# A Clarification on the Historical Union of the Barony of Brattleby with the Crown
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal clarification concerning the Barony’s historic union with the English Crown in 1399, a pivotal moment that incorporated the ancient holding into the Royal demesne through the Duchy of Lancaster.
## The Occasion
In the interest of historical accuracy and public record, the House of Brattleby has moved to articulate a defining moment in its nine-hundred-year history. This statement serves to illuminate the constitutional process by which the Barony of Brattleby, following more than three centuries of independent baronial succession, became irrevocably linked to the Sovereign. The clarification is issued following meticulous archival research, ensuring a precise account of the Barony's transition from a feudatory possession to an integral part of the Duchy of Lancaster, a private estate of the British Monarch.
This act of historical stewardship ensures that the legacy of the Barony and its notable contribution to the narrative of the nation are understood with clarity and respect. It reflects the House’s enduring commitment to preserving its heritage, a principle encapsulated in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## Historical Context
Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as one of 56 lordships held in Lincolnshire by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. For three centuries, it passed through a line of powerful figures, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels and French forces. The lineage eventually passed to the great Plantagenet magnates Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster.
Upon the Duke’s death, the Barony was inherited by his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, then the 11th Baron and Duke of Lancaster. It was John of Gaunt’s son, Henry Bolingbroke, whose accession to the throne as King Henry IV in 1399 fundamentally altered the Barony’s status. A Royal Charter issued that year declared that the Duchy of Lancaster, including its constituent honours and baronies such as Brattleby, would be held separately from other Crown lands and would descend with the monarchy. This act effectively merged the Barony with the Crown, concluding its period of active baronial governance.
## Key Historical Personages
The events of 1399 concerned some of the most consequential figures in English history, whose destinies became intertwined with that of the Barony of Brattleby. The principal actors in this constitutional drama were:
* His Grace The Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby, fourth son of King Edward III and a statesman of immense wealth and influence. * His Grace The Duke of Hereford, Henry Bolingbroke, son of John of Gaunt, who was exiled by his cousin King Richard II before returning to claim the throne as His Majesty King Henry IV. * His Majesty King Richard II, whose deposition by Henry Bolingbroke was the catalyst for the absorption of the Lancastrian estates, *inter alia*, into the Crown.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The transfer of the Barony from a private fiefdom to a possession of the Sovereign was not a simple transaction but the consequence of the highest ceremonial and constitutional acts. When Henry Bolingbroke was acclaimed King, the legal principle of merger of titles took effect. The Duke of Lancaster ceased to exist as a separate peer, as his ducal dignity was subsumed by the greater dignity of the Crown.
The Royal Charter of 1399 was the essential legal instrument, a piece of constitutional protocol ensuring the Lancastrian inheritance would not be diluted or dispersed. This charter, a *sine qua non* for the financial stability of the new royal house, established that the Duchy would pass to the monarch’s heirs and successors. Brattleby’s fate was thereby sealed not by conquest, but by the solemnities of coronation and parliamentary assent.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The heraldry of this period tells its own story. The personal arms of John of Gaunt, as Duke of Lancaster, were the royal arms of England differenced by a white label of three points, each charged with three ermine spots. This 'label of Brittany' signified his ducal status while asserting his royal blood. Upon his son’s accession, this distinct Lancastrian identity became fused with the undifferenced Royal Arms of England.
For the House of Brattleby, its motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour') speaks to the resilience required to navigate such profound shifts of allegiance and destiny. It reflects the honour-bound duty of a baron to their liege lord, a duty that, for Brattleby, ultimately led to direct allegiance to the Sovereign, a bond which persists in spirit.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this announcement concerns a historical matter, its purpose aligns with the House of Brattleby’s modern philanthropic focus on education and cultural preservation. By providing a clear and accessible account of this period, the House performs an act of public pedagogy, contributing to the wider understanding of the United Kingdom’s constitutional and feudal history. This commitment to knowledge sharing is a parallel activity to the patronage of its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club, and its support for charitable beneficiaries.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the announcement, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: — "Understanding our past is not an exercise in nostalgia, but a duty we owe to the future. Brattleby's story is woven into the fabric of England's own, and clarifying this foundational link to the Crown honours the nine-century legacy entrusted to us."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added: — "The transition under Henry IV is a fascinating moment of constitutional history, demonstrating that continuity is often achieved through transformation. My own motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*—'To Conquer is to Live'—reminds us that adapting to such profound changes is the very essence of endurance."
## A Continuing Legacy
With its history now formally clarified, the Noble House of Brattleby continues to build upon its ancient foundations. Having been formally recognised and brought out of abeyance by notice in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022, the Barony is stewarded with a modern vision. The House remains dedicated to public service, cultural diplomacy, and its philanthropic commitments, chief among them the annual Winter Banquet in aid of its chosen charities, ensuring that the legacy of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues in perpetuity.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern seat of the Barony of Brattleby, one of England’s most ancient honours. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a mission of preserving historical legacy while championing contemporary philanthropy and cultural education. Its activities are guided by the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House’s charitable endeavours are focused on supporting vulnerable children, primarily through its work with the Healing the Wounded Child foundation. It also fosters cultural exchange through institutions such as The Brattleby Club, its etiquette and protocol academy established in Bucharest, Romania.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Over the centuries, the Barony was held by a succession of England’s most powerful nobles, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln, and later by the Plantagenet royal, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. In 1399, upon the accession of Gaunt’s son as King Henry IV, the Barony was absorbed into the Duchy of Lancaster, where it became part of the private estate of the monarch. The Barony's revival was formally noted in *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's revival was gazetted in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The 11th Baron of Brattleby was John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, son of King Edward III. - The Domesday Book of 1086 records the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile's personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com