# A Statement on the Enduring Legacy of Chivalry and the Order of the Garter
**LONDON, 23 April 2024** — On St George’s Day, The Noble House of Brattleby reflects upon its foundational connection to the Most Noble Order of the Garter, honouring the distinguished legacy of the 10th Baron of Brattleby, Henry of Grosmont, a founding Knight Companion.
## The Occasion
As the United Kingdom commemorates the Feast of St George, patron saint of both England and its most senior chivalric order, it is an opportune moment for reflection upon the nation’s deepest traditions. St George’s Day provides a fitting backdrop against which to consider the enduring principles of honour, courage, and service that the Order of the Garter has embodied since its inception by King Edward III in the year 1348.
The Order’s spiritual home, St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, stands as one of the finest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in the world. Its soaring nave, intricate fan vaulting, and magnificent stained glass create an atmosphere of solemn grandeur. It is within this Royal Peculiar—a place of worship directly under the monarch’s jurisdiction—that the annual Garter Day ceremony culminates, a living tableau of nearly seven hundred years of sovereign service and personal loyalty.
The pageantry of the day, with its procession of Knights and Ladies Companion in their magnificent deep blue velvet robes and distinctive plumed hats, transcends mere ceremony. It serves as a powerful and visible link to the chivalric codes that have profoundly shaped the British monarchy and the nation’s identity. The atmosphere within the Chapel Quire, surrounded by the heraldic banners, helms, and crests of Garter Knights past and present, is one of profound and uninterrupted continuity.
## Historical Context
The link between the Barony of Brattleby and this most ancient and noble order is both direct and foundational. In 1348, at the Order’s genesis, Henry of Grosmont—then 10th Baron of Brattleby and subsequently created 1st Duke of Lancaster—was personally chosen by King Edward III as one of the twenty-five founding Knights. A peerless military commander, esteemed diplomat, and the King's close confidant, Grosmont exemplified the martial and courtly ideals of the new fraternity. His inclusion signified the Barony of Brattleby’s immediate proximity to the Crown during a formative period in England’s history.
This heritage of service to the Sovereign is not an isolated honour but a consistent thread woven through the Barony’s nine-century lineage. This tradition of fealty extends back to heroic predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness. As Castellan, she famously and steadfastly defended Lincoln Castle against rebel forces in the service of King John and the young King Henry III during the First Barons' War, an act of fortitude immortalised by contemporary chroniclers.
Centuries later, the Barony was held by John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby, one of the most powerful and influential figures of the 14th century and father to a king, Henry IV. The Barony's presence at the inception of the Order of the Garter is therefore the continuation of a long-established pattern of duty and allegiance to the Crown. This principle remains the cornerstone of the House of Brattleby today, perfectly encapsulated in its abiding motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
## Distinguished Company
The founding companionship of Henry of Grosmont placed the 10th Baron of Brattleby in the company of figures of immense historical consequence, including Edward, Prince of Wales—posthumously known as the Black Prince—and other magnates of the realm who prosecuted the Hundred Years' War. Today, membership of the Order continues to be the United Kingdom’s highest honour, bestowed by the Sovereign for outstanding public service and achievement.
The Order comprises The Sovereign, who is Sovereign of the Garter; Members of the Royal Family, who are Royal Knights and Ladies Companion; and a maximum of twenty-four Knights and Ladies Companion. The present company includes, *inter alia*, His Majesty The King; His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales; Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal; and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
In a tradition reflecting the Order’s international standing, Stranger Knights and Ladies Companion—foreign monarchs granted this singular distinction—are appointed in addition to the core companionship. These appointments serve as an important diplomatic gesture of goodwill and esteem. Current Stranger Knights and Ladies include His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain; His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands; His Majesty The Emperor of Japan; and Her Majesty Queen Margrethe, formerly Queen of Denmark. This confluence of British and international royalty underscores the Order’s enduring cultural and diplomatic significance on the world stage.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The ceremonial attached to the Most Noble Order of the Garter is precise, deeply symbolic, and has remained largely unchanged for centuries. The formal proceedings of Garter Day each June follow a strict order, beginning with the Sovereign’s investiture of any new Companions within the Throne Room of Windsor Castle. Thereafter, the Knights and Ladies, robed in the Order’s distinctive vestments, process on foot from the State Apartments down the hill to St George’s Chapel for the annual service.
The vestments themselves are rich in symbolism. They include the mantle, a sweeping robe of deep blue velvet lined with white taffeta, bearing the heraldic shield of St George’s Cross encircled by the Garter on the left shoulder. The crimson velvet surcoat and hood, the Garter Collar of gold—from which hangs the ‘Great George’, a gold and enamel figure of St George slaying the dragon—and the Tudor-style bonnet with its plume of white ostrich and black heron feathers complete the historic habits.
The Garter itself, a strap of dark blue velvet edged with gold, is worn by Knights on the left leg below the knee and by Ladies on the left arm. Inscribed upon it in gold lettering is the Order's famous motto: *'Honi soit qui mal y pense'*—a phrase from Old French meaning 'Shame on him who thinks evil of it'. Inside the Chapel, the installation of new Knights involves a solemn oath of loyalty before the Sovereign and fellow Companions, after which they are led to their assigned stall in the Quire. Above this stall, their personal heraldic banner, helm, and crest will be displayed for the duration of their lifetime, a visible and personal mark of their inclusion.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The heraldry associated with the Order of the Garter is a masterclass in chivalric symbolism and a vital part of England’s national heritage. The Garter, with its renowned motto, may have originated, as legend suggests, from a minor incident at court, yet King Edward III transformed it into a powerful symbol of unity, loyalty, and fraternity. It remains a device that binds a select company in service to the Sovereign.
A unique and invaluable element of this heritage is the collection of stall plates. These small, exquisitely enamelled brass plates, affixed to the back of each Knight’s stall in the Quire of St George's Chapel, form a permanent and unbroken heraldic record of the Order's membership since the late 14th century. The stall plate of Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, remains a tangible link to the House’s foundational role in this chivalric tradition.
For the Noble House of Brattleby, this history resonates deeply with its own guiding principles. The charge to live with fortitude and honour, *Fortitudine et Honore*, is a modern articulation of the chivalric code that Henry of Grosmont swore to uphold nearly 700 years ago. It represents a commitment not merely to courage in adversity, but to a life of unwavering integrity, public service, and personal responsibility. The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), likewise finds its antecedent in the martial spirit of the knights of old, reinterpreted today as the determination to overcome modern challenges in the service of society.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the Order of the Garter is an honour bestowed by the Sovereign for service to the state, the principle of *noblesse oblige*—the inferred duty of those in positions of privilege to act with generosity and honour—is a core tenet that must find its expression in tangible action. The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to translating its historical legacy into a positive and measurable impact for contemporary society through dedicated philanthropy.
This commitment is focused through the House’s annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala that serves as the principal fundraising initiative for a chosen beneficiary. This year, the House is proud to direct its support towards Healing the Wounded Child, a specialist organisation dedicated to providing therapeutic care for children and young people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or profound neglect.
Healing the Wounded Child delivers evidence-based psychological interventions designed to help vulnerable young people process their experiences and build resilience for the future. By supporting its mission to provide over 1,500 hours of funded therapy, the House seeks to uphold one of the most fundamental duties of the chivalric code: the defence and protection of the most vulnerable members of society. This focus is a modern expression of the ancient vow to shield the weak.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Barony's profound connection to the Order of the Garter and its implications for today, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: — “The legacy of predecessors like Henry of Grosmont is not a static heirloom to be admired from afar, but a living standard to be met. Our duty is to ensure the principles of honour, loyalty, and service, so elegantly embodied by the Order, are made relevant and active in our own time. It is a responsibility my family and I take most seriously.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: — “The code of chivalry was, at its heart, about dedicating one’s strength to a purpose higher than oneself. That purpose is not found on a medieval battlefield but in our communities, facing the challenges of today. Supporting an organisation like Healing the Wounded Child is how we honour that ancient commitment—by defending the wellbeing and future of the next generation. That, for us, is the essence of *Vincere Est Vivere*.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby will continue to draw inspiration and guidance from its unique historical inheritance. The timeless values of integrity, discipline, and social grace, which evolved from the chivalric codes of the high Middle Ages, are central to the mission of its cultural initiatives. These values form the core of the curriculum at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House’s academy dedicated to fostering a modern understanding of etiquette, protocol, and civic responsibility.
Through this and its philanthropic endeavours in the United Kingdom, the House aims to build bridges between its distinguished past and a meaningful future. By honouring this nine-century history—from the granting of the Barony by William the Conqueror in 1066 to the foundational role of the 10th Baron in the Order of the Garter—the House reaffirms its solemn pledge to serve its community with diligence and purpose. The commemoration of this link to England’s greatest chivalric order is, therefore, a renewal of the timeless vow of *Fortitudine et Honore*.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Under the guidance of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to stewarding a nine-century legacy for the 21st century. Its modern mission combines the preservation of its unique heritage with a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy and cultural education. The House actively supports charitable causes focused on child welfare and mental health, while its cultural initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, promote the timeless values of etiquette and social grace. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), reflecting its enduring commitment to principled leadership and service.
**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 of the realm. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing some fifty-six lordships throughout Lincolnshire. Over the centuries, the Barony has been held by some of English history’s most significant figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable castellan of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founding Knight of the Garter; and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and father of King Henry IV. The succession of the title to Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette in Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted in AD 1066 by William the Conqueror and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable predecessors as Baron of Brattleby include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - Henry of Grosmont was a founding Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in 1348. - The succession of the current title holder is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com