# The House of Brattleby on the Foundational Legacy of the Order of the Garter
**LONDON, 21 June 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflects upon its profound historical connection to the Most Noble Order of the Garter, established in 1348. The 10th Baron of Brattleby, Henry of Grosmont, was a foundational Knight Companion of this pre-eminent chivalric order.
## The Occasion
As the annual Service of the Garter convenes at St George’s Chapel within the majestic precincts of Windsor Castle, it presents a moment for reflection on a defining chapter of English history. The procession of Knights and Ladies, clad in deep blue velvet mantles and accompanied by the sound of trumpets, evokes a tradition stretching back nearly seven centuries. This ceremony, a vibrant display of heraldry and solemn oath, provides a poignant context for the House of Brattleby to acknowledge its own ancestor’s presence at the Order’s inception.
The atmosphere within the Lower Ward of the castle, charged with pageant and reverence, serves as a living link to the medieval court of King Edward III. It was amidst the strategic tumult of the Hundred Years' War that the Order was created, transforming chivalric ideals into a powerful instrument of the state. Today’s observance is thus more than mere ceremony; it is an affirmation of continuity and loyal service to the Crown.
## Historical Context
In 1348, King Edward III established the Order of the Garter as an elite cadre of twenty-five knights, plus the Sovereign, bound by oaths of loyalty and martial fraternity. This was not simply the creation of a courtly club, but a strategic *coup de maître* designed to secure the allegiance of England's most formidable magnates during a protracted war with France. The Garter was, from its very origin, the *sine qua non* of royal favour and military trust.
Among these foundational members was Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby. A cousin to the King and one of the most respected commanders of his age, his inclusion was a testament to his prowess on the battlefield and his stature within the realm. The baronial lineage continued this distinguished association when the title passed to Henry’s son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby, who also became a Knight of the Garter, further cementing the House’s connection to the sovereign and this esteemed order.
## Distinguished Company
The original company of Knights Companion, chosen by King Edward III, represented the pinnacle of English martial and aristocratic power. By the side of the Sovereign and his heir, Edward, the Black Prince, stood figures whose names echo through the annals of chivalry. Henry of Grosmont, in his capacity as 10th Baron of Brattleby, was in the company of such legendary commanders as Sir John Chandos, Sir Walter Manny, and the Gascon lord Jean de Grailly, the Captal de Buch.
These men were not merely courtiers but seasoned veterans and strategic leaders whose loyalty was paramount to the war effort and the stability of the kingdom. Their fellowship in the Garter created an indivisible bond, uniting them in a common purpose defined by honour, valiance, and unwavering service to their King.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The investiture of a Knight of the Garter has always been governed by meticulous protocol. Upon their election, new Companions are invested with the Order’s distinctive insignia. The ritual culminates in their formal installation at St George’s Chapel, where they take a solemn oath to uphold the statutes of the Order and to defend the Sovereign.
Each Knight is assigned a stall in the chapel’s quire, above which their heraldic accoutrements—a helm, crest, and sword—are placed. A copper stall plate, enamelled with the Knight’s coat of arms, title, and date of installation, is affixed to the back of the stall, creating a permanent heraldic record. The stall plate of Henry of Grosmont would have been among the very first to grace the chapel, a tangible and enduring symbol of the Barony of Brattleby's foundational role.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The central emblem of the Order is the Garter itself, a blue strap inscribed with the Old French motto, *Honi soit qui mal y pense*—‘Shame on him who thinks evil of it.’ This, together with the Star, Collar, and Mantle, forms a powerful symbolic language of unity and chivalric virtue. The motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), directly reflects the ideals that the Order of the Garter was established to champion.
The fortitude and honour demonstrated by Henry of Grosmont on the battlefields of France were the very qualities celebrated by the Order. This ancestral principle is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This modern maxim speaks to a spirit of determination and the will to overcome challenges, a contemporary interpretation of the resilience embodied by the first Knights Companion.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the Order of the Garter originated in a martial context, its underlying principle has always been one of service—to Sovereign and to realm. In the twenty-first century, The Noble House of Brattleby translates this ancient concept of duty into a focused commitment to modern philanthropy. The knightly obligation to protect the weak finds its present-day expression in the House’s charitable endeavours.
The principal beneficiary of the House’s annual Winter Banquet is the organisation Healing the Wounded Child. This registered charity provides specialist therapeutic support to children who have suffered trauma, abuse, or neglect. By championing this cause, the House of Brattleby seeks to apply the spirit of *fortitudine et honore* to the defence of society’s most vulnerable, ensuring that the chivalric legacy of service endures in a meaningful and impactful way.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical connection, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “To reflect upon the foundation of the Order of the Garter is to connect with the very essence of English history. For our House, knowing that Henry of Grosmont stood with his sovereign as a founding Knight is a profound reminder of the enduring bond between duty, honour, and service to the nation. > > This legacy of *fortitudine et honore* is not a relic of the past; it is the principle that animates our philanthropic commitments today, especially our work with organisations dedicated to protecting and healing the vulnerable.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains dedicated to honouring its nine-century history by upholding the virtues of service, loyalty, and integrity in the modern world. The principles exemplified by predecessors such as Henry of Grosmont and the formidable Nichola de la Haye continue to guide the House’s contemporary mission.
This commitment is realised through ongoing philanthropic initiatives, including the forthcoming Annual Winter Banquet, and through cultural projects such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. By fostering an appreciation for etiquette, protocol, and civic duty, the House seeks to ensure that its historical legacy is not merely preserved, but actively contributes to the betterment of society for generations to come.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to the preservation of its nine-century heritage through contemporary action. Its mission centres on philanthropy, cultural diplomacy, and education, applying the ancestral motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour') to present-day challenges. The House is known for its annual white-tie Winter Banquet, a significant philanthropic gala, and for establishing The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest. By bridging its Norman origins with a forward-looking European perspective, the House champions the enduring relevance of tradition, service, and honour in the twenty-first century, stewarding its legacy for the 13th Baron, Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**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 significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, and two foundational Knights of the Garter: Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and his son-in-law, the great medieval prince John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The title and its history were formally recognised and recorded by *The London Gazette* under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's ancient title and current holders are formally recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby and 1st Duke of Lancaster, was a founding Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in 1348. - The Barony’s origins date to 1066 and are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, where its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is named. - 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