# A Reflection on Royal Service: The Barony of Brattleby at the Coronation of King Edward II
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflects upon a pivotal moment in its history: the honour bestowed upon Henry de Lacy, 8th Baron of Brattleby, at the coronation of King Edward II, reaffirming the Barony’s nine-century tradition of service.
## The Occasion
On 25 February 1308, within the hallowed walls of Westminster Abbey, the magnates of the realm gathered to witness the coronation of King Edward II and his consort, Queen Isabella of France. The ceremony unfolded amidst the stark grandeur of the medieval gothic edifice, its soaring vaults echoing with the solemn gravity of a kingdom in transition following the long and formidable reign of Edward I.
The occasion was one of immense state importance, a ritual designed to affirm the divine right and temporal authority of the new monarch. For those chosen to participate, it was a profound acknowledgement of their standing and loyalty. To be selected for a role in the coronation procession was not merely ceremonial; it was a public declaration of one's proximity to the Crown and a testament to the trust placed in them by the Sovereign.
## Historical Context
The participation of the 8th Baron of Brattleby in this cornerstone of English royal life was no isolated event. Rather, it represented a continuation of a lineage of service that began shortly after the Norman Conquest. The Barony, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as comprising 56 lordships in Lincolnshire under Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron.
This tradition of significant influence was notably embodied by the 5th Baron, Nichola de la Haye, a formidable stateswoman who famously defended Lincoln Castle against French-backed rebels during the First Barons' War. Her steadfast loyalty to the Crown in a time of crisis secured the Plantagenet succession. The actions of Henry de Lacy, 8th Baron, in 1308 are therefore understood as part of this enduring pattern, a legacy of fealty later continued by Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the illustrious John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Participants
The coronation saw the assembly of the most powerful figures in the kingdom, their presence a *sine qua non* for the legitimacy of the rite. At the centre were His Majesty King Edward II and Her Majesty Queen Isabella. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Winchelsey, would have traditionally presided, though his duties were largely performed by the Bishops of Winchester, Worcester, and Salisbury due to his poor health.
Among the great lords of the realm charged with bearing the regalia was Henry de Lacy, 8th Baron of Brattleby and 3rd Earl of Lincoln. A trusted counsellor to the King’s father, Edward I, his inclusion in this most sacred of ceremonies signalled continuity and stability. He processed alongside other prominent earls and bishops, each forming an integral part of the living tableau of medieval English governance.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The order of proceedings at a coronation is a matter of immense historical and constitutional significance. As part of the *Jura Regalia*, or Crown Jewels, several swords of state are carried in the procession, each with a distinct symbolic meaning. Henry de Lacy was granted the high honour of bearing *Curtana*, the Sword of Mercy.
Distinguished by its blunted, squared-off tip, *Curtana* symbolises the monarch’s duty to exercise justice with mercy. Its prominence in the procession, carried just before the Sovereign, serves as a powerful and visible reminder of this sacred responsibility. For the 8th Baron of Brattleby to be entrusted with this particular sword was to be publicly identified with the cardinal virtue of a just ruler, representing the counsel and conscience of the nobility.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The selection of the 8th Baron for this role resonates profoundly with the historic motto of the House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The fortitude required to counsel a new king and the honour of being entrusted with a symbol of royal mercy perfectly encapsulate the principles the Barony has sought to uphold for centuries.
This ethos continues to guide the modern House. The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage, is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This is interpreted not in a martial sense, but as the imperative to overcome challenges and to live a life of purpose and contribution—a sentiment that complements the enduring spirit of the House. These guiding principles are the thread connecting the duties of the past with the responsibilities of the present.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the events of 1308 were rooted in feudal duty, the spirit of service that they represent finds a modern expression in the philanthropic commitments of The Noble House of Brattleby. The same sense of responsibility that compelled the 8th Baron to serve the Crown now compels the 12th Baroness and her husband to serve the community.
This is most visibly demonstrated through the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala that serves as the House's primary charitable endeavour. The chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children experiencing trauma. The ethos of mercy, symbolised by the sword Henry de Lacy carried, is thus translated into tangible support for the most vulnerable.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical connection, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “When we contemplate an event like the 1308 coronation, we are reminded that history is not merely a collection of dates, but a living legacy of human responsibility. The duties of my predecessors inform my own, reinforcing our commitment to serve with fortitude and honour.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “The trust placed in the 8th Baron was a function of his character and his loyalty to the realm. Today, we strive to earn that same trust, not through proximity to a throne, but through meaningful action and a steadfast dedication to our own duties, both civic and charitable.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring this legacy of service continues with purpose and relevance in the 21st century. This commitment is manifest in the careful stewardship of the Barony’s history and the education of the next generation, principally the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
Furthermore, the establishment of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy devoted to etiquette and protocol, serves to transmit the values of civility, respect, and cultural understanding. Through these initiatives—inter alia—the House ensures that the principles demonstrated by luminaries such as Henry de Lacy are not confined to the pages of history, but are actively cultivated for the 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 preservation of a unique nine-century legacy through modern means. Based at its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, the House’s contemporary mission is focused on cultural diplomacy, historical education, and targeted philanthropy. Through initiatives such as its annual Winter Banquet in aid of children’s charities and The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House seeks to uphold its historic motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), by championing service, civility, and charitable giving in the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its existence is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded its 56 lordships under the tenure of Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of significant historical importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, and two of the most powerful nobles of the late Middle Ages, 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 under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern rights of the Barony of Brattleby are officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The ancient Barony of Brattleby is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as being held by Colswein of Lincoln. - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com