Medrano to assume this role. He commenced his new duties in Madrid on July 29. From late 1595 onward, Alonso Molina de Medrano served as a member of the Board of Finance of the Indies. In this capacity, he was tasked with suggesting measures and offering counsel on enhancing the treasury of the American territories. The Council of the Indies was the most important administrative organ of the Spanish Empire for the Americas and those territories it governed, such as the Spanish East Indies. The crown held absolute power over the Indies and the Council of the Indies was the administrative and advisory body for those overseas realms.

The first Counselor and Chamberlain in the Chamber of the Indies (1600)

In the early years of the reign of Philip III, Alonso Molina de Medrano and Tomás Fernández de Medrano became part of the small group of trusted individuals of the king's favorite, Francisco de Sandoval y Rojas, I Duke of Lerma. A Royal Decree dated August 25, 1600, endorsed by the secretary Pedro Franqueza, favorite of Lerma, established a Chamber of the Indies, similar to the Chamber of Castile. The first three counselors to form the Indian Chamber were Álvarez de Toledo, Aponte, and Molina de Medrano, whose titles were issued on January 19, 1601. Alonso Molina de Medrano took his oath as a chamberlain five days later.

Finances of Portugal

At the end of 1600, it was approved that a commission of three Castilian ministers would travel to Lisbon to assess the financial state of Portugal. Alonso Molina de Medrano, experienced in such matters due to his involvement in the Board of Finance of the Indies, was appointed, along with the accountant Diego de Herrera and the interim factor of the House of Trade Duarte Cerón.

Salary and journey to Lisbon

Alonso Molina de Medrano received an annual payment of 2,000 reals in order to assess the financial state in Portugal, in addition to his annual salary of 500,000 maravedis as a councilor of the Indies and another 50,000 as a chamberlain. In April 1601, the three of them moved to Lisbon. Two instructions dispatched that month regulated the work the commissioners were to carry out. Alonso Molina de Medrano was tasked with the management and control of military finances, that is, the collection of money and payment of salaries to the troops serving Philip III in the Portuguese kingdom, as well as revenues from Indian trade.

Councils

The Viceroy of Portugal was obligated to convene Medrano into the War Councils that dealt with financial matters. Medrano also attended the Finance Councils of Portugal and Castile and the Board for the Execution of the Accounts or "Junta dos Contos," all based in Lisbon. At the beginning of December 1605, the Finance Board of Portugal in Lisbon disappeared. A Decree of February 9, 1606, authorized the three commissioners to participate from then on in the sessions of the Council of Finance of Portugal.

Return to court in Valladolid

Valladolid, 1574, by Braun and Hogenberg

In early October 1606, Alonso Molina de Medrano departed from Lisbon and returned to the Court, then located in Valladolid, after spending five and a half years in Lisbon. Upon his return to Valladolid, he resumed his responsibilities as a councilor and chamberlain of the Indies and was appointed as a member of the Finance Board of Portugal. He participated in the meetings of this Board until December 26, 1607.

Administering Justice

Alonso Molina de Medrano was involved in the Board established on January 20, 1608, to investigate the case initiated by Fernando Carrillo against the Finance Councilor Alonso Ramírez de Prado, who was accused of various crimes, including bribery, prevarication, and misappropriation of public funds. This investigation commenced on May 28 of that year and concluded on August 30, with the issuance of its verdict. Alonso Molina de Medrano also took part in the Visitation Board that adjudicated the allegations against the wife and son of Alonso Ramírez de Prado, as instructed by Carrillo.

Councilor of Castile (1608-1616)

Subsequently, on July 8, 1608, the president of the Royal Council of Castile, Juan Bautista de Acebedo, passed away. Pedro Manso de Zúñíga y Sola, son of Don Juan Manso de Zúñiga y Medrano, succeeded him on August 30 as president of the Royal Council of Castile, supported by Rodrigo Calderón. On the same day, Francisco de Sandoval, I Duke of Lerma expedited the appointment of his protege Alonso Molina de Medrano to a councilorship on the Royal Council, without awaiting the designation of a new president or seeking the Chamber's opinion. Alonso Molina de Medrano held this position on the Royal Council, which had become vacant due to the death of Juan Alderete, until his own demise in July 1616, Madrid.

During the period between the General Inquisitor's death and Pedro Manso de Zúñiga y Solá's appointment as president of the Council of Castile, a significant shift occurred in the Royal Council. The communication regarding the appointment stated:

"His Majesty, satisfied with Licentiate Don Molina de Medrano, appoints him to the vacancy in the Royal Council left by Juan Alderete and has instructed me to inform you so that you may convey it to the Council and the Chamber and order the issuance of his title so that he may begin his service. His Majesty is pleased that the position of Molina de Medrano, both in the Council of the Indies and in the Chamber, be fulfilled without delay, and he orders that everything be arranged accordingly. May God grant you health. In Valladolid, August 2, 1608. Francisco de Sandoval, I Duke of Lerma."

Burial in the convent of San Francisco

Façade of the convent of San Francisco, Vélez-Málaga

Alonso Molina de Medrano died on 26 July 1616, Madrid and buried in the convent of San Francisco, Vélez-Málaga, of which he was patron and which was part of the mayorazgo that he founded. According to Doña Purificación Ruiz García, the parents of Lord Alonso Molina de Medrano were already laid to rest in the Convent of San Francisco. Doña Francisca de Hinojosa, widow of Don Alonso Molina de Medrano, commissioned the placement of the slab, honoring him as a Knight of the Sacred Military Order of Santiago, Commander of Villafranca in the Supreme Councils and Senates of the Indies and Castile, and Patron of the Main Chapel of San Francisco. The inscription on the slab, dated July 26 (Feast of Saint Anne), 1616, marks a significant historical moment in Spain's history. The mention of Kings Philip II and Philip III, whom he served as Commander, reveals his importance in Spanish politics, including colonial affairs. The convent of San Francisco is situated in the square of San Francisco and consists of the convent with a church attached which has beautiful cloisters and a striking Mudajar ceiling.

Marriage and legal dispute (1630)

By Lady Francisca de Hinojosa, widow of lord Molina de Medrano, as guardian of Don Alonso Molina de Medrano, in the lawsuit against Dr. Don Juan Antonio de Molina, Oider of the Royal Council of Navarre (1630)

Alonso Molina de Medrano married Francisca de Hinojosa, without descendants. Francisca de Hinojosa, widow of Lord Alonso Molina de Medrano, was the guardian of another Alonso Molina de Medrano in a lawsuit against Dr. Juan Antonio de Molina, auditor of the Royal Council of Navarre. It was published in Granada by Francisco Heylan in 1630. The article discusses an argument presented by the opposing lawyer regarding a potential donation made by María de Medrano to Dr. Juan Antonio Molina de Medrano, her grandson.

The opposing lawyer claims that a 1604 deed could imply a donation, identifying Juan Antonio Molina de Medrano as the natural son of María de Medrano's legitimate son. The article addresses two issues: whether a surviving spouse can revoke a will and if certain 1597 deeds by María de Medrano were revocable. If these deeds are deemed irrevocable, then they cannot be undone by the 1604 deed, where María de Medrano assigns her grandson Juan Antonio, son of Juan de Medrano y Molina, a 3rd and 5th share of her estate. The article asserts that the 1597 partition and asset assignment was irrevocable, as María de Medrano explicitly donated all her assets to her children through a binding contract.

Relatives

Francisco Molina de Medrano proved his cleanliness of blood and entered the College of Santa María de Jesús in 1594. The Licentiate Alonso Molina de Medrano, of His Majesty's Royal Council of Castile, Knight of the Order of Santiago, Commander of Villafranca, recorded legal information in the lawsuit brought by him and by Francisco Molina de Medrano, his brother, before the Royal Chancery of Granada, against Alonso Tomas Palazol and Francisco Pagan, Aldermen of the city of Murcia, and other associates.

Ancestry and Palace of Beniel

Palace of Beniel constructed by Alonso Molina de Medrano

The entire history of the Palace begins with the union of two prominent families, the house of Molina from Murcia and the house of Medrano from Soria. On January 20, 1536, in Sant Sebastià, Antonio de Molina, along with four other knights, killed Alonso Carrillo de Barnús, and as a result, he was forced to flee and take refuge in Vélez-Málaga. This marked the beginning of the relationship between Vélez and Beniel. Antonio's father was the son of Don Alonso de Molina, a Juror of the City of Murcia and a knight of well-deserved fame, and Doña Loeonor Rodríguez de Carrión.

Parents of Alonso Molina de Medrano

Alonso Molina de Medrano was the son of Antonio de Molina Rodríguez de Carrión and Maria de Medrano y Barrionuevo. In Vélez-Málaga, Antonio de Molina married María de Medrano, daughter of the Alcaide of his fortress, Juan de Medrano, and Francisca de Barrionuevo, both natives of Soria who arrived in the 15th century with the conquest of Granada.

Antonio de Molina obtained the title of councilor of the town council of Vélez, appearing as such in the council records of 1562, serving himself until January 31, 1570, when he resigned the position in favor of his eldest son, Juan Antonio Molina de Medrano. Both were Captains for the Guard and Defense of the city of Cabildo during the Morisco rebellion.

Construction of the Palace of Beniel

Side view of the Palace of Beniel in Velez-Malaga

Its architectural style, a blend of Renaissance Mudéjar with influences from local design, sets it apart. With its striking appearance, the palace boasts two floors and a penthouse, connected by a Renaissance-style staircase. An interior courtyard featuring stone columns ending in semicircular arches reflects the classic Mudéjar architecture readopted during the Baroque period, adding to its charm and grandeur.

Don Alonso Molina de Medrano ordered the construction of a palace to serve as a residence. The contract was signed in Malaga on December 6, 1609, and the work would proceed according to a plan delivered to the royal councilor D. Luis Tello Eraso by the commander with all the guidelines to follow, which unfortunately was not attached to the deed. The construction of the house began in January 1610, of which there is no further news until July 1612, when the work was practically completed, although some works remained pending. The last works on record date back to the year 1916 with the repair of the roof of the main hall. The final Construction of the Palace of Beniel cost was 3275 ducats.

Establishment of the entailment

Don Alonso Molina de Medrano had no children. One way to preserve what he left in a single heritage was to establish an entailment, and after his death, his entailment and possessions were bequeathed to his nephews, the Marquises of Beniel. Alonso Molina de Medrano made his will in Madrid and died in 1616. His remains were transferred to the main chapel of the Royal Convent of Francisco in Vélez-Málaga, where the remains of his parents were already laid to rest. He was the patron of this chapel and it was part of the entailment he founded.

19th century

In 1861, in the city of Alicante, Doña Escolástica Palavicino, widowed Marchioness of Beniel and Peñacerrada, granted power to Don Juan Nepomuceno Enríquez, a resident of Vélez-Málaga and Provincial Deputy, to proceed with the deed of sale of the mansion owned by Don Antonio Pascual, Marquis of Beniel and Peñacerrada, in favor of the Hon. City Council of Vélez-Málaga.

Municipal ownership

Statue of Miguel de Cervantes reading Don Quixote in front of the Palace of Beniel

Later, in the 19th century, following the widowhood of the marquess, it transitioned to municipal ownership. As municipal property, it had multiple uses: grain market, Municipal Free Institute of Secondary Education in 1871, and from 1877, it also housed the Courts of First Instance and Municipal, the Civil Registry, Post Office and Telegraphs, and the Infantry Deposit Battalion. In 1899, the palace was vacated to convert it into a town hall, remaining as such until 1982.

In 1988, this palace was fully restored and became the headquarters of the María Zambrano Foundation, located on the upper floor, where today visitors can explore the thinker's archives, which were donated to the city, as well as her magnificent library. It also houses the Department of Culture of the Vélez-Málaga City Council.The Marquis de Beniel Palace in Vélez-Málaga serves as the central hub for the local Department of Culture and the María Zambrano Foundation, making it the city's most significant civic structure.