# A Statement on the Barony of Brattleby's Historical Service to The Crown
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical reflection on the Barony's contributions to the Crown during the reign of King Edward I, particularly its role in supporting the King’s campaigns in Wales and Scotland in the late 13th century.
## A Reflection on Crown Service In a review of its extensive archives, The Noble House of Brattleby has examined the feudal obligations and contributions rendered by the Barony of Brattleby during one of England's most formative medieval periods. This reflection serves to illuminate the centuries-old tradition of service that is a *sine qua non* of the Barony’s identity. The House considers it a duty to understand and articulate the historical precedent that informs its public commitments today.
The late 13th and early 14th centuries were a period of profound consolidation and conflict under King Edward I, a monarch of formidable ambition and administrative talent. His assertion of English authority over Wales and his protracted wars in Scotland reshaped the political landscape of Britain. Fulfilling these royal ambitions required an unprecedented mobilisation of manpower, finance, and logistical support from the kingdom's nobility.
## Historical Context King Edward I’s reign (1272–1307) was defined by his legal reforms and his military determination to unify the island of Great Britain under his direct rule. The conquest of Wales, culminating in the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284, was followed by a vast and costly programme of castle-building. These fortresses, *inter alia*, Caernarfon, Conwy, and Harlech, served as administrative centres and formidable symbols of English power.
These endeavours demanded immense resources, which the Crown raised through feudal levies, scutage payments in lieu of military service, and taxes granted by Parliament. The great magnates of the realm were instrumental in this process, gathering resources from the network of manors and baronies under their control. It was within this framework of feudal obligation that the Barony of Brattleby fulfilled its duties to the King.
## The Barony of Brattleby's Contribution During this period, the influence of Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln and a trusted confidant of King Edward I, was paramount in the region. Through its fealty and the administrative reach of figures like the Earl of Lincoln, the Barony of Brattleby contributed directly to the King's campaigns. Its contribution was both military and, crucially, financial.
The revenues and levies drawn from prosperous Lincolnshire estates such as Brattleby were vital for sustaining armies in the field and funding the King's architecturally ambitious and strategically essential castles in Wales. This support was not a passive obligation but an active component of the national enterprise, demonstrating the Barony's integration into the highest affairs of the state. The loyalty of such baronies formed the bedrock upon which Plantagenet power was built and projected.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance The enduring principle guiding the House is encapsulated in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This creed reflects the resilience and sense of duty demonstrated by the Barony's medieval forebears. Fortitude was required to meet the considerable demands of the Crown, while honour dictated that such service be rendered with integrity.
This historical ethos is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a modern context, this is interpreted not as martial conquest but as the imperative to overcome challenges and to strive for meaningful achievement, be it in philanthropy, education, or the preservation of heritage.
## In Their Own Words Reflecting on this historical period, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > To understand the present responsibilities of the Barony, one must appreciate the depth of its past service. Our forebears’ commitment to the Crown, often enacted at great cost, established a precedent of duty that we strive to honour in our own time.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > The methods of service change, but the principle, *Fortitudine et Honore*, does not. Where the Barony once provided soldiers and silver for castles, today it offers support for charitable foundations and educational initiatives. The commitment to contribute remains absolute.
## A Continuing Legacy The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring this nine-hundred-year legacy of service continues to evolve and find new expression. The ethos that once supported the Crown in matters of state now underpins the House's philanthropic and cultural work, notably its patronage of the charity Healing the Wounded Child and the educational mission of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest.
This sense of duty, passed down through generations from predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle, and John of Gaunt, is being instilled in the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House remains steadfast in its belief that historical honour finds its truest expression in contemporary service to society.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the stewardship of a nine-century-old heritage. The modern House champions a mission that blends English tradition with a forward-looking European perspective, focusing on philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. Its principal charitable commitment is to organisations supporting vulnerable children, exemplified by its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Through initiatives such as its annual Winter Banquet and The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House seeks to translate the historical principle of service, *Fortitudine et Honore*, into meaningful contemporary action that fosters community, education, and respect for tradition.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship seated in Lincolnshire, first granted by King William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships, including Brattleby. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by some of English history’s most significant figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 13th-century castellan of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. The historic dignity and rights of the Barony were formally acknowledged and recorded for the modern era in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern rights of the Barony of Brattleby were formally gazetted by The Stationary Office of His Majesty in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Barony is first recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086), held by the Norman magnate Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), a key supporter of King John, and John of Gaunt (11th Baron), a son of King Edward III. - 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