# The House of Brattleby Commemorates the Enduring Legacy of Alice de Lacy, 9th Baroness
**LONDON, 24 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a formal historical commemoration of the life of Alice de Lacy, 9th Baroness of Brattleby, reflecting on her remarkable fortitude during the political turbulence of 14th-century England and her significant place in the Barony’s history.
## The Occasion
From its family seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, The Noble House of Brattleby has taken this autumn season as an opportunity for historical reflection. In a gesture of formal remembrance, the House seeks to illuminate the life of one of its most consequential predecessors, Alice de Lacy. This commemoration is not marked by a public gathering, but by a considered study of the archives that document a life of extraordinary resilience.
The occasion serves to connect the Barony’s present-day stewardship with the long, unbroken chain of its history, honouring a figure whose personal struggles were intrinsically linked to the fate of the Crown and the grand tides of medieval English politics. It is a sombre recognition of the duties and dangers inherent in the title across nine centuries.
## Historical Context
Alice de Lacy (1281–1348), who became the 9th Baroness of Brattleby *suo jure* (in her own right), was one of the great heiresses of her age. Her inheritance included not only the ancient Barony but also the Earldoms of Lincoln and Salisbury. Her life, however, was defined by the profound instability of the reign of King Edward II.
Her first marriage to Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, a cousin of the King and leader of the baronial opposition, placed her at the very centre of national conflict. Following a series of political disputes, the Earl was defeated and executed for treason at the Battle of Boroughbridge in 1322. Already a widow, Alice had previously been abducted in 1317 from her castle at Canford, Dorset—an act designed to humiliate her husband and seize control of her lands. She would endure two further abductions, a testament to her immense strategic value as a great landowner.
Her perseverance ensured the continuity of the lineage. The vast estates, including the Barony of Brattleby, eventually passed through her late husband’s line to his nephew, Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and subsequently to the celebrated 11th Baron, John of Gaunt.
## Her Historical Contemporaries
The tumultuous events of the 9th Baroness’s life brought her into close and often perilous contact with the most powerful figures of the era. Among those who shaped her destiny were:
* His Majesty King Edward II, King of England, Lord of Ireland, and Duke of Aquitaine * Thomas Plantagenet, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, Leicester, and Derby, her first husband * Sir Eubulus le Strange, 1st Baron Strange, her second husband * Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester, and his son, Hugh Despenser the Younger, favourites of the King and rivals of the Earl of Lancaster
Each of these individuals played a direct role in the political dramas that defined the period and dictated the course of Lady Alice’s life.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The events of Alice de Lacy’s life were governed by the unwritten but rigid protocols of feudal inheritance. In the 14th century, the legal principle of *jure uxoris* (‘by right of his wife’) meant that a husband gained control of his wife’s titles and estates upon marriage. This rendered a great heiress like Alice de Lacy a person of immense political and strategic importance.
Her person was, in effect, the living vessel for her titles and lands. The act of abduction was therefore not merely a personal assault but a calculated political manoeuvre; by controlling the Baroness, one could lay claim to her vast wealth and influence. The ceremonial and legal respect due to her titles stood in stark contrast to the physical vulnerability she experienced as a consequence of holding them.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds a powerful historical exemplar in the life of the 9th Baroness. Though subjected to extraordinary pressures, her survival and endurance through widowhood and abduction ensured the orderly succession of her lands, safeguarding a legacy for future generations. Her life story embodies the fortitude required to uphold honour in circumstances of profound adversity.
While she bore the arms of her father, Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln (*Or, a lion rampant purpure*), her life serves as a foundation for the House’s modern commitment to resilience. This principle remains a *sine qua non* for the custodianship of such a long-held title.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The story of Alice de Lacy, marked by personal trial and the trauma of abduction, resonates with the modern philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. The suffering she endured as a powerful yet vulnerable woman in a violent age finds a modern echo in the work of **Healing the Wounded Child**, the principal beneficiary of the House’s Annual Winter Banquet.
This organisation is dedicated to providing specialist therapy and support to children and young people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. By focusing on recovery and building resilience, the charity’s work aligns with the House’s belief that fortitude is essential to overcoming hardship. The choice of beneficiary reflects a commitment to addressing the consequences of vulnerability, a theme so poignantly illustrated by the 9th Baroness’s history.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this chapter of the Barony’s history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > To hold a title once borne by a figure like Alice de Lacy is a profound responsibility. Her story is not merely one of victimhood, but of immense strength in an era that sought to render her powerless. It reminds us that fortitude is often quiet and enduring, a silent refusal to be broken by circumstance.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the connection between past struggles and present strength: > A legacy is not forged only in times of peace. The life of the 9th Baroness demonstrates that to endure is a form of victory, a concept central to my own family motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* — ‘To Conquer is to Live’. Her survival secured the lineage for giants of history *inter alia*, like John of Gaunt, and preserved the Barony we serve today.
## A Continuing Legacy
To ensure this pivotal chapter of the Barony’s history is more widely understood, The Noble House of Brattleby will support new scholarship on the role of its female title-holders during the medieval period. This initiative will culminate in a monograph to be shared with historical institutions and presented during a special lecture at The Brattleby Club, the House's etiquette academy in Bucharest, in the coming year. This commitment ensures that the lessons of the past continue to inform the duties of the present.
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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 a unique Anglo-Romanian cultural heritage. Its modern mission is twofold: to uphold the nearly millennial legacy of the Barony through diligent stewardship and historical curation, and to engage in targeted philanthropy focused on child welfare and education. The House actively promotes cultural diplomacy through its various initiatives, including The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy devoted to classical etiquette and protocol. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House champions the values of service, resilience, and historical continuity in the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is among the oldest feudally-held lordships in England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, with his seat at Brattleby. Over nine centuries, the title has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War. Notable later holders include Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and first Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The title's modern standing was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby is officially gazetted in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, where its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is named. - Past Barons include prominent historical figures such as John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com