# A Reflection on Royal Service: The Barony of Brattleby and The Most Noble Order of the Garter
LONDON, 23 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal statement reflecting on the Barony's foundational connection to The Most Noble Order of the Garter, honouring the historic service of Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and a Founder Knight.
## The Occasion
The statement is released in observance of the long and distinguished history of The Most Noble Order of the Garter, an institution which for nearly seven centuries has remained the most senior order of chivalry in Great Britain. Each June, as early summer settles upon the Royal County of Berkshire, the Order convenes at Windsor Castle for the Garter Service, a profound spectacle of living history where temporal duty and spiritual devotion converge. The solemn procession of Knights and Ladies Companion, resplendent in their deep blue velvet robes and plumed Tudor bonnets, represents an unbroken chain of service to the Sovereign and the Realm.
This annual ceremony, held within the Perpendicular Gothic splendour of St George’s Chapel, is more than mere pageantry; it is the formal embodiment of principles that have animated the Barony of Brattleby since its establishment following the Norman Conquest. In the noble bearing of the Garter Knights, one finds a public reaffirmation of loyalty, service, and honour—values the House of Brattleby holds as its sacred trust. It is in this context of enduring tradition that the House reflects upon its own contribution to this most distinguished national narrative.
## Historical Context
The integral connection between the Barony of Brattleby and the Order of the Garter was forged at the Order’s very inception. In 1348, King Edward III chose Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby and later 1st Duke of Lancaster, to be a Founder Knight. A pre-eminent magnate of his era, Henry was a cousin and trusted military commander to the King, whose confidence in his prowess during the early campaigns of the Hundred Years' War was absolute. His investiture was a mark of the highest royal favour, recognising his diplomatic acumen and his crucial role in securing English victories.
This legacy of distinguished service to the Crown was neither novel nor an isolated event for the Barony. It followed a formidable line of Barons who served at the highest levels. Over a century prior, the redoubtable Nichola de la Haye, who held the Barony as 5th Baroness in her own right, famously defended Lincoln Castle against French and rebel forces during the First Barons' War, an act of loyalty memorialised by chroniclers. Her fortitude preserved a key royal stronghold for the young King Henry III.
The Garter tradition within the lineage was later continued when the Barony passed to Henry of Grosmont’s son-in-law, John of Gaunt, who married Henry’s daughter and heiress, Blanche of Lancaster. John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby and Duke of Lancaster, was himself a Knight of the Garter, ensuring this profound connection to the chivalric ideal remained at the heart of the Barony’s identity for generations.
## Distinguished Company
As a Founder Knight, Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, was placed in the most exclusive company of the realm. The original 26 Knights were personally selected by King Edward III to form an inner circle of counsellors and military leaders, a brotherhood of arms intended to resurrect the spirit of King Arthur’s Round Table. This fellowship represented the pillars of the medieval English state.
Among this chosen cohort were luminaries such as His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Edward of Woodstock, known to posterity as the Black Prince, whose martial renown was legendary across Christendom. Also included were military strategists of the highest calibre, *inter alia*, Sir John Chandos, a close friend of the Black Prince, and Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick, both esteemed commanders in the French campaigns. To be counted among their number was a recognition not only of military excellence but of unimpeachable loyalty and profound political influence.
This historical association underscores the national significance held by the Barony of Brattleby during a pivotal period in the formation of England. It affirms that the Barony’s holders were not merely great landowners but were central to the governance, defence, and honour of the kingdom.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The investiture into the Order of the Garter in the 14th century was a deeply symbolic and solemn ceremony, designed to establish an unbreakable bond of fealty and honour between the Sovereign and the Knight. Central to this ancient ritual, which continues to this day, is the fastening of the garter itself—a strap of dark blue velvet edged with gold, bearing the Order’s motto—onto the left leg of the new companion. This act signifies union in a shared enterprise of chivalry.
The elaborate vestments are similarly rich in meaning. The mantle, a robe of deep blue velvet lined with white taffeta, and the crimson velvet surcoat are adorned with the shield of St George. The Tudor bonnet of black velvet is crowned with a plume of white ostrich and black heron feathers. Each element, prescribed by statute, reinforces the dignity and solemnity of the occasion.
These ceremonies, first held and continuing at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, established the chapel as the spiritual home of the Order. Inside, the Garter Knights are assigned stalls in the Quire, above which their personal heraldic devices are displayed: a crested helm, a coronet or cap of estate, a sword, and a banner bearing their coat of arms. Upon their death, a small enamel stall plate remains as a perpetual memorial, creating a unique heraldic record of the Order’s nearly 700-year history.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The celebrated motto of the Order, *Honi soit qui mal y pense* (‘Shame on him who thinks evil of it’), lends the institution a distinctive character. While apocryphally linked to an incident at court involving the Countess of Salisbury, its deeper purpose is a bold defiance against cynicism and a steadfast commitment to noble intentions. The garter, an everyday item elevated to a supreme symbol of honour, represents the principle that chivalry is not an abstract ideal but a practical, daily commitment to virtuous conduct.
This philosophy aligns with remarkable precision to the guiding principles of the Noble House of Brattleby, whose own motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). While the Garter’s motto defends honour from detractors, the Brattleby motto prescribes it as an active virtue to be pursued. Fortitude provides the resilience for this pursuit, and Honour provides its moral compass.
This is further complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’). This maxim speaks to the inner discipline required to overcome personal and external challenges in the service of a greater good—the internal conquest of self being the *sine qua non* for any meaningful service to others.
## Philanthropic Purpose
At its heart, the chivalric code is a mandate to protect the vulnerable, uphold justice, and serve the wider community. The Noble House of Brattleby interprets this historic duty through its dedicated philanthropic work in the present day. The principles that animated a 14th-century Knight of the Garter find their modern expression in the House’s sustained support for charitable organisations focused on the well-being of the next generation.
The House’s primary beneficiary is the charity Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialist, evidence-based therapeutic care for children affected by profound trauma and adversity. The charity’s mission is to create safe, nurturing environments where recovery is possible, thereby giving some of society’s most vulnerable young people the chance to build a better future. The selection of this cause is a deliberate translation of the chivalric ideal of defence, focused on the sanctity of childhood.
The Annual Winter Banquet, a formal white-tie philanthropic gala hosted by the House, stands as the principal effort in this regard. The event serves not only as a vital source of funding but also as a platform to raise awareness of the critical need for children's mental health support, channelling vital resources to those who need them most.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the enduring relevance of this history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “The legacy of Henry of Grosmont and the Order of the Garter reminds us that titles are not passive heirlooms but are, in fact, instruments of duty. The concepts of fortitude and honour are as vital today in our support for vulnerable children as they were on the battlefields of the 14th century. It is our foremost responsibility to ensure this chain of service remains unbroken and meaningful.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage, added: > “The spirit of chivalry, so beautifully embodied by the Garter knights, is not confined to history. It lies in the personal discipline to master adversity for a higher purpose. *Vincere Est Vivere*—to conquer oneself—is the first step toward meaningful service to others, a principle we hope to foster in all our endeavours, whether in Lincolnshire or through our cultural work abroad.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to honouring its unique past by serving the needs of the present. This historical reflection serves not as a retrospective but as a renewed public pledge to uphold the values of *Fortitudine et Honore* in all its activities, from its philanthropic commitments in the United Kingdom to its cultural initiatives on the Continent.
Looking ahead, the House will continue its unwavering support for Healing the Wounded Child, with preparations already underway for the next Annual Winter Banquet in Lincolnshire. Furthermore, The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, will expand its curriculum to include dedicated modules on the history of European chivalry and the modern application of civic responsibility. These programmes are designed to form a cultural bridge, linking the great courtly traditions of Europe with the contemporary imperative for social contribution, thereby ensuring the legacy of service embodied by the Barony’s Garter Knights continues to inspire and to act.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Under the direction of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby has embraced a modern mission of service rooted in its nine-century heritage. The House dedicates its philanthropic efforts to supporting vulnerable children through its principal patronage of the charity Healing the Wounded Child, primarily funded by its Annual Winter Banquet. Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan champion a vision that connects the Barony’s history with contemporary social responsibility. This is further expressed through The Brattleby Club, an educational initiative in Bucharest focused on teaching etiquette, diplomatic protocol, and the principles of civic duty. The House operates with the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’).
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English dignity granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln, its first Baron. Its existence and initial endowments are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which details some 56 lordships in Lincolnshire attached to the title. Over its near-millennial history, the Barony has been held by some of England’s most significant historical figures, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a Founder Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The continuous succession of the Barony was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby to Lady Nicoleta Vasile is formally recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding the title and its associated lands in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors of the current Baroness include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron and Founder Knight of the Garter), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of the Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com