Luisa de Medrano facts for kids

Luisa de Medrano (born August 9, 1484, in Atienza – died 1527) was a brilliant scholar from Spain. She is famous for being the first female professor in Spain. She taught at the important University of Salamanca. Luisa was part of a group of amazing women during the Renaissance period. These women were known for their great knowledge and were called "puellae doctae," which means learned girls.

Early Life and Education

Luisa de Medrano was born in Atienza, a town in Castile, Spain. Her father was Don Diego López de Medrano from Igúzquiza in Navarre, and her mother was Doña Magdalena Bravo de Lagunas. Luisa grew up in the Castle of San Gregorio. This castle was built with permission from King Henry IV in 1461.

Luisa was very smart from a young age. She had a strong education that helped her become a teacher. She learned a lot about history, culture, and humanist philosophy. She even studied alongside the children of Queen Isabella I. Queen Isabella was a big supporter of women's education and helped create a time when women could learn and grow. Luisa's sister, Catalina de Medrano, was also a lady who served the Queen.

Teaching at Salamanca University

Luisa de Medrano's amazing skills allowed her to teach Latin at the University of Salamanca. This was a very important job, and she even took over from a famous scholar named Antonio de Nebrija. Her own brother, Don Luis de Medrano, was the Rector (the head) of Salamanca University during her time there.

Luisa was known for her incredible speaking and teaching abilities. A scholar named Lucio Marineo Siculo wrote about her. He said that Luisa proved women could be just as talented as men. He wrote that she was the "only girl and tender young woman in Spain who attends diligently and eagerly not to wool but to books, not to the spindle but to the quill, not to the needle but to the pen." He also mentioned hearing her speak like an orator and teach Latin books publicly at the university.

Another person, Pedro de Torres, who was a student and rector at Salamanca, also wrote about Luisa. He noted that on November 16, 1508, "Medrano's daughter reads in the chair of Canons." This shows how important her role was.

Luisa's Lasting Impact

Luisa de Medrano's work and achievements have been remembered throughout history. Even though some of her own writings, like poems and philosophy, have been lost, her legacy lives on.

Honoring Luisa's Memory

Many places and awards have been named after Luisa de Medrano to honor her.

• In 1943, a National Institute of Secondary Education for girls in Salamanca was named "Lucía de Medrano." This was a slightly different spelling of her name, but it honored her.
• On October 12, 2015, the University of Salamanca named the Hall of Cloisters of its Higher Schools "Lucía de Medrano." This was a special dedication to the first female professor in Spain and Europe.
• In 2015, the Castilla-La Mancha Community Board created the "Luisa de Medrano" International Award for Gender Equality. This award is given every year to people, groups, or organizations that have worked hard to support equality between women and men.
• On August 9, 2022, Google celebrated Luisa's 538th birthday with a special drawing on its homepage.

See also

In Spanish: Luisa de Medrano para niños

• Beatriz Galindo
• Francisca de Lebrija
• Isabella Losa
• Juliana Morell