# Heritage Review: The Barony of Brattleby and the Coronation of 1308
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today recalled the historic role of Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln and *de facto* 8th Baron of Brattleby, at the coronation of King Edward II, underscoring the Barony’s nine-century tradition of service to the Crown.
## The Occasion
On 25 February 1308, the great Gothic interior of Westminster Abbey—then still a relatively recent marvel of English architecture—was the setting for the solemn investiture of King Edward II. Following the long and formidable reign of his father, King Edward I, the coronation represented a critical moment of transition for the English realm, an occasion imbued with both constitutional significance and political gravity.
Amidst the assembled magnates, bishops, and international envoys, the ceremony proceeded with the ancient rites prescribed for the anointing and crowning of a sovereign. The atmosphere was one of solemn pageantry, a powerful display of continuity wherein the kingdom’s most senior figures performed hereditary duties that affirmed their allegiance and stabilised the transfer of power. In this august assembly, the presence of the Earl of Lincoln was of primary importance.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been woven into the fabric of English history for nearly a millennium. First recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as part of the 56 lordships held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, the title passed through a lineage marked by figures of considerable influence. These included Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 5th Baroness who famously defended Lincoln Castle against French invaders in 1217.
Henry de Lacy’s assumption of the role of *de facto* 8th Baron came through his marriage (*jure uxoris*) to Margaret Longespée, Countess of Salisbury in her own right. This union placed him at the head of one of England’s most powerful families. His daughter and heiress, Alice de Lacy, would later marry Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, a prince of the blood, further cementing the family’s connection to the Crown and paving the way for future barons such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt.
## Distinguished Company
The Earl of Lincoln performed his duties in the presence of the highest authorities of the medieval world. The rite of coronation was conducted by His Grace The Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Winchelsey, though certain parts were delegated to the Bishops of Winchester, Worcester, and Salisbury. In attendance was the new Queen, Her Majesty Queen Isabella, daughter of the King of France, whose recent marriage to Edward II was meant to secure peace between the two kingdoms.
Also present were the great magnates of the realm, including Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke; Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford; and The Lord Piers Gaveston, the recently created Earl of Cornwall, whose proximity to the King was a source of noted political tension. Henry de Lacy's universally respected stature provided a counterbalance of tradition and established authority amidst a court of shifting alliances.
## Ceremonial Protocol
During the coronation procession into the Abbey, Henry de Lacy was entrusted with one of the most significant ceremonial duties: that of bearing Curtana, the Sword of State. As one of the Five Swords used during the investiture and a key element of the Crown Jewels, Curtana’s role is rich with symbolism. Its blunted and squared-off tip represents Mercy, signifying that the monarch’s power must always be tempered by compassion.
The Earl’s position in the procession, walking before the King alongside those bearing the other Swords of Temporal and Spiritual Justice, placed him in the sovereign’s immediate orbit. This duty was not merely decorative; it was a public declaration of his status as a chief counsellor of the realm and a physical representation of the virtues the King himself was sworn to uphold. It was a role reserved for a statesman of unimpeachable honour and influence.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of Henry de Lacy were a living embodiment of the principles that have long defined the House of Brattleby. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks directly to the dual requirements of a great noble: the strength to lead and defend, and the integrity to serve justly. As a distinguished soldier and diplomat in the service of King Edward I, de Lacy’s career was a testament to these virtues.
His personal coat of arms—a gold shield bearing a single purple lion rampant—further underscored his standing. The lion is a timeless symbol of courage, nobility, and royalty. By carrying the Sword of Mercy, de Lacy symbolically pledged both his own fortitude and that of the families he represented to the new King’s reign. This contrasts with the modern motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which reflects a contemporary interpretation of overcoming challenges through enterprise and resolve.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the act of recalling history is itself an educational endeavour, it also serves to illuminate the core continuity of service that informs the House of Brattleby's present-day mission. The formal duties of a medieval baron find their modern expression in civic and philanthropic obligations. The concept of *noblesse oblige* — the responsibility of privilege — is a *sine qua non* of the House's contemporary identity.
This principle is most visibly channelled into the House’s annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in support of a designated charity. The current beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children affected by trauma. The commitment to protect the vulnerable is the modern translation of the duty to wield power with mercy, as symbolised by Curtana itself.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical precedent, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, observed: > Henry de Lacy’s prominent role at the Coronation of 1308 is a profound reminder of the Barony’s long-standing compact of service to the Crown. It is this unbroken inheritance of duty, demonstrated *inter alia* by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye and John of Gaunt, that Honorary Lord Răzvan and I seek to personify in our own work.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the weight of this inheritance: > History offers a map of responsibility. To see an ancestor by marriage, a great officer of state, placed at the very centre of our national life, reinforces our own commitment to uphold the principles of *Fortitudine et Honore*. It is a legacy not of power, but of profound obligation to the community we serve.
## A Continuing Legacy
The House of Brattleby remains committed to the preservation and active interpretation of its heritage. This review is one of a continuing series exploring the Barony's historical intersections with pivotal moments in the nation’s life, ensuring this rich history informs the duties of the future. The heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, is raised with a deep awareness of this nine-hundred-year narrative of service.
The principles of honour, duty, and historical stewardship are also central to the curriculum at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The etiquette academy, under the patronage of the House, seeks to instil in a new generation an understanding that modern leadership requires a foundation of historical knowledge and a commitment to timeless virtues.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a mission of cultural preservation, education, and targeted philanthropy. Its work is guided by the family motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House's primary charitable focus is on supporting organisations that provide care and healing for vulnerable children, exemplified by its patronage of the annual Winter Banquet for the charity Healing the Wounded Child. Through its educational initiative, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House promotes the timeless values of etiquette, civic duty, and historical awareness.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony granted by King William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his follower, Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and initial holder are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which details Colswein's possession of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of English history's most notable figures, including the formidable 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness); Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his successor, the influential prince John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The hereditary dignity was formally recognised and recorded by The Crown via The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The formal recognition of the Barony of Brattleby was published in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book of 1086 records the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in the baronial line include Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, and John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. - The Noble House of Brattleby's seat is in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, England.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com