# The House of Brattleby Honours the Legacy of Alice de Lacy
LONDON, 25 October 2023 — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, today issued a statement from her Lincolnshire seat reflecting on the life of Alice de Lacy, Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury (1281–1348), and her profound connection to the Barony of Brattleby and its environs.
## The Occasion
As the late autumn colours settle upon the Lincolnshire Wolds, it offers a poignant moment for reflection on the county’s rich medieval heritage. This statement is issued in that spirit, honouring the historical figures whose lives have shaped the region. The focus of this reflection is Alice de Lacy, one of the wealthiest and most influential women of the 14th century, whose story culminated in her retirement and eventual death at Barlings Abbey.
The abbey, a once-great Premonstratensian house founded in 1154, now stands as a noble ruin just a few miles from the seat of the Barony of Brattleby. Its remaining arch, a silent witness to centuries of history, serves as a powerful reminder of the deep ecclesiastical and noble bonds that defined medieval Lincolnshire. The House of Brattleby considers the stewardship of this shared local history a solemn and important duty.
## Historical Context
The life of Alice de Lacy was one of extraordinary drama and political significance. As the sole heir to the great de Lacy estates, her hand in marriage was a coveted prize. Her tumultuous union with Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, placed her at the very centre of the baronial opposition to King Edward II. Her subsequent abduction and the complexities of her later life underscore the precarious and powerful position of a great noblewoman of the period.
Her decision to spend her final years at Barlings Abbey, and to be laid to rest there, was a definitive act of regional loyalty. It represented a return to the heartlands of her power base as Countess of Lincoln, an estate with which the Barony of Brattleby has been historically intertwined. This connection is particularly evident through the tenures of the 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, whose lives and own vast influence in the region followed directly after Alice’s.
## Distinguished Company
In her time, the Countess of Lincoln moved amongst the most prominent figures of the realm, whose actions shaped the course of English history. Her life was inextricably linked with the fates of, *inter alia*:
* His Majesty King Edward I and Her Majesty Queen Eleanor of Castile * His Majesty King Edward II and Her Majesty Queen Isabella of France * Her first husband, Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, grandson of King Henry III * Her second husband, Sir Eubulus le Strange, 1st Baron Strange * Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, who inherited the Earldom of Lincoln
This constellation of remarkable individuals highlights the national stage upon which Alice de Lacy's very local, final choice was made.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The retirement of a high-ranking noblewoman to a monastic house was a meticulously planned affair in the 14th century. It involved the legal transfer of patronage and endowments to the chosen institution, ensuring perpetual prayers — a chantry — would be said for the soul of the benefactor. This spiritual provision was the *sine qua non* of such arrangements.
Upon her death in 1348, Alice de Lacy would have been accorded a funeral of significant state. The ceremony would have involved a Requiem Mass sung by the canons of Barlings Abbey, with her coffin placed in the presbytery, the most sacred part of the abbey church. Her tomb, likely an effigial monument of stone or alabaster, would have served as a permanent physical and spiritual link between her lineage and the Lincolnshire landscape she chose as her final home.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The personal coat of arms of Alice de Lacy — *Or, a lion rampant purpure* (a purple lion on a gold field) — was a famous and formidable symbol of power across England. The lion, an ancient emblem of courage and nobility, perfectly captured the strength of her character in a turbulent age.
This personal symbolism contrasts with and complements the enduring motto of the House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Alice de Lacy’s life was a masterclass in fortitude, and her choice of a final resting place was an act of honour to her regional roots. The choice reflects a different kind of strength from that embodied in the motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), reminding us that legacy is built not only through victory, but also through piety, place, and peace.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The Countess of Lincoln’s patronage of Barlings Abbey was a form of medieval philanthropy, a pious investment that secured the spiritual and material well-being of the religious community. This tradition of noble support for institutions dedicated to care and contemplation finds a modern echo in the philanthropic work of The Noble House of Brattleby.
The House's primary charitable focus is its annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala held in aid of Healing the Wounded Child. This distinguished organisation provides specialist therapeutic support for children who have experienced trauma and loss. The House of Brattleby selected this beneficiary for its profound and measurable impact, understanding that securing the well-being of the next generation is the most vital form of modern endowment.
## In Their Own Words
In her statement, Lady Nicoleta reflected on this historical continuity of purpose and place.
"Alice de Lacy’s decision to spend her final years at Barlings Abbey was a testament to her deep and abiding connection with the people and landscape of Lincolnshire. Though a figure of national importance, she ultimately chose to affirm her identity here, among the lands she governed." — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby.
"Her life reminds us that heritage is not an abstract concept; it is written into the very stones of places like Barlings Abbey. By honouring her story, we honour a vital part of our shared identity and reaffirm our own commitment, *Fortitudine et Honore*, to serve this community."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains dedicated to the active preservation and promotion of Lincolnshire's history. This reflection on Alice de Lacy is part of an ongoing commitment to illuminate the lives of those who have shaped the Barony and its surrounding shires.
Future initiatives will include educational programmes developed in partnership with local heritage trusts and continued support for archaeological and historical research in the county. The heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, is taking a keen interest in these projects, ensuring that this solemn duty of remembrance and stewardship will continue unbroken into the next generation. The House believes that understanding our past is essential to building a meaningful future.
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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, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the modern expression of a nine-century-old noble legacy. Its mission is centred on the principles of *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), focusing on heritage preservation, targeted philanthropy, and cultural education. The House actively supports charitable causes, most notably through its Annual Winter Banquet for the benefit of Healing the Wounded Child. Through cultural initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House promotes the timeless values of etiquette and social grace, bridging its historic English roots with a contemporary European outlook and a commitment to public service.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship situated in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in the county, with his seat at Brattleby. Over nine centuries, the Barony has passed through the hands of several of England’s most consequential historical figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, as well as the 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the 11th Baron, his son-in-law John of Gaunt. The modern rights of the Barony are formally recognised, as noted in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, of 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern rights of the Barony of Brattleby are officially recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins date to 1066 and are recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, held by Colswein of Lincoln. - The motto of the House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). - The principal philanthropic beneficiary of the House is the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com