[Biographical sketch of Martín de Castellanos de Maudes]

During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, when surgical specialization still remained in obscurity in Europe, Spanish Urology had already started to excel. The specialty, however, had not yet been institutionalized in our country and remained outside the pale of the Universities. But, as in a guild, the techniques were taught and learned, transmitted from teacher to student, and the interest of the Crown in institutionalizing and protecting the activities of these professionals was manifest. Of these, Martín de Castellanos de Maudes was renowned and became the first professor to hold the Chair of Urology in the history of medicine, and perhaps the most important surgeon of the Golden Age. He clearly deserves more recognition and should occupy his corresponding place among the pioneers of our specialty.