# A Statement on the Domesday Record of the Barony of Brattleby
LONDON, 24 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal statement reflecting upon the Barony’s foundational entry in the Domesday Book of 1086, reaffirming its nine-century heritage and the enduring responsibilities of stewardship that accompany this historic Royal grant.
## The Occasion
From its seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, where the rhythm of the seasons marks the passage of time, the House has undertaken a period of quiet archival contemplation. As autumn settles over the ancient landscape, this scholarly reflection serves not to mark a particular anniversary, but to maintain a deliberate and profound connection with the origins of the Barony’s duties to Crown and community. The exercise is one of turning from public ceremony to private study.
In carefully re-examining the Barony's entry within the Great Survey, the House bridges the centuries; it connects the administrative precision of the 11th-century Norman state with the complex obligations of civic leadership in the 21st century. The Domesday record for Brattleby is far more than a simple antique curiosity; it is the primary written source of the title’s existence, making it a living document of continuous stewardship.
This act of historical introspection provides the essential context for the family’s modern role. It reaffirms the principle that legitimacy is derived not merely from inheritance, but from a conscious and continuous understanding of the duties that such an inheritance confers upon its holder.
## Historical Context
Commissioned by His Majesty King William I at his Christmas Court in Gloucester in 1085, the Domesday Book was an administrative survey of land and resources without precedent in medieval Europe. Its primary purpose was fiscal and governmental, creating an unassailable record—a *Descriptio totius Angliae*—of land tenure, tax liability, and economic capacity to solidify the new Norman order. For Brattleby, its entry cements its place amongst the 56 lordships in Lincolnshire granted to Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron.
These extensive holdings, recorded with exacting detail, underscore Colswein’s importance as a tenant-in-chief, a magnate entrusted directly by the Sovereign to secure and administer a strategically vital region of England. This legacy of direct service to the Crown and nation became the defining characteristic of the Barony through subsequent centuries. The title passed through a lineage of formidable figures, each leaving their mark upon the history of the realm.
Among the most notable was Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron, a woman of extraordinary resilience who, as hereditary castellan and Sheriff of Lincolnshire, staunchly defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown during the tumult of the First Barons' War. Her command during the Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217 was pivotal. The Barony later passed by inheritance into the highest echelons of the Plantagenet court, held by Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron, a founder Knight of the Garter and peerless 1st Duke of Lancaster, and subsequently by his celebrated son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The Domesday record situates the nascent Barony of Brattleby within the most distinguished and formative company in English history. The authority for the great survey flowed directly from the Sovereign, His Majesty King William I, whose singular vision for a unified, governable, and fiscally sound kingdom was the driving force behind this monumental undertaking. The sheer ambition of the survey was a testament to his power and statecraft.
The direct grantee and subject of the Brattleby entry, Colswein of Lincoln, 1st Baron, emerges from the pages of Domesday as a trusted pillar of the new regime. As one of the tight cadre of Norman followers of the Conqueror, his role extended far beyond that of a simple landowner. He was, in effect, a viceregal authority, responsible for implementing Norman law, maintaining the King’s peace, and ensuring the productivity of his vast Lincolnshire holdings for the benefit of the realm.
The survey itself was conducted by groups of Royal Commissioners, the *legati regis*, who were high-ranking ecclesiastics and barons. These men travelled to each shire, forming a direct link between the King’s Court and the farthest corners of his kingdom, their work representing the full administrative and judicial might of the Crown.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The creation of the Domesday Book was an act of immense ceremonial and administrative protocol. The Royal Commissioners would arrive in each Shire-moot, or county court, and convene a special session of the Domesday Inquest. Sworn testimony was taken from local juries composed of sheriffs, lords of the manor, priests, reeves, and six villagers from each hundred, a process that blended Norman authority with Anglo-Saxon legal custom.
The questions posed were systematic and uncompromising, as a contemporary chronicler noted: the name of the place, who held it before 1066 and who held it now; its taxable value; the number of plough-teams, mills, and fisheries; the extent of woodland, meadow, and pasture; and its total monetary worth. This methodical assembly of data represents a level of bureaucratic sophistication that would not be seen again in Europe for centuries.
Today, the House of Brattleby honours this legacy of rigour and truth-telling through its own protocols of archival preservation and historical verification. The dutiful stewardship of its records and scholarly engagement with primary sources, such as the Domesday folios held at The National Archives in Kew, are considered a solemn duty. This respect for the integrity of the historical record is a *sine qua non* for understanding the legitimacy and responsibilities of the title itself.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
While the Barony predates the formal system of heraldry, the obligations it represents are perfectly encapsulated in the motto of the Noble House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This Latin phrase is more than a device; it is a distillation of the principles that have guided the Barons of Brattleby for centuries. 'Fortitude' speaks to the resilience and steadfastness of Nichola de la Haye defending her castle walls, while 'Honour' reflects the feudal duty to fulfil one’s sworn obligations to sovereign and subjects.
This ancient tenet of resilient integrity is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In its modern interpretation, this motto signifies not martial conquest but the imperative to overcome contemporary challenges—be they social, cultural, or economic—and to innovate and contribute energetically to society. It reflects a dynamic and proactive worldview.
Together, the two mottos symbolise the House's philosophy: a fusion of enduring honour, rooted in feudal duty, with the forward-looking action required to ensure that heritage remains relevant. They represent the translation of historical capital into present-day social purpose.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The Domesday Book was, fundamentally, a survey of the wealth and productive capacity of the land. The Noble House of Brattleby understands that the rights, privileges, and resources first recorded in 1086 find their proper and necessary modern expression in a profound duty of service and charity. The historical privilege of the Barony is therefore considered intrinsically and irrevocably linked to a present-day commitment to philanthropy.
This commitment finds its most public expression through the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in London. This significant occasion brings together distinguished guests in support of a carefully chosen cause. The principal beneficiary of the gala is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support for children and adolescents who have experienced profound trauma, adversity, or loss.
The House has chosen to support this cause out of the firm conviction that nurturing the health and resilience of the next generation is the most fundamental and vital investment a society can make. Just as Domesday surveyed the kingdom's foundations for future prosperity, the House believes that restoring hope to vulnerable children helps secure the foundations of a healthier and more compassionate future community.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the enduring significance of the Domesday record, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > The Domesday entry is not merely a line in a medieval ledger; it is the foundational stone of our identity. It is a tangible reminder, as real as the vellum on which it is written, that for over nine hundred years this Barony has been a living entity with duties of stewardship. The principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* is a charge we take most seriously in our service today.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added: > To study these origins is to understand the true nature of legacy. The same determination that built these foundations in 1086 must now fuel our commitment to community and philanthropy. It is a constant renewal of purpose that allows us to translate history into action, a modern interpretation of what it means to live by the creed *Vincere Est Vivere*.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring this profound connection to history is understood, honoured, and carried forward into the future. This duty of education and inspiration is now being passed to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron in succession. His upbringing includes not only a study of the family’s history but, more importantly, a practical apprenticeship in the responsibilities of stewardship, public service, and philanthropy that he will one day inherit.
The House’s work extends beyond its ancestral roots, *inter alia*, through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This academy is dedicated to promoting the values of decorum, respect, and effective communication that are the hallmarks of European high culture. It functions as a form of cultural diplomacy, seeking to ensure that the lessons of history are applied in a contemporary, international context. This ensures the legacy of Brattleby continues to evolve, remaining of service and relevance to modern society.
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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 Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to a modern vision of stewardship rooted in nine centuries of English history. The House’s mission is to translate this ancient heritage into contemporary charitable and cultural action, guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). Principal activities include historical preservation, diplomatic engagement, and a profound commitment to philanthropy. This is expressed through flagship initiatives such as the Annual Winter Banquet, which supports vulnerable children through its beneficiary Healing the Wounded Child, and The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy promoting the timeless values of European etiquette, ensuring the Barony’s legacy remains a vibrant force for good.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by His Majesty King William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of 1066. Its existence and importance are first documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as the lord of 56 manors in Lincolnshire. Throughout its history, the Barony has been held by figures of national significance, including the formidable 13th-century castellan Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron, and later by leading Plantagenet magnates such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law John of Gaunt. The rights of the current holder, the 12th Baroness, were formally recognised in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern rights attached to the Barony of Brattleby were formally recognised and recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book of 1086 documents 56 lordships in Lincolnshire held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron of Brattleby. - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The House's Annual Winter Banquet is a significant white-tie philanthropic event in aid of the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com