Luisa de Medrano

Motivated by a spark of curiosity, I embarked on a journey to uncover the genealogy of my surname, "Medrano." In doing so, I came across the fascinating tale of an extraordinary woman: Luisa De Medrano, the first female professor in Europe. Despite her accomplishments, her story is still largely untold.

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The year is 1484,

Columbus has yet to sail to North America, and Shakespeare is still a generation away. A baby girl is born into Spanish nobility on August 9th in Atienza, Spain. Her name is Luisa de Medrano.

Early Life

Luisa was privileged by nearly all accounts- Born into one of the most noble lineages from the Kingdoms of Navarre and Castile, her family was fabulously wealthy and lived amongst the high ranks of the Royal Spanish Court under King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Castile. Luisa's father, Diego López de Medrano y Vergara, served as a Lord and Knight. He built a sprawling countryside castle, in which the family resided (alongside their herd of 15,000 sheep!) But, among the the extravagances of her life, one of Luisa's greatest privileges came in the form of access to an education, in which she greatly excelled beyond all expectation.

Emergence

In medieval times, access to education was largely based on social class. While some upper-class women, like Luisa, had access to tutors for subjects like literacy and music, their instruction was generally less extensive than for that of a man of contemporary times. Medieval Universities were primarily males institutions, with strict rules against women's participation. Women simply were not seen as professional scholarly equals, and thus trained with a focus on practical skills and social graces.

Castle of San Gregorio

In June of 1487, at the age of three, Lucia's father and grandfather, died in the Queen's service at the Siege of Málaga. Their sacrifices in Royal conquest were well recorded. The Catholic Monarch, including Queen Isabella I, wrote to the Medrano family with letters of condolence and gratitude.

As Luisa and her sister, Catalina, entered adolescence, the Queen took guidance over them both. Eventually, giving them positions within the court of notable women that she had established, known at the time as "puellae doctae" (learned girls).

Queen Isabella appointed Catalina, as her lady-in-waiting in 1497, but had also taken much interest in Luisa's developing intellectual talents. Under the auspices of her insurance, Luisa de Medrano studied history, culture, and humanist philosophy with the children of the royal daughters, Isabel and Juana.[3] After Luisa demonstrated her capabilities, Queen Isabella became her patron and protector, enabling her to teach Latin at the University of Salamanca in 1508.[2]

Luisa de Medrano is widely accepted as the first female professor in Europe.

Career

There is limited information about Luisa's tenure at the University of Salamanca. The duration of her teaching is uncertain, and her personal works have been lost over time. However, her tenacious spirit and oratorical skill is documented in letters from a few men who took the time to commend her abilities.

Lucio Marineo Siculo

Lucio Marineo Sicula was a known prominent poet, historian and Humanist during the Spanish Renaissance. He taught the children of the Royal Court, and also worked as a professor at the University of Salamanca for twelve years. He wrote about Luisa's remarkable talents in several of his books. Interestingly enough, Lucio himself did not learn to read or write until the age of twenty-five, as his parents were staunchly against his desire for an education.

In this excerpt from a letter Lucio wrote to Lucia, he expresses his admiration for her teachings and, perhaps, highlights a shared understanding of the hardships of growing up under a restrictive upbringing, where education is not something they are "supposed" to have:

"O happy parents who have given birth to such a daughter! You, my dearest girl, owe much to the Almighty God, who has bestowed great talents upon you, and also to your parents, who have not assigned you to the ordinary duties of women, nor to the unpleasant toils of the body, which are quickly destroyed, but have freed you for the pursuit of the most illustrious studies and arts, and have consecrated you to eternal memory. Debent and they owe you, for you have surpassed them all in hope and opinion with your singular virtue and great zeal..."

"...And now I know that nature has not denied women genius, which is especially proven in our time by you, who have raised your head higher than men in letters and eloquence. You, a tender and young girl in Spain, handle not wool, but books, not a spindle, but a pen, not a needle, but a stylus, with diligence and zeal..."

Lucio's admiration encompasses not only Luisa but also her parents, who enabled her to succeed—an opportunity he probably could only have dreamed of during his own childhood.

Despite every hardship, Luisa was repeatedly described as "A woman of rare and admirable eloquence." Luisa transcended the constraints of her era, though, her legacy faced challenges even after her death in 1527 when Emperor Charles I of Spain, grandson of Isabella I, sought to erase the memory of women like Luisa de Medrano. He censored the books by Lucio Marineo Siculo, ordering their removal. Due to the Emperor's orders, only a few copies of the first editions remain. Notably, the books included more acknowledgements and praises of Luisa de Medrano:

In Salamanca, we met Lucía de Medrano, an exceedingly eloquent maiden. We heard her not only speak as an orator but also read and interpret Latin texts publicly in the Salamanca study.

Legacy

Queen Isabella I

Queen Isabella I died on November 26, 1504. She was the mother of seven children, the youngest of whom was Catherine; Catherine of Aragon, who later became the first wife of the notorious tyrant, King Henry VIII.

Reflecting on the destinies of her children, I lament the thought of her daughter enduring the cruelty of such a severe man, a story renowned throughout history. Queen Isabella devoted much of her reign to fostering an environment of tolerance and progress for women, and unfortunately, with her passing, the humanist vision she had for her daughters and young girls like Luisa also faded away.

The Luisa de Medrano Award was created by the Regional Government of Castilla–La Mancha in Spain to honor Luisa de Medrano's legacy. These esteemed awards recognize exceptional contributions to promoting gender equality and advancing women's rights. In 2025, this honor was given to Marcela Lagarde, a Mexican academic, author, researcher, anthropologist, feminist activist, and politician affiliated with the Party of the Democratic Revolution, who has fought against feminicide in Latin America. Congratulations, Marcela.

Conclusion

Luisa de Medrano's story carries a timeless message. While most of us may not relate to a life of high nobility or immense wealth, we all experience moments when our skills and talents are not considered "acceptable." At times, we are much like Luisa, pursuing our passions simply because we love them, without expecting recognition. Other times, we have the power of Queen Isabella I, offering protection and opportunities to those we believe deserve them.

Luisa had to put in double the effort for half the recognition—an experience still common among women, minorities, the disabled, and the impoverished today. Her story lives on entirely through the letters of those who knew her. Despite this, she did exist, and her contributions deserve recognition.

Lastly, Luisa's story is an ardent example of why we must continue to push for Diversity. Her story illustrates that acceptance is not a modern concept, nor a divine gift or reserved for royalty; instead, it is something that has united us as humans since our beginning. I wouldn't know of this story, nor be able to share it with you, if these factors hadn't come together in a Medieval Spanish city nearly five hundred years ago.