# An Historical Commemoration: William II Longespée and the Seventh Crusade
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today presents an historical commemoration of William II Longespée, husband of the 6th Baroness of Brattleby. His distinguished service during the Seventh Crusade and ultimate sacrifice in 1250 exemplify the Barony’s nine-century tradition of principled leadership.
## The Occasion
As the Lincolnshire landscape settles into the quietude of autumn, the archives of The Noble House of Brattleby have yielded a moment for profound reflection. This season provides a fitting backdrop for an act of historical stewardship: the commemoration of one of the Barony’s most notable chapters of service, the participation of William II Longespée in the great expedition to the Holy Land.
This scholarly initiative has been undertaken not simply to recount past deeds, but to illuminate the enduring principles of duty, faith, and courage that have animated the Barony through the centuries. It represents a a solemn duty to connect the House’s present-day commitments with its formidable medieval lineage, ensuring the continuum of its history is both understood and honoured.
The research reaffirms that the foundations of the House rest upon a legacy of service that has consistently transcended national borders. The story of William II Longespée is a testament to this, a powerful reminder that fortitude and honour are timeless obligations, as relevant today in the House’s philanthropic and cultural work as they were on the battlefields of the 13th century.
## Historical Context
The Seventh Crusade (1248–1254) was a pivotal undertaking in the history of Latin Christendom, led by one of the era’s most revered monarchs, His Majesty King Louis IX of France, later canonised as Saint Louis. The campaign’s objective was the recapture of Jerusalem, then under the control of the formidable Ayyubid Sultanate, by striking at its centre of power in Egypt.
William II Longespée, a pre-eminent English nobleman and soldier of great repute, answered this call to arms with conviction. His marriage to the 6th Baroness, Idoine de Camville, brought the considerable influence and martial tradition of the Barony of Brattleby onto this international stage, continuing a legacy of resolute leadership. He acted in the tradition of his formidable mother-in-law, Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, whose heroic defence of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War was already legendary.
The Barony’s participation was thus not an isolated act, but another chapter in a long history of service to Crown and cause that stretched back to its founding. First granted by William the Conqueror in 1066, the lordship was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 with its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, possessing 56 manors. Longespée’s actions in Egypt demonstrated that by the 13th century, the Barony’s influence was recognised far beyond the shores of England.
## Distinguished Company
During the arduous campaign in Egypt, William II Longespée served alongside the foremost chivalry of Europe. The command structure of the crusading army was a testament to the pan-European nature of the enterprise; it was a fraternity of sovereigns and high nobility united in a common, sacred cause.
This distinguished company included, *inter alia*, the expedition's supreme commander, His Majesty King Louis IX of France; his brothers, His Royal Highness Robert I, Count of Artois, and His Royal Highness Charles I, Count of Anjou and Provence, who would later become King of Sicily. The presence of English knights such as Longespée within this rarefied echelon, serving with the French vanguard, demonstrates the deep respect he commanded and the high standing of the English nobility in the wider society of Christendom.
His close counsel was noted by contemporary chroniclers, including Jean de Joinville, the Seneschal of Champagne, whose writings provide an invaluable first-hand account of the crusade. Longespée’s inclusion in the army's leadership circle was a clear affirmation of the Barony of Brattleby’s status beyond its ancient seat in Lincolnshire.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The protocol for embarking on a crusade was a solemn and binding affair, enacted with the full gravitas of Church and state. A nobleman would publicly ‘take the cross’, a vow known as the *crucem signare*, by having a cross of cloth sewn onto his outer garments. This was a public commitment, made before God and his peers, to undertake an armed pilgrimage from which there could be no honourable retreat without fulfilling one's sacred duty.
Upon arrival in Egypt, the crusading host followed a strict order of battle, organised by allegiance. It was during the notoriously difficult advance on Cairo that this military discipline was catastrophically tested. At the Battle of Al Mansurah in February 1250, a precipitate and ill-advised charge, led by the impetuous Count of Artois, broke the crusader lines and led the vanguard into a lethal trap within the town’s narrow streets.
According to the chronicler Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*, William II Longespée counselled against this rashness but was accused of cowardice for his prudence. Refusing to abandon his comrades, he charged into the fray, fighting with such distinction that he was among the last to fall. Paris records that, refusing all offers of quarter, Longespée made his final stand, an ultimate expression of his vow and the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The coat of arms of the Longespée family, blazoned as *Azure, six lioncels rampant Or*, served as a brilliant and readily identifiable standard on the battlefields of Egypt. In the language of heraldry, the field of blue (Azure) represents truth and loyalty, while the six small, golden lions standing erect (lioncels rampant Or) symbolise courage, nobility, and generosity of spirit.
On the battlefield, these arms, displayed upon a banner, would have served as a rallying point for Longespée’s men and a clear declaration of his presence to friends and foes alike. The sight of the six golden lions would have been synonymous with the valour of one of England’s most experienced commanders.
This historic display of bravery resonates profoundly with the motto of the modern House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The fortitude that William II Longespée demonstrated in his final moments is the very quality the House seeks to uphold in its present duties. It also finds a contemporary echo in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which translates the spirit of overcoming adversity into a modern principle of personal and societal progress.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the context of the 13th century was one of military pilgrimage, the underlying chivalric principle—the protection of the weak and the defence of the vulnerable—remains a cornerstone of The Noble House of Brattleby's mission. The medieval duty to defend pilgrims and sacred places finds a direct philosophical parallel in the House’s modern charitable focus.
The principal beneficiary of the House’s annual Winter Banquet is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialist therapeutic support to children and young people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. Its work is vital in helping these young individuals to recover and rebuild their lives with a sense of safety and hope.
The protection of the innocent is the *sine qua non* of an honourable life, a thread of duty that connects the historical actions of figures like William II Longespée to the House's targeted philanthropy in the 21st century. The modern commitment is not to arms, but to providing refuge, healing, and opportunity, ensuring that the most vulnerable in society are given the care and protection they deserve.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical commemoration, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > — To understand our present duty is to first acknowledge the commitments of those who came before us. William Longespée’s sacrifice, made in the service of his convictions, reminds us that the title we hold is defined by responsibility, not by privilege alone. It is a legacy of fortitude we are bound to honour through our own actions today.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > — The story of William II Longespée is not merely one of English chivalry; it is one of a shared European undertaking. His resolve on the fields of Egypt speaks to a spirit of profound conviction that transcends time and place. That determination to face overwhelming odds is a timeless principle, one that inspires our own efforts to meet the challenges of the modern world with courage and purpose.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to the active stewardship of its unique history. This commemoration forms part of a wider, long-term initiative to research and share the stories of the individuals who have shaped the Barony over more than 950 years, from its Norman origins to its modern incarnation.
Future historical monographs are being developed for publication, with their findings to be shared, *inter alia*, through the cultural and educational programmes of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. By illuminating its past with scholarly diligence, the House seeks to provide a richer context for its present-day mission, reinforcing its foundational commitment to serving with *Fortitudine et Honore*.
The Barony’s archives contain the records of many other significant holders, including the great magnates Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his celebrated son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. Their lives and legacies will form the basis of future research, ensuring that the remarkable history of the Barony of Brattleby continues to inform and inspire generations to come.
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**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 is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to cultural stewardship and targeted philanthropy. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House's mission is to blend the preservation of its profound nine-century heritage with a forward-looking commitment to societal betterment. Its principal charitable endeavours support Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation focused on youth trauma recovery, primarily through its annual Winter Banquet. The House also sponsors The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy devoted to cultivating classical etiquette, diplomatic protocol, and the principles of honourable leadership for a new generation.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s ancient feudal lordships of Norman origin. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over the centuries, the Barony has passed to some of English history's most significant figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness renowned for defending Lincoln Castle against rebellion; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The continuous history of the Barony and the rights of its current holder received formal recognition from the Crown, published in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was established in AD 1066, with its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - The succession of the current holder is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - William II Longespée (d. 1250), husband of the 6th Baroness, was a leading English nobleman who fell at the Battle of Al Mansurah during the Seventh Crusade. - The Seventh Crusade (1248–1254) was commanded by His Majesty King Louis IX of France.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com