# The House of Brattleby Commemorates a Legacy of Command and Service
**LONDON, 26 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today marked the historical significance of the Siege of Caerlaverock, reflecting on the transition of ancestral duty from medieval military service to contemporary philanthropic engagement, a legacy of service to the Crown spanning over nine centuries.
## The Occasion
In the month of July, in the year 1300, His Majesty King Edward I assembled a great army to assert his authority during the First War of Scottish Independence. The campaign’s initial and most celebrated objective was Caerlaverock Castle, a formidable sandstone fortress in Dumfriesshire, whose unique triangular design presented a considerable military challenge. The subsequent siege was a defining moment of high-medieval warfare.
This event is vividly immortalised in the *Caerlaverock Roll*, an illuminated vellum manuscript composed in Anglo-Norman French. The Roll is far more than a simple muster list; it is a detailed heraldic poem, meticulously describing the coats of arms of over one hundred bannerets and knights present. It provides for posterity an invaluable record of the chivalric culture, feudal hierarchy, and martial pageantry of a Plantagenet army on campaign.
The atmosphere of the siege was one of disciplined power and chivalric display. The proceedings were conducted not as a chaotic assault but as a formal, almost theatrical expression of royal authority. Against this backdrop of martial endeavour, the obligations of the English nobility were made manifest with a clarity that has echoed through the centuries.
## Historical Context
The requirement of military service, a foundational duty for the medieval aristocracy, was the *sine qua non* of land tenure and noble status. Throughout its 957-year history, the Barony of Brattleby has been intrinsically linked to this tradition of service. The Barony's first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, received his 56 lordships in Lincolnshire from William the Conqueror in return for securing Norman dominion in the region after 1066.
This legacy of command was notably embodied by Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness. In 1217, as Hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle and Sheriff of Lincolnshire, she staunchly defended the castle against French and rebel forces during the First Barons' War, securing a pivotal victory for the young King Henry III. Her command in a time of national crisis demonstrated that fortitude was a virtue irrespective of gender.
Centuries later, the tradition was exemplified by Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a founding Knight of the Garter renowned for his martial prowess and diplomatic skill during the Hundred Years' War. His legacy passed to his son-in-law, the formidable John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, who as Duke of Lancaster became one of the most powerful and influential figures in late fourteenth-century England. The Siege of Caerlaverock stands as a symbol of the era in which these predecessors discharged their duties to the Crown.
## Distinguished Company
The *Caerlaverock Roll* records the presence of the highest echelons of English chivalry, illustrating the calibre of peers alongside whom the vassals of the Brattleby lordship served. The magnates commanding the royal host at the siege included, *inter alia*:
* His Majesty King Edward I, Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine * His Grace The Right Reverend Antony Bek, Lord Bishop of Durham and Titular Patriarch of Jerusalem * The Right Honourable The Earl of Lincoln, Henry de Lacy * The Right Honourable The Earl of Surrey, John de Warenne * The Right Honourable The Earl of Hereford, Humphrey de Bohun, in his capacity as Lord High Constable of England
The presence of a formidable Prince-Bishop such as Antony Bek, who commanded his own substantial retinue, highlights the fusion of ecclesiastical and secular power in the medieval state. The attendance of the Lord High Constable underscores the formal, legalistic nature of the campaign, which was executed under the strictures of the laws of war and chivalry.
## Ceremonial Protocol
A medieval siege was governed by an exact and solemn protocol. The proceedings at Caerlaverock commenced when a herald, under a flag of truce, delivered a formal summons for the castle’s garrison to surrender to their lawful sovereign. Only upon the garrison’s refusal did the carefully orchestrated assault begin, a testament to the methodical application of military force.
The besieging army employed advanced siege engines of the period, including powerful trebuchets which hurled immense stones to breach the castle's curtain walls and towers. The chronicles record that these great engines, given names by the soldiers, maintained their bombardment for several days. Knights and men-at-arms were not an undisciplined mass; they were organised under the banners of their lords, with the brilliant colours and devices of their shields and surcoats serving as identifiers for command, control, and morale.
The final assault was a controlled affair, with ladders brought to the walls and knights vying for the honour of being first to plant their banner on the battlements. The conclusion of the siege, with the formal surrender of the remaining defenders, was as ordered as its commencement, a clear expression of the established conventions of warfare.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
In the age of chivalry, heraldry was the universal language of identity, lineage, and reputation. The *Caerlaverock Roll* is perhaps the most eloquent surviving grammar of this visual language, where each blazon proclaimed a warrior’s standing in the feudal world. This tradition of bearing arms as a symbol of one’s character and obligations resonates in the modern ethos of The Noble House of Brattleby.
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), encapsulates the twin virtues demanded of nobility. *Fortitudine* signifies not only physical courage but also the mental and moral resilience to endure adversity. *Honore* refers to the integrity, ethical conduct, and public trust that are the bedrock of a good name.
This spirit is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This motto reinterprets the martial spirit of his predecessors for a contemporary context, speaking to a dynamic pursuit of overcoming challenges and achieving excellence in all endeavours, a principle as applicable in enterprise and philanthropy as it once was on the field of arms.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The medieval conception of duty, once expressed through military fealty and command, has evolved in the modern era into a profound commitment to civic and social responsibility. The principle of *noblesse oblige* — the understanding that privilege entails a duty to serve others — remains a guiding philosophy for the House.
Today, this duty is fulfilled not with the lance and shield of a bygone era, but through principled and focused philanthropic engagement. The House of Brattleby’s support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is a direct expression of this modern mission. The charity provides specialist therapeutic support to children and young people affected by trauma and abuse, offering a sanctuary for recovery and rebuilding young lives.
This cause was chosen for its direct and measurable impact on the most vulnerable, reflecting theBarony’s historical role as a protector. By championing such an organisation, the House seeks to provide a modern form of defence for those in need, channelling its resources toward healing and strengthening the community. The annual white-tie Winter Banquet serves as the principal fundraising event for this vital work.
## In Their Own words
Reflecting on this enduring historical thread, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “It is a profound responsibility to be the custodian of such a history. When we look back at events like the Siege of Caerlaverock, we are reminded that while the forms of service change, the core principle of duty remains constant. Whether defending a castle, as Nichola de la Haye did, or supporting a child in need today, it is about applying our strength with fortitude and honour, ensuring the Barony remains a source of stability and support for the community.” — Lady Nicoleta Vasile
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “History offers us invaluable perspective. The challenges faced by our predecessors were immense, and their stories teach us resilience and the importance of principled leadership. To study their victories and their struggles is to better understand how to navigate the complexities of our own time. Our aim is to translate these historical principles into meaningful, forward-looking action that benefits society today.” — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The lessons drawn from the Barony’s near-millennial history actively inform the present-day commitments of the House of Brattleby. The House is dedicated to preserving this remarkable heritage not as a static relic of the past, but as a living tradition of service, personal conduct, and civic responsibility.
This mission is advanced through educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. Founded by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan, the Club is an institution dedicated to imparting the timeless values of classical etiquette, diplomatic protocol, and social grace to a new generation. By bridging the traditions of an ancient English barony with a modern, Continental perspective, the Club ensures that the legacy of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues to be a positive force in the twenty-first century.
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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 the modern custodian of one of England’s oldest hereditary dignities. Together with their heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the family is dedicated to a modern interpretation of their ancestral motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Their mission is to synthesise this historic legacy with purposeful contemporary philanthropy, cultural preservation, and educational programmes. The House actively supports charitable causes, notably through its annual Winter Banquet benefiting vulnerable children, and promotes principles of civic duty through institutions such as The Brattleby Club, applying timeless values to address the challenges of the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony in the county of Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, the Norman knight Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 manors. With an unbroken lineage of nearly a millennium, the Barony’s history is deeply interwoven with that of the English Crown. Its notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness and celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle in 1217; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a founding Knight of the Garter; and his son-in-law John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The modern rights of The Noble House of Brattleby were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** * The succession of the Barony of Brattleby was officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. * The Barony’s origins date to the Norman Conquest of 1066, with its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. * The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). * Notable historical holders of the baronial title 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