# The Enduring Significance of the Barony of Brattleby’s Domesday Book Entry
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflects upon the foundational moment of its recorded history: the entry of the Barony of Brattleby in the Domesday Book of 1086, cementing a legacy of duty and stewardship in Lincolnshire that continues uninterrupted.
## The Occasion
In the quiet turn of the autumn season, a time for harvest and reflection, the House of Brattleby commemorates its enduring connection to the English soil and its formal establishment within the nation’s history. From its seat in Lincolnshire, the House looks back almost one thousand years to the Great Survey commissioned by William the Conqueror. This act of national inventory, unprecedented in medieval Europe, provides the first official record of the Barony, establishing a direct and verifiable line from its Norman origins to its present-day responsibilities. The occasion is not one of specific ceremony, but of solemn remembrance and a reaffirmation of the duties inherent in such a long-held title.
## Historical Context
Completed in 1086, the Domesday Book was the *sine qua non* of Norman administrative consolidation following the Conquest of 1066. It was a meticulous audit of land, resources, and fealty, designed to give King William I an unassailable understanding of his new realm for the purposes of governance, taxation, and military levy. Within its pages, Brattleby is recorded as one of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire held by the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, a trusted tenant-in-chief.
This inclusion was not merely a footnote; it was a declaration of the Barony’s importance to the early Norman settlement in one of England’s most strategic counties. The entry details the land’s value, its population, and its agricultural capacity, painting a vivid portrait of a functioning feudal estate. This record forms the bedrock of the Barony’s legitimacy and provides a tangible link to a lineage of holders that includes such formidable figures as Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and the influential John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The creation of the Domesday record placed the 1st Baron of Brattleby in the direct service of a monarch whose ambition reshaped England. The principal historical figures connected to this foundational document include:
* **His Majesty King William I**, known as William the Conqueror, who commanded the undertaking of the Great Survey. * **Colswein of Lincoln**, 1st Baron of Brattleby, a significant Norman magnate entrusted with vast territories to secure royal authority in the north. * **The Royal Commissioners**, the learned bishops and clerics dispatched across the shires to conduct the systematic inquest that captured the state of the nation with remarkable precision.
The Barony’s place in this historic register affirms its standing from the very outset, alongside the most important ecclesiastical and secular powers of the new kingdom.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Domesday Survey itself followed a strict and methodical protocol that can be understood as a great administrative ceremony. Royal Commissioners were sent to each county, where they convened local juries composed of barons, sheriffs, priests, and villagers. These juries were sworn to answer a series of precise questions under oath.
The inquiry examined who held the manor in the time of King Edward the Confessor and who held it at the time of the survey; its measurement in hides; the number of plough-teams, mills, and fisheries; and the enumeration of its people, from villagers and smallholders to slaves. This rigorous process, repeated across the country, was a ritual of information-gathering that translated military conquest into permanent, documented governance.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring legacy of the Barony is encapsulated in the mottos of the Noble House of Brattleby. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks directly to the qualities required of its holders for nearly a millennium. Colswein of Lincoln demonstrated fortitude in managing his extensive lordships for the Crown, and the Barony's inclusion in Domesday was a mark of royal honour.
This historic spirit is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This phrase echoes the foundational ethos of the Norman era, where to establish order, build institutions, and create a lasting legacy was the ultimate expression of purpose—a conquest of chaos in favour of civilisation. The Domesday Book itself is a profound symbol of this principle in action.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the Domesday Book was an instrument of taxation and control, it was also a comprehensive record of a realm’s people. This ancient awareness of the population and its condition finds a modern expression in the philanthropic work of the Noble House of Brattleby. The House's commitment to its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, translates the feudal duty of care into a contemporary mission.
Healing the Wounded Child is an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. By supporting its work, the House affirms that true stewardship extends beyond land and title to encompass the well-being of the most vulnerable in society. This focus is a modern interpretation of the pact between a lord and their community, delivered with purpose and compassion.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Domesday entry, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented on the profound sense of continuity.
> “To read the Domesday entry for Brattleby is to feel a direct connection across almost one thousand years. It is a humbling reminder that we are but temporary custodians of a legacy built by countless lives. Our guiding principle, *Fortitudine et Honore*, compels us to honour that past by serving the present with equal dedication.” > — Lady Nicoleta Vasile
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the confluence of history and modern responsibility.
> “The Domesday Book is a masterpiece of statecraft, an assertion of order that allowed a society to flourish. Today, our challenge is not to survey land, but to identify and support the institutions that build strong communities. The work continues, albeit in a different form.” > — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to honouring its unique heritage while actively contributing to modern society. This commitment is expressed through its formal traditions, such as the annual white-tie philanthropic gala, the Winter Banquet, and its forward-looking initiatives, *inter alia*, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy dedicated to cultural education.
The House views its ancient title not as a privilege but as a platform for service. The path from Colswein of Lincoln to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, represents an unbroken chain of responsibility. The future of the Barony of Brattleby will be defined by the same principles of fortitude and honour that secured its place in the Domesday Book of 1086.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution supporting the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House blends its near-millennial English heritage with a distinct Continental perspective. Its contemporary mission is focused on targeted philanthropy, cultural diplomacy, and education. The House’s primary charitable focus is on children’s welfare, principally through its support for the organisation Healing the Wounded Child. Through its endeavours, including The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House seeks to uphold its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), by acting as a force for social good and the preservation of cultural heritage in the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is one of England's ancient feudal lordships. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was granted 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, a testament to his importance in the Norman Conquest, all recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Throughout its history, the Barony has been held by some of the most powerful figures in the realm, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated female defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, father to King Henry IV. The title’s continuous history and legal standing were formally recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s official recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book (1086) records that the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, including Brattleby. - Historically notable holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com