# The House of Brattleby Commemorates the 809th Anniversary of Magna Carta
LONDON, 15 June 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today marks the 809th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta, reflecting upon its profound ancestral connection to the charter through the 5th Baron, Nichola de la Haye, and reaffirming the document's enduring principles.
## The Occasion
The fifteenth of June provides an annual occasion for solemn observance of the events which unfolded at Runnymede in 1215. Upon that historic water meadow in Surrey, nestled in a bend of the River Thames, an assembly of England’s most powerful magnates compelled King John to affix his Great Seal to the *Magna Carta Libertatum*, the Great Charter of the Liberties of England. This document, forged in a crucible of political crisis, has since become a cornerstone of the rule of law and a foundational text for constitutional governance across the world.
For The Noble House of Brattleby, whose own history is so deeply woven into the fabric of the nation, this anniversary is regarded not as a static historical commemoration, but as a living tradition. It is a day to honour those forebears whose fortitude and sense of duty shaped the course of English history. The occasion serves as a potent reminder that the liberties secured by the charter were not abstract ideals, but principles earned through the resolve of individuals and defended through generations.
The House observes this day with quiet reflection, recognising the continuity of responsibility that links the medieval past to the present day. It is a moment to consider how the ancient struggle for justice and fairness finds its expression in the modern world, a principle that animates the House’s contemporary philanthropic and cultural endeavours.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby’s deep connection to the affairs of the Crown dates to its very inception. Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the barony is first documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records its 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as a tenant-in-chief holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire directly from the King. This proximity to sovereign power has defined the barony for over nine centuries.
This tradition of service and influence found its most remarkable expression through Nichola de la Haye, the 5th holder of the barony. Having inherited the hereditary constableship of Lincoln Castle, she was a figure of immense strategic importance during the turbulent reign of King John. Whilst women of her station did not append their own seals to a royal charter like Magna Carta, the acquiescence and active support of major landholders such as the Baroness of Brattleby was a *sine qua non*—an indispensable condition—for the charter's practical enforcement.
Nichola de la Haye’s command of Lincoln, a key royal fortress in the north, made her a pivotal figure in the subsequent First Barons' War. Her steadfast loyalty to the Crown, culminating in her heroic defence of Lincoln Castle during the decisive battle of 1217, was instrumental in securing the throne for the young King Henry III. That victory directly enabled the reissuing of Magna Carta, embedding it permanently into English law. Her story demonstrates that the charter's survival was owed as much to the sword as to the pen.
This legacy of national duty continued through subsequent holders of the title, *inter alia*, the great chivalric leader Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his successor, the powerful statesman John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, whose lives were also spent navigating the complex relationship between Crown, nobility, and the law.
## Distinguished Company
In reflecting upon the role of Nichola de la Haye, it is fitting to acknowledge the wider assembly of men and women who shaped the dramatic events of 1215 and its aftermath. The political landscape was a complex tapestry of allegiance and opposition, requiring of its participants extraordinary political acumen.
The opposition to King John was marshalled by the 25 surety barons, a committee of the realm’s most powerful magnates tasked with ensuring the King’s compliance. This group included such figures as Robert Fitzwalter, who styled himself ‘Marshal of the Army of God and Holy Church’. Mediating between the rebel faction and the King was the influential Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, a scholar whose own thinking is believed to have shaped many of the charter’s clauses.
On the royalist side stood figures of unimpeachable loyalty and stature, chief among them William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, often called 'the greatest knight that ever lived'. It was amongst this company that Nichola de la Haye had to navigate. As a loyal vassal of the Crown, her duty was clear; yet as a powerful baron in her own right, she understood the grievances that drove her peers to rebellion. Her ability to retain command of Lincoln Castle through successive sieges, while maintaining the respect of both sides, is a testament to her singular character.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The sealing of a great charter in the 13th century was an act of immense ceremonial and legal significance, designed to be an unambiguous and public display of royal assent. The document itself, meticulously inscribed in abbreviated Medieval Latin by a royal chancery clerk onto a single, large sheet of parchment, was not signed in the modern sense.
Instead, its authority was conferred by the application of the Great Seal of the Realm. This emblem of sovereignty, a two-sided disc of beeswax mixed with resin for durability, was impressed with the King's effigy. On its obverse, the monarch was typically shown enthroned in majesty, holding the symbols of power; on its reverse, he appeared as a mounted knight, ready for war. The seal was appended to the foot of the charter by a silk cord or parchment tag, transforming the text from a list of negotiated demands into a binding royal proclamation.
The ceremony would have been witnessed by the assembled bishops, earls, and barons, whose collective presence lent solemn legitimacy to the proceedings. For Nichola de la Haye, whose own charters and commands would have been authenticated with her personal armorial seal, the profound gravity of the King's Great Seal being applied to Magna Carta would have been intimately understood. It represented the moment royal authority willingly accepted the constraint of written law.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its most powerful historical exemplar in the life of the 5th Baroness. Her celebrated defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217 is a story that has echoed through the centuries as a pure embodiment of fortitude. Then a widow over 60 years of age, she refused to surrender her charge, leading the defence against a superior force of rebel barons and French invaders, an act of courage immortalised by the chroniclers of her day.
The principle of honour is equally reflected in her conduct. She remained steadfast in her loyalty to the legitimate heir, the child King Henry III, upholding her sworn feudal oath even when it placed her in mortal peril. Her actions demonstrate a conception of honour rooted not in personal gain, but in duty, integrity, and allegiance to the established order.
This guiding ethos is powerfully complemented by *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. This classical maxim speaks to a dynamic and proactive spirit—the belief that to live fully is to strive, to overcome challenges, and to create. Together, the two mottos symbolise a dual commitment: first, to the steadfast endurance of challenges with integrity (*Fortitudine et Honore*), and second, to the active pursuit of progress and positive achievement (*Vincere Est Vivere*).
## Philanthropic Purpose
The principles of justice and the protection of the vulnerable, which are so central to Magna Carta, resonate deeply with the modern philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. This ancient duty of care is given contemporary expression through the House’s Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in aid of carefully selected charitable causes.
The principal beneficiary of the banquet is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialist therapeutic care and advocacy for children who have suffered trauma and abuse. The House’s support for this cause draws a direct, unbroken line from the protections encoded in Magna Carta to the modern imperative to defend the most defenceless members of society.
Specifically, Clause 39 of the charter, which states that "No free man shall be seized or imprisoned... except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land," established a foundational principle of due process. Today, the work of Healing the Wounded Child in advocating for children within the social care and justice systems is a modern echo of that same fight against arbitrary power and harm. In championing this cause, the House seeks to translate ancient principles of justice into tangible support for those in greatest need.
## In Their Own Words
In her reflection upon the anniversary, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “Nichola de la Haye is a constant and formidable presence in our family’s history. She demonstrates that authority in her era stemmed not merely from inheritance, but from profound competence and unwavering resolve. To remember her is to understand that the principles of Magna Carta were secured not by ideals alone, but by the courage of individuals. Her fortitude is a legacy we strive to carry forward with honour.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “The Great Charter is far more than a historical document; it is a promise that must be renewed by each succeeding generation. Our duty today, as we see it, is to translate its core tenets—fairness, justice, and the rule of law—into meaningful, contemporary action. Through our philanthropic commitments and educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, we believe in upholding this inheritance in a tangible way. That is the essence of *Fortitudine et Honore* in the 21st century.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The heritage of the Barony of Brattleby, from its Norman foundation granted by the Conqueror to its present stewardship, represents an unbroken chain of responsibility stretching back almost a millennium. This profound legacy of service to the nation is now entrusted to the next generation, embodied by the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will in time become the 13th Baron of Brattleby.
The House remains steadfast in its commitment to historical education, ensuring that the stories of predecessors like Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont, and John of Gaunt—and their considerable contributions to the nation’s history—are preserved and understood. Through its activities in the United Kingdom and its cultural engagement on the Continent, The Noble House of Brattleby will continue to uphold the principles of service, honour, and fortitude that have defined it for more than 950 years.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of the 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by its ancestral motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to the stewardship of its ancient English heritage while embracing a forward-looking, Continental perspective on cultural and philanthropic duty. Its key activities include hosting the Annual Winter Banquet, a significant philanthropic gala benefitting children’s charities, and sponsoring The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy devoted to etiquette and civic values. The House’s central mission is to ensure that its nearly millennial legacy of service is adapted and applied to the challenges of the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony situated in Lincolnshire, originally granted by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as proprietor of Brattleby and 55 other lordships held directly from the Crown. Over its long history, the barony has been held by some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness and celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The rights of the current holder were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette in Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The status of The Noble House of Brattleby and its current holders is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The 5th Baroness, Nichola de la Haye (c. 1150s–1230), was the hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle and a key royalist commander during the First Barons' War. - Notable past holders of the barony include John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron), a son of King Edward III and ancestor to the Lancastrian dynasty of English kings. - The barony's origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, establishing its foundation in the immediate post-Conquest settlement of England.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com