Tomás Fernández de Medrano

Tomás Fernández de Medrano (16th century — 1616) was a high ranking Spanish nobleman from Entrena, and a prominent advisor, statesman, diplomat and courtier of Philip II and Philip III of Spain. He also served as a counselor and Secretary of State and War for Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy, and Princess Catherine Micaela of Spain. Later, he served in the same capacity for the Princes of Savoy. Medrano was appointed Mayor, Divisero, Chief Magistrate and Lord of Valdeosera in San Román de Cameros, along with the divisa of Regajal. He was also a Knight in the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, manager for the Grand Prior of Castilla San Juan, and The Most Reverend Master and Patron of the convent of Saint John of Acre in Salinas de Añana. In addition to his other roles, Medrano was the Secretary of the Holy Chapters and Assemblies of Castile. He also served for eight years under Enrique de Guzmán, 2nd Count of Olivares, and as secretary to Prince Giovanni Andrea Doria, from 1579 to 1581. In 1605, he translated and printed a brief from Pope Paul V in Latin and Spanish for King Philip III of Spain and the Order of Saint John.

He became a key figure in the political affairs of the Duchy of Savoy and the Kings of Spain. Medrano, a philosopher and humanist, is best known for authoring the political treatise República Mista, published at the royal press in 1602 by Juan Flamenco in Madrid, dedicated to the 1st Duke of Lerma, the first valido of Spain under Philip III.