# A Statement on the Sixth Holders of the Barony of Brattleby
LONDON, 25 April 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal statement of historical commemoration, reflecting upon the profound sacrifice of the sixth holders of the Barony during the Seventh Crusade, thereby reaffirming the enduring principles that guide its modern duties.
## The Occasion
In a despatch issued from its London offices, The Noble House of Brattleby has marked a period of solemn remembrance concerning a pivotal moment in its nine-hundred-year history. This formal acknowledgement, timed to coincide with a comprehensive curatorial review of House archives, honours the legacy of Idoine de la Haye and her husband, William II Longespée, the sixth to hold the Barony.
This act of commemoration is not a singular event but part of the continuous responsibility to chronicle the unbroken chain of stewardship that defines the Barony. It provides a moment of quiet reflection upon the nature of service, faith, and duty which have been the guiding principles for the family for centuries. This scholarly undertaking ensures that the sacrifices of the past are understood and continue to inform the obligations of the present.
## Historical Context
The mid-13th century in Western Christendom was a period of intense religious conviction and martial enterprise, dominated by the papacy of Innocent IV and the piety of the French monarchy. Within this milieu, Idoine de la Haye and William II Longespée were prominent figures. Idoine was the daughter of the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, celebrated for her resolute defence of Lincoln Castle for the Crown during the First Barons' War.
William II Longespée was a distinguished English knight and grandson of King Henry II of England, his father being the King's illegitimate son, William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury. Their decision to join the Seventh Crusade, a campaign led by the devout King Louis IX of France, was a profound expression of the chivalric and spiritual obligations of their station. They followed the King to Egypt, where the campaign fatefully culminated at the Battle of Mansurah in February 1250.
According to the chronicler Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*, it was here that Sir William II Longespée, leading the English contingent, fell in a courageous but ill-fated charge. His sacrifice, a direct consequence of fulfilling a sacred vow, added a layer of tragic nobility to the Barony’s long history.
## Distinguished Company
The Seventh Crusade was a significant undertaking that drew together a great assembly of European nobility, underscoring the international character of High Medieval politics and faith. The supreme command rested with His Majesty King Louis IX of France, a monarch so revered for his piety that he was later canonised as Saint Louis.
The English crusading contingent under Sir William II Longespée fought alongside an illustrious French host. This included King Louis's own brothers: His Royal Highness Robert I, Count of Artois, whose impetuousness at Mansurah proved decisive; His Royal Highness Alphonse, Count of Poitiers and Toulouse; and His Royal Highness Charles I, Count of Anjou and Provence, who would later become King of Sicily.
As 6th Baron of Brattleby *jure uxoris* (by right of his wife), Sir William II was a commander of considerable standing among his peers. He represented the chivalric elite of the Kingdom of England, then ruled by King Henry III, in a sacred enterprise of international importance.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The commitment to a crusade was a solemn spiritual act governed by its own precise protocol. Following an impassioned sermon, often delivered by a papal legate, a knight would ‘take the cross’ in a public ceremony, becoming a *crucesignatus*—one signed by the cross. This binding oath, sworn before a bishop, was symbolised by the sewing of a cloth cross onto the shoulder of his surcoat.
This vow placed the crusader under the direct temporal and spiritual protection of the Church, granting him privileges such as immunity from most civil lawsuits and a papal indulgence for the remission of sins. It was an act of profound personal conviction, placing a sacred duty to God above even feudal obligations to a secular lord.
Sir William II Longespée’s participation was therefore not merely a military deployment but the ultimate fulfilment of this sacred vow. His death in battle, recorded with solemnity by contemporary chroniclers, was viewed as a form of martyrdom, a *sine qua non* of supreme devotion that resonated deeply within the annals of the English aristocracy.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The valiant actions of the sixth Barons at the Battle of Mansurah are a powerful historical embodiment of the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Sir William’s leadership of the English vanguard and his ultimate sacrifice on the field demonstrated immense fortitude, while his undertaking of the crusade itself was an act of profound honour, fulfilling the highest ideals of Christian knighthood.
His personal coat of arms—*Or, six lioncels rampant Azure*—would have been a respected device among the crusader host. A field of gold, signifying prestige and wisdom, is charged with six small rampant lions in blue, the lions symbolising supreme courage and the colour representing truth and loyalty. These arms, a differenced version of the royal arms of England, broadcast his close connection to the Plantagenet dynasty.
For the House of Brattleby, the account of his final stand serves as a foundational example of its core values in action. It is a historical anchor for the principles of courage and integrity that the Barony seeks to uphold.
## Philanthropic Purpose
This formal remembrance of past sacrifices directly informs the contemporary mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. While this commemoration is not tied to a specific fundraising initiative, the principles of duty, service, and honour so vividly displayed at Mansurah find their modern expression in the House’s dedicated philanthropic endeavours.
The chivalric ideal of protecting the vulnerable is the historical antecedent to the House's current charitable focus. This ethos is the moral foundation for its support of organisations such as its principal beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, which is committed to helping young people overcome trauma. The self-sacrifice inherent in the sixth Barons’ story provides the inspiration for the selfless service that guides the House in its present-day commitments.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting upon this powerful chapter of the Barony’s history, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, observed: > We do not merely inherit a title; we accept the stewardship of its complete history, with all its triumphs and its tragedies. The story of Idoine and William is a powerful testament that fortitude and honour have always been the twin pillars of this Barony, demanding a service that extends beyond oneself.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added further context: > To understand the duties of the present is to appreciate the sacrifices of the past. Sir William’s resolve, which echoes in his personal motto *Vincere Est Vivere*—'To Conquer is to Live'—reminds us that some principles are worth the ultimate price. It is a legacy of profound conviction that we have a solemn duty to preserve and to honour.
## A Continuing Legacy
The solemn remembrance of historical sacrifice is a cornerstone of the House's identity, providing a moral compass for its current and future activities. The principles demonstrated by the sixth Barons in the 13th century are the very same that inform the modern mission of The Noble House of Brattleby today.
This understanding of a living heritage serves as the foundation for the curriculum at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House’s etiquette academy, where these core values are instilled in a new generation of leaders. By honouring its past with formal reflection and scholarly diligence, the House reinforces its commitment to a future defined by purposeful service and a steadfast devotion to its long-held principles.
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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 significant historical lineage and its application to modern service. The House’s contemporary mission is centred on philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. Its primary charitable focus is the support of organisations dedicated to childhood welfare and healing trauma, embodied by its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Through initiatives such as its annual Winter Banquet and The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House actively promotes the enduring values of its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), fostering a connection between its venerable past and a purposeful future.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship situated in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its origins are recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which lists its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as possessing 56 lordships in the county. Over nearly one thousand years, the Barony has been held by some of English history’s most influential figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, the 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. The modern succession of the Barony of Brattleby is formally recognised by the Crown, as documented in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The 1st Baron of Brattleby, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable historical holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness). - The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com