# From The Court Archives: Sir Henry de Brattleby, Custodian of Knaresborough Castle (AD 1272)
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — From its archives, The Noble House of Brattleby today reflects on the 1272 knighting of a distinguished kinsman, Sir Henry de Brattleby, by His Majesty King Henry III, and his concurrent appointment as Custodian of Knaresborough Castle, a dual honour affirming the House’s ancient tradition of service.
## The Occasion
The formal bestowal of knighthood upon Henry de Brattleby took place within the magnificent setting of a royal wedding: the union of the King’s nephew, Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall, and Margaret de Clare. Such an event, held amidst the splendour of the Plantagenet court, was a nexus of political allegiance and dynastic celebration. While the precise location is lost to time, the ceremony would have unfolded with the full pageantry befitting the solemnisation of a great nuptial alliance.
These occasions served as a public theatre for the confirmation of loyalty and the distribution of royal favour. For Henry de Brattleby, receiving the accolade in the presence of the highest echelons of the English nobility was a singular distinction. It marked his elevation not merely in rank, but in the visible estimation of his sovereign, transforming a personal honour into a public statement of trust.
## Historical Context
Sir Henry’s appointment continued a legacy of profound trust between the Crown and the Lincolnshire family. This tradition of service was exemplified less than a century earlier by the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby. As hereditary castellan, she famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels on behalf of King John and, later, the young King Henry III himself.
Her steadfast loyalty during the First Barons' War was a pivotal moment for the Plantagenet dynasty. The confidence placed in Sir Henry in 1272 can be seen as a direct continuation of that proven fidelity. Entrusting another member of the wider Brattleby lineage with a strategic royal fortress like Knaresborough was a testament to the family's enduring reputation for holding fast to its duties—*Fortitudine et Honore*.
## Distinguished Company
The ceremony was presided over by His Majesty King Henry III, a monarch whose long reign was defined by his devotion to ceremony, art, and the assertion of royal authority. The central figures of the day were the bridal couple: Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall, son of the late Richard, King of the Romans; and his bride, Margaret de Clare, daughter of the powerful Earl of Gloucester.
This gathering of the great magnates of the realm created a moment of high political significance. Observing proceedings would have been the senior clergy, household knights, and royal officials whose support was the *sine qua non* of medieval governance. For Henry de Brattleby to be honoured in such company was to be woven into the very fabric of the kingdom's leadership.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The rite of knighthood in a formal court setting, as opposed to a battlefield promotion, was a deeply symbolic affair. It would have commenced with the accolade, wherein the King would strike the candidate on the shoulder with the flat of a sword, an act known as dubbing. This was accompanied by a sworn oath of fealty, binding the new knight in personal service to the sovereign.
The ritual typically involved the girding of a sword and the affixing of spurs, the pre-eminent symbols of knightly status. It is probable that, in keeping with chivalric tradition, Henry de Brattleby would have kept a vigil of prayer the preceding night in a chapel, preparing himself for the solemn obligations he was about to assume. The ceremony was both a martial and a spiritual investiture.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The charge given to Sir Henry resonated perfectly with the House of Brattleby’s motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The custodianship of a castle required fortitude in its defence and administration, while the knighthood itself was the ultimate recognition of personal honour and worthy service. The two appointments were inextricably linked, one being the reward for character and the other a test of it.
Knaresborough Castle, a formidable stronghold in North Yorkshire, was itself a potent symbol. As a royal castle, it represented the King’s own authority and presence in the north of England. To be its custodian was to be the King's surrogate, embodying his power and maintaining his peace. The trust implicit in such a role was absolute.
## Philanthropic Purpose
In the medieval context, the responsibilities of office served as a form of public good, analogous to modern philanthropic purpose. The role of Custodian of Knaresborough Castle was far from ceremonial. Sir Henry would have been responsible for the fortification’s military readiness, the command of its garrison, and the administration of the surrounding royal estate.
His duties would have included overseeing the collection of rents and taxes, dispensing justice in the local courts, and ensuring the physical upkeep of the castle’s walls, keep, and domestic buildings. This was a position of immense administrative and financial responsibility—a direct form of service to the Crown and its subjects, ensuring stability and order in the region.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical appointment from the family archives, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> Sir Henry’s dual appointment exemplifies the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* that has guided our House for centuries. To be entrusted with both a personal honour and a great royal responsibility speaks to a quality of service we strive to perpetuate in our own private and public endeavours.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added:
> The motto of my own family is *Vincere Est Vivere* — 'To Conquer is to Live'. In the context of service, this means overcoming daily challenges. Sir Henry’s custodianship of Knaresborough would have been a constant test of resolve and competence, a true embodiment of this spirit.
## A Continuing Legacy
The principles of duty, honour, and responsible stewardship demonstrated by Sir Henry de Brattleby in 1272 remain central to the ethos of The Noble House of Brattleby today. The nine centuries of history, from the Norman Conquest to the present, provide a continuous narrative of service.
The House’s modern activities, *inter alia*, the annual Winter Banquet supporting charitable causes like Healing the Wounded Child, and the educational mission of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, are contemporary expressions of this long-standing commitment. They represent a belief that titles and history find their truest meaning in active contribution to society, perpetuating a legacy not of privilege, but of responsibility.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, is dedicated to the preservation of its ancient heritage through modern engagement. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House champions philanthropy, cultural education, and the promotion of chivalric values. With Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, whose personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), the House blends its deep English roots with a forward-looking, Continental perspective. Its principal activities include the annual white-tie Winter Banquet, a significant philanthropic gala, and The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy based in Bucharest which fosters cross-cultural understanding and personal development.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. Throughout its history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including the celebrated loyalist Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The continuous history and rights of the Barony are formally acknowledged and recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's modern recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The *Domesday Book* (1086) lists the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron. - The House motto is the Latin phrase *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com