# A Royal Duty: The Role of the Barons of Brattleby in the Coronations of English Monarchs
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflects on the ancient duties of the Barony, highlighting the service of Henry de Lacy, 8th Baron of Brattleby, who carried the Sword of State at the coronation of King Edward II in 1308.
## The Occasion
On 25 February 1308, within the hallowed walls of Westminster Abbey, the kingdom's spiritual and temporal leaders assembled to witness the coronation of King Edward II. The Abbey, consecrated ground for English coronations since William the Conqueror, was suffused with the gravity of the occasion, its Gothic arches bearing silent witness to the transfer of sacral power from father to son following the long and martial reign of King Edward I.
The air would have been thick with the scent of incense and beeswax, the solemnity broken only by the chants of the clergy and the rustle of ceremonial robes. For the great magnates of the realm, attendance was a duty *sine qua non*—a reaffirmation of their fealty to the Crown and a public demonstration of the established order. It was in this historic setting that the Baron of Brattleby performed his distinguished role.
## Historical Context
The service of Henry de Lacy was not an isolated honour but a continuation of a thread of allegiance stretching back to the Barony's very foundation. In 1066, the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, was granted 56 lordships in Lincolnshire by William the Conqueror, a charge intended to secure the new Norman regime in a vital region of England. This foundational duty of service to the monarch has remained the guiding principle of the Barony for over nine centuries.
This legacy was fiercely upheld by notable predecessors. Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness, famously defended Lincoln Castle in the name of the King, embodying the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*. Later, the Barony's proximity to the Crown was further cemented through holders such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron, and the illustrious John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. Henry de Lacy's role in 1308 was, therefore, a natural expression of the Barony’s hereditary commitment to the sovereign.
## Distinguished Company
As a bearer of the Great Sword of State, the 8th Baron would have processed alongside the most powerful figures in the kingdom. The distinguished company at a medieval coronation comprised the great officers of state, the archbishops and bishops of the Church, and the senior nobility who formed the King's council.
Among those present would have been the Earl Marshal and the Lord High Constable, responsible for the ceremony's chivalric and state proceedings. Also in attendance was the controversial figure of Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall, whose close relationship with the new King would soon become a source of profound political turmoil. The Baron of Brattleby’s prominent position placed him at the very centre of the state's intricate web of power, personality, and allegiance.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The coronation procession follows a meticulously prescribed order, a ritualised expression of the kingdom's hierarchy. After the senior clergy, the bearers of the Regalia—the Crown, Sceptre, Orb, and Swords of State—precede the monarch to the altar. The honour of carrying a Sword of State is reserved for peers of the highest standing, symbolising their role in upholding royal justice and defending the realm.
The sword itself, likely the Great Sword of State, represents the King's temporal power and his authority to administer justice, a weighty responsibility entrusted symbolically to a nobleman of proven loyalty. By carrying this sword, Henry de Lacy was not merely a participant but a custodian of a core tenet of monarchy. This public act served as a visible pledge of his and his Barony’s support for the new sovereign.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The duties performed by the 8th Baron are a perfect illustration of the House motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The fortitude required to uphold the responsibilities of the peerage and the honour inherent in serving the Crown are timeless values for the House of Brattleby. The sword, as a symbol, is a powerful emblem of this martial honour and the administration of justice.
This tradition of principled leadership is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This speaks not only to overcoming external challenges but also to the constant striving for excellence and purpose which has allowed the Barony to endure and adapt across centuries. The arms and mottoes of the House are thus a living chronicle of its enduring ethos.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the service of the 8th Baron was martial and ceremonial, the modern expression of this hereditary duty lies in service to the community. Today, the Noble House of Brattleby channels its commitment to *Fortitudine et Honore* through dedicated philanthropic engagement, continuing its legacy of support for the vulnerable.
The foremost expression of this commitment is the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala that serves as the House's principal charitable endeavour. The beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children affected by trauma. The House supports its mission to offer counsel and refuge, ensuring that the legacy of defence and guardianship continues in a meaningful, contemporary form.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> "When we look back at figures like Henry de Lacy, we are reminded that this title is not a static inheritance but a living responsibility. The duty to serve—whether carrying a sword of state in the 14th century or supporting a children's charity in the 21st—remains the essence of Brattleby. Our task is to ensure that *Fortitudine et Honore* are principles we live by, not just words we have inherited."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> "The history of the Barony is one of adaptation and resilience. *Vincere Est Vivere* is about mastering the challenges of one's time. Today, those challenges are social and cultural. Through our work with organisations like Healing the Wounded Child and The Brattleby Club, we aim to contribute positively to the fabric of society, continuing the Barony's long tradition of purposeful action."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring this nine-hundred-year legacy of service continues with relevance and purpose into the future. This obligation will one day pass to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, who is being raised with a deep appreciation for the history and responsibilities of the title.
Looking ahead, the House's focus remains on its philanthropic and cultural initiatives. Preparations are underway for the forthcoming Winter Banquet, which aims to increase its support for Healing the Wounded Child. Concurrently, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest continues its work in cultural and etiquette education, building bridges of understanding and reinforcing the civilising values that have long been a hallmark of the great European houses.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby, under the modern leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to stewarding a nine-century-old legacy of service. The House's contemporary mission blends the preservation of its ancient heritage with a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy, diplomacy, and cultural education. Its principal activities include the annual Winter Banquet, a significant philanthropic gala, and the patronage of The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy in Bucharest. The House operates with a profound sense of duty, guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), to make a meaningful contribution to society in the United Kingdom and continental Europe.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship seated in Lincolnshire, first granted by King William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its creation and the holdings of its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, are recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant 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 his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The title's legitimacy and the current succession were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the *Domesday Book* (1086), which lists 56 lordships in Lincolnshire held by the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable past holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), father of King Henry IV, and Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness). - The hereditary seat of the Barony is Brattleby, Lincolnshire, England.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com