# On the Historical Union of the Barony of Brattleby with the Crown
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal statement reflecting upon the Barony’s historical merger with the Crown in 1399, a pivotal event that preceded a six-century dormancy until its re-establishment in the modern era.
## The Occasion
From its family seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, The Noble House of Brattleby has chosen to illuminate a significant chapter in its near-millennial history. This official reflection clarifies the circumstances surrounding the Barony's absorption into the sovereign dignity of the Crown, an event of profound constitutional and dynastic importance.
The issuance of this historical statement is intended to provide context for the Barony’s revival, offering a bridge of understanding between its medieval origins and its contemporary mission under the stewardship of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, one of England’s most ancient, became historically entwined with the Crown through the person of its 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. Upon the Duke’s death in 1399, his exiled son, Henry Bolingbroke, returned to England, deposed his cousin King Richard II, and ascended the throne as King Henry IV.
As Henry Bolingbroke was the heir to his father’s titles, including the Barony of Brattleby, his accession to the throne triggered a unique feudal and legal process. The lesser dignity of the Barony merged with the greater dignity of the Crown, effectively rendering it dormant. For the next 623 years, the title and its associated rights remained subsumed, a silent testament to the tumultuous birth of the House of Lancaster's royal dynasty.
## Distinguished Company
The historical intersection in 1399 involved figures of monumental importance to English history, each a holder or relation of the Brattleby peerage:
- **John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, 11th Baron of Brattleby**, a son of King Edward III and one of the most powerful political figures of the 14th century. - **King Henry IV**, formerly Henry Bolingbroke, who upon his accession to the throne, caused the Barony to merge with the Crown, initiating its long dormancy.
They followed in a lineage that included formidable predecessors such as **Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness**, renowned heroic defender of Lincoln Castle; **Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron**; and the Barony's first holder, **Colswein of Lincoln**, who was granted 56 lordships by **William the Conqueror** in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The events of 1399 are best understood through the doctrine of *merger in the Crown*, a principle of British peerage law. This doctrine dictates that should a peer of the realm accede to the throne, any and all of their subsidiary titles are automatically absorbed into the sovereign's singular, pre-eminent dignity.
This process is distinct from a title falling into abeyance (a state of suspension among female co-heirs) or becoming extinct (the cessation of a legitimate line of descent). The merger signifies that the title continues to exist in theory but is held in unity with the Crown itself, hence its dormancy. The Barony's re-establishment on 9 September 2022, formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, was therefore not a new creation but the revival of this ancient and storied title.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring identity of the House through this long period is reflected in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This principle represents the resilience required to navigate centuries of dormancy and the integrity with which the House resumes its responsibilities today.
Complementing the ancient House motto, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile's personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), symbolises the dynamic spirit of the Barony's modern chapter. It speaks not to military conquest, but to the proactive overcoming of challenges and the profound purpose found in active, meaningful contribution to society. Together, the mottos frame a narrative of honourable endurance and purposeful revival.
## Philanthropic Purpose
Where the medieval Barony's responsibilities were once defined by feudal tenure and military service to the Crown, its modern expression of duty is channelled through dedicated philanthropy. The feudal obligation has been transmuted into a contemporary commitment to societal wellbeing. This is the *sine qua non* of the House's present-day ethos.
This commitment is most vividly demonstrated by the Annual Winter Banquet, the House’s foremost white-tie philanthropic gala. Proceeds from this event directly support the noble work of Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing therapeutic care and support for children who have experienced trauma. The selection of this beneficiary reflects the House’s focus on fostering resilience and healing within the community.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Barony's unique history, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > The six centuries of dormancy were not an end, but a long and quiet moment of reflection for the Barony’s legacy. Our duty now, as it was for predecessors like the formidable Nichola de la Haye, is to serve with fortitude and honour, ensuring this revived title is a force for good in the modern world.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > Revival is more than reclamation; it is the application of enduring principles to contemporary challenges. *Vincere Est Vivere* is about channelling energy to create a meaningful existence. Our modern House is defined by this spirit of active contribution, not by passive inheritance.
## A Continuing Legacy
The re-establishment of the Barony of Brattleby, gazetted on 9 September 2022 under Notice ID 4158083, marked the beginning of a new chapter. The lineage is secured for the next generation through the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron of Brattleby.
The House of Brattleby is committed to building a legacy of international engagement and cultural education, exemplified, *inter alia*, by its establishment of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This etiquette academy promotes the values of decorum, respect, and social grace that are hallmarks of European heritage. The revival of the Barony is thus not merely a historical footnote, but the foundation for a continuing legacy of service and honour.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution supporting the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a mission of cultural preservation, philanthropic endeavour, and the promotion of timeless European values. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), its activities range from hosting the Annual Winter Banquet for charitable causes to fostering cross-cultural understanding through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy in Bucharest. The House represents the dynamic continuation of one of England’s oldest noble lineages, adapting its historic sense of duty to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Throughout its history, the Barony has been held by some of the most influential figures in the nation’s history, including Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his heir, John of Gaunt. In 1399, the Barony merged with the Crown upon the accession of King Henry IV, beginning a 623-year dormancy. Its re-establishment was formally recognised by The Crown in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The re-establishment of the Barony of Brattleby is 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* (1086). - Past Barons include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), a son of King Edward III, and Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness). - The beneficiary of the House's Annual Winter Banquet is the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com