# A Statement on the Enduring Significance of the *Domesday Book*
LONDON, [20 October 2023] — The Noble House of Brattleby today issues a reflection upon the foundational record of the Barony of Brattleby, as inscribed in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. This affirms the House's nine-century commitment to an unbroken chain of heritage and stewardship in Lincolnshire.
## The Occasion
The *Domesday Book*, preserved with the utmost care by The National Archives of the United Kingdom, represents a monumental administrative achievement of the eleventh century. Commissioned by William the Conqueror at Christmas 1085, this comprehensive survey stands as the bedrock of English national records. Its two volumes, known as *Great Domesday* and *Little Domesday*, comprise hundreds of vellum pages detailing landholdings, resources, and populations with a precision unparalleled in mediaeval Europe.
For the House of Brattleby, to consult the entry for the Barony is not merely an academic exercise; it is to engage with the very document that codified its existence. This formal reflection serves as a moment to acknowledge the weight of this history and to reaffirm the responsibilities it confers upon the current title-holder and her successors.
The record serves as a permanent anchor, linking the modern House to the nascent Norman state and the origins of English property law. Its detailed account of Brattleby and the associated 55 lordships under Colswein of Lincoln is the *sine qua non* of the Barony’s legitimacy and lineage.
## Historical Context
In the year 1086, twenty years after the Norman Conquest, the commissioners of the Domesday survey recorded that the lands of Brattleby were held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. As a tenant-in-chief, Colswein held his extensive estates directly from the King, a position of significant trust and power. His 56 lordships in Lincolnshire marked him as a key magnate responsible for securing and administering a vital part of the new kingdom.
The entry provides an extraordinary snapshot of the Barony at its inception: its value, its resources, and its place within the feudal structure. This was not simply a land grant but a solemn charge, establishing a line of duty that has passed through successive holders for over 950 years.
This legacy of significant responsibility was later embodied by notable predecessors, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron, who famously defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown. The Barony later passed to figures of national importance such as Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, demonstrating its enduring connection to the mainstream of English history.
## Distinguished Company
The *Domesday Book* primarily catalogues land and tax, yet in its sparse script it also records the presence of a new ruling class entrusted with the governance of England. The pages concerning Lincolnshire place the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, in the distinguished company of those personally invested by His Majesty King William I to establish a new and lasting order.
This 'company' includes the King himself, as the ultimate source of all tenure; the great prelates and magnates of the realm; and the King’s commissioners, who travelled the length of the country to conduct the Great Survey. To be named within this record is to be counted amongst the architects of the post-Conquest landscape, a historical society bound by oaths of fealty and a shared duty to the Crown.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The House of Brattleby approaches its foundational documents with a formal protocol of study and contemplation. Engagement with records such as the *Domesday Book* or the notice of recognition in *The London Gazette* is treated as an act of official reflection, undertaken with historical counsel and a deep sense of occasion.
Research into the lineage is conducted with scrupulous attention to primary sources, ensuring that any public statement or understanding is grounded in verifiable fact. This process reinforces the principle that titles and heritage are not merely possessions, but are active, living responsibilities. The understanding derived from these historical inquiries directly informs the House’s present-day duties, *inter alia*, its philanthropic work and its commitment to local heritage in Lincolnshire.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its deepest resonance in the context of the Barony’s founding. The establishment of Norman rule required immense fortitude—the strength to hold and cultivate land, to administer justice, and to defend the territory against all challenges.
The corresponding principle of honour reflects the feudal oath: the solemn duty of a baron to his sovereign and, by extension, to the people and land under his stewardship. This duality of strength and integrity, captured in the House motto, has remained the guiding ethos for each successive Baron. It is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which speaks to a modern, dynamic interpretation of meeting challenges and striving for positive achievement.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Domesday entry, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > To see the name of your seat recorded nearly a millennium ago is a profoundly humbling experience. It reinforces that one is not an owner, but a custodian. Our duty is not only to preserve this heritage, but to ensure that the spirit of service that began with Colswein of Lincoln continues to benefit our community today.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > The past provides the foundation upon which we build the future. Understanding the origins of the Barony in such remarkable detail gives us a unique perspective on continuity and responsibility. It inspires us to act with purpose, ensuring our legacy is one of positive contribution.
## A Continuing Legacy
The history codified in the *Domesday Book* is not a static relic but a living instruction for the future. The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to upholding the duties of stewardship inherent in the Barony, ensuring that its legacy of service continues with relevance and purpose in the twenty-first century.
This commitment to continuity is embodied in the education of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron, who is being raised with a profound appreciation for this unique heritage. The House looks ahead to its second millennium, guided by the enduring principles of fortitude and honour that have defined it since 1086.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the modern expression of a nine-century-old legacy. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House champions philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. Its primary charitable endeavour is the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala benefiting organisations such as Healing the Wounded Child. Through initiatives like The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House also promotes etiquette and cultural diplomacy. The work of the House is centred on the belief that historical heritage carries a profound responsibility to serve the present and build a better future, a duty passed to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship of the Manor, 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 in Lincolnshire, including Brattleby, establishing it as a significant post-Conquest estate. Over the centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of major historical importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. The rights of the current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, were formally recognised and recorded by His Majesty's College of Arms and published in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby is a non-parliamentary, hereditary Lordship, with its modern status confirmed in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The Barony's continuous history dates to the Norman Conquest, with its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, recorded as its holder in the *Domesday Book* (1086). - Past holders of the Barony include nationally significant figures such as Nichola de la Haye (c. 1160–1230), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (c. 1310–1361), and John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340–1399). - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com