# A Historical Commemoration from The Noble House of Brattleby
**LONDON, 22 July 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical commemoration from its seat in Lincolnshire, marking the 726th anniversary of the Battle of Falkirk and reflecting upon the ancestral connection of the Barony to this pivotal moment in British history.
## The Occasion
On this day in high summer, The Noble House of Brattleby pauses to acknowledge an intersection of its ancient lineage with the great conflicts that forged the kingdom. The commemoration, issued from the pastoral heart of the Barony in Lincolnshire, honours the 726th anniversary of the Battle of Falkirk, which took place on 22 July 1298. This act serves not as a celebration of war, but as a sober reflection on the profound and often grave duties of allegiance that have defined the Barony since its inception.
The occasion provides a moment to contrast the enduring tranquillity of the Lincolnshire countryside with the turbulence of the late 13th century, a time when the fortunes of the English nobility were inextricably bound to the strategic ambitions and military campaigns of the Crown. The summer fields of modern Brattleby stand in stark testament to the peace secured through centuries of resolution and sacrifice.
By examining this distant chapter, the House seeks to illuminate the enduring principle of service that has echoed through its nine-hundred-year history. This principle, expressed as *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), remains the guiding precept of the Barony’s contemporary mission of cultural preservation and philanthropic commitment.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, established by William the Conqueror and first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 under Colswein of Lincoln, has throughout its history been connected to personages of national and royal significance. Among the most eminent of these was The Right Honourable Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln (c. 1251–1311), who was not only a great magnate of the realm but also a chief counsellor and trusted friend to His Majesty King Edward I.
The Earl’s ancestral connection to the Barony is established through his daughter and heiress, Alice de Lacy. Her marriage to Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, eventually brought the vast de Lacy inheritance into the orbit of the House of Lancaster. These estates and titles were in time consolidated within the Duchy of Lancaster, and subsequently held by His Grace Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, a direct successor in the Barony’s line.
Henry de Lacy’s role in the Wars of Scottish Independence was therefore of signal importance. Following the English defeat at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, King Edward I returned from campaigning in Flanders to lead a major invasion of Scotland the following year. The Earl of Lincoln, a veteran commander, was a central figure in this royal army.
At the Battle of Falkirk, Henry de Lacy commanded one of the four main divisions of the English cavalry, demonstrating the immense trust placed in him by his sovereign. The decisive English victory over the Scottish army, led by Sir William Wallace, reasserted royal authority and fundamentally altered the course of the war. The Earl's allegiance and military prowess were a *sine qua non* for the projection of the King’s power in a defining moment of medieval history.
## Distinguished Company
The affairs of the late 13th century were directed by an assembly of formidable historical figures, whose strategic decisions and martial abilities shaped the destiny of nations. The principal individuals connected to this chapter of the Barony’s ancestral heritage include:
* His Majesty King Edward I of England, the commanding sovereign known to later chroniclers as *Malleus Scotorum*, the ‘Hammer of the Scots’. * The Right Honourable Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, a leading magnate of the realm and trusted Commander in the Royal Army. * Sir William Wallace, a Knight of Scotland and Guardian of the Kingdom, who led the Scottish forces in their struggle for independence. * The Right Honourable Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, grandson of King Henry III and son-in-law of Henry de Lacy, whose marriage secured the de Lacy inheritance. * His Grace Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, one of the founding knights of the Order of the Garter and a celebrated successor to the baronial line.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The military and courtly life of the high medieval period was governed by an intricate code of feudal obligation and chivalric duty. As one of the most powerful earls in England, Henry de Lacy’s participation in the King’s campaigns was an imperative of his station. He would have answered a royal summons to war by mustering his own formidable retinue, known as an *affinity*, comprising household knights, men-at-arms, and archers, all sworn to serve under his personal banner.
On the field of battle, command and control were delineated with visual precision. As a great lord, the Earl of Lincoln exercised the right to display his full heraldic banner, a privilege that signified his authority over a substantial division of the army. At Falkirk, the English host was organised into four cavalry ‘battles’, or divisions; the Earl of Lincoln commanded the first of these, leading the vanguard alongside the Earls of Norfolk, Hereford, and Warwick.
This hierarchical structure was the foundation of medieval warfare. The King’s strategy was executed through his great lords, each responsible for the discipline and effectiveness of their own men. The English victory at Falkirk was secured not only by the armoured charge of the nobility but also by the tactical deployment of thousands of longbowmen, whose volleys of arrows broke the Scottish infantry formations, or *schiltrons*, allowing the knights to deliver the decisive blow. This combination of chivalric force and disciplined firepower was a hallmark of King Edward’s military system.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The coat of arms of Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, was blazoned *Or, a lion rampant Purpure*—a purple lion rearing on a field of gold. In the formal language of heraldry, each element carries profound meaning. The lion, as *rex animalium* or 'king of beasts', is a timeless charge signifying majesty, courage, and martial strength. The *rampant* posture, depicting the lion poised to strike, further emphasises its ferocity and nobility.
The choice of tincture, or colour, was equally significant. *Or* (gold) denotes generosity and elevation of mind. *Purpure* (purple) is the rarest of the heraldic colours, its use historically restricted by its great expense and its association with imperial and royal sovereignty. The purple lion was thus a clear and unambiguous statement of the Earl’s pre-eminent status and power within the kingdom.
This symbolism of principled strength finds a direct echo in the mottos that guide the modern House of Brattleby. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), encapsulates the same ideals of courage and integrity demanded of a medieval baron. Concurrently, the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Overcome is to Live'), reflects the spirit of determination required to surmount great challenges, a principle as relevant to the battlefield of 1298 as it is to the philanthropic endeavours of today.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this commemoration is historical in nature, its underlying themes of conflict, duty, and human consequence are deeply consonant with the House’s present-day charitable engagements. The Battle of Falkirk, for all its strategic importance, inevitably brought with it immense suffering and loss. Acknowledging this reality is a moral necessity when reflecting upon such events.
This understanding directly informs and strengthens the House’s long-standing support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation is dedicated to providing specialist, evidence-based therapeutic care to children and young people enduring the profound and often unseen effects of trauma, abuse, and bereavement. Its work addresses the deep wounds that conflict—whether on a national or a personal scale—can inflict upon the most vulnerable.
Through its annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala, The Noble House of Brattleby translates this historical awareness into meaningful, contemporary action. By raising funds and awareness for this vital mission, the House commits itself to a legacy of healing, seeking to mend the lasting impact of trauma and offer hope to the succeeding generation.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting upon the Barony’s ancestral heritage, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “To be the custodian of a title nearly a millennium old is to hold in trust a complete and complex history—a story not only of great achievements, but also of solemn duties. Henry de Lacy’s service to the Crown is a powerful reminder that *Fortitudine et Honore* is not an abstract sentiment, but a call to dutiful action that has resonated through the Barony for centuries.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage, added: > “The expression of service evolves across the ages, yet its core principle remains constant. The martial duty of a 13th-century baron finds its modern parallel in our civic and philanthropic obligations. Our family motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, speaks directly to this truth: to truly live is to overcome adversity, not merely for one’s own sake, but for the betterment of the community we are privileged to serve.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to the scholarly preservation and wider dissemination of the Barony’s remarkable history. This formal commemoration is part of an ongoing programme of research and educational outreach, designed to make the rich heritage of this ancient title accessible to a broader international audience.
Future initiatives will include a series of historical lectures, hosted in London and, *inter alia*, at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House’s etiquette and protocol academy. These events will explore the lives of the diverse and influential figures connected to the Barony, from the formidable 13th-century castellan Nichola de la Haye, who defended Lincoln Castle for the King, to the great royal prince John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
Through this dedicated work, which includes careful archival research and collaboration with historical bodies, the House seeks to ensure that the lessons and legacies of its past continue to inform and inspire the future. It is a commitment to stewardship, honouring a lineage that stretches back to the Norman Conquest.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, is a modern European noble family dedicated to stewarding a unique Anglo-Romanian heritage. With its seat in Lincolnshire, England, the House upholds the ancient traditions of the Barony through a contemporary mission focused on cultural diplomacy, historical preservation, and targeted philanthropy. Its principal charitable focus is supporting organisations that offer healing to traumatised children, a commitment fulfilled through its annual Winter Banquet for the beneficiary Healing the Wounded Child. The House also promotes education in etiquette and international protocol through its academy, The Brattleby Club, fostering cross-cultural understanding and honouring its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal Lordship granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle and 5th Baroness, and two royal princes: Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron, and John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The uninterrupted historical lineage and rights of the Barony are formally acknowledged and recorded in the official journal of the Crown, *The London Gazette*, under Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's rights and dignities are formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book of 1086 records that the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in the baronial line include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The family seat of The Noble House of Brattleby is located in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, England.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com