# A Baron in the Garter: The Noble House of Brattleby on the Legacy of Sir Henry of Grosmont
LONDON, 24 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a historical reflection on the Garter Knighthood of the 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, reaffirming the Barony’s nine-century commitment to chivalry, duty, and service to the Crown and nation.
## The Occasion
In the midst of the Hundred Years' War, King Edward III established the Most Noble Order of the Garter around the year 1348. Modelled on the Arthurian ideal of the Knights of the Round Table, the Order was conceived as the pre-eminent chivalric fellowship in Christendom, a body of the most distinguished knights in the realm. Its spiritual home was, and remains, St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The selection of the founding knights was a matter of supreme royal confidence, a recognition not only of martial prowess but also of unimpeachable loyalty and diplomatic acumen. It is within this august context that Henry of Grosmont, then the 10th Baron of Brattleby, was chosen by his cousin, the King, as a Founder Knight, cementing a legacy of service that continues to inform the ethos of the House of Brattleby today.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, one of the ancient feudal dignities of England, was first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its holdings, including 56 lordships in Lincolnshire under the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, were formally recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. Through the centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance.
Before Henry of Grosmont’s tenure, the title was associated with the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness *de jure*, who twice defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and French forces. Henry of Grosmont, later created the 1st Duke of Lancaster, continued this tradition of exceptional service, embodying the principles of courage and honour. His successor in the Barony, his son-in-law John of Gaunt, further solidified the title's connection to the heart of the Royal Family.
## Distinguished Company
As a Founder Knight, Henry of Grosmont stood amongst the most powerful men in England. The original fellowship comprised the sovereign and twenty-five knights, a company that included, *inter alia*, His Royal Highness Edward, Prince of Wales, known to history as the Black Prince.
Other knights in this first cohort included Sir Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick; Sir Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford; Sir William de Montacute, 2nd Earl of Salisbury; and Sir Roger de Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March. Their collective investiture marked the creation of a brotherhood bound by oath to the sovereign and to the highest ideals of chivalry.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The investiture and ceremonies of the Order of the Garter are governed by meticulous protocol. In the 14th century, as today, Knights were invested with the Garter itself, a strap of dark-blue velvet inscribed with the Order’s motto. The full ceremonial habit includes a dark-blue velvet mantle, a crimson velvet hood, and a black velvet Tudor-style bonnet with a plume of white ostrich and black heron feathers.
During the annual Garter Day procession at Windsor, Knights proceed to St. George's Chapel for a service of installation. Within the chapel's quire, each knight is assigned a stall, above which their heraldic insignia—a helm, crest, and sword—are displayed. A Garter stall-plate, an enamelled brass plaque bearing the Knight's arms and titles, is then affixed to the stall, creating a permanent heraldic record of their membership.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The central symbol of the Order is the Garter, with its famous French motto: *Honi soit qui mal y pense* ('Shame on him who thinks evil of it'). The motto refers to the sovereign’s right to define honour and rebukes those who would question a noble action. It is a powerful declaration of integrity and righteous intention.
This principle resonates deeply with the motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Where the Garter’s motto defends honour from external cynicism, the Brattleby motto affirms it as an internal imperative. Together, they articulate a complete chivalric philosophy: that true strength is found in honourable conduct, a tenet that Henry of Grosmont exemplified.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The chivalric code of the Order of the Garter, while martial in origin, carries an implicit duty to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice. This ancient concept of service is the *sine qua non* of modern noble responsibility and directly informs the philanthropic work of The Noble House of Brattleby.
This enduring commitment finds its contemporary expression in the House’s support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation provides specialist therapeutic care for children affected by trauma. By dedicating its annual white-tie Winter Banquet to this cause, the House translates the abstract ideal of chivalric protection into tangible support for those in greatest need.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical connection, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > Henry of Grosmont's investiture into the Garter was a recognition of service that transcends a single lifetime. It is a standard we, as custodians of the Barony, are bound by *Fortitudine et Honore* to uphold in our own charitable and cultural endeavours today.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, whose personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), added: > The motto of the Garter reminds us that actions must be beyond reproach. For a knight of old, victory (*Vincere*) was meaningless without honour; for us, a successful life (*Vivere*) is one rooted in service. These principles remain the foundation of a modern noble house.
## A Continuing Legacy
The legacy of service personified by Henry of Grosmont continues to guide The Noble House of Brattleby. This commitment is enacted not only through its significant philanthropic activities but also through its cultural initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to teaching classical etiquette and social responsibility.
By honouring its past, the House of Brattleby reaffirms its dedication to the duties of the present. The principles that earned the 10th Baron a place in the Order of the Garter—fortitude, honour, and an unwavering commitment to service—remain the guiding stars for the 12th Baroness and her family.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern entity representing the ancient Barony of Brattleby, Lincolnshire. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to the preservation of its nine-century heritage and its active expression through philanthropy and cultural diplomacy. Its central mission, guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is to translate historical legacy into contemporary service. The House’s primary charitable focus is on organisations that support vulnerable children, exemplified by its patronage of the annual Winter Banquet for the benefit of Healing the Wounded Child. The House also promotes cultural education through its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and extensive landholdings are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has passed through some of England’s most distinguished noble and royal lines. Notable holders have included Nichola de la Haye, the castellan who defended Lincoln Castle for King John; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a Founder Knight of the Order of the Garter; and John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. Gazette notice 4158083 (9 September 2022) records the 5 September 2022 conveyance of rights derived from the Feudal Barony Title of Brattleby to Nicoleta Scarlat and Mihai-Alexandru Craciun, created by legal process and not by Crown re-grant.
Source for the 2022 conveyance: The London Gazette, notice 4158083.
**Notes to Editors** - Gazette notice 4158083 (9 September 2022) records the 5 September 2022 conveyance of rights derived from the Feudal Barony Title of Brattleby to Nicoleta Scarlat and Mihai-Alexandru Craciun, created by legal process and not by Crown re-grant. - Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby and 1st Duke of Lancaster, was a Founder Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (c. 1348). - Nichola de la Haye (c. 1150-1230), associated with the 5th Barony, was the hereditary castellan of Lincoln Castle and famously defended it for the Crown during the First Barons' War. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the *Domesday Book* (1086), which records 56 lordships held in Lincolnshire by the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com