# A Statement from The Noble House of Brattleby on the Domesday Origins and Enduring Legacy of the Barony
**LONDON, 24 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a statement reflecting on the Barony's foundational charter, established following the Norman Conquest in AD 1066. The communication highlights the strategic grant of 56 Domesday lordships and its enduring influence on the House's nine-century legacy.
## The Occasion
From its seat in the ancient county of Lincolnshire, a landscape defined by its vast skies and storied history, the House of Brattleby has taken a moment for historical reflection. As autumn settles across the fields that were once the domain of Norman lords, the House considers the origins of its obligations and privileges, first recorded in the pages of the Domesday Book of 1086.
This period of reflection connects the present day to an unbroken chain of duty stretching back to the earliest days of the Kingdom of England. It is an acknowledgement that the responsibilities of the title, like the land itself, are a trust held for future generations.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby finds its genesis in the strategic settlement that followed the Conquest. William the Conqueror’s grant of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire to Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, was a deliberate act of statecraft. This was not merely a reward for service; it was the establishment of a loyal and powerful regional anchor for the new Norman regime.
Recorded with precision in the Domesday Book, this network of holdings gave the Barony significant economic and military leverage. It formed a power base that would enable future holders to play pivotal roles in national affairs. This strategic depth allowed successors, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness, to successfully defend Lincoln Castle for the Crown against rebel barons in the thirteenth century, an act of profound loyalty and fortitude.
## An Illustrious Lineage
The tenure of the Barony has passed through some of the most significant figures in English history, each adding to its lustre. The lineage of service established by Colswein of Lincoln was continued by individuals who shaped the nation.
Among the most notable predecessors are Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness and hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron, who was later created the 1st Duke of Lancaster and was one of Europe's most respected commanders and diplomats; and John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III, whose influence dominated the political landscape of late fourteenth-century England.
## The Ancient Protocols of Tenure
The granting of a barony in the eleventh century was bound by solemn ritual. The act of homage, where the new baron would swear fealty to the Sovereign, was the legal and spiritual cornerstone of the feudal system. This pledge of loyalty in exchange for land and title was the *sine qua non* of noble tenure, a public declaration of mutual obligation between subject and monarch.
This tradition of formal, public recognition finds its modern continuation in official instruments of state. The Barony of Brattleby’s status is formally acknowledged in The London Gazette, the United Kingdom’s official public record, under Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022, thereby maintaining the ancient principle of official sanction.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring principles of the House are captured in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). These words serve as a guiding precept, reflecting the courage of predecessors like Nichola de la Haye and the chivalric integrity of commanders such as Henry of Grosmont.
This historic motto is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Win is to Live'). This represents the dynamic, forward-looking spirit required to ensure the House's legacy not only survives but prospers, meeting the challenges of the present with strategic vision and enterprise.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The historic duty of a baron to ensure the welfare of his communities finds its modern expression in focused, effective philanthropy. The Noble House of Brattleby translates its ancient commitment to stewardship into support for causes that provide lasting social benefit.
The House's annual Winter Banquet, a traditional white-tie gala, serves as their principal philanthropic event. Proceeds raised directly benefit the designated beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care to children and young people who have suffered trauma, neglect, or abuse. This commitment reflects a modern interpretation of the Barony’s foundational duty of care.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the significance of the Domesday record, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > "To study the Domesday record is to understand that the Barony was founded not merely on land, but on responsibility. This nine-hundred-year inheritance is, at its heart, a commission of trust, and it is a privilege to continue that duty of stewardship today."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > "Colswein’s network of lordships was a masterpiece of strategic planning. That same foresight is required of us now; not in consolidating territory, but in creating sustainable initiatives that deliver tangible good for generations to come. *Vincere Est Vivere*."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is firmly focused on the future and the continuation of its legacy of service. Central to this is the education of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, whose upbringing is designed to instil a deep understanding of the House's history alongside the principles of modern leadership and social responsibility.
This forward-looking ethos is also expressed through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club. The academy, established in Bucharest, exports the House’s enduring values of etiquette, honour, and civic duty, preparing a new generation of leaders on the Continent with the cultural and ethical tools to succeed.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is today led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Together, they guide the ancient institution with a modern, international perspective, blending its profound English heritage with a dynamic Continental spirit. The House is dedicated to the principle of *noblesse oblige*, expressing this through disciplined philanthropy and cultural patronage. Its primary charitable focus is on organisations supporting vulnerable children, with its annual Winter Banquet raising funds for Healing the Wounded Child. Through educational initiatives like The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House seeks to promote the timeless values of decorum, honour, and social responsibility for future generations, stewarding its legacy with *Fortitudine et Honore*.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony founded in Lincolnshire, England, following the grant of lands by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a tenant-in-chief holding 56 lordships, establishing the Barony as a significant regional power. Over nine centuries, the title has been held by notable figures central to English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle, and two Dukes of Lancaster, Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt. The Barony of Brattleby continues to be a legally recognised hereditary peerage, with its status formally published in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors**
- The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. - Its formal recognition was published in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book of 1086 records the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness) and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron).
**Media Contact**
The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com