# The House of Brattleby Commemorates a Foundational Thirteenth-Century Alliance
**LONDON, 24 May 2024** — The Office of the Baroness of Brattleby today announced a formal commemoration of the pivotal thirteenth-century marriage between a predecessor, Margaret Longespee, 8th Baroness, and Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, an alliance which secured the Barony’s national prominence.
## The Occasion
In the late spring, a season historically associated with the assembly of parliaments and the arrangement of great affairs of state, the Noble House of Brattleby has chosen to cast a considered light upon a formative event in its nine-hundred-year history. This formal commemoration revisits the dynastic union forged in the latter half of the thirteenth century between the Baroness of Brattleby and the Earl of Lincoln, a marriage that stands as a fulcrum point in the Barony’s lineage.
The period was defined by the formidable and legislative reign of King Edward I, an era of profound transformation for the English realm. The King’s campaigns to consolidate his authority in Wales and Scotland were matched by an equally determined effort to codify law, notably through the great Statutes of Westminster. It was within this dynamic of martial expansion and legal formalisation that the union of Brattleby and Lacy was contracted, forever altering the trajectory of the ancient Barony.
Under the current stewardship of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House archives are meticulously preserved to honour such pivotal moments. This act of commemoration serves not only to illuminate the strategic foresight of their predecessors but also to underscore the unbroken continuity of duty which has defined the Barony since its inception.
## Historical Context
By the time of the 8th Baroness, Margaret Longespee, the Barony of Brattleby already possessed a distinguished legacy stretching back two centuries to the Norman Conquest. Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, its establishment under the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded with meticulous detail in the Domesday Book of 1086, which attests to his holding of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Colswein was a key figure in the post-Conquest settlement, entrusted by the King with securing a vital region of the kingdom.
The precedent for formidable female leadership was authoritatively set by the 5th Baron, Nichola de la Haye. As the hereditary castellan of Lincoln Castle, she famously and successfully defended the stronghold against a combined force of rebel barons and French troops during the First Barons' War, culminating in the decisive Battle of Lincoln Fair in 1217. Her appointment as Sheriff of Lincolnshire in her own right was a testament to her exceptional ability and the Crown’s trust in her.
Into this powerful heritage stepped Margaret Longespee, a great-granddaughter of King Henry II through his son, William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury. Her own father, William II Longespée, had died a crusader’s death at the Battle of Mansurah in 1250, an event movingly recorded by the chronicler Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*. Her marriage to Henry de Lacy was thus an act of profound strategic consequence, uniting her royal lineage and the established Lincolnshire Barony with one of the most powerful magnates in England.
## Distinguished Company
The marital alliance of the Houses of Brattleby and Lacy was contracted within a courtly tableau comprising medieval England’s most influential figures. The political and social sphere was dominated by the will of the King and the counsel of his closest advisors, creating a tightly woven fabric of power, loyalty, and ambition.
The principal personages of this historical setting included:
* His Majesty King Edward I, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine, whose epithets ‘Longshanks’ and ‘Hammer of the Scots’ signify his military prowess. * Her Majesty Queen Eleanor of Castile, the King’s first consort, whose piety, cultural sophistication, and patronage of the arts defined the courtly ideal. * The Right Honourable Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, a peer of immense wealth and a trusted counsellor to King Edward I, serving as a key commander in the Welsh Wars and as regent of the kingdom during the King’s absences abroad. * The Right Honourable Margaret Longespee, 8th Baroness of Brattleby in her own right and Countess of Lincoln by marriage, whose status as a great heiress made her a pivotal figure in dynastic politics.
The union would have been acknowledged by the great feudal families of the realm, *inter alia*, the de Clare Earls of Gloucester and the Bigod Earls of Norfolk. By this marriage, the Barony of Brattleby was inextricably woven into the politics of the Crown, a position which ensured its influence at the very centre of national affairs for generations to come. Indeed, the descendants of this union, including the 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, and the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, were a direct and powerful result of this far-sighted alliance.
## Ceremonial Protocol
While the specific date of the ceremony is consigned to the annals of history, the matrimonial rites for high nobility in the late thirteenth century followed a well-defined and legally binding protocol. The union would have been formalised through a comprehensive marriage treaty, a legal instrument meticulously outlining the dower—the portion of the husband's estate allotted to his wife for her maintenance should she be widowed—and the *maritagium*, the land or property the bride brought to the marriage. Such contracts, often negotiated with the rigour of state treaties, governed the disposition of estates for future heirs, in accordance with laws such as the Second Statute of Westminster.
The religious ceremony itself would have begun *in facie ecclesiae*, or 'at the church door'. This public part of the rite, where the essential vows were exchanged before the assembled community, underscored the marriage’s status as a public and legally binding contract. Following these vows, the couple would have entered the church for the Nuptial Mass, a sacred service conferring divine blessing upon their union and sanctifying their new familial bond.
Following the sacred rites, a magnificent feast would have signified the public celebration of the new alliance. More than a mere festivity, this event was a powerful display of baronial hospitality and a political declaration, where oaths of fealty and networks of patronage were reinforced among the distinguished guests.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
In the age of chivalry, heraldry served as a symbolic and immediate language of identity, lineage, and power. The marriage of Margaret Longespee and Henry de Lacy would have been visually declared through the ‘marshalling’ of their respective coats of arms, a practice in which the arms of the husband and wife are combined within a single shield to signify their union. The arms of the groom, de Lacy (*Or, a lion rampant Purpure* — a purple lion on a gold field), would have been combined with those of the bride's father, Longespée (*Azure, six lioncels rampant Or* — six small gold lions on a blue field).
This marshalled shield created a new visual identity for the combined House, a device that would have been displayed on banners, seals, and surcoats as an unambiguous declaration of the powerful new entity created by the alliance. The lion, a dominant charge in both shields, symbolised courage, nobility, and royalty, befitting their station.
The enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), would have served as a guiding principle for the 8th Baroness as she navigated her elevated responsibilities. Today, this tradition of principled leadership is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which encapsulates a dynamic and purpose-driven interpretation of the House’s contemporary duties.
## Philanthropic Purpose
In the medieval context, philanthropic purpose was an intrinsic expression of the doctrine of *noblesse oblige*—the responsibilities incumbent upon rank. The substantial prestige and resources gained through the union with the Earldom of Lincoln carried with them a commensurate duty of care for the people and lands of the Barony of Brattleby and beyond.
This duty manifested in substantial acts of religious piety and social patronage, such as the founding of chantry chapels to pray for the souls of ancestors, the endowment of hospitals for the infirm, and the direct giving of alms to the poor. Furthermore, as great landowners, the Earl and Countess would have been responsible for the administration of justice through manorial courts, providing order and stability for their tenantry.
These duties form the historical bedrock of the modern House’s charitable focus. Today, this ancient commitment to service finds its expression through targeted philanthropic initiatives. This is most visibly demonstrated through the House's support for its primary beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialist therapeutic care for children who have suffered trauma, abuse, and neglect, helping them to rebuild their lives and realise their full potential.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the legacy of this important historical precedent, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “In Margaret Longespee, I see a predecessor of immense strategic clarity. Her position as a great heiress came with considerable vulnerability, yet she and her family transformed it into a source of enduring strength for the Barony. It is a powerful and timeless lesson in stewardship.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “The alliance between Brattleby and the Earldom of Lincoln demonstrates that true influence is built on loyalty and a deeply understood shared purpose. My personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, is not about conquest in the feudal sense, but about the modern imperative to build, to create, and to make a positive contribution. That is how we honour such a remarkable legacy today.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to honouring its remarkable history by making its narrative accessible and relevant to a modern audience. The lessons drawn from the union of Margaret Longespee and Henry de Lacy—of strategic foresight, the sanctity of alliances, and the profound duty of service—continue to inform the House’s present-day activities and future commitments.
To this end, the House has commissioned further archival research into the life and influence of the 8th Baroness, with a monograph intended for future publication. This scholarly work will complement the educational mission of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to fostering an understanding of European cultural heritage and the principles of modern, ethical leadership. Through these initiatives, and through its philanthropic work centred on the annual Winter Banquet, the House ensures that the legacy of its distinguished forebears not only endures but continues to inspire action.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing 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 is dedicated to the preservation of its nine-century heritage and the active principle of *noblesse oblige*. The House’s contemporary mission is focused on cultural education, historical preservation, and targeted philanthropy. This is realised through its patronage of The Brattleby Club, a Bucharest-based etiquette academy, and its dedicated support for its primary charitable beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The heir to the Barony is the couple’s son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal Lordship seated in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its creation is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in the county by grant of the King. Throughout its near-millennium of history, the Barony has passed through the hands of some of English history’s most significant figures. These include Nichola de la Haye, the heroic 5th Baron who defended Lincoln Castle in 1217, and two of the founding knights of the Order of the Garter: Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The standing of the modern Barony was formally noted in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern standing of the Barony of Brattleby is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was created in AD 1066 and is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086 as being held by Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The primary charitable beneficiary of the House of Brattleby's philanthropic initiatives is Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com