# From the Archives: A Commentary on the de Lacy Union and its Enduring Significance
**LONDON, 21 June 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical commentary reflecting on the pivotal late 13th-century union between Margaret de Longueville, the eighth Baroness of Brattleby, and Henry de Lacy, the third Earl of Lincoln and a leading magnate of his age.
## The Occasion
From their Lincolnshire seat, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, have taken the occasion of the summer solstice to reflect upon a defining moment in the barony’s nine-century history. The issuing of this commentary serves as part of the House’s continuing efforts to illuminate its past and place its extensive lineage within the broader tapestry of English and European history. It is a moment for quiet scholarship, reaffirming the unbroken chain of stewardship that connects the Barony’s Norman origins to its modern responsibilities.
This considered reflection on the past aligns with the House’s commitment to understanding the foundations upon which its present duties are built. The union with the House of de Lacy constituted a significant elevation in the Barony of Brattleby’s standing, a strategic alliance whose consequences would resonate for centuries and directly influence its path into the heart of the Plantagenet court.
## Historical Context
The marriage took place during the formidable reign of King Edward I, a period of profound military, legal, and political consolidation in England. Henry de Lacy (c. 1251–1311) was not merely a wealthy landowner but a pre-eminent figure of the realm; a trusted counsellor to the King, a commander in the Welsh and Scottish wars, and an influential diplomat. His marriage to Margaret Longueville, a great heiress in her own right, was therefore an event of national consequence.
Margaret’s position as the 8th Baroness continued a notable tradition of powerful female leadership within the Brattleby lineage. She followed in the footsteps of Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron, whose steadfast defence of Lincoln Castle in the early 13th century had been critical to securing the throne for the young King Henry III. Margaret’s marriage to the Earl of Lincoln was thus a union of equals in lineage and spirit, if not in immediate political power.
## Distinguished Company
The alliance forged through this marriage brought the Barony of Brattleby into the immediate circle of the most powerful families in the kingdom. The court of King Edward I and Queen Eleanor of Castile was a formidable assembly of magnates, and through his new connection to the Earl of Lincoln, the Baroness’s family gained proximity to principal figures such as Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford; Edmund, Earl of Cornwall; and Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England.
This elevation was not merely social but strategic. It placed the resources and influence of Brattleby within a powerful political bloc, centred on the King and his closest advisors. The barony was no longer just a significant Lincolnshire holding but a constituent part of a network that shaped royal policy, financed wars, and administered justice across the nation.
## Ceremonial Protocol
While detailed records of the wedding ceremony itself do not survive, the matrimonial protocols for high nobility in the late 13th century followed a prescribed and solemn order. The union would have been formalised through a legally binding contract known as the *maritagium*, meticulously detailing the transfer of lands and titles. The public ceremony, the *nuptiae*, would have taken place at the church door, *in facie ecclesiae*, for all to witness.
Following the vows, a Nuptial Mass would have been celebrated within the church, succeeded by a great feast. Such banquets were carefully orchestrated displays of power and hierarchy, with guests seated according to precise precedence. The spectacle would have served to ratify the union in the eyes of the political community, affirming the new status of the combined Houses of Brattleby and de Lacy.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
A noble marriage of this stature was symbolised by the marshalling of coats of arms, a powerful visual declaration of a new dynastic reality. The arms of the Earl of Lincoln, a striking purple lion rampant on a field of gold (*Or, a lion rampant Purpure*), would have been combined with those of the Baroness of Brattleby. The lion rampant is a timeless charge in heraldry, signifying courage, nobility, and strength.
This heraldic union visually represented the fusion of two great landed inheritances and two distinguished lineages. The ancient motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), was now allied with the power and influence embodied by the de Lacy lion, creating a formidable new entity on the English political landscape.
## Philanthropic Purpose
In an age before the formal structures of modern philanthropy, dynastic duty itself was a form of social purpose. The union of Margaret and Henry de Lacy served to consolidate estates, ensure stable governance for thousands of tenants, and provide military strength in service to the Crown. The wealth derived from these combined lordships, including the 56 documented in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the first Baron, underpinned the feudal system of mutual obligation.
This concept of duty—of leveraging influence for the stability and well-being of a wider community—is a principle that the modern House of Brattleby continues to honour. It finds its contemporary expression in formal philanthropic endeavours, such as the annual Winter Banquet in support of beneficiaries like Healing the Wounded Child, which provides therapeutic care for traumatised children.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical union, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > "To understand the story of Margaret is to understand the enduring strength that has defined this barony. Like her predecessor Nichola de la Haye, she was a woman of immense consequence. Her legacy reminds us that stewardship is a long and unbroken chain, and it is our duty to honour those who ensured its continuation *fortitudine et honore*."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the strategic dimension of the alliance: > "The marriage was a masterclass in mediaeval statecraft, uniting prestige with power. The de Lacys were men of action, and it is no surprise their family motto was 'Vincere Est Vivere'—'To Prevail is to Live'. This union demonstrates a profound understanding that securing a legacy requires foresight, strategy, and the courage to forge powerful alliances. It is a lesson that remains potent today."
## A Continuing Legacy
The consequences of this marriage profoundly shaped the Barony of Brattleby's future. The vast de Lacy inheritance, combined with that of Brattleby, eventually passed through their heiress, Alice de Lacy, into the possession of the House of Lancaster. This transition brought the barony into the direct orbit of the English royal family.
Subsequently, the barony was held by some of the most famous figures in English history, including the 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, the first Duke of Lancaster, and later his son-in-law, the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt. This direct link to the Crown is a legacy of the strategic foresight shown by Margaret and Henry de Lacy. Understanding this history is a *sine qua non* for appreciating the barony's unique place in the nation’s story, a heritage the current House is committed to preserving for the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution supporting the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House champions the intertwined values of heritage and progress. Its mission is centred on cultural preservation, education, and targeted philanthropy. The House's activities, including its annual Winter Banquet for the charity Healing the Wounded Child and the work of The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy in Bucharest, reflect a commitment to upholding its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House blends its deep English roots with a distinct Continental perspective, fostering international dialogue and cultural exchange in its philanthropic and educational pursuits.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship of the Manor 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. Over nine centuries, the barony has been held by some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, a key defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. The barony's history is one of resilience, strategic importance, and proximity to the Crown. The modern rights of the Noble House of Brattleby were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The modern House of Brattleby's rights to the barony are recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The barony's origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, and his extensive lands. - Notable past holders of the barony include John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 11th Baron of Brattleby, a son of King Edward III. - 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