# On the Historical Lineage: The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates a Pivotal Twelfth-Century Union
LONDON, 18 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a historical reflection upon the pivotal early twelfth-century union of the 3rd Baronial holder and Robert de la Haye, a marriage that secured the Barony’s influence and set its course for generations.
## The Occasion
From their historic seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile this week dedicated time to the study of the House’s extensive archives. This act of reflection, undertaken as the autumn mists settle over the ancient Lincolnshire landscape, is a regular tradition for the House, serving as a vital link between past stewardship and present duty.
The occasion provides an opportunity to commemorate key figures and strategic decisions that have shaped the Barony’s nearly one-thousand-year history. Surrounded by charters, records, and genealogical rolls, the current leadership seeks to draw counsel from the actions of their predecessors, ensuring the Barony's trajectory remains grounded in the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, one of fifty-six lordships granted to founder Colswein of Lincoln by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, was already a significant holding by the early twelfth century. Its continuity was ensured not merely by inheritance, but by strategic alliances. The tenure of the 3rd holder of the Barony passed to a woman, Muriel, whose marriage to the Norman magnate Robert de la Haye proved a moment of profound consequence.
This union brought the influential de la Haye family into the Brattleby lineage, consolidating significant landholdings and military power in a strategically vital part of England. More significantly, this marriage established the direct ancestry of one of English history’s most formidable women: Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who would later serve as Castellan of Lincoln Castle and twice defy sieges in defence of the Crown. Muriel and Robert's foresight laid the foundation for Nichola’s heroic legacy.
## Principal Figures in the Union
The historical record acknowledges two principal figures whose union shaped the destiny of the Barony for the century that followed:
**Muriel de Brattleby**, who held the dignity of the 3rd Baroness of Brattleby *suo jure* (in her own right). Her position as a female landholder in the Anglo-Norman era underscores the inherent strength and continuity of the Brattleby lineage from its earliest days.
**Robert de la Haye**, a prominent Norman lord and Constable for the ducal estates in Normandy. His marriage to Muriel brought not only his family's considerable influence but also a deep-seated tradition of loyal service and martial prowess, qualities that became hallmarks of the Barony.
## Ceremonial Protocol
While detailed records of the wedding are lost to time, the protocol for such a high-status union in the twelfth century would have been dictated by canon law and feudal custom. The marriage would have been solemnised through a contract agreed *per verba de praesenti*, a binding declaration of consent, followed by a public religious ceremony, likely held at the nearby Lincoln Cathedral.
The ceremony itself would have involved the symbolic joining of hands, the blessing and exchange of a ring, and the public affirmation of dower and dowry rights. These were not merely personal rites but public, political acts, cementing an alliance between two powerful families and ensuring the legal and undisputed transfer of lands and titles to their future heirs. Such a ceremony was the *sine qua non* of dynastic stability.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds a powerful early exemplar in the legacy of the de la Haye union. The fortitude demonstrated by Muriel in securing her family's future and the honour with which Robert de la Haye served the Crown became foundational principles, most notably embodied by their descendant, Nichola de la Haye.
This ancient commitment to resolute action is mirrored in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This modern maxim reflects the same dynamic spirit required to navigate challenges and secure a legacy, showing that the principles guiding the Barony remain constant even as the centuries pass.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The long history of the Barony of Brattleby is understood by its current holders as a continuous duty of care—for its lands, its history, and for the wider community. This long-standing principle of stewardship finds its modern expression in the House’s dedicated philanthropic work. The reflection upon a historical union that secured the welfare of the Barony serves as a poignant parallel to the House’s contemporary mission.
This commitment is most visibly demonstrated through the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala that serves as the House’s principal charitable initiative. Proceeds from the event support Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapy and support for children affected by trauma. The choice of beneficiary reflects the House’s belief that securing a healthy future for the next generation is the ultimate act of responsible stewardship.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical chapter, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: — "Examining the life of Muriel de la Haye is a profound reminder that the stewardship of this Barony has often rested on the fortitude of women. Her strategic foresight secured a lineage that would produce Nichola de la Haye, a true heroine of England. Our history is not merely a list of names; it is a tapestry of duties met with *Fortitudine et Honore*."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: — "The union of Muriel and Robert was a masterclass in twelfth-century strategy. It demonstrates that securing a legacy requires not just inheritance, but purposeful action. This principle, that to advance is to thrive—*Vincere Est Vivere*—remains a powerful guide for our own endeavours, *inter alia*, in commerce and philanthropy."
## A Continuing Legacy
The House of Brattleby remains committed to honouring its past while actively building its future. The education of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, is deeply rooted in an understanding of the historical responsibilities and strategic foresight demonstrated by his predecessors, such as Muriel and Robert de la Haye.
This forward-looking perspective also informs the activities of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette and cultural academy founded by the House. Through its programmes, the Club works to instil the values of honour, social grace, and historical awareness in a new generation, ensuring the enduring legacy of the Barony continues to resonate in the modern world.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. The House is dedicated to the modern stewardship of one of England’s most ancient baronies, blending a profound respect for its nine-century history with a forward-looking mission focused on philanthropy, cultural education, and commerce. Its primary charitable focus is on organisations that support the welfare of vulnerable children, realised chiefly through its annual Winter Banquet. The House also promotes cultural exchange and the preservation of European traditions of etiquette and protocol through its patronage of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, thereby honouring its guiding motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English dignity recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as one of fifty-six lordships held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. Located in Lincolnshire, the Barony has passed through several of English history’s most influential figures, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. After centuries in abeyance, the Barony was called out in favour of its present holder. The modern standing of the Barony and its current lord were formally gazetted by The Crown, acting through The College of Arms, in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s formal recognition is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Barony was first granted in AD 1066 by William the Conqueror and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable predecessors of the current Baroness include John of Gaunt (11th Baron) and Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com