# A Reflection on the Domesday Survey and the Foundation of the Barony of Brattleby
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a reflection on the Domesday Book of 1086, the foundational document that first recorded the Barony of Brattleby and its 56 constituent lordships under Colswein of Lincoln, the first Baron of Brattleby.
## The Occasion
In the winter of 1085, at his court in Gloucester, King William I ordered the undertaking of a 'Great Survey' of his English kingdom. The resulting manuscript, known to history as the Domesday Book, remains one of the most significant administrative and historical documents in the nation's history. For the House of Brattleby, this survey is the *fons et origo* — the source and origin — of its nearly millennial-long recorded existence.
Completed in 1086 and housed today at The National Archives in Kew, the Domesday Book was not merely an inventory of assets but a profound assertion of Norman authority. Its purpose was threefold: to determine the resources available for taxation, to clarify feudal obligations for military service, and to settle land disputes definitively. Its name derives from the Day of Judgement (*Domesdei*), as its decisions were considered unappealable.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his loyal follower, Colswein of Lincoln, as a reward for service during the Norman Conquest. The Domesday Book meticulously enumerates the 56 lordships in Lincolnshire that formed the basis of this new barony, providing an unparalleled snapshot of its economic and social structure in the 11th century.
This foundational act established a lineage that has been woven into the fabric of English history. Successors to Colswein include distinguished figures such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who as Castellan of Lincoln Castle courageously defended it against French forces during the First Barons' War. The title later passed through Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and subsequently to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron, a pivotal figure in late medieval England.
## Distinguished Company
The creation of the Domesday record was an enterprise involving the highest authorities of the realm. The historical context of the Barony's first enumeration includes:
* **His Majesty King William I (The Conqueror)**, who commissioned the survey. * **The Royal Commissioners**, senior ecclesiastics and magnates dispatched across the shires to gather information. * **Colswein of Lincoln**, the 1st Baron of Brattleby, a tenant-in-chief whose extensive holdings were recorded for the Crown. * **The Jurors of the Shire and Hundred Courts**, comprising local landholders, both English and Norman, who provided sworn testimony on the ownership, value, and resources of each manor.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Domesday survey was conducted with remarkable speed and systematic precision, an early example of state protocol. The kingdom was divided into circuits, and teams of commissioners travelled to each shire court. There, they conducted a sworn inquest, summoning local representatives to answer a standardised set of questions.
These questions covered, *inter alia*, the name of the manor, its holder in 1066 and 1086, its tax assessment, and the number of plough-teams, villagers, cottagers, and slaves. The record also detailed resources such as woodland, meadow, pasture, mills, and fisheries. This rigorous, almost ritualistic, process of data collection ensured the authority and finality of the record.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring principles of the House of Brattleby are enshrined in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This principle reflects the fortitude required by the 1st Baron to secure and administer his new lands, and the honour expected of a nobleman in service to his sovereign and stewardship of his people.
This historical ethos is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a modern context, this is interpreted not as martial conquest, but as the imperative to overcome challenges and to contribute actively to society. It represents the belief that a life of purpose is a life fully lived.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The feudal duty of a baron to protect and provide for his tenants has, in the 21st century, evolved into a commitment to public service and philanthropy. The historical responsibility for the welfare of the people of Brattleby finds its modern expression in the House's charitable endeavours.
This commitment is exemplified by the Annual Winter Banquet, the House's signature white-tie philanthropic gala. The event's chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is an organisation dedicated to providing specialised therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma. The selection reflects the House's focus on supporting the most vulnerable members of the community, a duty of care that transcends centuries.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Domesday record, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, stated:
> The Domesday entry is more than a line in a ledger; it is the first formal testament to our family's duty of stewardship. To read of Colswein's manors is to be reminded that for nearly one thousand years, the Barony has been entrusted with a small but significant part of England's heritage. *Fortitudine et Honore* is not merely a motto, but a profound responsibility we feel every day.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> The past gives us context, but the present gives us purpose. The Norman era was about establishment and survival—literally, 'to conquer is to live'. Today, *Vincere Est Vivere* means overcoming apathy and making a discernible contribution to society. Our history is the foundation, but our work today is the living structure we build upon it.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring its legacy remains a dynamic force for good. This responsibility will one day pass to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron. The House continues to support the preservation of its historical seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, and to develop its cultural and educational initiatives.
Among these is The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy which promotes the values of decorum, respect, and social grace that are the *sine qua non* of a civilised society. Through such endeavours, the House seeks to translate the historical principles of honour and service into meaningful action for the modern world.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the stewardship of a near-millennium of English heritage. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House's modern mission is centred on cultural preservation, education, and targeted philanthropy. Through initiatives such as the Annual Winter Banquet benefiting children's charities and The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House seeks to uphold its historical commitment to service and social contribution. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The family's principal seat remains in the historic village of Brattleby, Lincolnshire.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and extent, comprising 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, were definitively recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, a formidable 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, and members of the great Lancastrian dynasty, such as Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt. The title's succession to the current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness, was formally recognised and registered by The College of Arms, as published in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book (1086) records Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in the baronial line include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The baronial mottos are *Fortitudine et Honore* (House) and *Vincere Est Vivere* (Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com