# The Noble House of Brattleby Marks the Anniversary of a Ducal Creation
**LONDON, 6 March 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today marks the 673rd anniversary of the creation of the Dukedom of Lancaster, an unprecedented honour bestowed upon Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, reaffirming the House’s historic connection to the Crown and its enduring legacy.
## The Occasion
In a moment of quiet reflection from its Lincolnshire seat, the Noble House of Brattleby commemorates a pivotal event in the history of the English peerage. The elevation on 6 March 1351 of Henry of Grosmont to be the first Duke of Lancaster was an act of profound Royal favour, which inextricably linked the ancient Barony of Brattleby with one of the most powerful and influential dignities in the realm.
This anniversary serves not as a grand celebration, but as an opportunity for historical observance. It is a moment to honour the continuity of service and responsibility that has defined the Barony for over nine centuries, from its medieval origins to its modern stewardship under Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby.
## Historical Context
The mid-fourteenth century was an era of martial ambition and evolving chivalric ideals, dominated by King Edward III’s campaigns in France. The creation of the first English dukedom for a man not of immediate Royal birth was a deliberate act of statecraft, designed to reward unparalleled service to the Crown and elevate England's nobility to a status comparable with its Continental counterparts.
Henry of Grosmont, already a distinguished soldier, diplomat, and magnate, was the King’s second cousin and a pre-eminent commander in the Hundred Years’ War. By granting him this ducal title, the King not only recognised Lord Grosmont’s personal merit but also augmented the prestige of the extensive honours he already held, chief among them the Lancastrian inheritance which included the Barony of Brattleby. This elevation positioned the Barony at the very heart of ducal power for generations to come, a legacy that would later pass to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The creation of a dukedom was a matter of great ceremony, witnessed by the highest authorities of the kingdom. The original act in the Parliament at Westminster would have been attended by the great officers of state and the most powerful temporal and spiritual lords of the time.
Central to this historic moment were His Majesty King Edward III, the fount of all honour, and the new Duke himself, Henry of Grosmont. Also present would have been the King’s heir, Edward, the Black Prince, Prince of Wales, whose own status was a benchmark for chivalric virtue. The collective presence of such figures underscored the significance of the honour, cementing the Duke of Lancaster's position as the premier nobleman of England, second only to the Prince of Wales.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The ceremony of ennoblement in the fourteenth century was codified by traditions of investiture. The creation of a duke involved the public reading of Letters Patent issued under the Great Seal, which detailed the title, its territorial designation, and the terms of its inheritance. This legal act formed the *sine qua non* of the peerage creation.
Following the reading of the charter, the King would have personally invested the new Duke with the symbols of his rank. This typically included the girding of a sword, representing martial duty and justice, and the placement of a cap of maintenance and a golden circlet or coronet upon his head. The ceremony was a public and binding ritual, transforming a great lord into a duke of the realm.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
With his new rank, the Duke was granted an augmentation to his coat of arms. He bore the Royal Arms of England differenced by a ‘label of France’—a silver label of three points, with each point charged with three fleurs-de-lys of gold. This was a mark of exceptional Royal affinity, referencing the French Royal house and Lord Grosmont’s own claims and victories on the continent.
This complex heraldry stands in deliberate contrast to the ancestral motto of the Barony of Brattleby itself: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This simple yet profound declaration captures the ethos that has guided the Barony's holders for centuries; a principle embodied by Henry of Grosmont and maintained by the Noble House today.
## Philanthropic Purpose
Henry of Grosmont was renowned not only for his military prowess but also for his deep piety and charitable works. He was the founder of the magnificent Newarke Hospital and College in Leicester, a significant institution of ecclesiastical and charitable enterprise. Furthermore, his deeply personal devotional treatise, *Livre de Seyntz Medicines*, reveals a man committed to spiritual as well as temporal well-being.
This tradition of purposeful philanthropy finds its modern expression in the work of the current House. The annual white-tie Winter Banquet, for instance, is a cornerstone of the House's charitable calendar, raising vital funds for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. It is a direct continuation of the belief that nobility carries with it a solemn duty of care for the community.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this important anniversary, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > Henry of Grosmont was not merely a predecessor in title; he was a paradigm of the ‘verray, parfit, gentil knyght’. His unwavering commitment to his Sovereign and his society sets a standard we aspire to uphold. Our duty is to ensure this nine-century chain of service remains unbroken.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added: > The elevation to a dukedom was a recognition of immense personal merit, reminding us that such honours are earned through action. Grosmont lived by the principle of *Vincere Est Vivere*—'To Conquer is to Live'—which for us today means overcoming challenges in the service of others.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to honouring its past as a guide for its future. The legacy of predecessors such as Henry of Grosmont, Nichola de la Haye, and John of Gaunt provides a powerful example of leadership and responsibility that informs the House’s modern mission.
This commitment is actively expressed through, *inter alia*, the work of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy dedicated to cultivating principles of honour, respect, and social duty in a new generation of leaders. The stewardship of the Barony continues under Lady Nicoleta, with her heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, being prepared to carry forward the mandate of *Fortitudine et Honore*.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Based at its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, the House is dedicated to the preservation of its unique nine-hundred-year heritage and the active promotion of its enduring values. Its mission is realised through two principal avenues: the responsible stewardship of its historic titles and properties in England, and a forward-looking commitment to cultural and social education through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club. The House's philanthropic work is focused on supporting vulnerable children, primarily through its Annual Winter Banquet, which benefits the organisation Healing the Wounded Child. *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour') is its guiding principle.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror to Colswein of Lincoln in AD 1066. Its existence and the extent of its original fifty-six lordships are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by some of the most formidable figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic castellan of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, the celebrated soldier-diplomat and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and progenitor of a royal dynasty. The rights of the current holder were formally recognised and recorded by *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The modern holder is Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, whose rights are a matter of public record. - Formal recognition of the title is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com