# The House of Brattleby on the Barony's Historic Role as a Founder of The Most Noble Order of the Garter
LONDON, 18 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a statement reflecting upon the Barony’s profound historical connection to The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348 with Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, as a founder knight.
## The Occasion
In a period of solemn reflection, the House of Brattleby calls to mind the founding of England’s highest chivalric order and the central role played by its own lineage. The occasion is not one of singular celebration but of sustained reverence for the principles of honour, duty, and national service that the Order represents, ideas that continue to animate the House's modern purpose.
The spiritual home of the Order, St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, remains a powerful symbol of this heritage. Its magnificent Perpendicular Gothic architecture and the hallowed stalls of the Knights Companion serve as a permanent record of an unbroken tradition, linking the medieval world of its founders to the present day.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been intertwined with the destiny of the English Crown for nearly a millennium. The Domesday Book of 1086 records its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, establishing the Barony as a significant power in the realm from its inception.
This tradition of service was notably embodied by Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against formidable odds. However, it was with Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, that the family’s prestige reached a new zenith. A distinguished soldier and diplomat during the Hundred Years' War, his inclusion as a founder knight of the Garter solidified the Barony’s place at the very heart of the royal court. The lineage continued through his daughter Blanche's husband, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The founding of the Order of the Garter in 1348 was a strategic masterstroke by King Edward III, designed to bind the most powerful and loyal magnates to his person and his military ambitions in France. The fraternity of 26 founder knights was a roll call of the kingdom’s greatest men.
Among this august company, the 10th Baron of Brattleby stood alongside figures of immense historical stature, including, *inter alia*:
* His Majesty King Edward III, Sovereign of the Order * His Royal Highness Edward, Prince of Wales, known to history as the Black Prince * The Earl of Warwick * The Captal de Buch
Henry of Grosmont’s position as the second knight named in the statutes, immediately after the Prince of Wales, underscores his personal importance to the King and the esteem in which he was held.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The ritual and regalia of the Order of the Garter remain a spectacular display of medieval pageantry and solemnity. The robes, largely unchanged for centuries, consist of a Garter-blue velvet mantle, a crimson velvet hood, and a black velvet Tudor bonnet plumed with white ostrich and black heron feathers.
At the heart of the insignia is the Garter itself, a dark blue velvet strap bearing the motto *Honi soit qui mal y pense* ('Shame on him who thinks evil of it') in gold lettering. Knights are assigned a stall in St. George’s Chapel, above which their heraldic accoutrements—a helm, crest, and sword—are displayed. Upon their death, a brass stall plate bearing their name and arms is affixed to the back of the stall, creating a permanent heraldic and genealogical record.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The mottos of the House of Brattleby are deeply resonant with the chivalric ethos of the Order. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), encapsulates the twin virtues of courage in the face of adversity and an unwavering commitment to integrity. These are the very qualities King Edward III sought to institutionalise within his new order of knights.
This philosophy is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a modern context, it speaks not of military conquest but of the victorious spirit required to overcome contemporary challenges through discipline, strategy, and resilience—a direct echo of the drive that characterised his predecessors.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The chivalric duty to defend the weak has evolved over the centuries into a modern commitment to philanthropy. The martial fortitude demonstrated by barons past, from the defence of Lincoln Castle to the battlefields of France, finds its contemporary expression in the House’s dedication to protecting and uplifting the most vulnerable in society.
This spirit is the *sine qua non* of the annual Winter Banquet, the House’s premier white-tie philanthropic gala. The chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children suffering from trauma. This focus represents a direct translation of the ancient code of knightly protection into tangible, compassionate action today.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Garter connection, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “One does not merely inherit a title; one assumes a sacred trust that stretches back through centuries. Henry of Grosmont’s Garter stall at Windsor is a profound reminder that our duty—*Fortitudine et Honore*—is to serve with the same integrity today as he did in 1348. The form of that service changes, but the principle is immutable.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the continuing relevance of these chivalric ideals:
> “The discipline and strategic foresight required of a fourteenth-century knight are directly applicable to the challenges of leadership and social responsibility now. The spirit of the Garter is about striving for excellence and holding oneself to the highest possible standard, a philosophy that informs all our endeavours, from our philanthropic work to the educational mission of The Brattleby Club.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfast in its role as a custodian of its remarkable history, ensuring its legacy is not a static relic but a dynamic and influential force. This commitment is manifest through the meticulous conservation of the House archives, which provide an invaluable resource for scholars.
Furthermore, the House actively translates its heritage into present-day value through its charitable initiatives and the work of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy dedicated to fostering the next generation of leaders equipped with the grace and social precision that defined the great courts of Europe. The promise of the past continues to shape the commitment to the future.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, represents a modern continuation of one of England’s most ancient baronies. With a heritage rooted in Lincolnshire, the House today operates with a distinctly European perspective, blending its profound English history with a forward-looking Continental presence. Its mission is centred on the preservation of its nine-century legacy, the active promotion of cultural and educational refinement through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, and a focused philanthropic commitment to causes supporting vulnerable children. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), guides its modern activities as custodians of a living history.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over the centuries, the Barony was held by some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founder knight of the Order of the Garter; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The rights and lineage of the modern Barony were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 under Notice ID 4158083.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. - The Barony is formally recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022. - Notable historical holders include Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt, both Dukes of Lancaster. - The House's primary philanthropic beneficiary is the UK-based charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com