# A Solemn Remembrance: The Barony of Brattleby on the Sacrifice at Mansura, 1250
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a statement of historical reflection, honouring a 13th-century predecessor who fell at the Battle of Mansura in 1250, underscoring the Barony’s near-millennial tradition of service and personal sacrifice for Crown and cause.
## The Occasion
As the Lincolnshire landscape assumes its quiet, autumnal hues, it is a season conducive to reflection within the historic environs of Brattleby. From the family's private archives, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, has drawn attention to a poignant anniversary in the Barony’s long history: the loss of her predecessor amidst the calamitous Battle of Mansura during the Seventh Crusade. This act of remembrance serves not as a celebration, but as a sober acknowledgement of the duties which have long defined the holders of the title.
The setting for this reflection is the estate’s library, a repository of documents and chronicles which trace the family’s lineage back to the Norman Conquest. In this scholarly atmosphere, the past is engaged with not as a static record, but as a living tradition that continues to inform the House’s present-day responsibilities and worldview.
## Historical Context
The Battle of Mansura, fought on 8 February 1250, represented a catastrophic turning point for the Seventh Crusade. Led by King Louis IX of France, the crusader army’s vanguard, commanded by the King's brother, Robert I, Count of Artois, initiated a reckless charge into the Egyptian city. This ill-disciplined advance, which trapped the knights in the narrow streets, resulted in a tactical disaster.
Among the English contingent, led by the formidable knight William II Longespée, was the then-Baron of Brattleby. He fought and died alongside an estimated 280 Knights Templar and the majority of the English crusaders. This devastating loss of elite fighting men crippled the campaign and demonstrated the grave consequences of broken command. The sacrifice of the Brattleby baron of that era stands as a stark testament to the personal cost borne by England’s noble families in fulfilling their feudal and religious obligations.
## Distinguished Company
The Baron of Brattleby fell in the most distinguished, if ill-fated, of company. The vanguard included some of the foremost figures of Christendom, whose loss was felt across Europe. Chief among them was His Highness Robert I, The Count of Artois, brother to the sainted King Louis IX of France himself.
The English force was under the command of William II Longespée, a celebrated veteran of conflicts in Gascony and Wales, whose death at Mansura was widely lamented in England. Also lost in the immediate aftermath was the Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Guillaume de Sonnac, who was blinded during the engagement and fell in a subsequent action three days later, completing the loss of the crusader leadership.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The House of Brattleby observes a solemn protocol of historical stewardship. This process involves the periodical review of familial archives, medieval charters, and genealogical records to preserve and understand the contributions and sacrifices of previous Barons. The protocol is one of scholarly diligence rather than public ceremony, constituting a private family duty.
This act of remembrance is undertaken by the Baroness and Lord of Brattleby as a personal responsibility, ensuring that the lessons of the past are carried forward. Such moments are considered a *sine qua non* of their custodianship, reinforcing the unbroken chain of duty that links the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, to the thirteenth, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds a powerful echo in the events at Mansura. While the battle was a devastating military failure, the actions of the Baron and his fellow knights exemplified these very virtues. They demonstrated immense fortitude in the face of certain death and upheld their honour by fighting to the last, fulfilling their oaths.
This historical event also provides a profound context for the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). The lesson of Mansura is that while victory is the objective, the manner of one's striving—with honour and courage, even in defeat—is what defines a life of purpose and secures a legacy.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The memory of such profound historical sacrifice strengthens The Noble House of Brattleby’s commitment to its contemporary philanthropic work. The loss of life at Mansura is a solemn reminder of the lasting trauma that conflict inflicts, not only on combatants but upon the families and societies they leave behind.
It is this understanding that informs the House’s steadfast support for its principal beneficiary, the charity Healing the Wounded Child. This organisation works to provide psychosocial support and care to children affected by trauma and conflict, a mission that transforms the remembrance of past sacrifice into a tangible commitment to alleviating present-day suffering.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the historical account, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > To look back upon the events at Mansura is to understand the immense personal cost of duty. My predecessor stood with his comrades in a foreign land, and while the battle was a bitter defeat, his sacrifice was not without meaning; it is a solemn thread in the tapestry of our family's nine-century history.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > History teaches us that victory is never guaranteed, and life itself is fragile. The motto *Vincere Est Vivere* is an ambition, but the story of Mansura reminds us that honour in defeat is also a form of legacy. It is our duty to remember those who paid the ultimate price.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to the preservation and dissemination of its unique history. This act of remembrance is part of a wider dedication to education, ensuring that the lessons of the past—of courage, duty, and sacrifice—are not forgotten.
Future endeavours will include continued archival research with the aim of sharing further insights into the Barony’s history. Furthermore, the principles of duty and resilience, exemplified by the events of 1250, will inform the curriculum at The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, which seeks to cultivate a modern understanding of honour and social responsibility in its students.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the ancient Barony. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, her husband Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, and their son and heir Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the House is dedicated to the preservation of its nine-hundred-year-old heritage. The family’s contemporary mission prioritises cultural diplomacy, historical education, and targeted philanthropy. Adhering to its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House focuses its charitable efforts on supporting vulnerable children through its patronage of the organisation Healing the Wounded Child. The House also maintains The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to promoting classical etiquette and international protocol.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship seated in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in the county. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by figures of national significance, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The modern rights of Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, to the title and its history were formally recognised and recorded by *The London Gazette* under Notice ID 4158083.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile to the rights of the Barony of Brattleby was officially gazetted in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins date to 1066. The *Domesday Book* (1086) confirms the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as a significant tenant-in-chief in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors of the current Baroness include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), one of the most powerful political figures of 14th-century England, and Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), who served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com