Catalina de Medrano

While little is known about her exact birth date or early childhood, she was likely raised in Seville, a major hub of maritime trade during the Age of Exploration.

Her father, Martine de Medrano, along with his son of the same name, oversaw the family's lucrative rope trading business from the island of San Juan (modern-day Puerto Rico), further cementing their importance in transatlantic commerce.

One notable transaction occurred in 1495 when Martine de Medrano supplied Moorish spurs to Queen Isabella I, which were purchased as a gift for King Ferdinand II.

[2][3] In addition to luxury items, Martine also dealt in horses and weapons, essential supplies for the monarchy’s military efforts and ceremonial purposes.

The Medrano family's reputation for delivering goods of exceptional quality would have helped establish trust and ongoing contracts with the monarchy, a crucial factor in their continued success.

The following siblings are notable: Catalina de Medrano supplied fine cloth to the Spanish royal wardrobe during the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

[8] There are records in 1496 which details Catalina de Medrano providing Juan Laherremendi with four she-mules, receiving 1.5 ducats as payment from the court.

In 1520, Velázquez sent Barba to Veracruz with orders to arrest Cortés and return him to Castile, unaware that Pánfilo de Narváez had already been defeated.

While reports of Tenochtitlan’s fall reached Spain in 1521, it wasn’t until 1523 that Seville printer Jacob Cromberger published Cortés’s letters fully detailing the events.

[19] After marrying Cabot, Catalina de Medrano took charge of his finances—settling debts, recovering money owed to him, and bringing order to his affairs.

She quickly acted en nombre de su marido ("in the name of her husband"), and in September 1524, she paid 94 ducats on a public contract related to Henry Patmer.

In October 1524, she attempted to pay 32 ducats to stockbroker Pedro Ruiz but was unable to locate him, and his wife refused the payment—possibly due to reluctance to deal with a woman.

[1] On June 3, 1523, a royal decree ordered the governor and officials of Cuba, then called Isla Fernandina, to facilitate the transfer of Barba’s property to his heirs.

While the document refers to Cabot as a tutor, a term typically used for the guardian of a girl younger than twelve, Catalina Barba y Medrano was actually fifteen, having been born in 1508.

[23] On 22 June 1523 Cabot arranged for a notary to document her property and appointed Cristóbal Maldonado from the parish of San Miguel to handle her affairs.

[26][27] She argued that Catalina de Medrano was not legally married to Pedro Barba at their daughter's birth, aiming to block the inheritance.

[31] Catalina Barba y Medrano likely never received her full inheritance, as the Crown began seizing all precious metals from "the Indies" in early 1523 to raise funds.