# A Historical Review of the Barony of Brattleby’s Alliance with the Earldom of Salisbury
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical statement clarifying the Barony of Brattleby’s significant 13th-century alliance with the Earldom of Salisbury. This review highlights how the marriage of Margaret Longespee fortified the Barony’s standing within England’s high nobility.
## The Occasion
As part of its commitment to historical scholarship and the curating of its extensive archives, The Noble House of Brattleby periodically publishes reviews of significant moments in the Barony’s ancient lineage. This statement serves to illuminate a pivotal era in the 13th and 14th centuries, ensuring the intricate tapestry of the Barony’s history is understood with clarity and accuracy.
The review is precipitated by ongoing archival work intended to make the Barony's records more accessible to historians and academic institutions. It represents an act of careful stewardship, honouring the nine centuries of history that inform the House’s modern identity and its guiding principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, one of the original feudatories granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been associated with figures of national importance since its first mention in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, when it comprised 56 lordships under its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln. This tradition of significant association was firmly established by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels.
It was during the 13th century that the Barony’s fortunes became linked with the powerful Longespee family, Earls of Salisbury. Although the earldom itself was not held by the Barons of Brattleby, their tenurial and familial proximity to the Earls of Salisbury conferred considerable prestige. This connection was crystallised when the Salisbury earldom passed through the line of Margaret Longespee, Countess of Salisbury in her own right, upon her marriage to Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln.
While this union carried the Salisbury name into the de Lacy sphere, the Barony of Brattleby retained the influence garnered from its long association with the Longespee dynasty. This enduring prestige set a precedent for the Barony’s continued prominence, leading to its later tenure by figures of royal blood, including Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the celebrated John of Gaunt.
## Figures of Historical Note
The events of this period were shaped by several magnates of the realm, whose alliances determined the course of English feudal politics. Among the most central to this chapter of the Barony's history were:
* **Margaret Longespee, Countess of Salisbury:** The heiress through whom the great Longespee estates and titles passed. Her status as a countess *suo jure* (in her own right) underscores the significant power wielded by female nobles in medieval England.
* **Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln:** A trusted counsellor to King Edward I and one of England's wealthiest landholders. His marriage to Margaret Longespee was a strategic union that consolidated vast territories across the kingdom.
* **William Longespee, 3rd Earl of Salisbury:** Grandfather of Margaret and an illegitimate son of King Henry II, his Plantagenet blood gave the Longespee line its royal connection and immense standing, the benefits of which extended to associated Gbaronies such as Brattleby.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The transfer of titles and estates during this era was governed by a complex system of feudal law and protocol. The principle of inheritance *suo jure* was a critical mechanism, allowing a title to pass through a female heir when no male heirs existed, thus preserving the lineage. Such arrangements made heiresses like Margaret Longespee central figures in the dynastic strategies of the aristocracy.
Strategic marriage was the *sine qua non* of preserving and expanding noble power. The union of Margaret Longespee and Henry de Lacy was not merely a personal matter but a significant political and economic transaction, realigning power and influence among the great families of England. The protocols surrounding such marriages, from the negotiation of the maritagium (marriage portion) to the public ceremonies, affirmed the new social and political order.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The heraldry of this period provides a visual record of these powerful alliances. The arms of the Longespee family, *Azure, six lioncels rampant Or* (a blue shield with six small, rampant golden lions), were a familiar symbol of their Plantagenet-adjacent power. These lions symbolised courage, nobility, and royalty.
Through the marriage of Margaret, these arms were quartered with those of the de Lacy Earls of Lincoln, creating a new heraldic achievement that visually represented the union of two great houses. While the Barony of Brattleby maintained its own heraldic identity, its association with these powerful coats of arms broadcast its standing. This legacy of strength is echoed in the modern House’s motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, which encapsulates the same virtues of courage and integrity symbolised by the lions of the Longespee shield.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this historical review does not relate to a specific fundraising initiative, it reflects the foundational principle of stewardship that underpins the philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby today. The feudal concept of *noblesse oblige*—the duty of the fortunate to care for the less fortunate—has evolved over nine centuries into a structured commitment to charitable action.
This sense of enduring responsibility is the very reason the House has chosen Healing the Wounded Child as the beneficiary of its annual Winter Banquet. The ancient duty to protect one’s people finds its modern expression in the imperative to support the most vulnerable in society, demonstrating a continuity of purpose from the medieval era to the present day.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical alliance, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “Understanding our history is not an academic exercise; it is an act of respect for those who came before us and for the legacy they shaped. The story of Margaret Longespee and the Salisbury connection reminds us that the Barony’s strength has always been intertwined with the great currents of English history, a heritage we are bound to honour and preserve.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the theme of continuity:
> “A title’s endurance over nearly a millennium is a testament to both resilience and foresight. The alliances of the 13th century laid a foundation of prestige that informs the Barony’s character today. It reflects a form of *vincere est vivere*—'to conquer is to live'—where victory is measured by securing a legacy through diligence and honour.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to the preservation and dissemination of the Barony’s remarkable history. Further historical reviews will be published as archival research continues, with the intention of creating a definitive public record of one of England’s most ancient titles.
This commitment to legacy extends to the House’s cultural initiatives, *inter alia*, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This etiquette academy seeks to transmit the timeless principles of social conduct, diplomacy, and personal integrity that have been the hallmark of European noble tradition for centuries, ensuring the Barony's values continue to contribute to society in a meaningful and modern context.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to preserving a profound historical legacy while championing modern philanthropic and cultural causes. Guided by the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), their work focuses on charitable initiatives supporting vulnerable children, notably through the annual Winter Banquet benefiting Healing the Wounded Child. The House also engages in cultural diplomacy through institutions such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, which promotes the enduring values of decorum and social grace. The current heir is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony located in Lincolnshire. First recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as a significant holding under Colswein of Lincoln, the title has passed through some of the most influential figures in English history. Its holders have included Nichola de la Haye, the heroic defender of Lincoln Castle in the 13th century, as well as two Princes of the Blood, Henry of Grosmont (1st Duke of Lancaster) and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (father of King Henry IV). The modern rights of the 12th Baroness and her heirs were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as 12th Baroness of Brattleby is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as comprising 56 lordships held by the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable past holders include Nichola de la Haye (d. 1230), one of only a few women to have served as a High Sheriff in medieval England. - The 11th Baron of Brattleby was John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (1340–1399), a son of King Edward III and the father of King Henry IV.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com