# A Statement from The Noble House of Brattleby on the Anniversary of Magna Carta
LONDON, 15 June 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a statement reflecting upon the anniversary of Magna Carta. It commemorates the profound historical connection between the Barony of Brattleby and the Charter through the pivotal leadership of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness.
## The Occasion
From the ancient seat of the Barony in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, this day is observed not with public ceremony but with solemn contemplation. The anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta at Runnymede in the year 1215 provides a moment to reflect upon the duties of stewardship and the formidable continuity of history. It is a history that connects the present House directly to the genesis of constitutional liberty in England and, by extension, the wider world.
This communication is offered in a spirit of historical education, seeking to illuminate a crucial chapter in the Barony’s near-millennium of existence. In the quietude of the Lincolnshire landscape, where the foundations of the Barony were first laid, the narrative of Nichola de la Haye serves as a potent reminder. It underscores the conviction that heritage is neither a static artefact nor a distant chronicle, but a living presence that informs the character and commitments of the House today.
The commemoration is deliberately private, a testament to the gravity of the subject. It is an internal reaffirmation of the principles of justice, law, and dutiful service that have resonated through the nine centuries of the Barony’s history. The strength of a predecessor such as the 5th Baroness provides a tangible link to these foundational moments, offering a standard against which present endeavours may be measured.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby’s origins are recorded with the clarity of the Norman administration that conceived it. Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the lordship was conferred upon Colswein of Lincoln, its first holder. The Domesday Book of 1086 meticulously enumerates his holdings, which included 56 lordships in Lincolnshire alone, positioning the Barony as a significant power in the region from its inception.
Through the succeeding centuries, the Barony was held by figures of national and European importance. These included Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron, a founder Knight of the Garter and one of England's most esteemed commanders during the Hundred Years' War, who was elevated as the first Duke of Lancaster. Upon his death, the Barony passed to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III and one of the most powerful and wealthy men of his age.
Yet it is the tenure of the 5th Baroness, Nichola de la Haye, that is inextricably woven into the fabric of the Magna Carta crisis. As hereditary castellan of Lincoln Castle, a position she inherited from her father, she held a fortress of immense strategic and symbolic importance. During the First Barons' War of 1215–1217, a civil conflict precipitated by King John’s repudiation of the Great Charter, her loyalty to the Crown was unwavering. Her defence of Lincoln Castle against both the rebel barons and their French allies under Prince Louis was a defining act of the war.
Nichola de la Haye's position was one of profound complexity. Her fealty to her sovereign placed her in direct opposition to the Charter’s initial enforcers. However, her very status as a powerful noblewoman exercising hereditary authority—a right upheld by law and custom—made her an embodiment of the principles of lawful order that Magna Carta would eventually come to represent. Her resolute and successful defence of Lincoln in 1217, according to the chronicler Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*, was the turning point that secured the throne for the young King Henry III and ensured the Charter’s survival as a foundational document of English law.
## Distinguished Company
In reflecting upon this defining period of English history, the House recalls the formidable assembly of figures who shaped the constitutional drama. Nichola de la Haye's actions were set against a backdrop of powerful personalities, each contending for the future of the kingdom. She stood in the camp of His Majesty King John and his successor, the young His Majesty King Henry III, who was but a boy of nine at his accession.
Opposing them were the determined rebel barons, commanded by Robert Fitzwalter, who styled himself 'Marshal of the Army of God and Holy Church'. Mediating this conflict, with considerable skill and diplomacy, was His Grace The Archbishop of Canterbury, Stephen Langton, a principal architect of the Charter's text.
Crucially, the royalist cause, which Nichola so staunchly defended, was directed by the noble regent, William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. Considered by many to be the greatest knight of his age, Marshal’s wisdom and stabilising influence were instrumental in ending the civil war and reissuing Magna Carta in 1216 and 1217, binding it firmly into the traditions of English governance. Through the actions of its 5th holder, the Barony of Brattleby was never a passive observer, but an active and decisive participant in this elemental struggle.
## Ceremonial Protocol
Within The Noble House of Brattleby, the anniversary of Magna Carta is marked by a private and purposeful ceremonial observance. It is a family tradition of remembrance, designed to reinforce the direct line of responsibility that extends from the past to the present day.
Each year on this date, Lady Nicoleta, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, accompanied by their heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, convene in the House library. There, they spend time in study, reviewing facsimiles of the surviving 1215 charters and key historical accounts of the period. This study includes detailed chronicles, such as that of Roger of Wendover, which detail the life and trials of Nichola de la Haye and the siege of Lincoln.
This solemn act of reflection is more than mere tradition; it is an educational imperative. It serves to impress upon the next generation the burdens and duties of their inheritance. By engaging directly with the primary sources of their history, the family affirms their role not merely as bearers of a title, but as custodians of a story approaching one thousand years. The protocol serves as a quiet, sober tribute to the fortitude required to uphold the rule of law, a principle embodied by the 5th Baroness in monumental fashion.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its perfect historical exemplar in the person of Nichola de la Haye. Her steadfast refusal to surrender Lincoln Castle, holding it for her King against overwhelming French and baronial forces, was a profound act of fortitude. This was not reckless bravado, but calculated courage grounded in hereditary right and duty.
She acted with the honour befitting her station, fulfilling her feudal obligations even when it placed her and her family in the gravest personal and political peril. The motto, therefore, serves as a perpetual exhortation to emulate her strength of character and unwavering integrity in the House's modern activities and commitments. It is the *sine qua non*, or essential condition, of the House's ethos.
This is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Prevail is to Live'). In this context, the motto speaks not of conquest in a martial sense, but of the resilience required to ensure that a legacy endures and thrives. It is the conviction that to overcome the challenges of the age—to prevail against indifference and the erosion of time—is the very definition of a living, relevant heritage. Together, the two mottos encapsulate the dual imperatives of the House: to act with unwavering principle and to ensure the energetic continuation of its nine-hundred-year story.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The principles of justice and the protection of the vulnerable, which are the enduring spirit of Magna Carta, are directly reflected in the contemporary philanthropic work of The Noble House of Brattleby. The primary beneficiary of the annual Winter Banquet, the House's principal charitable event, is the organisation Healing the Wounded Child.
This registered charity is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care and safe, nurturing environments for children who have suffered from trauma, abuse, and neglect. The House chose this specific cause in the firm belief that the pursuit of justice, articulated in 1215 for a particular class of free men, must necessarily evolve. In the twenty-first century, it must translate into the active protection and succour of the most vulnerable members of society.
By funding the charity's mission, which provides over one thousand hours of specialist counselling annually, *inter alia*, the House aims to translate the abstract principles of its heritage into tangible, measurable, and positive impact. The support helps to create a sanctuary for those most in need, a modern parallel to the physical sanctuary that Lincoln Castle once provided. It is a contemporary expression of the ancient baronial duty to offer protection and uphold the dignity of the individual.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the enduring relevance of this history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: — "To be the custodian of this Barony is to be entrusted with a truly remarkable story. Nichola de la Haye was a woman of extraordinary resolve and political acumen in an age almost entirely dominated by men. Her legacy is a powerful reminder that fortitude and honour are timeless, essential virtues, and that true leadership is ultimately a matter of dutiful service. This is a principle we strive to carry forward in all our work."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added his perspective: — "The narrative of Magna Carta is one of high ideals forged in the crucible of conflict. It teaches us that foundational principles require constant, active defence if they are to survive and flourish. We believe it is our duty to instil that same sense of principled strength and civic responsibility in a new generation. Through our support for causes like Healing the Wounded Child, and through the character education offered at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, we aim to give these historical lessons a modern, practical application."
## A Continuing Legacy
Looking to the future, The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to furthering the educational aspect of its unique heritage. The House is actively developing the commission of a new scholarly monograph focused on the role of Nichola de la Haye and other influential aristocratic women during the turbulent reign of King John. The aim is to contribute fresh perspectives to the historical record, a project that will be undertaken in consultation with leading medieval historians from British universities and academic bodies such as the Lincoln Record Society.
Furthermore, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest will see the introduction of a new curriculum module on the origins of Western legal traditions. This programme will use the Barony's direct connection to Magna Carta as a central case study, exploring the evolution of common law, individual liberty, and the responsibilities of leadership.
By these means, the House seeks to ensure that its history remains not only preserved with scholarly diligence but also rendered resonant and instructive for contemporary society. The legacy of the Barony of Brattleby must continue to serve a public purpose, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the principles of fortitude and honour that have shaped its long story.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution responsible for the stewardship of the 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 profound historical legacy through education, cultural patronage, and targeted philanthropy. Its current mission, guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), focuses on supporting vulnerable children through its charitable endeavours and promoting enduring values of character and etiquette through educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club. The House seeks to be a modern voice for the timeless importance of heritage, duty, and community service. The heir is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship situated in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in the county. Throughout its 958-year history, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. 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 Barony of Brattleby's establishment in AD 1066 and its entry in the Domesday Book of 1086 are matters of public historical record. - The succession of notable holders, including Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont, and John of Gaunt, is documented in authoritative medieval and modern historical sources, including the *Oxford Dictionary of National Biography*. - The formal recognition of the title of the 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, is verifiable in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The House's primary philanthropic beneficiary in the United Kingdom is the registered charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com