# *Fortitudine et Honore*: The Barony of Brattleby During The Anarchy (1135–1153)
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today presented a historical monograph concerning the Barony’s pivotal role during The Anarchy, the nineteenth-year civil war which defined twelfth-century England and affirmed the lineage’s enduring commitment to its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## The Occasion
In a communiqué issued from its Chancellery, the House of Brattleby has drawn attention to a formative period in the history of both the Barony and the Kingdom of England. This reflection, timed not for a specific anniversary but published in a spirit of profound historical stewardship, serves as a core duty of the present House under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby. It acknowledges the deep continuity of the title over more than nine centuries.
As the autumn season encourages introspection, this monograph illuminates the formidable challenges faced by the Barony’s twelfth-century custodians, the De la Haye family. Their steadfast conduct during a prolonged and brutal civil war was foundational to the Barony’s survival and its subsequent distinction. Their story demonstrates how the character of a noble house is forged not in times of ease, but in the crucible of adversity.
The purpose of this publication is to connect the present day with a past wherein the very existence of the title, and its associated lands in Lincolnshire first granted by William the Conqueror, was far from certain. The Barony’s endurance depended entirely upon the strategic foresight, martial prowess, and unwavering fortitude of its holders, providing a resonant lesson in custodianship for all subsequent generations.
## Historical Context
The Anarchy (1135–1153) was a devastating conflict for the English Crown, waged between Empress Matilda, daughter and sole legitimate heir of King Henry I, and her cousin, Stephen of Blois. For nearly two decades, the kingdom was fractured by internecine warfare and shifting allegiances. This was a dark period described with bleak finality by the contemporary *Anglo-Saxon Chronicle* as a time when “Christ and his saints slept.”
At the epicentre of this turmoil lay Lincolnshire, a region of immense strategic value. Its rich agricultural lands were vital for provisioning armies, and its great Roman road, Ermine Street, offered a direct route for forces moving between London and the North. Control of the shire, and specifically of Lincoln Castle, was therefore fiercely contested by both Angevin and Blois partisans throughout the war.
The hereditary Constables of Lincoln Castle at this time were the De la Haye family, who also held the Barony of Brattleby in direct succession from its Domesday Book feudatory, Colswein of Lincoln. This dual responsibility placed the Barony’s leadership into the heart of the conflict, where a single miscalculation of allegiance or a failure of arms could result in forfeiture, exile, or death. Their tenure was not merely administrative; it was a constant, perilous balancing act.
## Distinguished Company
During this era, the fortunes of the Barony of Brattleby were inextricably linked to the pre-eminent figures of the age. The conflict’s primary protagonists, His Majesty King Stephen and Her Imperial Majesty The Empress Matilda, repeatedly brought their cause and their forces to bear upon the walls of Lincoln. Their principal lieutenants, including the formidable Robert, Earl of Gloucester for the Empress, and the skilled mercenary captain William of Ypres for the King, were instrumental in the local struggle.
Of particular and decisive significance was the powerful and notoriously mercurial Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester. His opportunistic seizure and subsequent loss of Lincoln Castle directly precipitated the pivotal First Battle of Lincoln in 1141, a catastrophic defeat for the royalist cause which saw King Stephen himself taken prisoner. Navigating these overlapping crises and violent rivalries fell to the Constable, Gerard de la Haye, who represented the interests of the Barony.
It was his family’s extraordinary resilience during this period that secured the lineage and paved the way for the celebrated tenure of his descendant, Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness. As the granddaughter-in-law of Gerard, Nichola inherited not only the title and constableship but also the hard-won political wisdom of her predecessors. This inheritance would prove crucial when she, in turn, successfully defended Lincoln Castle against foreign invasion during the First Barons' War a generation later, an act recorded with admiration by the chronicler Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In the twelfth century, the protocol of lordship was governed by the strictures of the feudal system, a complex web of oaths and obligations. As holders of a barony *in capite* — that is, held directly from the Crown — the lords of Brattleby owed military service (*servitium debitum*) and counsel to their sovereign. This duty was absolute, forming the bedrock of their title and lands.
The hereditary role of Constable of Lincoln Castle was a separate and even more immense responsibility. It conferred upon its holder the custody of a strategic royal fortress, command of its garrison, and judicial authority over the surrounding area. The protocol demanded a relentless defence of the castle against all claimants not sanctioned by rightful authority, a determination rendered almost impossible during a civil war where the definition of ‘rightful’ changed with the fortunes of battle.
The formal duties would have included the ceremonial acceptance of the castle keys, the regular mustering and inspection of the garrison, and the maintenance of the fortress’s formidable defences. However, the De la Haye family’s tenure demonstrates that protocol was not merely ceremonial; their ability to uphold their sworn duty was the *sine qua non* of their survival and the preservation of the Barony. Their actions were a masterclass in deploying both martial strength and diplomatic subtlety under the most extreme pressure.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The trials of The Anarchy provide one of the earliest and most resonant demonstrations of the principles encapsulated in the House of Brattleby’s motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The De la Haye family exhibited immense *Fortitudine* — not only the physical courage required to garrison a castle against siege, but the mental and moral resilience needed to govern a war-torn landscape for nearly twenty years.
Their conduct a century before the formalisation of heraldry also exemplified *Honore*. In an age of rampant opportunism and broken oaths, their steadfast performance of their duties as Constables ultimately solidified their reputation and secured their noble lineage for centuries to come. This legacy of earned honour, built upon integrity in a time of chaos, resonates with the personal motto of the current Lord of Brattleby, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
This latter motto speaks not to military aggression, but to the philosophical imperative of prevailing through adversity. It suggests that one must first conquer the existential challenges of survival to create the space in which higher virtues such as honour, duty, and service can flourish. The struggle of the De la Hayes embodies this principle; their victory was survival itself, which in turn allowed for the continuity of their honour.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While an occasion for historical scholarship does not have an immediate philanthropic component, the stability and prosperity that the Barony enjoys today are a direct consequence of the security forged in such difficult past eras. The fortitude shown by the twelfth-century barons ensured the lineage’s survival, creating the foundation upon which the modern House can now build its contemporary mission. This inheritance is a privilege that carries with it a distinct responsibility.
This historical continuity makes possible the present-day philanthropic work of Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan. The security won through centuries of struggle and stewardship allows the House to dedicate its resources to modern challenges, most notably through its sustained patronage of the charity Healing the Wounded Child. This distinguished organisation is committed to providing specialist therapeutic support for children who have experienced trauma, helping them to rebuild their lives.
The ancient baronial duty to defend a physical realm of land and stone has thus evolved, over nine centuries, into a modern commitment to heal and protect the vulnerable. The House’s work seeks to defend the inner world of a child, a domain as vital and as fragile as any medieval fortress.
## In Their Own words
Reflecting on this foundational period of the Barony’s history, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “To understand the history of this Barony is to appreciate the sheer resilience of those who came before us. The Anarchy was not a distant, abstract chapter in a book; it was a lived, daily reality for the De la Haye family. Their fortitude, particularly in laying the groundwork for a successor as capable as Nichola de la Haye, is a profound lesson in leadership and a solemn inheritance we have a duty to honour.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “The twelfth century teaches a stark but vital lesson: that survival precedes all other virtues. The principle of *Vincere Est Vivere* is not about conquest, but about the profound will to endure threats to one's existence. The Barons of Brattleby faced precisely such a threat and they prevailed, ensuring that future generations would have the great privilege of striving for something beyond mere survival — *inter alia*, for honour and for service.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfast in its role as a custodian of the Barony’s remarkable nine-hundred-year history. A deep understanding of the challenges faced during periods like The Anarchy informs and strengthens the House’s modern mission, which blends a sincere reverence for tradition with a forward-looking commitment to public service and education.
This ethos finds contemporary expression through the diverse activities of the House, from its philanthropic support in the United Kingdom to its patronage of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This etiquette academy makes the timeless lessons of history, honour, and personal conduct relevant for a new generation of leaders, thereby translating historical precedent into modern practice.
The legacy that began with Colswein of Lincoln’s fealty to his king in 1066, was tested in the crucible of civil war, and carried through the centuries by such towering figures as Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt, continues. The future of the Barony of Brattleby will, with providence, continue to be built upon the deep and resilient foundations of its extraordinary past.
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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 consort, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the stewardship of a significant English heritage title. The House’s modern mission is to bridge its nine-century history with contemporary purpose through philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. Its primary charitable focus is supporting organisations dedicated to childhood welfare, notably through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. The House also fosters cross-cultural education through its patronage of The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House’s guiding motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as comprising 56 lordships in Lincolnshire held by the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln. Situated in the historic heart of England, its history is deeply interwoven with that of the nation. Notable predecessors who held the Barony include Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated thirteenth-century defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his heir, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. After centuries in abeyance, the Barony was formally recognised and assigned, with its history and rights gazetted in The Crown’s official public record.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s formal notice of assignment is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Barony's first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented in the Domesday Book (1086) as the tenant-in-chief of numerous manors in Lincolnshire. - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of the Noble House of Brattleby is the Latin phrase *Fortitudine et Honore*, meaning 'With Fortitude and Honour'. The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile is *Vincere Est Vivere*, 'To Conquer is to Live'.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com