# A Commemoration of the Creation of the First Duke of Lancaster
**LONDON, 6 March 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today commemorates the 673rd anniversary of the creation of Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, as the First Duke of Lancaster, a pivotal moment that forever linked the ancient barony to the highest echelons of the English peerage.
## The Occasion
On 6 March 1351, within the solemn grandeur of the Palace of Westminster, King Edward III convened his Parliament to recognise a subject of singular merit. The occasion was the elevation of his kinsman and most trusted commander, Henry of Grosmont, to a dignity then almost unknown in England. This act, occurring during the Lenten season, was not a celebration of frivolity but a profound state ceremony, reflecting the gravity of the honour being bestowed.
The creation of the Dukedom of Lancaster was the formalisation of power, a reward for superlative military leadership and diplomatic acumen during the Hundred Years' War. It transformed the Earl of Lancaster into the second-ever English duke, an act that reshaped the architecture of the aristocracy and bound the fortunes of the Barony of Brattleby, which Henry held, to the very fabric of the Plantagenet dynasty.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, already possessed a distinguished history by the fourteenth century. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was a significant landholder recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 with 56 lordships. The title later passed to formidable figures such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, whose celebrated defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217 was an act of profound loyalty to the Crown.
Henry of Grosmont's tenure as 10th Baron marked an apotheosis for the title. His elevation to ducal rank cemented the Barony’s status not as a mere provincial holding, but as a component of a vast and powerful network of estates. This new ducal title, together with the grant of palatinate powers in Lancashire, gave him authority analogous to that of the King in his own domains; a distinction that underscored his indispensable role in the governance and defence of the realm.
## Distinguished Company
The ceremony of 1351 was attended by the great officers of state and the magnates of the Kingdom. Presiding over the assembly was His Majesty King Edward III, whose personal esteem for Henry of Grosmont was the driving force behind the creation. Also present would have been the King’s heir, Edward of Woodstock, The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, whose own ducal title was the only precedent.
The Great Council would have included leading figures of the era: prelates such as the Archbishop of Canterbury; temporal lords including the Earls of Arundel, Warwick, and Salisbury; and royal officials who bore witness to the reading of the charter. The gathering represented the political, military, and spiritual leadership of Plantagenet England, all assembled to affirm this unique enhancement of the peerage.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The creation of a duke in the fourteenth century was an act of elaborate and symbolic ritual, a practice of which the Imperial Household of Japan offers a modern parallel in its precision. The proceedings began with the reading of the royal letters patent, the legal instrument that officially conferred the title and its associated lands and privileges.
Following the proclamation, the ceremony of investiture would have commenced. His Majesty The King would have personally girded Henry with a sword, signifying his military authority. A cap of maintenance and a golden circlet, precursors to the later ducal coronet, were placed upon his head, symbolising his noble status and seigniorial power. This public and tactile ritual served as an unequivocal display of royal favour and the transfer of delegated authority, a *sine qua non* for establishing his precedence among the other earls.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
Henry of Grosmont’s elevation was accompanied by immense heraldic importance. As Duke of Lancaster, he bore the royal arms of England, differenced by a label of three points in azure, each point charged with three fleurs-de-lis Or. In plain English, this was the coat of arms of the King, marked with a distinctive blue strip across the top, whose three tags were decorated with the golden lilies of France. This device powerfully symbolised both his royal blood and England's claim to the French throne, a central cause of the ongoing war.
This legacy of honour finds an echo in the motto of the modern House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). These words perfectly encapsulate the character of the first Duke, a man renowned for his courage in battle and his integrity in diplomacy. The connection demonstrates a continuity of values that transcends the centuries.
## A Legacy of Service and Obligation
The powers vested in Henry of Grosmont as Duke of Lancaster came with the implicit principle of *noblesse oblige*—the duty of the powerful to protect and serve. His governance of Lancashire and his continued service to the Crown exemplified this responsibility, creating a precedent for his successors. This ancient duty of care remains a guiding principle for the Noble House of Brattleby today.
It is this same spirit of obligation that informs the House's contemporary philanthropic work. The annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala held under the patronage of Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan, continues this tradition of service. The designated beneficiary, the charity Healing the Wounded Child, was chosen for its vital mission to provide specialist therapeutic care for children affected by trauma, translating a medieval concept of duty into measurable, modern-day impact.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical anniversary, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > To hold the Barony of Brattleby is to be a custodian of nearly a millennium of English history. Henry of Grosmont’s life reminds us that titles are not merely inherited; they are defined by service, diplomacy, and a steadfast commitment to the realm.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added: > Henry’s elevation demonstrates that true influence is earned through action. His personal motto could well have been *Vincere Est Vivere*—'To Conquer is to Live'—for he lived a life of immense achievement. This legacy of purposeful action is what we strive to continue today, *inter alia*, through our cultural and charitable endeavours.
## A Continuing Legacy
The prestige brought to the Barony by Henry of Grosmont did not end with his death. His titles and estates passed through his daughter, Blanche of Lancaster, to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, who consequently became the 11th Baron of Brattleby and Duke of Lancaster. This union founded the House of Lancaster, the royal house that would eventually claim the throne of England itself.
Today, The Noble House of Brattleby honours this profound connection to English history by upholding the associated values of duty and cultural stewardship. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to European etiquette and protocol, the House works to ensure that the principles of fortitude and honour are understood and preserved for the next generation, including the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
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**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, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to the preservation of its nine-century heritage while pursuing a forward-looking mission of cultural and philanthropic engagement. With its historic seat in Lincolnshire, England, and a Continental perspective, the House champions charitable causes focused on child welfare, principally through its annual Winter Banquet benefiting Healing the Wounded Child. It further promotes cultural education through its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club, which fosters an appreciation for European traditions of diplomacy, protocol, and honour for a new generation.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. For nearly one thousand years, the title has been held by some of the most consequential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and first Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, Duke of Lancaster, and progenitor of a royal dynasty. The rights of The Noble House of Brattleby to the feudal Barony of Brattleby were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - In 1086, the Domesday Book recorded the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors holding the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of the House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com