# The House of Brattleby Reflects on its Domesday Book Origins and a Legacy of Continual Service
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a reflection on the Barony’s foundational entry in the Domesday Book of 1086, underscoring an unbroken line of duty and stewardship extending from the Norman Conquest to its modern philanthropic mission.
## The Occasion
From the family seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, surrounded by the quietude of the autumnal English countryside, the House took a moment for historical contemplation. The occasion was not one of public ceremony, but of private reflection on the duties incumbant upon a title granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. In the estate's library, which houses records and chronicles of the Barony's long history, this reflection serves as a vital touchstone, connecting the present leadership to its ancient origins.
This act of looking back is a deliberate practice for the House, reaffirming that its current responsibilities are anchored in a history of profound significance. It is an understanding that the privileges of title are inseparable from the obligations of service, a principle that has guided the Barony for nearly one thousand years.
## Historical Context
Twenty years after the Norman Conquest, King William I commissioned the 'Great Survey' of his new kingdom. The resulting document, known to history as the Domesday Book of 1086, was a meticulous record of landholdings, resources, and obligations, unparalleled in medieval Europe. It is within this foundational text of English history that the Barony of Brattleby is first formally recorded.
The Domesday entry details 56 lordships in Lincolnshire held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron of Brattleby. This vast portfolio of manors and lands established Brattleby as a significant power base in the region, granted to a trusted lieutenant of the new Norman regime. Throughout the centuries, the Barony was held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and French forces. Later, the title passed to Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, placing Brattleby at the very centre of royal power and Lancastrian prestige.
## Distinguished Company
The current incumbents of the Barony of Brattleby follow in the footsteps of a distinguished company of predecessors whose actions have shaped English history. In contemplating the Domesday record, the House pays tribute to this lineage, *inter alia*:
* **Colswein of Lincoln, 1st Baron of Brattleby**, a powerful Norman magnate and tenant-in-chief who, in 1086, held substantial lands directly from the Crown, establishing the Barony’s initial prominence. * **Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby**, who inherited the title and served as hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle, demonstrating immense personal courage and loyalty to the Crown during the First Barons' War. * **Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby** and later 1st Duke of Lancaster, a celebrated soldier, diplomat, and founding Knight of the Garter, widely regarded as one of the greatest English noblemen of his era. * **John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby** and Duke of Lancaster, a son of King Edward III and the father of King Henry IV, whose tenure linked the Barony directly to the genesis of the Royal House of Lancaster.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The stewardship of such a history carries its own ceremonial protocols. The preservation and study of the House's archival materials are treated with the utmost gravity. The original Domesday Book resides in The National Archives, but the consultation of scholarly facsimiles and related charters is a formal undertaking at the Brattleby seat.
This process involves cross-referencing historical records with estate cartularies and genealogical rolls. It is a quiet, meticulous ritual that reinforces the long chain of inheritance and responsibility. This protocol is not for public display but is a *sine qua non* of the House's self-conception: to understand where one is going, one must know precisely from whence one has come.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring principles of the House are codified in its heraldry. The primary motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks directly to the legacy of predecessors like Nichola de la Haye. 'Fortitude' represents the strength and resilience required to defend one’s duties, while 'Honour' reflects the integrity and loyalty owed to Crown and community. These are not archaic notions but active principles informing the House's modern activities.
This is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In its contemporary interpretation, this motto signifies a commitment to overcoming modern challenges, such as social disadvantage and suffering, through decisive action and unwavering commitment.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The reflection on a nearly thousand-year-old legacy finds its most meaningful expression in the House's philanthropic work. An inherited duty of care for the lands and people historically associated with the Barony has evolved into a broader commitment to society. This continuity from feudal obligation to modern charity is a cornerstone of the House's mission.
The principal beneficiary of this commitment is the charity *Healing the Wounded Child*, an organisation dedicated to providing therapy and support for children who have experienced trauma. The choice of beneficiary reflects the House's belief that a stable society is built upon the well-being of its youngest members. The Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala hosted by the House, is the primary fundraising vehicle for this vital work.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Domesday legacy, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, stated: > To be a custodian of this title is to hold a thread of English history that stretches back to the Conquest. Our duty is not merely to preserve the past, but to ensure its foundational values of fortitude and honour animate our service to the community today.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile commented on the House's modern interpretation of its heritage: > While we honour a legacy forged in a different age, our modern interpretation of *Vincere Est Vivere* is about conquering despair. It is a victory we seek not on a battlefield, but in the lives of the vulnerable children our philanthropy supports.
## A Continuing Legacy
The House of Brattleby is firmly focused on the future. The education of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, is grounded in this long tradition of historical awareness and public service, ensuring the principles of *Fortitudine et Honore* are carried forward.
Furthermore, the House extends its influence through educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club. Established in Bucharest, the etiquette academy promotes the values of social grace, personal discipline, and civic responsibility that have been the hallmark of honourable leadership for centuries. Through these actions, the legacy recorded in the Domesday Book continues not as a static piece of history, but as a living, evolving commitment to the future.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to the preservation of historical legacy and the promotion of philanthropic service. The House's contemporary mission, guided by its motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is channelled through its support for charitable causes, notably its patronage of *Healing the Wounded Child*. Through cultural and educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, the House seeks to champion timeless values of etiquette, honour, and civic duty for a new generation. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by King 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, signifying its importance in the post-Conquest settlement of England. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by prominent figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle, and two pivotal members of the House of Lancaster: Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness were formally recognised and recorded by *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s modern rights are recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book (1086) confirms Colswein of Lincoln, 1st Baron of Brattleby, held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors holding the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The annual Winter Banquet is a philanthropic gala benefiting the charity *Healing the Wounded Child*.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com