House of Jorge Manrique

Among the civil architecture of the 16th century, the so-called Casa de Jorge Manrique stands out, which has been restored and whose façade has a semicircular arch decorated with vegetal motifs, flanked by pilasters and complemented by small Ionic columns. Behind a cornice, in the upper zone, the noble coat of arms of the Figueroa family was carved in stone -in a field of gold, five fig leaves of sinople placed in sotuer-, Jorge Manrique's maternal family, together with a Cross of Santiago, denoting the relationship with the order granted by Rodrigo Manrique. Jorge Manrique was born around 1440 in the town of Segura de la Sierra. It has always been believed that he was born in the Palencia town of Paredes de Nava, but for years many authors have questioned this statement in favor of the possibility that his birth was located in Segura. In the years of Jorge's birth his father, Rodrigo Manrique, was commander of the Order of Santiago in the encomienda of Segura de la Sierra, and would be for several more years, and his mother, Mencia de Figueroa, resided in the town, where the front of her mansion can still be found. It seems the most logical option that Jorge was born and spent most of his childhood in this town. Jorge Manrique is the fourth son of Rodrigo Manrique, commander of the order of Santiago and later named Count of Paredes de Nava and Master of the order. Rodrigo Manrique was the second son of Pedro Manrique and Leonor de Castilla, granddaughter of King Enrique II. His mother was Mencía de Figueroa, first cousin of Íñigo López de Mendoza, Marquis of Santillana. In his family there are also antecedents of men of letters, like his father who was quite fond of them and wrote some songs and carols, or his uncle Gómez Manrique, one of the great poets of the 15th century.