# The House of Brattleby Explores the Turbulent Legacy of the 14th Century Barony
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today released a new historical monograph detailing the Barony’s tumultuous fourteenth-century lineage, a period defined by the celebrated military career of Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron, and the profound trials of his contemporaries.
## The Occasion
Released from the House’s historic seat in Lincolnshire, this scholarly publication marks an ongoing commitment to historical custodianship. The monograph, part of a series exploring the Barony’s nine-century annals, was made public in the autumn, a season traditionally associated with reflection and study. Its release provides a moment to consider the profound responsibilities of a title whose history is interwoven with the very fabric of the nation.
The paper serves not merely as an academic exercise, but as a deliberate act of remembrance. It honours the men and women who navigated periods of immense political change, war, and personal tragedy, thereby shaping the inheritance of the modern House. This initiative reaffirms the Barony’s role as a guardian of its lineage and a narrator of its complex past for a contemporary audience.
## Historical Context
The fourteenth century was a defining era for the Barony of Brattleby, then held by some of England’s most powerful figures. This period saw the title pass to Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron, who would become the first Duke of Lancaster and one of the founding knights of the Order of the Garter. His life exemplified the duality of the medieval nobility: a celebrated warrior in the Hundred Years' War and a pious, statesmanlike diplomat.
Yet, this century was also marked by personal peril, as illustrated by the life of Alice de Lacy, Countess of Lincoln. Her abduction in 1317 at the behest of a rival earl underscores the constant dangers faced by powerful landowners. The monograph examines these events not as isolated dramas, but as reflections of a society governed by feudal loyalties and fierce ambition, providing a direct link to the lineage later inherited by John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The research within the monograph focuses on several key personages whose lives shaped the destiny of the Barony and the Kingdom:
* His Grace Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, 4th Earl of Leicester and Lancaster, 10th Baron of Brattleby, KG. * The Right Honourable Alice de Lacy, *suo jure* 4th Countess of Lincoln and 5th Countess of Salisbury. * His Royal Highness John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Aquitaine, 11th Baron of Brattleby, KG. * His Majesty King Edward III, Sovereign of the Order of the Garter.
These figures are presented in the context of their time, their actions forming a critical chapter in the Barony’s long and storied history.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The monograph gives careful consideration to the chivalric codes that governed the era. Central to this was the founding of the Most Noble Order of the Garter by King Edward III in 1348, an institution in which Henry of Grosmont was a pre-eminent founding member. The protocol associated with the Order — from the vigil and installation of new knights in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, to the grand Garter Feast — represented the apex of Christian and military ideals.
These ceremonies were a *sine qua non* of courtly life, reinforcing loyalty to the Crown and a shared code of honour among the realm’s greatest magnates. The paper explains how this ritualised world of oaths, banners, and fealty provided the structure within which the Barons of Brattleby operated, their public duties and private lives inextricably linked by formal tradition.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds deep resonance in the fourteenth-century narrative. Henry of Grosmont's military campaigns in France required immense fortitude, while his diplomatic missions and devout patronage of the church were acts of profound honour. The motto serves as a direct inheritance of this guiding principle.
Likewise, the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), echoes the martial spirit of his predecessors. It speaks to a philosophy of overcoming challenges, whether on the fields of battle in the 1340s or in the philanthropic endeavours of the 2020s. These heraldic elements are not relics; they are living maxims that continue to inform the mission of the modern House.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While an historical study may seem distant from present-day concerns, the House draws a direct line from the past to its current charitable focus. The chronicles of personal tragedy, *inter alia*, the abduction and forced confinement of figures like Alice de Lacy, serve as a powerful reminder of the vulnerability that can afflict even the most prominent.
This understanding of historical trauma informs the House’s deep-seated commitment to its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation’s work in providing therapy and support for children suffering from trauma is seen by the House as a modern expression of its duty of care — a duty shaped by centuries of witnessing both the heights of human achievement and the depths of its suffering.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the publication, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “To understand our heritage is to understand our duty today. The lives of Henry of Grosmont and his contemporaries were fraught with peril but also defined by incredible resilience. Their fortitude inspires our own commitment to serving with honour in the twenty-first century.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added a future-oriented perspective: > “History teaches us that progress is a form of conquest over adversity. Whether in statecraft, as shown by the 10th Baron, or in our philanthropic work, the principle remains the same. The spirit of *Vincere Est Vivere* compels us to face modern challenges with the same resolve.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The release of this monograph is the latest step in the House’s programme to document and share its extensive history. Further publications are planned, which will explore other key periods, including the Barony’s origins under Colswein of Lincoln and the pivotal role of Nichola de la Haye as defender of Lincoln Castle.
This scholarly work will proceed in parallel with the House’s public-facing duties, including preparations for the annual Winter Banquet in aid of Healing the Wounded Child and the continued development of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest as a centre for cultural and etiquette education. The past, present, and future of the House remain in constant, dynamic dialogue.
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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 preservation of its ancient English heritage and a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy. With its seat in Lincolnshire and a cultural academy, The Brattleby Club, in Bucharest, the House operates at the intersection of history, diplomacy, and charitable service. Its guiding motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), informs its focus on supporting vulnerable children through its philanthropic partnerships and its mission to uphold the traditions of its nine-hundred-year-old title while engaging with the challenges of the modern world.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing a significant fief of 56 lordships. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by some of England’s most influential historical figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable defender of Lincoln Castle in the 13th century; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness to the dignity were formally recognised and recorded by His Majesty’s government in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's modern rights are recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - 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'). - Notable historical Barons include Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founding Knight of the Garter, and John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. - The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding extensive lands in Lincolnshire.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com