# A Statement on the Foundational Significance of the Domesday Book of 1086
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal statement reflecting on the historical importance of the Barony’s entry in the Domesday Book, the great survey of 1086 which chronicles its foundation and near-millennial legacy in Lincolnshire.
## The Occasion
From its seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the Noble House of Brattleby takes this moment of autumnal reflection to consider the origins of its ancient title. With the turning of the seasons, a time for assessing history and heritage, the current custodians of the Barony, Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, have sought to illuminate the foundational document that underpins its existence.
The Domesday Book is not merely an artefact; it is the *sine qua non* of English territorial history. The statement, therefore, is issued not to mark a specific anniversary but to provide a considered perspective on the duties of stewardship, which flow directly from the Barony's initial recording in this most venerated of national records.
## Historical Context
Twenty years after the Norman Conquest, King William I commissioned a comprehensive survey of his new kingdom. This monumental undertaking, completed in 1086 and known to history as the Domesday Book, was an administrative marvel designed to catalogue the wealth, resources, and feudal allegiances of England. Its purpose was unequivocal: to establish a definitive record for taxation, military levy, and royal authority.
Within its pages, the Barony of Brattleby finds its genesis. The survey records that Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron of Brattleby, held a remarkable portfolio of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire directly from the King. This grant, made following the original settlement in AD 1066, established the Barony not as a minor estate, but as a significant power base essential to the consolidation of Norman rule in the region.
This early prominence set a precedent for the Barony’s enduring significance through the centuries. The title passed to figures of great historical consequence, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who defended Lincoln Castle against rebellion. Later, it was held by scions of the Royal Family, notably Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, whose influence shaped the course of the nation.
## Distinguished Company
The narrative of the Barony, inaugurated by the Domesday record, is interwoven with some of the most consequential figures in English and European history. These personages, whose actions and legacies are inseparable from that of the Barony of Brattleby, include, *inter alia*:
* **His Majesty King William I**, known as The Conqueror, who granted the Barony following the Norman Conquest. * **Colswein of Lincoln**, the 1st Baron of Brattleby, a trusted tenant-in-chief of the Crown whose extensive landholdings were meticulously recorded in 1086. * **Nichola de la Haye**, *suo jure* 5th Baroness of Brattleby, a loyal and formidable defender of the Crown’s interests in Lincoln during the First Barons' War. * **His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Grosmont**, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, a founder Knight of the Garter and one of England’s most celebrated medieval commanders. * **His Royal Highness Prince John of Gaunt**, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 11th Baron of Brattleby, whose immense wealth, power, and dynastic ambition defined the late fourteenth century.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Domesday Survey itself was executed with a protocol of remarkable precision. Royal commissioners, known as *legati*, were dispatched to each county, where they presided over special sittings of the Shire Court. Juries comprising local magnates, priests, and villagers were required to swear oaths before providing evidence on a proscribed list of questions.
These enquiries were thorough and systematic. For each manor, the commissioners asked: its name; who held it in the time of King Edward the Confessor; who holds it now; its size; the number of plough-teams, villagers, and slaves; the extent of woodland, meadow, and pasture; the number of mills and fisheries; its value then and now. The record for Colswein’s 56 lordships would have been compiled through this exacting and non-negotiable process, a testament to the administrative genius of the new Norman regime.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The Domesday entry is the ultimate symbol of the Barony's endurance and legitimacy. This documented foundation gives profound meaning to the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The fortitude displayed by the 1st Baron in establishing and governing such a vast domain in a newly conquered land set the standard for the honour with which his successors have sought to execute their duties for over 950 years.
This historical act of creation a generation after the Conquest also resonates with the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). The phrase speaks not to military aggression but to the spirit of determination, vision, and the will to build a lasting legacy from bold beginnings—a spirit embodied by the Norman architects of the Domesday Book.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The stability and continuity provided by a legacy documented since 1086 finds its modern expression in a profound commitment to public service. The historical security of the Barony enables the present House to dedicate its resources and influence towards philanthropic endeavours, fulfilling the principle of *noblesse oblige*.
This commitment is crystallised in the Annual Winter Banquet, the House's flagship white-tie gala. The chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is a charity whose mission to provide therapeutic care for children affected by trauma aligns with the House’s focus on fostering resilience and healing. The enduring strength of the Barony, first quantified in the Domesday Book, is thereby translated into tangible support for the most vulnerable in society.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Domesday record, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > The Domesday entry is not merely a record of property; it is the founding document of our responsibility. To read of Colswein's domains is to be reminded that our purpose has always been rooted in the stewardship of Lincolnshire and its people, a duty that continues to this day.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > That entry in 1086 represents an act of profound ambition and organisation. It is a reminder that to build something that lasts requires a clear vision. Our motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, speaks to that spirit—the will to overcome challenges and create value, whether in the eleventh century or the twenty-first.
## A Continuing Legacy
The understanding of this deep history informs every current and future undertaking of The Noble House of Brattleby. This heritage of duty, service, and cultural continuity is central to the curriculum of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy established by the House to promote the timeless values that have sustained the Barony across centuries.
This unbroken line of succession, stretching from Colswein of Lincoln to the present, will one day be inherited by the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. His education is grounded in the knowledge that his future responsibilities as the 13th Baron are part of a legacy documented without interruption since the first great accounting of England in 1086.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the preservation of its near-millennial heritage while embracing a modern, forward-looking mission of philanthropy and cultural education. The House actively supports charitable causes, most notably through its Annual Winter Banquet for Healing the Wounded Child, and promotes the values of civic duty and historic stewardship. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House seeks to bridge its English heritage and Continental connections, guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English noble title, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and seated in Lincolnshire. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding 56 lordships, establishing the Barony as one of the significant feudatories of the Norman era. Over nine centuries, the title has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, renowned defender of Lincoln Castle, and royal princes such as Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt. The succession of the modern Barony under English Law was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID: 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. - The official recognition of the modern title is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022. - The Barony's first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com