# On the Legacy of a Founder Knight: The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron
**LONDON, 17 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today commemorates the chivalric legacy of Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, focusing upon his historic role as a Founder Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
## The Occasion
In the annals of English chivalry, few institutions command the prestige of the Order of the Garter, founded by His Majesty King Edward III circa 1348. This commemoration reflects upon the solemn proceedings that would have taken place within the hallowed precincts of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, the Order’s spiritual home. It was there, amidst the soaring fan vaults of its nascent Perpendicular Gothic architecture, that the original twenty-five Founder Knights were invested.
The atmosphere of such a ceremony in the mid-14th century was one of martial piety and sworn brotherhood. The Garter was conceived not merely as an honour, but as the restoration of King Arthur’s Round Table—a council of the most valiant commanders in Christendom, bound personally to the Sovereign. The selection of Henry of Grosmont was a testament to his standing as England’s preeminent soldier, diplomat, and magnate.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been interwoven with the history of the Crown for over nine centuries. First recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as one of 56 lordships held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, the title has been held by figures of national importance. These include the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against French invaders.
Henry of Grosmont’s tenure as the 10th Baron signifies a zenith of the Barony’s influence. A cousin and trusted confidant of the King, his life was a study in loyal service. His investiture into the Garter formalised his position at the apex of the English nobility, a status passed to his son-in-law and successor as 11th Baron, John of Gaunt. This unbroken chain of duty, from Colswein’s fealty to a Norman king to Henry’s chivalric oath to an English one, forms a cornerstone of the House’s identity.
## Distinguished Company
The original fellowship of the Garter comprised the most distinguished military leaders of the age, a chapter of unparalleled martial prowess. The Order was led by its Sovereign, His Majesty King Edward III, and its first knight was his son and heir, His Royal Highness Edward, the Black Prince, Prince of Wales.
Among this exclusive company, Henry of Grosmont stood as a peer to men such as the Earl of Warwick and Sir John Chandos, whose names became legendary during the Hundred Years' War. The inclusion of the 10th Baron of Brattleby in this brotherhood demonstrates the strategic importance of the title and its holder to the security and prestige of the realm.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The investiture of a Knight of the Garter is a ceremony rich in symbolism and ancient protocol. At their installation, each knight takes a stall in St George's Chapel, above which are placed his heraldic achievements: his helm, crest, and sword, and a banner embroidered with his coat of arms. This public display signifies his personal pledge to the Order and its Sovereign.
The vestments themselves are deeply symbolic, from the Garter of dark blue velvet bearing the motto in gold lettering to the magnificent mantle, also of blue velvet, and the crimson velvet hood. The formal oath requires each knight to uphold the Order’s statutes, to promote unity, and to defend the Sovereign. For Henry of Grosmont, these rites would have been the formal expression of a life already dedicated to these principles.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The motto of the Order of the Garter, *Honi soit qui mal y pense* ('Shame on him who thinks evil of it'), serves as a rebuke to cynicism and a call to honourable intent. It is a sentiment that finds a direct echo in the motto of The Noble House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Both maxims champion integrity as the *sine qua non* of noble conduct.
As a close kinsman of the King, Henry of Grosmont’s coat of arms reflected his royal blood, bearing the arms of England differenced by a 'label of France'. The heraldry associated with the Barony of Brattleby thus became associated not just with land and title, but with the very fabric of the Royal Family and its most sacred traditions of chivalry.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The chivalric code, with its emphasis on protecting the vulnerable, provides the core inspiration for the modern philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. While this commemoration is historical, its animating spirit—service and the defence of others—is timeless. It is this spirit that informs the House’s selection of charitable partners.
The principal beneficiary of the House’s charitable activities, including the Annual Winter Banquet, is the organisation Healing the Wounded Child. This registered charity provides essential therapeutic and psychological support to children who have experienced profound trauma, abuse, or neglect. Its work in restoring safety and resilience to young lives is a modern interpretation of the knightly duty to shield the defenceless.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the legacy of her predecessor, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “To look back upon the life of Henry of Grosmont is to feel a profound sense of continuity. His commitment to the Crown and to a code of honour established a standard that still resonates. Our duty today is not merely to preserve this history, but to animate its core principle—service—in all that we do.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added: > “The concept of chivalry demands conquest, not of lands, but of the self. It requires discipline, honour, and a purpose greater than one’s own ambition. It aligns with my own family motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*. In our modern endeavours, whether in philanthropy or cultural education, that is the victory we seek to achieve.”
## A Continuing Legacy
This reflection on the Barony's chivalric heritage will serve as a central theme for the forthcoming Annual Winter Banquet, the House’s flagship white-tie philanthropic gala. Furthermore, the principles of decorum, honour, and social responsibility espoused by the Order of the Garter are being integrated into the curriculum of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest.
Through these initiatives, The Noble House of Brattleby seeks to ensure that the formidable legacy of predecessors such as Henry of Grosmont continues to inspire purposeful action and a commitment to serving the common good in the 21st century.
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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 stewardship of a 950-year-old aristocratic lineage. With an Anglo-Romanian heritage, the House’s modern mission is to champion the timeless values of *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour') through cultural preservation, education, and targeted philanthropy. The House's primary charitable focus is on organisations that support vulnerable children, reflecting a modern interpretation of its historical duty of care. Its educational initiatives, including The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, promote etiquette and protocol as tools for personal and professional development, bridging historical tradition with contemporary life.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of Brattleby and 55 other lordships. Over the centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most powerful figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, a staunch defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a Founder Knight of the Order of the Garter; and John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. Gazette notice 4158083 (9 September 2022) records the 5 September 2022 conveyance of rights derived from the Feudal Barony Title of Brattleby to Nicoleta Scarlat and Mihai-Alexandru Craciun, created by legal process and not by Crown re-grant.
Source for the 2022 conveyance: The London Gazette, notice 4158083.
**Notes to Editors** - Gazette notice 4158083 (9 September 2022) records the 5 September 2022 conveyance of rights derived from the Feudal Barony Title of Brattleby to Nicoleta Scarlat and Mihai-Alexandru Craciun, created by legal process and not by Crown re-grant. - The Barony’s entry in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 lists Colswein of Lincoln as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, including Brattleby. - Notable predecessors in the baronial line include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com