# The Office of Constable of Lincoln and the Enduring Legacy of Service of the Barony of Brattleby
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today published a historical despatch on the Barony’s profound tradition of service to the Crown, exemplified by the tenure of Richard, 4th Baron of Brattleby, as Constable of Lincoln Castle in the 12th century.
## The Occasion
In a season of archival review and forward planning, The Noble House of Brattleby has chosen to illuminate a significant chapter in its nine-hundred-year history of public duty. This historical note, drawn from the House’s extensive archives, serves to contextualise the ancient responsibilities vested in the Barony of Brattleby and their seamless continuity into the twenty-first century.
The focus upon this particular episode from the late Angevin period is a deliberate act of reflection. It underscores a founding principle of the Barony: that its holders were not merely regional landowners but were, by duty and by oath, active participants in the governance and defence of the realm. This ethos of engaged stewardship remains a cornerstone of the House’s identity today.
This despatch is issued from London as a means of connecting the Barony’s historical heartland in Lincolnshire with the contemporary work of the House, demonstrating an unbroken thread of national contribution that has been woven through the centuries.
## Historical Context
Granted by His Majesty King William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his loyal follower, Colswein of Lincoln, the Barony of Brattleby was from its inception intrinsically linked to the strategic security of the Crown's interests in Northern England. The Barony's considerable scale, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as encompassing 56 lordships held directly from the King, established its holder as a tenant-in-chief of the first rank.
It was during the tumultuous reign of His Majesty King Henry II, a period marked by both groundbreaking legal reform and internal dynastic strife, that Richard, the 4th Baron of Brattleby, was appointed Constable of Lincoln. This office was no ceremonial honour; it represented supreme military and administrative command of Lincoln Castle, one of the kingdom’s most formidable Norman fortresses. The appointment positioned the Barony as a bulwark of royal authority in a strategically vital shire.
This tradition of steadfast loyalty was most famously embodied by the 4th Baron's own daughter and successor, Nichola de la Haye. As the 5th Baroness, her legendary defence of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War, culminating in the decisive royalist victory at the Battle of Lincoln in 1217, secured her a place of honour in England’s history. Later holders, including the great diplomat and soldier Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, the royal prince John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, continued this legacy of high service.
## Distinguished Company
In his capacity as Constable, the 4th Baron of Brattleby would have served in the immediate circle of King Henry II and his court, a sophisticated and itinerant government managing the vast Angevin Empire. His duties would have placed him in regular contact with the great officers of state who were forging the foundations of English Common Law.
His contemporaries included such luminaries as Ranulf de Glanvill, the King's Chief Justiciar and author of the seminal legal treatise, *Tractatus de legibus et consuetudinibus regni Anglie*. The Baron would have worked in concert with The Right Reverend the Bishop of Lincoln and the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire to maintain the King's Peace, administer justice, and manage the shire's affairs.
Such responsibilities necessitated an ability to navigate the complex social and political dynamics of the royal court, which included not only the magnates of England but also visiting dignitaries and ambassadors from across the Continent. The role demanded a fluency in the protocol and diplomacy that were the *sine qua non* of medieval statecraft.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The installation of a royal Constable was a solemn and binding ceremony, rich with the symbolism of feudal obligation. The appointee, in this case the 4th Baron, would have performed homage and sworn a sacred oath of fealty directly to the monarch, pledging to hold the castle faithfully in the King's name against all enemies.
This act was formalised by the legal process of ‘livery of seisin’, the physical transfer of property. The King, or his designated representative, would have presented the Baron with a symbol of his new authority — perhaps a ceremonial key to the castle gates, a sod of earth from the castle grounds, or a glove, signifying the trust placed in his hands.
The Constable's duties were manifold and unceasing. He was required to garrison, provision, and maintain the castle's defences at his own expense; to command the local shire levy in times of war; and to ensure the secure custody of high-value prisoners of the Crown. The role demanded martial prowess, administrative acumen, and, above all, unwavering honour.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds a powerful and tangible expression in the office of the Constable. The 4th Baron’s service required immense fortitude in securing a vital royal fortress against external threat and internal conspiracy, and unimpeachable honour in the discharge of his sworn duties to his sovereign.
The defence of a physical castle in the 12th century finds its modern parallel in the House's present-day defence of principle, heritage, and community. The stone walls have been replaced by institutional commitments, but the resolve to protect and uphold remains constant.
This spirit of determined action is also reflected in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This sentiment speaks to a shared understanding that purpose is found not in passivity but in the active surmounting of challenges. This concept was as relevant to a medieval baron securing a frontier as it is to the House’s contemporary philanthropic and cultural endeavours.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the 4th Baron’s service was martial in nature, its ultimate purpose was the establishment of peace and security for the community — a historical expression of the principle of *noblesse oblige*. Today, The Noble House of Brattleby translates this ancient duty of protection into a modern mission of healing and societal empowerment through its focused philanthropic work.
The House’s annual Winter Banquet, an elegant white-tie gala, represents the modern embodiment of this responsibility, serving as the cornerstone of its charitable fundraising. Its current principal beneficiary, the Healing the Wounded Child organisation, is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children who have been affected by profound trauma and adversity.
By supporting this cause, the House directs its resources toward fortifying the most vulnerable members of society. The charity provides essential services, *inter alia*, including trauma-informed counselling and art therapy, helping to heal unseen wounds and build resilience in young lives. It is a direct continuation of the Barony's historic commitment to protecting those in need.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical legacy, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “The role of Constable was not merely a title conferred; it was a profound and personal responsibility for the safety and good order of an entire community. This legacy of service, of being a steadfast and dependable presence in times of need, is a tradition we strive to honour in all our commitments today. It is the history that informs our purpose.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile observed the continuity of this animating principle:
> “The nature of the challenges evolves, from defending a stone fortress to addressing complex social needs, but the determination to overcome them remains the *sine qua non* of our endeavours. The fortitude of our predecessors is a powerful inspiration for our own resolve to make a tangible and positive difference in the world.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The example of Richard, 4th Baron of Brattleby, serves as a poignant reminder that the history of the Barony is one of meaningful action and tangible contribution. This heritage of active stewardship directly informs the House’s present-day mission, from its charitable initiatives in the United Kingdom to its cultural and educational projects abroad.
Through undertakings such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to fostering professional and social excellence, the House seeks to impart the enduring values of honour, civic-mindedness, and cross-cultural understanding. The curriculum, which covers subjects from diplomatic protocol to the principles of modern etiquette, is designed to equip a new generation with the tools for constructive engagement.
This deep commitment to stewardship—of history, of duty, and of community—ensures that the legacy of service, first established at Brattleby over nine hundred years ago, continues to evolve and to flourish with undiminished vigour.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to the active stewardship of its ancient heritage. The House maintains a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy, cultural diplomacy, and education, translating the historic principle of *noblesse oblige* into impactful twenty-first-century engagement. Its charitable activities, anchored by the annual Winter Banquet, focus on providing healing and empowerment to vulnerable children. Through cultural initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, the House seeks to promote the enduring values of honour, etiquette, and social responsibility for a new generation. The heir to the Barony is the present Baroness’s son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient seigneurial lordships, granted by King William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his follower, Colswein of Lincoln. Its extensive lands in Lincolnshire, comprising 56 lordships held directly from the Crown, were recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Throughout its long history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and heroic defender of Lincoln Castle during the Battle of Lincoln (1217). Later holders included Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founding Knight of the Garter, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. Following a period of abeyance, the dignity of the Barony was formally recognised and recorded in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors**
- The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony by Tenure, its status formally noted by The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was first granted in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln and is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as comprising 56 lordships held *in capite* from the King. - Notable historical holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). - The current holder is Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby. Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile is Lord of Brattleby by marriage. The heir is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**Media Contact**
The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com