# On the Barony of Brattleby and its Role during The Anarchy (1135–1153)
LONDON, 21 October 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflects upon the historical role of the Barony during The Anarchy, honouring the profound loyalty shown by the De la Haye family in defending royal authority in Lincolnshire during this period of civil war.
## The Occasion
From its ancient seat in Brattleby, The Noble House of Brattleby has today paused to consider a defining period in its nine-century lineage. This reflection upon the era known to history as The Anarchy (1135–1153) serves not to mark a single date, but to commemorate the enduring principles of fealty and service which have guided the Barony through times of national trial and which form the very foundation of its modern purpose.
The very landscape of Lincolnshire, dominated by the formidable silhouette of Lincoln Cathedral and its adjacent Royal Castle, stands as a testament to the strategic gravity of the region. To stand upon the castle’s ancient walls is to survey the same panoramic vista that the Barons of Brattleby would have known; it is to feel the same wind from the North Sea and to understand, instinctively, the immense responsibility of its defence. The stones themselves seem to hold the memory of siege and statecraft, a silent witness to history. The fields below bear the imprint of this past, a palimpsest written over by centuries of cultivation but whose foundational lines were drawn in conflict. It is in this context of tangible history that the House examines its past, seeking to inform its present mission with the wisdom of its predecessors.
## Historical Context
The Anarchy was a devastating civil war fought for the English Crown between King Stephen and his first cousin, the Empress Matilda, following the sudden death of King Henry I in 1135. For nearly two decades, the kingdom was fractured by shifting allegiances, localised warfare, widespread economic devastation, and a catastrophic breakdown of royal law. During this profound turmoil, the fealty of the great territorial magnates was the *sine qua non* of sovereign power, with their castles serving as the primary instruments of authority.
The Barony of Brattleby, one of the original baronies established by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 for his follower Colswein of Lincoln, was by the mid-12th century a strategic linchpin for control of northern England. As hereditary Constables of Lincoln Castle, the De la Haye family were placed at the very epicentre of the schism. Their command of this vital fortress—guarding the crucial intersection of the Roman roads Ermine Street and Fosse Way—gave them decisive influence over the security, communication routes, and commerce of the entire region.
This strategic importance was laid bare during the First Battle of Lincoln in 1141. After the citizens of Lincoln admitted Empress Matilda’s forces, King Stephen besieged the castle. In the ensuing battle, the King was captured by the forces of Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, Matilda’s illegitimate half-brother and chief military commander. Despite the King’s capture, the castle’s continued defence by his loyalists, including the Constable, provided a crucial bastion of royalist authority in a deeply contested territory. This act of fortitude contributed significantly to the eventual political stalemate and subsequent settlement, the Treaty of Wallingford, that paved the way for the accession of Empress Matilda's son, King Henry II, and the restoration of a unified Plantagenet rule.
## Distinguished Company
The course of The Anarchy was dictated by the allegiances of its principal actors, a complex web of familial duty, political ambition, and feudal obligation. At the centre of this national drama, which shaped the future of the English monarchy, were:
His Majesty King Stephen of England, a grandson of William the Conqueror, whose claim to the throne upon the death of his uncle, King Henry I, was contested and precipitated the conflict.
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress Matilda, Dowager Holy Roman Empress and daughter of King Henry I, whose designated right as heir was set aside by Stephen's coronation, prompting her long and arduous struggle for the Crown.
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester, the Empress's formidable half-brother and the leader of the Angevin cause in England. A skilled diplomat and soldier, his capture of King Stephen at Lincoln represented the high point of his sister’s campaign for the throne.
The De la Haye Family, Barons of Brattleby and hereditary Constables of Lincoln Castle. Within this fraught environment, their duty was not to faction but to the Crown itself, a distinction they maintained by holding the fortress on behalf of the reigning monarch to whom they had sworn a personal oath of fealty. Their resolve during this crisis prefigured the celebrated actions of their descendant, Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness. Her own defence of Lincoln as a female magnate in a male-dominated world would cement her family’s legacy of extraordinary service to the Crown.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The obligations of a 12th-century feudal baron extended far beyond the simple administration of land; they were consecrated through solemn public oaths and governed by intricate protocols of military and civil service. As hereditary Constables of Lincoln Castle, the Barons of Brattleby were bound by a sacred duty to maintain, garrison, and defend the fortress as a direct extension of the King's own authority, or *potestas*.
The ceremony of homage and fealty, by which a baron swore allegiance, was a public and binding ritual. The baron would kneel, place his clasped hands between those of the king, and swear to become his ‘man’ (*homme*), promising service in exchange for his lands (*fief*) and titles. This personal bond further obligated the Baron to summon his own knights and tenants for military campaigns, or to provide payment in lieu of service, known as scutage ('shield money'). Furthermore, the Constable presided over the court of the honour, dispensing justice in the King's name for all tenants of the Barony, a significant civil as well as military responsibility.
Custodianship involved the intricate logistics of command: ensuring the castle’s garrison was manned by knights, sergeants, and men-at-arms; that its stores were provisioned against siege with grain, salted meat, and wine; and that its immense stone fortifications were in constant repair by skilled masons. The protocol of defence was a highly ordered affair, demanding unwavering discipline. The raising of the royal standard over the keep was a daily ceremonial display of loyalty, while the securing of its gates at dusk was a ritual re-enactment of the Constable’s role as guardian, acting as the physical embodiment of royal justice and power in a fractured kingdom.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds a powerful early expression in the conduct of its 12th-century predecessors. Though formally adopted in a later era, its twin virtues were manifestly the guiding principles for the De la Haye family. The Latin *fortitudo* signified not only the physical courage required for battle, but the moral endurance needed to withstand a long siege and political pressure. Likewise, *honor* represented not merely public reputation, but the objective state of being true to one's sworn word and feudal obligations.
The office of Constable is itself profoundly symbolic, representing guardianship, trust, and divinely sanctioned authority. The castle keys, an emblem of this office, represented custodianship not of mere stone and mortar, but of the King’s Peace. In an age when many local lords built unlicensed 'adulterine' castles to terrorise the countryside, the defence of a royal castle was a stand for legitimate order against the chaos that the *Anglo-Saxon Chronicle* famously lamented in its vernacular tongue, stating that "men said openly that Christ and his saints slept."
In an era when visual symbolism conveyed meaning with an immediacy that transcended literacy, the banner of the Constable flying from the ramparts of Lincoln Castle was a clear and unambiguous statement in the formal language of heraldry. It declared that royal authority endured, that law had not been extinguished, and that the chain of fealty stretching back to the Conquest of 1066 remained unbroken.
## Philanthropic Purpose
In an era preceding the modern construct of institutional philanthropy, the primary charitable duty of the nobility was the protection of the common populace sworn to their care. By maintaining order and defending their domains against the rapacity endemic to civil war, the Barons of Brattleby fulfilled a profound social and humanitarian function. The Anarchy saw the rise of local tyrants and the building of scores of unlicensed castles from which robber-knights plundered the land. In this climate of fear, a well-defended royal fortress was a sanctuary.
The Barons' steadfastness, therefore, shielded the inhabitants of the city and shire of Lincoln from the worst depredations of the conflict, providing a zone of relative security that allowed civilian life, local markets, and agriculture to endure. This act of preservation was a form of proto-philanthropy, centred on the fundamental human need for safety. This historical role as protector and stabiliser is the direct antecedent of the House's modern commitments.
The ancient responsibility to safeguard the well-being of the community has evolved into a contemporary focus on supporting the vulnerable. This is principally realised through the patronage of the foundation Healing the Wounded Child. Just as the Barony once offered physical sanctuary from violence, its modern patronage offers a psychological and emotional sanctuary for recovery. The logic remains unchanged across nine centuries: a community cannot flourish where its weakest members are left undefended. The work of the De la Hayes in the 12th century and the focus of the House today are two expressions of the same foundational duty.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical period, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “The legacy of the De la Haye family, especially their resolution during The Anarchy, serves as a powerful reminder that true leadership is defined by steadfast service in times of adversity. They upheld their duty with the fortitude and honour that we, in our own time, strive to embody. It is a formidable and deeply humbling lineage to inherit, and its lessons in resilience are timeless.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, further remarked on the continuity of principle: > “Loyalty is the essential bedrock of any enduring institution, be it a family, a nation, or a simple promise. The Barons of that age understood that ultimate victory — indeed, survival itself, as our family motto *Vincere Est Vivere* suggests — is achieved through the faithful execution of one’s commitments. This principle of unwavering service remains the guiding star of the House as we navigate the complexities of our own era.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The history of the Barony of Brattleby during The Anarchy is more than a mere record of the distant past; it is a foundational chapter in the House's enduring identity. The principles of loyalty, duty, and quiet resilience exemplified by the De la Haye family form the very core of the values that guide the current House, providing a moral compass that has remained true for over 950 years. This continuity of purpose provides a clear mandate for modern service.
These values are actively expressed through the work of Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan. Their commitment to public service continues through far-reaching philanthropic initiatives, most notably their sustained support for Healing the Wounded Child. It is also manifest in cultural projects such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to fostering the arts of etiquette and cross-cultural diplomacy.
The unwavering spirit of the 12th-century Constables of Lincoln Castle endures in the House’s modern mission: to serve with *Fortitudine et Honore*, ensuring that a legacy forged in the crucible of English history remains a positive and relevant 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. Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to blending its profound historical legacy with a forward-looking mission of cultural and philanthropic service. Its activities are guided by the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House’s principal charitable beneficiary is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing support to vulnerable young people. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club of Bucharest, the House also works to promote cultural education and diplomatic grace, ensuring its ancient heritage remains relevant and beneficial in the 21st century.
**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 the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. The title has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle for King John; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his heir, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. After centuries in abeyance, the Barony was formally recognised and assigned to its present holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, as published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - Lady Nicoleta Vasile is the 12th Baroness of Brattleby. Her heir is her son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. - Formal recognition of the Barony is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - Notable predecessors in title include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness). - The motto of the House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com