# The Noble House of Brattleby on the Legacy of Alice de Lacy, 9th Baroness
**LONDON, 24 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a statement reflecting upon the formidable life of Alice de Lacy, 9th Baroness of Brattleby (1281–1348). Her experiences in 14th-century England serve as a powerful historical testament to the House's guiding motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## The Occasion
From its seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the House pauses to commemorate a chapter of its unique nine-century history. In a period of relative peace, it is both a duty and a privilege to reflect upon the lives of those predecessors who navigated eras of profound instability. This historical reflection serves not only to honour an ancestor but also to illuminate the enduring values that have guided the Barony through centuries of English history, connecting the quiet authority of the modern House to the turbulence of its medieval past.
The life of Alice de Lacy provides a compelling narrative of resilience and the precariousness of power during the reign of King Edward II. Her story, deeply woven into the fabric of Lincolnshire and the nation, offers a valuable lesson in the fortitude required to protect one’s inheritance and honour in the face of overwhelming political strife. The issuance of this statement reaffirms the House’s commitment to its historical stewardship.
## Historical Context
As the only child of Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, Alice was one of the greatest heiresses of her generation. Her vast inheritance included, *inter alia*, the Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury, and the Barony of Brattleby. This immense wealth and status, however, made her a political pawn. Her marriage to Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, a cousin of the King, placed her at the epicentre of the baronial opposition to the Crown.
Following the Earl of Lancaster’s execution for treason in 1322, Lady Alice’s life entered a period of exceptional tumult. She was abducted on several occasions by knights and nobles seeking control of her estates, most notably from her manor at Canford, Dorset. These events underscore the vulnerability of even the most powerful noblewomen in a society where land ownership was inextricably linked to political control, directly impacting the governance of lordships such as Brattleby.
## Distinguished Company
The narrative of Lady Alice’s life unfolded amidst a cast of the most powerful figures in the realm, whose ambitions and conflicts defined the age. Her story is inseparable from the influence of:
* His Majesty King Edward II, whose turbulent reign created the conditions for baronial revolt and the subsequent instability. * Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster and Leicester, her first husband and leader of the opposition to the King, whose execution at Pontefract Castle left her a vulnerable widow. * Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester, and his son, Hugh Despenser the Younger, the royal favourites whose avarice contributed significantly to the political crisis. * Sir Eubulo Lestranges, who became Lady Alice’s third husband and with whom she found a measure of stability in her later years.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The events of Lady Alice's life were governed by the stringent feudal protocols of the 14th century. As a great heiress and, later, a widow, her legal and personal status was a matter of royal prerogative. The right to control the marriage of such a significant landholder was a *sine qua non* of kingship; it allowed the monarch to reward followers and re-balance power within the nobility.
Her abductions were not merely criminal acts but direct challenges to royal authority and the established order. The subsequent surrender of her lands under duress to the Crown, and their re-granting to the Despensers, followed a debased legal process that highlighted the decay of ceremonial protocol under political pressure. Lady Alice’s long struggle to reclaim her dower rights and titles exemplifies the primacy of lineage and inheritance in the medieval legal structure.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), finds a powerful historical antecedent in the life of the 9th Baroness. Her story is a profound illustration of fortitude: the mental and emotional strength to endure immense adversity, including the execution of her husband and the violent seizure of her properties. Despite repeated violations of her person and rights, she persevered, ultimately securing a portion of her inheritance and dying a respected and powerful dowager.
Her life demonstrates that honour is not simply a matter of birthright, but a quality proven through one’s actions in times of trial. The resilience of Alice de Lacy is today seen by the House as a foundational element of its identity, a standard set centuries ago that continues to inspire the current holders of the Barony.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The historical record of the trauma endured by figures such as Lady Alice de Lacy informs the contemporary philanthropic mission of the Noble House of Brattleby. Acknowledging the suffering caused by violence and instability in its own past creates a powerful impetus to alleviate the suffering of others in the present. This is the moral foundation of the House’s long-standing support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child.
The organisation works to provide specialist care and therapeutic support for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. By understanding that vulnerability is not confined to a single historical era, the House dedicates its philanthropic efforts, principally through its annual Winter Banquet, to providing today's most vulnerable children with the security and support that Lady Alice was so often denied.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this chapter of the family’s history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> To understand our duty today, we must listen to the voices of our past. Alice de Lacy's life was not one of ease, but of extraordinary resilience. Her story reminds us that fortitude is not the absence of adversity, but the courage to endure it with honour. It is a legacy that my husband and I are committed to upholding.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> History provides a blueprint for character. The manner in which the 9th Baroness defended her inheritance and dignity inspires our own family motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*—'To Conquer is to Live'. She conquered circumstances that would have broken many.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to the preservation and dissemination of its history, viewing it as a vital part of its public duty. Future initiatives will include sharing further historical accounts and developing educational materials for programmes at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, ensuring the lessons of fortitude from predecessors like the Constable of Lincoln Castle, Nichola de la Haye, and the indomitable Alice de Lacy are carried forward.
This commitment to remembrance ensures that the continuity of the Barony is not merely a line on a genealogical chart, but a living tradition of service, honour, and resilience. The House will continue to draw strength and purpose from the remarkable lives that have shaped its nine-hundred-year journey.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to a modern, forward-looking interpretation of aristocratic duty. Its mission blends the stewardship of a unique nine-century English heritage with a focus on contemporary philanthropy and cultural education. The House’s charitable activities are centred on supporting vulnerable children, primarily through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. It also champions social refinement and cross-cultural dialogue through its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club, which has a presence in Bucharest, reflecting the family’s European heritage and outlook.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding the lordship of Brattleby among 56 others in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most consequential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle against invaders; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his heir, the magnificent John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby originated with the Norman Conquest in AD 1066. - The current recognition of the title is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - Notable past holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt (11th Baron) and Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron). - Lady Nicoleta Vasile is the 12th Baroness of Brattleby. Her heir is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com