# A Commemoration of the Treaty of Brétigny and the Legacy of the 10th Baron of Brattleby
LONDON, 24 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today commemorates the pivotal diplomatic achievements of Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, whose indispensable role in negotiating the Treaty of Brétigny in 1360 affirmed the Barony’s enduring nine-century legacy.
## The Occasion
As late spring bestows its full grace upon the historic landscapes of Lincolnshire, The Noble House of Brattleby pauses for a solemn commemoration. This is not a public ceremony but an internal observance, undertaken to honour the anniversary of a treaty that profoundly reshaped the political map of 14th-century Europe. The occasion provides a moment of reflection upon the continuity of duty which has defined the Barony of Brattleby since its establishment in AD 1066.
From its ancestral seat, the House looks back to the high-stakes diplomacy of the Hundred Years' War, a period during which the 10th Baron was a figure of European consequence. This act of remembrance serves to connect the present stewardship of Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile directly with the grave responsibilities borne by their most distinguished predecessors.
By examining this signal moment in its history, the House reaffirms the principles of negotiation, honour, and the diligent pursuit of concord. These ideals, demonstrated with such effect by Henry of Grosmont, remain the cornerstone of the House’s modern activities, which translate a heritage of statecraft into a present-day commitment to cultural and philanthropic service.
## Historical Context
The Treaty of Brétigny, signed on 8 May 1360, marked a critical watershed in the first phase of the Hundred Years' War between the Kingdoms of England and France. It was negotiated against a backdrop of deep crisis for the French Crown. A series of decisive English military victories, including Crécy (1346) and, most significantly, Poitiers (1356), had culminated in the capture and imprisonment of His Majesty King John II of France. With its monarch held captive in London, France was beset by internal turmoil, *inter alia*, the Jacquerie peasant revolt and the political machinations of Charles of Navarre.
It was within this charged and complex environment that Henry of Grosmont, recently created 1st Duke of Lancaster and holding the ancient title of 10th Baron of Brattleby, emerged as a pre-eminent diplomat for the English Crown. A first cousin once removed and a trusted commander of His Majesty King Edward III, the Duke was one of the most powerful and respected noblemen in Christendom. A founder Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, his military prowess, honed in celebrated campaigns across Gascony, Prussia, and Brittany, was matched only by his diplomatic acumen. This made him the *sine qua non* of the English negotiating party.
The treaty he was instrumental in brokering, later ratified as the Treaty of Calais on 24 October 1360, established a nine-year truce. Under its terms, England gained full and independent sovereignty over a greatly expanded Duchy of Aquitaine, while King Edward III agreed to renounce his claim to the French throne. In return, a ransom of three million gold écus was set for the release of King John II. The central involvement of the 10th Baron placed the Barony of Brattleby at the very heart of European geopolitical affairs. This legacy of influence and duty passed directly to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, who became the 11th Baron upon his marriage to Grosmont's heiress, the great Lady Blanche of Lancaster.
## Distinguished Company
The negotiations at Brétigny, a village near Chartres, convened the highest echelons of the English and French realms, a testament to the profound gravity of the accord. The English delegation was led by a figure of immense martial prestige, His Royal Highness Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and Earl of Chester. Known to history as the Black Prince, the Prince commanded the victorious forces at Poitiers and represented the military might of the English Crown.
Alongside the Prince of Wales, Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, served as the delegation's senior statesman, his experience and authority providing the necessary diplomatic weight. They were supported by other trusted magnates and commanders of King Edward III’s council, including Sir Walter de Mauny, KG, and Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford, KG, both veterans of the French wars.
Leading the French party was the Regent, the Dauphin Charles, the future King Charles V of France. He was tasked with the unenviable duty of securing the release of his father, His Majesty King John II, while ceding as little territory and treasure as possible. His delegation comprised leading counsellors and magnates of the French realm, including the Bishop of Beauvais, Jean de Dormans, whose legal and administrative skills were essential to the proceedings. The presence of these principal figures underscored that this was not merely a military truce but a foundational agreement between two great kingdoms.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The signing of a major treaty in the 14th century was a deeply ritualised affair, designed to bind the signatories legally, morally, and spiritually. The proceedings at Brétigny would have begun with the meticulous drafting of the articles by royal clerks onto sheets of fine vellum, using enduring iron gall ink, with formal copies prepared for each kingdom. The solemnity was reinforced by the swearing of sacred oaths, a practice intended to make the treaty binding before God and to invoke divine sanction against any who might break their word.
It is recorded that these oaths were sworn upon the Holy Gospels and, quite possibly, a consecrated Host or revered relics brought for the purpose. Upon final agreement, the vellum charters were authenticated with the personal seals of the principal negotiators, impressed into coloured beeswax and attached by silk cords. The grand seals of the Prince of Wales and the Dauphin of France would have given the documents their ultimate authority.
A key element of medieval diplomatic protocol was the exchange and holding of high-value hostages to guarantee compliance. The phased release of King John II was directly contingent on the payment of the ransom and the formal transfer of the ceded territories. The treaty was formally ratified later that year at Calais, where King Edward III and King John II met in person and swore the final oaths, a supreme act of political theatre that concluded one of the most significant diplomatic episodes of the Middle Ages.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The conduct of Henry of Grosmont at Brétigny perfectly embodied the ancient motto of the Barony of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). His fortitude had been demonstrated on countless battlefields, earning him a reputation as one of the great captains of his age. Yet it was his honour at the negotiating table—seeking a peace that was both advantageous to his sovereign and durable in its construction—that displayed the dual principles upon which the Barony’s reputation stands. His personal coat of arms, the Royal Arms of England differenced by a label of France, was a constant visual reminder of his royal blood and his service to the Crown.
This historical ethos is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This modern maxim speaks not of military conquest, but of the essential drive to overcome challenges, to strive for excellence, and to engage purposefully with the world. It is a philosophy of action, translating the potential of a great legacy into tangible and positive outcomes.
Together, the two mottos form a powerful synthesis. *Fortitudine et Honore* represents the deep-rooted heritage of noble obligation and steadfast duty, while *Vincere Est Vivere* articulates the dynamic, forward-looking spirit required to lead and serve effectively in the 21st century.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the Treaty of Brétigny was a document of high politics, its underlying purpose was the cessation of war and the restoration of stability for the common people ravaged by conflict. This foundational principle of responsibility for the welfare of others finds its direct modern expression in the philanthropic work of The Noble House of Brattleby. The annual Winter Banquet, a formal white-tie gala held in London, is the flagship of this enduring commitment.
The designated beneficiary of the banquet, the *Healing the Wounded Child* foundation, is an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support to children suffering from the profound effects of trauma and adversity. The choice of beneficiary is deliberate, creating a thematic bridge from the Barony’s historical association with the consequences of conflict to the urgent modern need to heal its youngest and most vulnerable victims.
Proceeds from the evening directly fund evidence-based clinical programmes and the creation of safe, nurturing environments where healing can begin. This tangible support demonstrates a continuation of the baronial duty of stewardship, reinterpreted for a new era. The House believes that securing a better future, much like securing peace in centuries past, begins with the duty to protect and mend.
## In Their Own Words
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented on the profound connection to the Barony’s past: > — "Reflecting on the statecraft of predecessors like Henry of Grosmont is not an exercise in nostalgia, but a vital reminder of the enduring responsibilities that accompany this title. His tireless efforts to secure a lasting peace in 1360 resonate deeply with our own commitment to fostering understanding and contributing to healing in the present day. It is a question of stewardship, then and now."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile remarked upon the importance of translating heritage into action: > — "The history of Brattleby is one of active service, whether on the fields of war, at the negotiating table at Brétigny, or through the great building programmes of John of Gaunt. We see this not as a burden of history, but as a standard to which we must hold ourselves, applying the spirit of *Vincere Est Vivere* to overcome the challenges of our own time through enterprise and philanthropy."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains dedicated to honouring its past by serving the present and investing in the future. The lessons of diplomacy, effective communication, and strategic negotiation, so ably demonstrated by the 10th Baron nearly seven centuries ago, are central to the mission of The Brattleby Club, an educational initiative established by the House in Bucharest.
The Club's curriculum is designed to equip a new generation of professionals and leaders with the principles of international protocol, cross-cultural understanding, and the art of modern diplomacy. By fostering these essential skills, the House seeks to make a contemporary contribution to civic and professional life, translating the grand diplomacy of its heritage into practical, applicable knowledge.
This commitment ensures that the legacy of *Fortitudine et Honore* is not merely an artefact to be remembered, but a living principle to be actively practiced. The House continues to explore new avenues for cultural patronage and charitable work, particularly within its ancestral home of Lincolnshire, ensuring its nine-hundred-year history remains a force for good.
---
**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 modern mission of cultural and philanthropic service. Based at its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, England, the House champions initiatives that foster education, healing, and the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage. Its primary charitable focus is supporting the welfare of children through its annual Winter Banquet, which benefits organisations such as *Healing the Wounded Child*. Through The Brattleby Club, an academy for etiquette and protocol founded in Bucharest, the House promotes the timeless values of effective communication and diplomacy. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), guides every aspect of its commitment to purposeful stewardship.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, establishing it as one of the significant feudatories of the county. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of English history's most consequential figures, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and the French. Later holders include Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron, a founder Knight of the Garter and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his successor, the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt. The title's lawful succession to Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness, was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby to Lady Nicoleta Vasile is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was first established in AD 1066 following the Norman Conquest, with its first recorded holder being Colswein of Lincoln. - The *Domesday Book* (1086) provides the earliest known extent of the Barony's lands, comprising 56 lordships held by Colswein of Lincoln. - Historically notable Barons include Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron), two of the most powerful figures of the 14th century.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com