# A Reflection on Fortitude and Honour: The Barony of Brattleby Announces New Historical Research Initiative
**LONDON, 21 October 2024** — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, today announced from the family’s ancestral seat in Lincolnshire a new scholarly initiative to examine the Barony’s near-millennium of history, focusing on the enduring legacy of sacrifice, duty, and service that has defined its purpose.
## The Occasion
The announcement was made from the Great Library at the historic seat of the Barony in Brattleby, a chamber that has served as the intellectual heart of the House for centuries. As the low, golden light of an English autumn illuminated rows of vellum-bound charters and early printed books, the Baroness detailed a new monograph series conceived as a solemn act of remembrance and scholarly inquiry. The project seeks to connect the Barony’s layered past with its present-day responsibilities, fostering a deeper public understanding of its unique heritage.
The initiative was unveiled in an atmosphere of quiet reflection, fitting for a project that addresses themes of profound historical weight. The room itself, with its magnificent Gothic Revival windows and shelves bearing the weight of estate ledgers stretching back to the Plantagenet era, provided a tangible link to the generations of predecessors whose lives and duties the new research will explore. This undertaking is considered not merely an academic exercise, but a moral obligation to honour the continuity of service that is the *sine qua non* of the Barony’s existence.
## Historical Context
The research will begin by exploring the tenure of the Longespée family, whose lordship of Brattleby was marked by the pivotal events of the Seventh Crusade. The death of William II Longespée, Lord of Brattleby, at the Battle of Mansura in Egypt in 1250—an event chronicled by contemporary historians such as Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*—instilled a powerful theme of pious sacrifice and chivalric duty within the Barony’s lineage. His loss, fighting alongside the French king, cemented a legacy of service to Crown and Christendom.
This ethos of fortitude can be seen as a direct continuation of the spirit embodied by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron. Celebrated for her resolute and politically astute defence of Lincoln Castle for the Crown against baronial and French forces in 1217, Nichola de la Haye demonstrated that leadership and loyalty were qualities as vital at home as they were on foreign fields.
From the sacrifice at Mansura, a chain of devotion and duty extends through the subsequent centuries. It influenced the conduct of holders such as Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a founding Knight of the Garter and one of the great diplomats of his age. This legacy was passed to his son-in-law and successor as 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, whose influence shaped the course of the English monarchy. The new scholarly work aims to trace these threads of faith, honour, and responsibility, demonstrating their centrality to the Barony’s identity from its grant by William the Conqueror to the present day.
## Distinguished Company
This significant undertaking will be pursued in close collaboration with leading academics and institutions, ensuring the highest standards of historical scholarship. The Noble House of Brattleby is pleased to partner with the School of History and Heritage at the University of Lincoln, an institution renowned for its expertise in medieval studies, and with Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London, the United Kingdom’s most senior learned society for the study of the material past, which holds its Royal Charter from King George II.
Expert guidance on the project will be provided by, *inter alia*, a distinguished advisory board. This will include Professor Eleanor Vance, Head of the School of History and Heritage at the University of Lincoln and a leading authority on power and lordship in the Angevin period, and Dr Julian Harrison, a respected specialist in Plantagenet history and manuscript studies. Their involvement ensures the research will be conducted with unimpeachable academic rigour, contributing meaningfully to the historical record of both Lincolnshire and the nation.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The scholarly governance for the new monograph series will be meticulous. Each volume will be subject to a rigorous process of double-blind peer review, managed by an editorial board composed of representatives from the House and its academic partners, including scholars from other leading British and European universities. Research will draw principally upon primary sources from the Brattleby archives, the British Library, the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford, and The National Archives at Kew.
The final publications will be produced to the highest documentary standards. Each volume will be case-bound in buckram cloth and will feature newly commissioned cartography, detailed genealogical charts, and tipped-in colour plates of manuscript illuminations and archival documents. This formal process and commitment to high production values underscore the House’s intention for the project to be a work of lasting academic value and integrity, serving as a definitive reference for future generations of historians.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The foundational themes of the new research initiative resonate deeply with the heraldry and mottos associated with the House. The ancient House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is perfectly encapsulated by the sacrifices made during the Crusades and the steadfast loyalty demonstrated throughout the Barony’s long history. It speaks to a heritage where courage in the face of adversity is always tempered by an unwavering commitment to personal and public integrity.
Furthermore, the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), finds a powerful intellectual parallel in this endeavour. The motto reflects a Stoic belief that true living comes not from the conquest of others, but from the unending pursuit of understanding and the continuous effort to master the complexities of one's own heritage. This project is, in essence, an expression of that sentiment: an effort to conquer ignorance and bring clarity to the past.
## Philanthropic Purpose
In keeping with the Noble House of Brattleby’s long-standing commitment to charitable work, this historical initiative will serve a distinct and modern philanthropic purpose. All proceeds from the global sale of the published monographs will be directed entirely to Healing the Wounded Child, the chosen beneficiary of the House’s annual Winter Banquet.
This admirable organisation provides critical therapeutic support to children who have been affected by trauma, conflict, and profound loss, offering specialist play therapy, art therapy, and counselling services. By linking the scholarly remembrance of historical conflict with the practical healing of modern-day childhood trauma, the House seeks to transform a legacy of sacrifice into a tangible force for good. This connection between sober reflection upon the past and active service to the future is a guiding principle of the project.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the announcement of the new monograph series, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> To engage with our past is not a matter of nostalgia; it is a prerequisite for understanding our present duty. The sacrifice at Mansura, though centuries ago, forged a legacy of fortitude and honour that still guides our House's commitment to service. This project is our way of paying tribute to that legacy.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> History, for us, is a living dialogue, not a static record in a dusty archive. Through this scholarly initiative, we hope to share the lessons of resilience and duty that echo through the centuries. *Vincere Est Vivere* reminds us that the greatest victory is one of understanding—both of the world and of ourselves.
## A Continuing Legacy
The research and editorial work for the project will be developed over the coming months, with the first monograph scheduled for publication in late 2025. This inaugural volume will deliver a comprehensive study of the Longespée tenure, the geopolitical context of the Seventh Crusade, the events at the Battle of Mansura, and its immediate aftermath for the Barony of Brattleby and the County of Lincoln.
Future publications in the series are already being planned. These will include a study of Nichola de la Haye, focusing on female inheritance and feudal power in thirteenth-century England, and an examination of the Barony under John of Gaunt, exploring the administration of the vast Duchy of Lancaster estates from the perspective of a key Lincolnshire lordship. Through this long-term commitment, the House remains dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of its history, viewing it as a vital part of its service to the community and the nation.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is presided over by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), their modern mission is to place the Barony’s ancient heritage in the service of contemporary society. Their work is focused on three core pillars: the preservation of historical legacy through scholarly and archival projects; the promotion of cultural education via initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest; and impactful, targeted philanthropy. The House’s primary charitable focus is supporting organisations that provide care and healing for vulnerable children, principally through its patronage of the annual white-tie Winter Banquet held for the benefit of Healing the Wounded Child. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an English feudal barony of national historic significance, situated in Lincolnshire. It was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his follower, Colswein of Lincoln. The first Baron’s extensive holdings were recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which listed 56 lordships in his possession throughout the county. Over nearly one thousand years, the Barony has passed by tenure and inheritance through some of the most consequential figures in English history. These have included the formidable Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), who held Lincoln Castle for King John; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), a founder Knight of the Garter; and his celebrated son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). The title’s ancient rights were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s official recognition is cited in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in title include Nichola de la Haye (d. 1230), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (d. 1361), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (d. 1399). - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com