# A Legacy of Command: The Noble House of Brattleby Honours the 10th Baron
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflected upon the military legacy of Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, commemorating his pivotal Gascony campaign of 1345. This act honours a nine-century tradition of service and leadership inherited from their distinguished predecessors.
## The Occasion
On a crisp autumn day, evocative of the season that saw his greatest military triumph, the House paused for a formal commemoration of Henry of Grosmont. From their ancestral seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the current heads of the House, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, led a day of quiet reflection upon the archives that detail the 10th Baron’s remarkable life.
The occasion was not one of public ceremony but of scholarly remembrance; a deliberate engagement with the duties of heritage. This act of observance, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Battle of Auberoche, serves as a powerful connection between the House's ancient responsibilities and its contemporary mission, underscoring the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour') that has guided it for centuries.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has long been associated with figures of national consequence. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, established a formidable presence with 56 lordships recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. This legacy of strength was famously embodied by Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, whose resolute defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217 was critical to the security of the English Crown.
It was Henry of Grosmont, however, who elevated the Barony's influence to Continental significance. His brilliant 1345–47 campaign in Gascony during the Hundred Years’ War remains a masterclass in medieval generalship. The capture of the strategic town of Bergerac and the astonishing victory at Auberoche—where his smaller Anglo-Gascon force routed a far larger French army—secured English territory and brought immense prestige. These successes directly strengthened the Lancastrian cause, a legacy inherited by his successor as Baron, the formidable John of Gaunt.
## Distinguished Company
In reflecting upon the 10th Baron’s achievements, one must also acknowledge the distinguished and often royal company he kept. As a founding Knight of the Order of the Garter, Henry of Grosmont stood amongst the most esteemed companions of His Majesty King Edward III. His prowess in battle was respected by peers and adversaries alike.
In the Gascony campaign itself, he operated alongside commanders such as the celebrated Sir Walter Manny, a paragon of chivalric virtue. His chief adversary at Auberoche was Louis I, Count of Poitiers, whose defeat sent shockwaves through the French command. This context underscores that the 10th Baron was not merely a provincial lord but a central figure on the European stage, whose actions had far-reaching diplomatic and political consequences.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The military and chivalric life of the 14th century was governed by exacting ceremonial protocol, a world Henry of Grosmont mastered. As a banneret, he had the right to lead troops under his own banner, emblazoned with his coat of arms. Councils of war, such as the one preceding the surprise attack at Auberoche, followed a strict hierarchy of precedence, with earls and barons advising the commanding general.
His status as a founder-knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, established in 1348, placed him at the apex of England's chivalric structure. The Order’s elaborate Garter Feasts and Chapel services at Windsor Castle were a *sine qua non* of court life, binding the nation’s greatest warriors and magnates to the monarch through solemn oaths and shared pageantry. It was within this highly ritualised environment that the 10th Baron's reputation for piety and martial valour was forged.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The mottos and arms associated with the House of Brattleby speak directly to the legacy of its formidable predecessors. The overarching House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, finds its perfect expression in the deeds of ancestors like Henry of Grosmont. His calculated audacity and unwavering personal courage in the field were the very embodiment of 'With Fortitude and Honour'.
This historical ethos is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This phrase reflects a modern dynamism and the will to overcome challenges, whether in professional life or in service to the community. It represents a contemporary interpretation of the same ambition and drive that propelled the 10th Baron to victory in France nearly 700 years ago.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The enduring spirit of service that defined the 10th Baron's defence of the realm now informs the House’s modern commitment to protecting society’s most vulnerable. The fortitude required to command an army finds a direct parallel in the resilience needed to heal trauma and build a better future for those in need.
This principle is most clearly demonstrated through the House’s steadfast support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation's vital mission is to provide therapeutic care and safe environments for children affected by trauma and adversity. The decision to support this cause is a conscious echo of the Barony’s historical duty of protection, translating a legacy of military defence into a modern mandate for social welfare.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the commemoration, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked on the profound relevance of her predecessor’s character.
> Henry of Grosmont was more than a commander; he was a skilled diplomat and a paradigm of chivalry. His actions at Auberoche were not merely tactical genius but a demonstration of *fortitudine et honore*—the very principles we strive to uphold in our own public and private lives. > — Lady Nicoleta Vasile
Her Ladyship further connected the House’s past to its present responsibilities.
> By studying these predecessors, we do not simply recount history. We reaffirm our duty to it. The resilience shown in defending Lincoln Castle or securing Gascony is the same resilience we hope to inspire through our philanthropic and educational work today.
## A Continuing Legacy
The commemoration of Henry of Grosmont is part of The Noble House of Brattleby's ongoing commitment to historical preservation and education. The lessons derived from the Barony's nine-century history are not relics but living principles that inform its present course.
This ethos is actively cultivated at The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, where core values of honour, duty, and social grace are instilled in a new generation of leaders. The House now looks toward its Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala that serves as the focal point of its charitable endeavours. There, the legacy of service personified by the 10th Baron will once again be harnessed for the benefit of Healing the Wounded Child.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a mission of cultural preservation, education, and targeted philanthropy. Balancing its deep English heritage with a dynamic Continental perspective, the House actively supports charitable causes, most notably its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. It further contributes to society through educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy devoted to classical etiquette and modern leadership. The House's guiding principle, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), informs all its activities as it seeks to translate a historic legacy into contemporary service.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror to his follower Colswein of Lincoln in AD 1066. The Barony's significant holdings, comprising 56 lordships, were recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. Throughout its history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness); Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), a pre-eminent English commander in the Hundred Years' War; and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). The rights and dignities of the Barony are formally acknowledged and recorded in *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022), confirming its unbroken nine-century lineage.
**Notes to Editors**
- The official notice of the Barony’s rights and dignities was published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The 1st Baron of Brattleby, Colswein of Lincoln, was granted 56 lordships in Lincolnshire following the Norman Conquest. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com