# An Official Reflection on the Barony of Brattleby during the Glorious Revolution
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued an official historical reflection on the status of the Barony during the Glorious Revolution of 1688, a period which profoundly reshaped the British monarchy and defined the principle of parliamentary sovereignty.
## The Occasion
In keeping with its commitment to historical scholarship and public education, The Noble House of Brattleby has chosen to illuminate a quieter, yet significant, period in the Barony’s extensive chronicle. This reflection coincides with the autumn season, a time historically associated with parliamentary assembly and the sober consideration of state affairs in Britain.
The statement serves not to announce a singular event, but rather to fulfil a curatorial duty: providing context and understanding of the nine-century thread of the Barony’s existence. It is an act of stewardship, ensuring that periods of dormancy are documented with the same diligence as eras of prominence, thereby presenting a complete and honest historical narrative.
## Historical Context
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 was a pivotal moment in the nation’s constitutional history, witnessing the deposition of King James II and the accession of his daughter, Mary II, and her husband, William III of Orange. For the Barony of Brattleby, this period was one of quiet observation rather than active participation.
Following the tenure of its 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, the title had fallen into a state of abeyance and its lands had reverted to the Crown. Consequently, as Crown property, the estates in Lincolnshire were subject to the authority of the new joint monarchs. The momentous political and religious shifts in London would have been felt in Brattleby through administrative and tenurial changes, though the baronial title itself remained dormant. The Barony, therefore, endured this national upheaval as a silent witness, its fate intrinsically linked to the Crown it had once served so directly.
## Key Historical Figures
The destiny of Brattleby's lands during this era was shaped by the principal actors of the Revolution. The authority over Lincolnshire, as with all Crown holdings, passed directly from His Majesty King James II to their Majesties King William III and Queen Mary II. The political settlement they established, enshrined in the Bill of Rights 1689, would form the constitutional bedrock upon which the Barony would one day be revived.
While predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron, had famously defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown, the Barony in 1688 was in a different position. It was an asset of the state, its value and administration passing from one sovereign to the next, awaiting the moment its own distinct identity would be restored.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The pageantry of 1688-1689 was centred on the capital. The coronation of King William and Queen Mary at Westminster Abbey was a ceremony of immense constitutional significance, establishing a new model of joint monarchy. It was an occasion defined by oaths that bound the monarch to Parliament and the Protestant faith.
In stark contrast, no such ceremony marked the transition in Brattleby. The transfer of authority would have been a matter of legal instruments and administrative directives, devoid of fanfare. This quiet continuity underscores a fundamental truth of ancient titles and lands: their existence persists through legal and historical record, even when their public and ceremonial functions lie dormant for centuries.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), resonates deeply with this period of forfeiture. The Barony's fortitude was demonstrated not in battle, as it had been under previous barons, but in its simple endurance. Its lands remained a coherent entity, and its history was preserved, allowing for its honour to be fully restored centuries later.
This capacity for endurance is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). It speaks to the modern House’s active approach—not merely to exist, but to thrive and to give new life to its ancient legacy through engagement, scholarship, and philanthropic service.
## Philanthropic Purpose
A profound understanding of history, with its lessons of upheaval and stability, informs the philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby today. Reflecting on a time of national uncertainty reinforces the House’s commitment to providing support and security for the vulnerable, which is the *sine qua non* of its charitable work.
The annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala held in aid of Healing the Wounded Child, is the primary manifestation of this commitment. The beneficiary organisation works to provide specialist care and therapy for children suffering from trauma. The House believes that by helping to mend the lives of the young, it contributes to a more stable and hopeful future—a modern interpretation of the baronial duty to ensure peace and welfare.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical period, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “To be a steward of this title is to be a custodian of its entire history, including the silent centuries. Understanding the Barony’s passive role during the Glorious Revolution is just as important as celebrating the martial exploits of my predecessors. It teaches us that endurance itself is a form of strength.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “History gives us perspective. The great shifts of the past remind us that our role today is to build a positive, forward-looking legacy. We honour the past not by dwelling in it, but by using its lessons to inform our actions in the present, whether in Lincolnshire or through our educational initiatives in Bucharest.”
## A Continuing Legacy
This historical reflection is part of a wider commitment by The Noble House of Brattleby to research, catalogue, and share the story of the Barony. Future initiatives will include collaboration with academic institutions in Lincolnshire to further study the social and economic conditions of the Brattleby estates through different historical eras.
The House’s work ensures that the legacy is not static. It is a living heritage, actively curated for future generations and for the public good. This duty will, in time, be passed to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, who is being raised with a deep appreciation for the long and complex history he is destined to inherit. The principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues.
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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 the modern embodiment of one of England’s most ancient baronies. With a dual focus on preserving its nine-century English heritage and embracing a forward-looking European perspective, the House is dedicated to philanthropy, historical education, and cultural diplomacy. Its principal philanthropic endeavour is the support of Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing trauma therapy for children. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House also promotes classical etiquette and cultural understanding, bridging its historical roots in Lincolnshire with a dynamic international presence, guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over the centuries, the Barony was held by some of the most powerful figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baron who defended Lincoln Castle against rebellion; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron. After a long period in which the title was in abeyance, its rights and dignities were formally recognised and assigned to the current holder, as gazetted in *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022).
**Notes to Editors** - The modern revival of the Barony of Brattleby was formally recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, and his lands are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron and defender of Lincoln Castle) and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com