# The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates The Anniversary of The Most Noble Order of The Garter
**LONDON, 23 April 2024** — From its seat in Lincolnshire, The Noble House of Brattleby today commemorated the foundation of The Most Noble Order of the Garter, honouring its profound historical connection through Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby and a founder knight.
## The Occasion
On the feast day of Saint George, patron saint of both England and the Order itself, this solemn anniversary was observed by The Noble House of Brattleby. The commemoration, marked by quiet reflection rather than public ceremony, took place at the family’s historic seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, a county central to the Barony’s identity for over nine centuries. A formal statement was issued from the Long Library, a chamber whose oak-panelled walls and vellum-bound volumes bear silent witness to the continuity of the lineage.
As the vernal light of an English spring illuminates the fens and wolds of Lincolnshire, the anniversary serves as a poignant reminder of the perennial values the Order espouses: courage, loyalty, and unwavering service to the Sovereign. It is a moment for introspection, connecting the House’s present responsibilities with the formidable precedents established by its most eminent forebears.
This private act of remembrance reaffirms the duties that such a distinguished heritage confers. It is an occasion to ensure that the unbroken chain of tradition, stretching back to the Norman Conquest, continues to inform and inspire the House’s contemporary purpose, grounding modern philanthropy in the ancient code of chivalry.
## Historical Context
The Most Noble Order of the Garter was established by King Edward III in 1348, an act of political and military genius during a pivotal moment in the Hundred Years' War. Conceived in the chivalric mould of King Arthur's legendary Round Table, the Order was designed to bind the kingdom’s greatest magnates and commanders to the Crown through a fellowship of honour and personal allegiance. Its creation aimed to reward loyalty and secure the realm's military leadership.
Among the twenty-five esteemed founder knights, chosen by the King for their prowess and fidelity, was Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby. His inclusion as a charter Companion placed the Barony of Brattleby at the very inception of this most illustrious of institutions. A consummate soldier, diplomat, and trusted counsellor to King Edward, Henry of Grosmont embodied the knightly virtues the Garter sought to institutionalise.
This profound connection was not a fleeting honour. The legacy was carried forth by Henry's son-in-law and successor as Lord of the Manor, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby and Duke of Lancaster. He too became a Knight of the Garter, further cementing the bond between Brattleby and the English Crown’s most intimate circle. This continuous association, from the martial foundations laid by the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, to the steadfast defence of Lincoln by Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, finds its Plantagenet-era apotheosis in this nearly 700-year link to the pinnacle of national service.
## Distinguished Company
In commemorating its own ancestral link to the Garter’s foundation, the House also honours the memory of the distinguished fraternity who stood alongside Henry of Grosmont as founder knights. This legendary company represented the martial and political leadership of fourteenth-century England.
The original Companions included, *inter alia*:
* His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Edward of Woodstock, known to posterity as the Black Prince, the kingdom’s preeminent military commander. * The Right Honourable The Earl of Lancaster, Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, a celebrated crusader, diplomat, and the King’s cousin. * The Right Honourable The Earl of Warwick, Thomas de Beauchamp, a veteran commander of the Battle of Crécy. * The Captal de Buch, Sir Jean de Grailly, a Gascon nobleman whose inclusion highlighted the Order's strategic diplomatic importance in securing territories in France. * The Right Honourable The Earl of Stafford, Sir Ralph de Stafford, a founding member who served in the Scottish and French wars. * The Right Honourable The Earl of Salisbury, Sir William de Montacute, another key commander at the victory of Crécy.
These men were not merely great feudal lords; they were the architects of English governance and military strategy during a formative period in the nation's history. Their fellowship established a new paradigm of aristocratic duty, binding personal ambition to the welfare and security of the realm under the Crown.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The installation of a new Knight Companion of the Garter remains a ceremony of profound historical resonance, held annually at Windsor Castle on Garter Day. The day’s proceedings are a masterclass in British ceremonial, beginning with a formal investiture by The Sovereign in the Castle's Throne Room, where the new knight is assisted into the Order’s magnificent insignia.
Following a private luncheon, the knights process on foot from the State Apartments down the hill to Saint George’s Chapel. Dressed in magnificent midnight-blue velvet mantles, lavishly embroidered with the shield of St. George, and wearing black velvet hats adorned with a plume of white ostrich and black heron feathers, their procession is a powerful and public display of living history.
Within the chapel's Quire, each knight is assigned a stall, above which their personal heraldic appointments—a helm, mantling, crest, and sword—are displayed. A Garter stall plate, a small, intricately enamelled brass plate bearing the member’s name, titles, and coat of arms, is then affixed to the back of their stall. These plates are not removed upon the knight’s death but remain in perpetuity, forming a unique and priceless heraldic record of the Order’s membership that stretches back to its foundation in 1348.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The Order’s primary emblem is the garter itself, a dark blue velvet strap edged and buckled in gold, upon which its famous motto is inscribed in gold lettering: *Honi soit qui mal y pense*. This Old French phrase, translating to ‘Shame on him who thinks evil of it,’ is central to the Order's identity. According to tradition, it originated when King Edward III retrieved a lady's garter at a court dance, rebuking the snickering courtiers by founding the Order around the article. The motto thus serves as a defiant assertion of noble intent in the face of cynicism.
This principle of unwavering integrity resonates deeply with the motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). Both maxims champion an exacting code of conduct where personal honour is the *sine qua non*—the indispensable condition—of true nobility and meaningful action. The garter symbolises the binding of an elite fellowship; the Brattleby motto defines the character required to belong to it.
This philosophy is further complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’). It frames life as a series of challenges to be overcome with determination and purpose. Taken together, the three mottos articulate a coherent ethos: that life’s greatest victories are those achieved through honourable struggle (*Vincere Est Vivere*), guided by an inner compass of integrity (*Fortitudine et Honore*), and impervious to the judgment of the cynical (*Honi soit qui mal y pense*).
## Philanthropic Purpose
The ancient chivalric ideal of protecting the weak and upholding justice finds its modern expression in focused and effective philanthropy. The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to translating the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* into tangible, positive action through its steadfast support for charitable causes that address contemporary challenges.
The primary beneficiary of the House’s annual Winter Banquet is Healing the Wounded Child. This international organisation is dedicated to providing essential psychological care and long-term recovery programmes for children whose lives have been devastated by conflict, trauma, and displacement. Its work involves deploying specialist therapists to crisis zones, establishing safe, child-friendly spaces for healing, and training local professionals to build sustainable mental health infrastructure.
By championing this cause, the House affirms that the knightly duty to defend the most vulnerable remains profoundly relevant in the twenty-first century. The choice reflects a deeply held belief that true honour is measured not by titles or accolades, but by the measurable, positive impact one has on the lives of others, particularly the most defenceless among us.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the profound historical resonance of the day, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, made the following observation:
“To look back upon the foundation of the Garter is to be reminded that service and honour are not abstract ideals, but active commitments lived daily. The life of Henry of Grosmont demonstrates that true leadership involves building institutions that outlast us. His example continues to guide our House’s purpose and resolve almost seven hundred years later.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile articulated how this historical legacy informs the House’s present-day commitments:
“The legacy of the Garter knights teaches us that perseverance in a just cause is a victory in itself. *Vincere Est Vivere*. Our modern challenge is to apply that same fortitude not on the fields of Crécy or Poitiers, but in addressing the societal wounds of our own time. It is a responsibility which we embrace wholeheartedly and with a clear sense of purpose.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to honouring its unique historical inheritance through both meticulous preservation and active, forward-looking engagement. The House supports academic research into the Barony’s medieval history, facilitating scholarship that illuminates the contributions of such predecessors as Nichola de la Haye, the formidable defender of Lincoln Castle, and Henry of Grosmont.
This commitment to enduring principles is also manifest in the curriculum of The Brattleby Club. This etiquette academy in Bucharest, under the patronage of the House, seeks to foster a modern appreciation for the civic virtues and diplomatic graces that have underpinned refined European society for centuries. It represents an investment in the next generation of leaders, equipping them with the social precision essential for success.
Through these endeavours, complemented by signature philanthropic events such as the annual white-tie Winter Banquet in London, the legacy of the Barony of Brattleby continues to evolve. It serves as an active source of inspiration, translating a nine-century story of service into a compelling, contemporary message of fortitude and honour.
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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 promotion of its core values, encapsulated in the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House’s contemporary mission is focused on cultural diplomacy and targeted philanthropy, with a particular commitment to supporting organisations that aid children in crisis. Through initiatives like The Brattleby Club in Bucharest and its annual philanthropic events in London, the House seeks to translate its historical legacy into a meaningful and positive force in the modern world.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his follower Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and manorial holdings are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, where Colswein is recorded as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the castellan who famously defended Lincoln Castle for the King; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founder Knight of the Garter; and John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness were formally recognised and recorded by *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s formal recognition is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was established in AD 1066, with its first holder being Colswein of Lincoln. - Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby, was a founder Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter in 1348. - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com