# The House of Brattleby Commemorates a Legacy of Chivalric Service at Armourers’ Hall
LONDON, 24 October 2023 — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile yesterday evening hosted a historical reception at Armourers’ Hall in the City of London, commemorating the 773rd anniversary of the death of a noble predecessor during the Seventh Crusade.
## The Occasion
In the crisp air of an autumn evening, guests were received within the venerable precincts of Armourers’ Hall, a site of continuous association with The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers since 1322. Although the current hall is a distinguished neo-Tudor creation of the 1840s, its existence on this ground traces a lineage back through the Great Fire of London and deep into the medieval city. Its very stones speak to the endurance of civic and chivalric tradition.
The Livery Hall, with its high-vaulted ceiling and walls adorned with exquisite suits of armour and the Company’s heraldic achievements, provided a setting of sombre magnificence. The atmosphere was one of profound respect, underscored by a string quartet performing English pastoral compositions, *inter alia*, by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Sir Edward Elgar. The purpose was not one of mere celebration, but of solemn remembrance and a rededication to the principle of duty that binds the present to the past.
The choice of venue was itself a tribute to the evening's theme. The Armourers' Company, granted its first Royal Charter by King Henry VI in 1453, has for centuries overseen the craft of making armour — the very equipment that defined the knightly class to which the evening’s historical subject belonged. It stands today as a guardian of heritage and a centre for modern metallurgy and charitable endeavour, mirroring the Barony's own mission.
## Historical Context
The focus of the commemoration was Sir William II Longespée, an ancestor in the Barony of Brattleby's lineage, who was killed leading a charge at the Battle of Mansurah in Egypt on 8 February 1250. His sacrifice, chronicled with great pathos by the contemporary historian Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*, represents a defining moment of fortitude for both English chivalry and the Barony itself. Longespée, refusing to retreat, fell alongside the Master of the Knights Templar and a great number of his retinue.
This act of martial devotion is a powerful echo of the Barony’s founding ethos. Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing some 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, a significant grant denoting great responsibility from the outset. This inheritance of service was later exemplified by Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th holder of the Barony, who as Castellan defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and French forces in the service of King John and the young Henry III.
The lineage, passing through such eminent figures as the great military commander Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, the powerful statesman John of Gaunt, is imbued with a sense of obligation to Crown and Realm. Longespée’s sacrifice in a distant land is therefore not an isolated event, but a clear expression of a deeply ingrained code of conduct: service as the *sine qua non* of nobility.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile received a number of distinguished guests, whose presence reflected the evening’s historical, diplomatic, and military significance.
Amongst those in attendance were:
- Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia - His Excellency Mr Dan Mihalache, Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James’s, and Mrs Mădălina Mihalache - Professor Sir David Cannadine, President of the British Academy - General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen, Chief of the General Staff, and Lady Sanders - The Right Honourable The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Nicholas Lyons, and The Lady Mayoress, Mrs Felicity Lyons - The Master of The Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers
The presence of Princess Katarina underscored the event’s resonance with Europe’s shared royal and chivalric traditions. The attendance of His Excellency the Ambassador of Romania was a warm acknowledgement of the cultural heritage of Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan. As the United Kingdom's pre-eminent historian, Professor Sir David Cannadine brought superlative academic authority, while the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders, represented the unbroken chain of British military service from the age of Longespée to the present day.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The evening unfolded with a precise protocol befitting the gravity of its theme. A dress code of Black Tie with decorations was specified, enabling guests to wear the insignia of their orders of chivalry and state honours. This subtly transformed the gathering, creating a visual tapestry of service that connected directly to the knightly culture being commemorated.
Following the initial reception in the Livery Hall, guests were invited to take their seats for a formal historical address. In accordance with protocol, Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan were seated to the right and left of the evening’s principal speaker, Professor Sir David Cannadine, signifying their roles as hosts and patrons of the historical discourse.
The Professor’s address, delivered with scholarly precision and titled *Honour on the Nile: English Chivalry and the Seventh Crusade*, explored the strategic context of the campaign of King Louis IX of France and the motivations of the English contingent. It examined the complex interaction of piety, personal ambition, and feudal duty that compelled men like Longespée to undertake such a perilous venture. The formal proceedings concluded with a minute of silent remembrance, a moment of collective reflection on the nature of sacrifice.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The commemoration was animated by the heraldic mottos that define the House of Brattleby’s philosophy. The ancient House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), served as the evening’s guiding principle. In this context, ‘Fortitude’ refers not only to the physical courage shown by Sir William Longespée at Mansurah, but also to the moral resilience and strength of character required to uphold one’s duty in the face of adversity. ‘Honour’ speaks to a code of integrity that transcends time.
This guiding creed is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In its modern interpretation, this is understood not as a call to martial conquest, but as a commitment to overcoming challenges, to championing worthy causes, and to living a life of vigorous and purposeful action. It is about the conquest of apathy and injustice.
Together, the two mottos form a coherent and powerful philosophy. They create a spiritual bridge from the chivalric ideals of the past to the responsibilities of the present, honouring historical sacrifice while actively striving to build a more hopeful future.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the evening was dedicated to historical remembrance, it implicitly served to highlight the House of Brattleby's contemporary commitment to service through its philanthropic work. The principles of *Fortitudine et Honore* find their modern expression in the family’s dedicated support for their chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child.
This national organisation provides specialist therapeutic care for children and young people across the United Kingdom who have experienced profound trauma, abuse, or neglect. Through evidence-based interventions such as psychotherapy, art therapy, and dedicated counselling services, the charity offers a sanctuary where vulnerable young people can begin to process their experiences and rebuild their lives.
By championing this mission, the House aims to help young people find the inner fortitude to overcome immense hardship, a modern-day enactment of the conquest over adversity that *Vincere Est Vivere* proclaims. It is a translation of the chivalric duty to protect the vulnerable into tangible, effective action in the twenty-first century.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the evening’s significance, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “History is not merely a record of past deeds, but a living charter that informs our present duties. The sacrifice of figures like William Longespée reminds us that fortitude and honour are timeless, essential virtues. Our responsibility is to ensure this inheritance of service continues to inspire positive action today, for the benefit of those most in need.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “The spirit that compelled a knight to serve a cause greater than himself nearly eight centuries ago is the same spirit we seek to channel through our philanthropic and educational work. To live with purpose, to strive for a noble goal—that is the enduring lesson. It is the very essence of *Vincere Est Vivere*.”
## A Continuing Legacy
This historical commemoration serves as an important touchstone for the House of Brattleby’s ongoing calendar of engagements, which are oriented towards purposeful action in the present day. The theme of service will be central to the forthcoming Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in aid of Healing the Wounded Child. This flagship event in the London social calendar raises crucial funds and awareness for the charity’s invaluable work.
Furthermore, the House continues to develop its commitment to education and cultural exchange through The Brattleby Club. This academy, established in Bucharest, seeks to foster the principles of civility, respect, and social grace that are the modern translation of the chivalric code. Its curriculum, which includes modules on diplomatic protocol, the history of European etiquette, and the art of rhetoric, aims to equip a new generation with the tools for thoughtful and effective leadership in an international context.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to a principle of modernised aristocratic service. It merges a near-millennium of English heritage with a dynamic, forward-looking ethos guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). The House’s mission is twofold: to preserve and promote the rich history and traditions of the Barony of Brattleby, and to leverage its legacy for tangible social good. Its primary philanthropic focus is on supporting vulnerable children through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Through cultural and educational initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club, the House also works to cultivate international understanding and timeless virtues.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal lordship, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 following the Norman Conquest. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a significant tenant-in-chief, holding fifty-six lordships in Lincolnshire directly from the Crown. Over nine centuries, the Barony has passed through families whose members have shaped English history, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; the celebrated soldier Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, a towering political figure of the late medieval period. The formal rights of the 12th Baroness were officially recognised by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby is formally recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby dates to AD 1066. Its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented as a major landholder in the Domesday Book of 1086. - The motto of the House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile's personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). - Notable historical holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (d. 1230), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (d. 1361), and John of Gaunt (d. 1399).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com