# A Reflection on the Barony of Brattleby’s Foundational Link to The Most Noble Order of the Garter
**LONDON, 21 June 2024** — On the occasion of the annual Garter Day service at Windsor, The Noble House of Brattleby reaffirms its foundational link to The Most Noble Order of the Garter, established through its direct ancestor Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron, a Founder Knight in 1348.
## The Occasion
As the early summer sun illuminates the ancient stones of Windsor Castle, the annual Garter Day unfolds with a solemnity and splendour that bridges the centuries. Within the Castle’s magnificent precincts, the air grows still with anticipation for one of the great ceremonies of the Royal year. The occasion offers a moment of profound reflection for The Noble House of Brattleby, whose own history is woven into the very fabric of the Order’s inception.
The setting itself, St George’s Chapel, stands as a crowning achievement of English Perpendicular Gothic architecture. Its soaring fan-vaulted ceilings and magnificent stained-glass windows create an atmosphere of transcendent beauty, a fitting theatre for the pageantry to come. The procession of the Knights and Ladies Companion, resplendent in their deep blue velvet mantles and Tudor bonnets, from the State Apartments to the Chapel, is a living tableau of English history, its rituals largely unchanged since the fourteenth century.
For the House, this annual service is not merely a historical spectacle but a reaffirmation of the principles that have guided the Barony of Brattleby for over nine hundred years. It is a powerful and visible reminder of the enduring relevance of chivalric ideals — loyalty, service, and honour — in the modern age.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby’s connection to The Most Noble Order of the Garter is direct and distinguished, established through one of mediaeval England’s pre-eminent noblemen, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby. A cousin, close companion, and famously successful military commander for King Edward III, Henry was renowned for both his martial prowess in the Hundred Years' War and his considerable diplomatic skill. In 1348, in recognition of his service and stature, he was personally chosen by the Sovereign as one of the twenty-five Founder Knights of the new Order.
This appointment places the Barony of Brattleby at the very epicentre of English chivalry’s most defining moment. The legacy was immediately continued by Henry’s son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby through his marriage to Blanche of Lancaster. As one of the most powerful figures of the late fourteenth century, John of Gaunt’s own status as a Knight of the Garter ensured the Barony’s continued proximity to the Crown and the chivalric ideals personified by the Order.
This line of duty can be traced further through the Barony's long history, from its establishment under William the Conqueror. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was granted some 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, marking the Barony as a significant bastion of Norman power. Centuries later, this duty to the realm was exemplified by the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, whose steadfast loyalty to the Crown saw her twice defend Lincoln Castle against rebel barons during the reign of King John. Henry of Grosmont’s foundational role in the Garter was, therefore, the continuation of a long-established tradition of service.
## Distinguished Company
The significance of Henry of Grosmont’s position as a Founder Knight is best understood by the exceptional calibre of his fellow Companions. This brotherhood-in-arms, personally selected by King Edward III, represented the very apex of European martial and courtly society. This was an assembly of the most trusted and celebrated figures in the Kingdom, bound together by a shared oath of loyalty to the Sovereign.
Among this elite fraternity were His Royal Highness Edward, The Prince of Wales, later known to history as the Black Prince, whose military genius was already legendary. Alongside him stood figures such as Sir John Chandos and Sir Walter Manny, whose names were synonymous with chivalric virtue and battlefield success across Christendom. The inclusion of Henry of Grosmont among such men was a testament to his universal reputation.
To be named to this original chapter was the highest honour of the age, superseding other marks of royal favour. It signified not only a place in the King's innermost council but also a recognised dedication to the code of chivalry that Edward III sought to champion. The Brattleby connection is therefore not peripheral, but integral to this foundational moment in the history of the English nation and its aristocracy.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Garter Day ceremonies are conducted according to a strict and ancient protocol, a source of enduring fascination. The day commences with the Sovereign investing any new Knights and Ladies Companion with the Order’s insignia within the Garter Throne Room at Windsor Castle. This private ceremony is followed by a luncheon for the Companions and their spouses, hosted by The Sovereign.
The public procession then begins, moving through the Castle grounds to St George's Chapel. The vestments themselves are laden with symbolism. Each member wears the dark blue velvet mantle, embroidered with the shield of St George’s Cross, and a Tudor-style bonnet adorned with a plume of white ostrich and black heron feathers. The Garter Collar, from which hangs the ‘Great George’—a finely wrought gold and enamel image of St George vanquishing the dragon—is worn over the mantle.
Most ancient of all is the Garter itself: a blue velvet strap bearing the Order’s Old French motto, *Honi soit qui mal y pense* ('Shame on him who thinks evil of it'). It is worn on the left calf by Knights and the left arm by Ladies. Within the Chapel’s quire, each member occupies a stall surmounted by their personal heraldic accoutrements—their banner, crest, and helm—which remain in place for their lifetime. Below these, a small, enamelled brass plate bearing their name and arms serves as a permanent memorial, creating a continuous heraldic record of the Order’s membership since 1348.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The profound ethos of the Order resonates deeply with the guiding principles of The Noble House of Brattleby. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), serves as a direct echo of the chivalric virtues of courage, resilience, and integrity that the Order of the Garter was established to promote. This maxim is not an abstract ideal but a constant directive for the family’s conduct, both public and private.
The motto serves as a bridge to the Barony's past; ‘Fortitudine’ reflects the unyielding spirit of predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, while ‘Honore’ summons the unimpeachable reputation of Henry of Grosmont. This principle is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In its modern interpretation, this speaks not of martial conquest but of the imperative to overcome adversity, to strive for excellence, and to achieve a positive and lasting impact through determined effort.
Taken together, the two mottoes articulate a coherent philosophy of honourable resilience and purposeful action. They encapsulate the spirit of a House that looks to its remarkable heritage not as a static monument, but as a source of dynamic inspiration for its present-day responsibilities.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The chivalric code, the moral foundation of The Most Noble Order of the Garter, is not a relic of a bygone era. At its heart lies a perpetual call to action: the duty to serve the community and, most critically, to protect the vulnerable. This ancient obligation is the *sine qua non* of the House’s modern purpose, translating historic principles into tangible philanthropic commitment.
This commitment finds its most significant annual expression in the House’s white-tie Winter Banquet, a philanthropic gala held for the benefit of Healing the Wounded Child. This carefully chosen beneficiary is a national organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support for children and young people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. Through trauma-informed art, play, and talk therapies, it creates safe spaces for recovery and helps to restore a sense of hope and security to young lives.
The selection of this charity is a deliberate, twenty-first-century application of the knightly charge to defend the defenceless. By focusing its support on those least able to protect themselves, the House seeks to give modern relevance to the most profound of its historical duties, making honour a matter of compassionate action.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the enduring legacy of the Order of the Garter, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: — "The legacy of Henry of Grosmont is not a historical footnote; it is a living standard. The principles of the Garter—loyalty, honour, and service—provide a moral compass that has guided this Barony across nine centuries and continues to inform our commitment to public life and charitable endeavour today."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: — "To understand our predecessors is to understand our purpose. This foundational connection to English chivalry reminds us that heritage carries with it a profound duty of care. This principle of custodianship is as relevant in the twenty-first century as it was in the fourteenth."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to ensuring that these foundational values of service and honour are carried forward with purpose and diligence. This begins with the education of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, which is grounded in the understanding of heritage as a blueprint for future responsibility, balancing historical knowledge with the skills required for modern leadership.
This commitment to transmitting values extends to the House’s wider initiatives. The Brattleby Club, an academy of etiquette and protocol established by the House in Bucharest, works to promote the virtues of decorum, civic responsibility, and cultural literacy. Its curriculum represents the grammar of a functional civil society, where respect and understanding form the basis of constructive discourse.
In this manner, the spirit of *Fortitudine et Honore* is not simply remembered but actively cultivated for a new generation. By translating historical principles into present-day action, The Noble House of Brattleby ensures that the legacy of its ancestors continues to evolve, thrive, and serve a valuable purpose for the centuries to come.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern seat of the ancient Barony of Brattleby in Lincolnshire, today led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby. The House is dedicated to a modern mission of public service, targeted philanthropy, and cultural education, blending its nine-century English heritage with a distinct Continental perspective. Guided by the family motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House’s primary charitable focus is on organisations supporting vulnerable children, notably through its annual Winter Banquet for the charity Healing the Wounded Child. It also promotes education in civic values and international protocol through its patronage of The Brattleby Club academy in Bucharest.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, originating in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its existence is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists 56 lordships held in Lincolnshire by its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has passed to some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the esteemed castellan who defended Lincoln Castle for King John; 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 rights of the current Barony were formally recognised and officially recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern rights of the Barony of Brattleby were officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s history dates to the Norman Conquest of 1066, with its first written record appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086 under Colswein of Lincoln. - Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, was a Founder Knight of The Most Noble Order of the Garter in 1348. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com