# A Statement from The Noble House of Brattleby on the Domesday Legacy of the Barony
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal statement reaffirming the duties of stewardship inherent in the Barony of Brattleby, marking its foundational entry in the Domesday Book of 1086 and its near-millennial history of service and honour.
## The Occasion
Set against the quiet seasonal backdrop of autumn at its Lincolnshire seat, The Noble House of Brattleby has issued this heritage statement following a period of deep archival reflection. The occasion is not marked by a public ceremony but by a scholarly initiative: the completion of a comprehensive review of the Barony’s earliest records, centring on its entry within the Great Domesday Book.
This landmark survey, the *sine qua non* of English territorial history, provides the definitive starting point for the Barony’s long chronicle. The current review, undertaken by the House as part of its ongoing work to catalogue and conserve its extensive historical documents, offered a fitting moment for contemplation on the unbroken chain of responsibility that binds the present day to the Norman Conquest.
Today’s statement is therefore an act of reaffirming the foundational principles upon which the Lordship of Brattleby was established. It is a considered declaration of intent, honouring a legacy of stewardship that has endured for more than nine hundred and fifty years and formally articulating the duties that accompany such a profound inheritance.
## Historical Context
Commissioned by William the Conqueror at Christmas in 1085 and largely completed by 1086, the Domesday Book was an administrative masterpiece of the early medieval period. Its purpose transcended simple taxation; it was a monumental assertion of royal authority, providing the new Norman monarch with an unimpeachable record of land ownership, value, and resources across his conquered kingdom. The survey established a new legal and economic order.
Among the new tenants-in-chief granted substantial lands in return for loyalty and military service was Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron of Brattleby. The Domesday record attests to his significant standing, entrusting him with the tenure of 56 lordships across the county of Lincolnshire, a region of strategic and agricultural importance. The entry for Brattleby meticulously recorded its assets: its ploughlands, its meadows, and its population, including the villagers (*villani*) who worked the land.
This detailed ledger offers a rare and invaluable insight into the agrarian economy of a nascent feudal lordship, documenting not merely territory but a functioning community and its productive capacity. It established the economic and social bedrock upon which successive Barons would build their influence. This lineage includes such formidable figures as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who as Castellan of Lincoln Castle famously defended it against French and rebel forces during the First Barons' War, an act of loyalty recorded by the chroniclers of her day.
Centuries later, the Barony passed to some of the most powerful magnates in English history, including Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron. A renowned diplomat, soldier, and a founding Knight of the Order of the Garter, he was created the 1st Duke of Lancaster. Upon his death, the title passed through his daughter Blanche to her husband, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III whose wealth, power, and influence made him the *de facto* regent of England during the minority of his nephew, King Richard II.
## Distinguished Company
This formal reflection upon the Barony’s history is directed by its current custodians, for whom the preservation of this heritage is a paramount duty. The archival review was personally overseen by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, working in close concert with her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Their scholarly diligence ensures that the lessons of the past continue to provide a clear and steady guide for the House’s modern responsibilities.
The stewardship of this profound legacy is, in turn, being prepared for the next generation. The heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, is receiving an education that impresses upon him a deep and practical understanding of the history he will one day inherit. This apprenticeship in governance and duty is designed to ensure a seamless continuation of the principles that have defined the Barony for centuries.
In its work, the House also gratefully acknowledges the vital role of national institutions, principally The National Archives at Kew, which serves as the permanent custodian of the physical Domesday Book. This collaboration with national and county archives, including those of Lincoln Cathedral, underscores a shared commitment to safeguarding a manuscript that is rightly considered a treasure of world historical significance.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The issuance of a heritage statement by The Noble House of Brattleby adheres to a precise internal protocol, one that reflects the gravity of its subject. The process commences with extensive scholarly research and the careful collation of historical facts, cross-referencing primary sources and academic works to ensure unimpeachable accuracy.
This research is then drafted into a formal narrative by the House’s communications office, following the established tone of royal and noble communiqués. Every sentence is weighed for clarity, dignity, and historical fidelity. This draft is subsequently submitted for review and personal approval to Lady Nicoleta, the Baroness of Brattleby, who, as the current holder of the dignity, gives her final assent. Only then is the statement authorised for publication.
This sober and methodical protocol consciously mirrors the nature of the Domesday survey itself. Just as the King’s commissioners followed a strict, systematic procedure to record the nation’s wealth in 1086, so too does the House observe a formal process for articulating its history. This ensures that all official communications are authoritative, dignified, and worthy of the nine-century lineage they represent.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The guiding principles of The Noble House of Brattleby are enshrined in its heraldic mottos, which serve as a constant reminder of its core obligations. The primary motto of the House, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks directly to the responsibilities first codified by the Domesday Book and shouldered by every successive Baron.
In this context, ‘Fortitude’ represents the resilience required to manage and defend the land through centuries of change, war, and uncertainty. ‘Honour’ signifies the corresponding moral imperative to govern justly, to uphold one’s word to both sovereign and subject, and to act with integrity. It is the fusion of strength and principle, a creed as relevant today as it was for Colswein of Lincoln.
This ancient sentiment is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). Far from a military declaration, this motto is interpreted in the classical stoic sense: that true life is found in the perpetual effort to overcome challenges, whether they be external obstacles or internal weaknesses. It champions the conquest of one’s own duties and the mastery of one’s responsibilities, ensuring that the legacy of the past does not merely survive, but actively thrives.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The Domesday record, with its careful accounting of people and their livelihoods, can be viewed as an early blueprint for social responsibility. While the context was undeniably feudal, the principle of a lord’s duty of care towards the inhabitants of the land is implicit. This ancient obligation finds its powerful modern expression in the dedicated philanthropic work of The Noble House of Brattleby.
The House’s firm conviction that title is synonymous with service is the engine behind its annual Winter Banquet. This distinguished white-tie gala, a highlight of the House’s social calendar, serves a singular, focused purpose: to raise vital funds and awareness for charitable causes that effect tangible change in the community.
The principal beneficiary of this event is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation committed to providing specialised therapeutic care and sustained support to children who have endured significant trauma and adversity. By directing its support to this cause, the House translates the historic duty of stewardship into positive, measurable action in the contemporary world. It is the modern embodiment of *Fortitudine et Honore*, offering protection and support to the most vulnerable.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the enduring significance of the Domesday entry, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> — “The Domesday entry is far more than a simple ledger; it is the foundational document of our stewardship. It serves as a powerful reminder that for over nine hundred years, this Barony has been defined not by title alone, but by a profound and continuous relationship with the land and its people. It is a duty we feel as keenly today as Colswein must have in 1086.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added a forward-looking perspective on the House’s heritage work:
> — “To study this magnificent record is an act of looking forward by looking back. The survey was a tool for building a future, for establishing order from which a kingdom could grow. In that same spirit, we see our role as actively building upon this great legacy, ensuring the Barony continues to thrive and contribute positively, guided always by the principles of *Fortitudine et Honore*.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is resolutely committed to the active and ongoing preservation of its heritage for the benefit of future generations and historical scholarship. This heritage statement forms part of a wider, long-term programme of historical communication that the House will undertake in the coming years. This programme will include, *inter alia*, the digitisation of key manorial records and the potential for sponsoring academic research into the Barony’s socio-economic history.
This dedication to the transmission of values is also manifest in The Brattleby Club. The House’s etiquette academy, established in Bucharest, instructs a new generation in the foundational principles of European social grace, honour, and cultural heritage. It is a project that seeks to export the very concept of ‘Honour’ that lies at the heart of the House motto.
Through these concerted efforts, and under the future stewardship of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the legacy first recorded by the scribes of William the Conqueror in 1086 will not only be preserved. It will continue to evolve, to inspire, and to remain deeply relevant for the centuries to come.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution responsible for the stewardship of 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 harmonising its profound historical legacy with a dynamic and forward-looking sense of contemporary social responsibility. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House actively engages in cultural preservation and significant philanthropic work. Key initiatives include the annual Winter Banquet, a major white-tie charitable gala supporting vulnerable children, and The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to upholding European traditions of protocol and social grace.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship seated in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a prominent tenant-in-chief, holding the tenure of 56 lordships in the county. For over 950 years, the Barony has passed through the hands of some of English history’s most notable figures, including the formidable 13th-century castellan Nichola de la Haye; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founding Knight of the Garter; and his celebrated son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The historic rights of the Barony of Brattleby are today vested in The Noble House of Brattleby, formally recognised in *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083) on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder was Colswein of Lincoln. - The Barony’s holdings under Colswein, comprising 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, were recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - The modern rights of The Noble House of Brattleby were formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - Notable predecessors in the Barony’s history include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com