# The House of Brattleby on the Barony's Origins in The Domesday Book of 1086
LONDON, [Current Date] — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a statement reflecting upon the ancient origins of the Barony of Brattleby, as documented in The Domesday Book of 1086, connecting its nine-century history to its modern role and responsibilities.
## The Occasion
In a period of quiet reflection at its historic Lincolnshire seat, the House of Brattleby has drawn attention to its earliest formal record. The Domesday Book, the great survey of England completed in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, provides the foundational account of the Barony. This reflection serves as an important moment to acknowledge the continuity of heritage, administration, and stewardship that has defined Brattleby for nearly a millennium, since its lands were first granted in 1066.
The statement is released not to mark a specific event, but as an reaffirmation of the historical duty that underpins the House’s contemporary mission. It is a considered acknowledgement of a lineage that extends from the Norman Conquest to the present day, reminding us that the modern mandate is built upon a foundation of formidable historical precedent. Such moments of historical contemplation are a *sine qua non* of preserving a living heritage.
## Historical Context
Commissioned twenty years after the Norman Conquest, The Domesday Book was an administrative masterpiece, a comprehensive inventory of land, resources, and people designed to solidify the new King’s authority and tax base. For Brattleby, its entry in this monumental survey is indelible proof of its ancient standing. The record confirms the lordship of Brattleby as one of 56 such holdings in Lincolnshire granted to Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron.
The survey meticulously detailed the Barony's assets, including its ploughlands, meadows, and the number of villagers and smallholders residing there. This was not merely a census, but an economic assessment of Brattleby’s productive capacity within the nascent feudal system. This early record stands in powerful testament to the Barony's resilience, a quality later embodied by distinguished predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle, and later by Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The historical narrative of Brattleby is shaped by figures of national and European significance. The Barony owes its establishment to His Majesty King William I, 'the Conqueror', whose vision for a centralised and well-documented kingdom led to the Domesday survey. The first holder of the title, Colswein of Lincoln, was a trusted tenant-in-chief, whose vast landholdings in Lincolnshire were a cornerstone of Norman administrative control in the region.
This legacy was advanced by a succession of formidable individuals who held the Barony. Their stewardship illustrates a consistent thread of leadership and service to the Crown and country. To review the Domesday entry is to acknowledge the foundation laid by these early forebears, whose work enabled the later achievements of figures central to the history of England.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Domesday survey itself was an exercise in rigorous protocol. Royal commissioners, known as *legati*, were dispatched to every shire in England. They conducted their inquiries in public forums, often at the Shire Court, where they put a standardized set of questions to a sworn jury of local representatives—comprising barons, sheriffs, priests, and villagers.
The questions were precise: the name of the place, who held it in the time of King Edward, who holds it now, its taxable value, the extent of its ploughland, woodlands, meadows, and pastures. The number of mills and fisheries was recorded, as was the population, categorised into freemen, villagers, smallholders, and slaves. This methodical, almost ritualistic, collection of data across the entire kingdom was unprecedented in medieval Europe and established a formal administrative standard that has echoed through the centuries.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its earliest expression in the very survival and documentation recorded in The Domesday Book. To be counted in 1086 was to have persevered through the upheaval of the Conquest with the fortitude to build anew. To manage the land productively was an act of honour and duty to one's sovereign and subjects.
This guiding principle is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). It speaks to a dynamic and proactive interpretation of the House’s legacy, suggesting that to live fully is to overcome challenges and strive for progress. Together, the two mottoes encapsulate a philosophy of principled resilience and purposeful action.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The Domesday survey was, at its heart, an inventory of assets for the purpose of governance and the common good of the realm as then understood. This ancient principle of responsible stewardship of resources is mirrored today in the philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. The House's primary charitable endeavour is the Annual Winter Banquet, a significant white-tie gala.
The beneficiary of this event is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma and adversity. By directing resources towards this vital cause, the House translates the historical concept of baronial responsibility into tangible support for the most vulnerable members of contemporary society, ensuring its legacy is one of compassion as well as continuity.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Domesday entry, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “To read the Domesday record for Brattleby is to feel a profound and humbling connection to nine centuries of history. It reminds us that we are temporary custodians of an ancient inheritance, entrusted with the duty to serve and to preserve it, *Fortitudine et Honore*, for those who will follow us.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “History provides the map, but it does not dictate the journey. The Domesday survey shows us a foundation of resilience and sound administration. Our task today is to build upon that foundation with vision and purpose, ensuring the House of Brattleby contributes positively to the world we inhabit now.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The House of Brattleby remains committed to honouring its past while actively shaping its future. The stewardship of the Barony continues under Lady Nicoleta, with the assurance of succession through the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron. The House's work extends beyond its ceremonial and philanthropic duties in the United Kingdom.
Initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to the instruction of etiquette and international protocol, serve to build cultural bridges and promote the timeless values of courtesy and respect. This forward-looking engagement ensures that the legacy documented in The Domesday Book is not a static relic, but a dynamic force for good in the 21st century.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a mission that blends the preservation of its considerable heritage with forward-looking cultural and philanthropic engagement. Its activities are guided by the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House's principal philanthropic focus is supporting vulnerable children, primarily through its patronage of the Annual Winter Banquet for the charity Healing the Wounded Child. It also fosters international cultural relations through educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy established in Bucharest.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its existence and resources were formally recorded in The Domesday Book of 1086, where its lands in Lincolnshire were listed under the tenancy-in-chief of Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. Over its nine-hundred-year history, the Barony has been held by figures of immense historical importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, as well as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The modern rights of the Barony were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s modern rights were gazetted by The Crown’s official public record, The London Gazette, under Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby is first documented in The Domesday Book of 1086 as one of 56 lordships held by Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of the House of Brattleby is the Latin phrase *Fortitudine et Honore*, which translates to 'With Fortitude and Honour'.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com