# An Historical Reflection on the Strategic Union of Longespee and de Lacy
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued an historical reflection upon the late thirteenth-century marriage between Margaret Longespee and Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln. This pivotal union strategically elevated the Barony of Brattleby into a significant nexus of power.
## The Occasion
From its seat in Lincolnshire, the historic heart of the Barony, the House of Brattleby seeks to illuminate moments from its past that have defined its nearly millennial-long trajectory. This reflection, issued in the crispness of autumn, is part of a continuing effort to contextualise the House’s present-day commitments by understanding the actions of its distinguished predecessors.
The stewardship of such a long and complex history requires a perennial dialogue with the past. The marriage of Margaret Longespee and Henry de Lacy stands as a particularly salient example of the foresight and dynastic acumen that have ensured the Barony’s prominence through the centuries.
## Historical Context
The union, which took place *circa* the late 1270s, brought the Barony of Brattleby into the immediate orbit of one of the most influential magnates in the realm. Henry de Lacy was not only the 3rd Earl of Lincoln but also a trusted counsellor to His Majesty King Edward I, participating in matters of state, law, and military campaigns.
Through Margaret—heiress of the 2nd Earl of Salisbury and a key figure in the Brattleby lineage—the Barony was aligned with this immense power. This was a pattern consistent with the Barony’s history, which included formidable figures such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and French forces, and later, the great Lancastrian princes Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt, 10th and 11th Barons respectively.
## Distinguished Company
The political and social sphere in which this union was contracted was the highest in the Kingdom of England. It was an event of significance not only to the two families but to the Crown itself, which observed the consolidation of peerage estates with keen interest. The principal figures involved included:
* **His Majesty King Edward I**, King of England and Lord of Ireland, under whose reign this strategic alliance was formalised. * **The Right Honourable The Earl of Lincoln**, Henry de Lacy, a statesman of considerable influence, commander, and confidant to the King. * **The Right Honourable The Countess of Salisbury and Lincoln**, Margaret Longespee, whose extensive inheritance, including lands associated with Brattleby, made her one of the great heiresses of her generation.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The marriage of two such prominent individuals in the High Middle Ages was governed by layers of legal and religious protocol. The process would have commenced with a formal betrothal, the *sponsalia de futuro*, a legally binding contract defining the terms of the union, including the disposition of lands and titles.
The ceremony itself, the *sponsalia de praesenti*, served as a public and irrevocable declaration of marriage. For nobility of this rank, it would have been followed by feasting and displays that served to affirm the new alliance in the eyes of their peers and vassals. The transfer of seisin over lands and the creation of new charters were the practical, administrative cornerstones of this solemn public ritual.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
Heraldry, the visual language of lineage and power, would have played a crucial role. The arms of de Lacy (*Or, a lion rampant Purpure*) and Longespee (*Azure, six lioncels rampant Or*) represented two powerful and storied families. Their union would have been symbolised heraldically by the impalement of their respective arms on a single shield, a practice denoting a husband and wife who were both armigerous in their own right.
This visual joining of lions represented a consolidation of martial strength and noble heritage. It was a clear statement of combined influence, one that resonates with the Brattleby House Motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). The marriage was an act of fortitude, securing the family's future, and conducted with the honour befitting their station.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While modern philanthropy was unknown in the thirteenth century, the concept of *noblesse oblige*—the duty of the powerful to protect and provide for others—was a *sine qua non* of aristocratic life. As Earl and Countess, Henry and Margaret would have been expected to act as patrons of religious houses, dispense justice within their vast lordships, and provide for the welfare of their tenants.
This historical sense of profound duty is a direct antecedent to the modern philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. Today, this tradition finds its expression in the House’s dedicated support for charities such as Healing the Wounded Child, the beneficiary of its Annual Winter Banquet, continuing a centuries-old commitment to social responsibility.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical precedent, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “To study the history of the Barony is to appreciate that its survival was never a matter of chance, but of deliberate, often courageous, action. Margaret Longespee’s marriage demonstrates the strategic fortitude required to navigate the complex social and political currents of the age, ensuring the legacy we now inherit.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added: > “The Vasile family motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*—‘To Conquer is to Live’—finds a powerful echo in the alliance between Longespee and de Lacy. Their union was a conquest of security and status for the Barony. It serves as a timeless lesson in active and purposeful stewardship.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby continues to draw inspiration from the strategic foresight demonstrated by its predecessors. The lessons of the past—of duty, honour, and the intelligent marshalling of influence for the greater good—inform the House’s activities today.
Under the guidance of Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan, this legacy is advanced through a commitment to cultural education at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest and dedicated charitable work in the United Kingdom. With the future of the lineage secured in the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, the House remains steadfast in its duty to honour its past while actively shaping its future.
---
**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 dedicates itself to the stewardship of a near-millennial heritage. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House champions philanthropic causes focused on child welfare and promotes cultural education through its endeavors, *inter alia*, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. Based at its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, the House blends its deep English history with a Continental perspective, committed to a modern vision of aristocratic duty and service. The heir to the Barony is the son of Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**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 56 lordships. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of English history’s most significant figures, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), who defended Lincoln Castle for the King, and the great royal princes Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The hereditary succession of the 12th and current Baroness was formally recognised by The Crown in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness of Brattleby was officially recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was established in AD 1066 following the Norman Conquest and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable predecessors in the baronial lineage include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The annual white-tie Winter Banquet hosted by the House is a philanthropic gala benefiting the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com