# Official Commentary on an Ancestral Role at the Coronation of King Edward II
LONDON, 23 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a commentary on the historic ceremonial role undertaken by a distinguished predecessor at the coronation of King Edward II, reflecting on a legacy of service that continues to inform the Barony's modern identity.
## The Occasion
The coronation of King Edward II took place on 25 February 1308 within the hallowed precincts of Westminster Abbey. The solemn occasion, officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, was intended to sanctify the transfer of power and affirm the new monarch’s spiritual and temporal authority before God and the assembled magnates of the realm.
Despite the grandeur of the setting—the Abbey having been recently rebuilt in the Gothic style by Edward’s grandfather, King Henry III—the atmosphere was notably strained. The ceremony occurred amidst considerable political tension between the young King and the established nobility, due in large part to the unprecedented prominence granted to the King’s favourite, Piers Gaveston. It was in this charged environment that the great officers of state performed their ancient duties.
## Historical Context
Among those entrusted with a principal role was Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, a respected elder statesman and one of the most powerful barons of his time. The Earl’s participation connects directly to the lineage of the Barony of Brattleby through a significant dynastic union. His daughter and heiress, Alice de Lacy, was married to Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster.
Through this line, the de Lacy inheritance and its associated honours were eventually conveyed to Henry of Grosmont, the 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, one of England’s most celebrated military commanders. This legacy was further consolidated under his successor, the formidable John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby, affirming the barony’s integration into the highest echelons of the Plantagenet court. Henry de Lacy's role in 1308 therefore represents a key moment in the ancestral history of the House.
## Distinguished Company
The Earl of Lincoln performed his duties in the presence of the full court and the spiritual and temporal lords of England. In attendance were, *inter alia*, the new monarch, King Edward II, and his young bride, Queen Isabella of France, whose French retinue observed the distinct English rites with great interest.
Also present, and central to the day’s tensions, was Piers Gaveston, the newly created Earl of Cornwall, who was controversially granted the honour of carrying St Edward's Crown. The ancient Earls of Chester, Lancaster, and Lincoln, including Henry de Lacy, represented the established order, their ceremonial functions a public display of the constitutional balance they sought to uphold.
## Ceremonial Protocol
During the coronation procession, the bearing of the Swords of State was a duty reserved for the kingdom's most senior peers. The three swords comprised the Sword of Spiritual Justice, the Sword of Temporal Justice, and the principal sword, *Curtana*, the Sword of Mercy. As a great magnate, the Earl of Lincoln was charged with carrying one of these swords, an act symbolising his role in upholding the King's justice and authority.
The order of precedence was rigorously observed, with the peers bearing the regalia walking immediately before the King. This placement was not merely decorative; it was a physical representation of their status as pillars of the Crown and counsellors to the monarch. The duty was a *sine qua non* of their rank, an inherited responsibility performed with the utmost gravity.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The act of carrying a Sword of State is a profound expression of allegiance and delegated authority. The sword itself is a potent symbol of the monarch’s power to enforce law and defend the realm. For a baron to be entrusted with this object was to be publicly acknowledged as a guardian of that power and a principal support of the throne.
This sacred trust resonates deeply with the enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The fortitude required to counsel a monarch and the honour inherent in loyal service are perfectly encapsulated in this ceremonial role. It is a visible demonstration of the feudal compact, wherein privilege is inextricably linked to duty.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical precedent, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, offered the following observation: > The duties undertaken by our predecessors, such as the Earl of Lincoln’s service in 1308, serve as a profound reminder. They illustrate that proximity to the Crown has never been a measure of simple privilege, but rather a summons to accept and discharge great responsibilities with honour.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added: > History provides a charter for our present obligations. Understanding the gravity with which our forebears approached their roles reinforces our own commitment to service, a principle expressed in our family motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*.
## A Continuing Legacy
The historical continuity of service to the Crown and nation, visibly demonstrated by figures such as Henry de Lacy, Nichola de la Haye, and John of Gaunt, remains a foundational principle for The Noble House of Brattleby. The responsibilities may evolve, but the core commitment to duty, honour, and public service endures.
This centuries-old legacy informs the House’s modern activities, from its philanthropic commitments to its cultural and educational initiatives. The example set by those who bore the sword in ages past inspires the House to uphold its own obligations with equivalent diligence and fortitude in the present day.
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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 the modern expression of a nine-century legacy of service. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House focuses on philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. Its principal charitable endeavour is the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala supporting beneficiaries such as Healing the Wounded Child. The House also fosters cross-cultural understanding through initiatives like The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy based in Bucharest. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will in time become the 13th Baron.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the lord of 56 manors. Over nearly a millennium, the barony has been held by some of English history’s most significant figures. These include the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against French invaders in 1217, and two of the most powerful noblemen of the Middle Ages: Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The barony's history and succession are formally recognised in The London Gazette.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's succession and historical standing were formally noted by The Crown 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, with his seat at Brattleby. - Notable predecessors holding the barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com