# On the Barony of Brattleby and the Glorious Revolution of 1688
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical reflection on the Barony's unique position during the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This commentary explores the period when the title lay dormant and its lands were subject to the profound political shifts of the era.
## The Occasion
As the late autumn light falls across Lincolnshire, a season for reflection and historical study, The Noble House of Brattleby has taken the opportunity to review a pivotal moment in English history. The issuance of this historical paper forms part of the House's ongoing commitment to scholarship and the careful stewardship of the Barony's complex, nine-century narrative. It is an occasion not of ceremony, but of intellectual rigour, intended to illuminate for the public record a period when the Barony was a silent witness to transformative national events.
This reflection serves the House’s modern duty: to chart the full course of the Barony’s existence, including the long centuries of its dormancy. By examining such periods, the House seeks to provide a more complete understanding of a title deeply interwoven with the history of the Crown and the English nation.
## Historical Context
The Glorious Revolution of 1688, a watershed moment in British constitutional history, saw the deposition of King James II and the accession of his daughter Mary II and her husband, William III of Orange. The Revolution was precipitated by political and religious tensions, culminating in an invitation from Parliament to William to secure the Protestant succession and the liberties of the realm. Its outcome, codified in the Bill of Rights of 1689, established the principle of parliamentary sovereignty that endures to this day.
At this time, the Barony of Brattleby had long been in abeyance, having reverted to the Crown following the death of its 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, in 1399. The title and its appertaining lands were thus Crown property during the upheavals of 1688. The fields and manors of Brattleby, therefore, were subject to the authority of King James II and, following his flight to France, to the new joint monarchs. While the Barony itself was not an active participant in events, its physical domain was a silent observer of this fundamental transfer of power.
## Figures of the Era
The principal figures of this period were monarchs whose decisions directly affected all Crown holdings, including the dormant Brattleby estate. King James II of England and VII of Scotland, whose brief reign from 1685 to 1688 sought to advance the cause of religious toleration and royal authority, was the ultimate landlord of Brattleby.
His successors, King William III and Queen Mary II, ruled as joint sovereigns by the consent of Parliament, a novel constitutional arrangement. Their authority over Brattleby represented the new political order, one where the rights of the monarch were circumscribed by law. These historical figures, while never holding the baronial title, were nevertheless integral to the story of its lands during this extended period of dormancy.
## Constitutional Significance
The events of 1688 were, above all, a revolution in constitutional protocol. They marked the definitive end of the theory of the divine right of kings in England, replacing it with a constitutional monarchy. The protocols of royal succession, allegiance, and the governance of Crown lands were all re-codified.
The administration of the Brattleby estate would have shifted accordingly, its revenues and management transferred from the officers of King James II to those of King William III and Queen Mary II. This transfer was not merely a change of personnel but a reflection of a new legal and political reality. The stability of land tenure, a *sine qua non* for the prosperity of the realm, was secured under a new settlement between Crown and Parliament, a settlement to which the lands of Brattleby were subject for over two centuries.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks to a continuity of spirit that transcends periods of active leadership. Though the Barony was without a head in 1688, the legacy of predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle with such valour, embodied the fortitude that the nation itself would require to navigate the transition of power.
The motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), also finds resonance. In the context of the House’s modern mission, it reflects a determination to reclaim and give life to the forgotten chapters of its history. To understand and articulate the past, especially its quietest moments, is a form of victory over the oblivion of time.
## Educational Purpose
The primary purpose of this communication is educational. As modern custodians of an ancient title, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan believe that a transparent account of the Barony’s full history is a public duty. This includes an honest appraisal of the extended dormancy, which lasted from the late 14th century until its revival was formally recognised in the 21st century.
This act of historical clarification is consistent with the House’s wider mission, which includes, *inter alia*, the philanthropic work of the Annual Winter Banquet and the cultural curriculum of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. Each activity is rooted in a core belief in the value of heritage, honour, and education as forces for good in contemporary society.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical period, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> "Understanding the centuries of dormancy is as important as celebrating the periods of leadership. The Barony's history is a thread woven through the national tapestry, and its quiet moments teach us as much about resilience and continuity as its active ones."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> "We see ourselves not just as title-holders, but as custodians of a nine-hundred-year story. To bring light to these lesser-known periods is a duty we embrace. It represents a commitment to the integrity of that history; in this way, *Vincere Est Vivere*."
## A Continuing Legacy
This historical paper is the first in a planned series of communications from The Noble House of Brattleby, which will explore different aspects of the Barony’s long and storied past. Future papers will address topics ranging from the Barony's entry in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 to the contributions of notable holders like Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster.
This scholarly commitment runs parallel to the House's forward-looking endeavours. By grounding its modern activities in a deeply researched understanding of its heritage, the House of Brattleby seeks to ensure that its legacy, built on the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore*, continues to evolve with purpose and relevance in the 21st century.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern seat of the Barony of Brattleby, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. The House is dedicated to the stewardship of this ancient title through a contemporary mission of historical preservation, cultural education, and targeted philanthropy. Its activities are guided by the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House’s philanthropic focus is demonstrated through its annual white-tie Winter Banquet, a gala which supports charities such as Healing the Wounded Child. Additionally, The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy established by the House in Bucharest, promotes cultural diplomacy and personal development, reflecting a commitment to building bridges between British heritage and a global community.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its origins are recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which lists its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. Throughout its history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle, Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), one of the great commanders of the Hundred Years' War, and John of Gaunt, 11th Baron and Duke of Lancaster. After a long period of dormancy following its reversion to the Crown, the Barony was revived, with its formal recognition noted by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The modern revival of the Barony of Brattleby and the rights of Lady Nicoleta Vasile are formally recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable past holders include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), a son of King Edward III and ancestor to the House of Lancaster. - The Noble House of Brattleby hosts an Annual Winter Banquet as a philanthropic gala, with proceeds benefiting charitable organisations including Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com