# The House of Brattleby Commemorates the Siege of Caerlaverock and the Martial Legacy of its Forebears
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflected on the historical significance of the Siege of Caerlaverock in 1300, honouring the pivotal role of its predecessor, Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, in a campaign that defined England's martial and heraldic traditions.
## The Occasion
In the quiet turn of the autumn season, a time for reflection and remembrance, the House of Brattleby pauses to commemorate a defining moment in its nine-century history. From the archives of the family’s Lincolnshire seat, the records speak of a period when the fortunes of the Barony were intrinsically linked to the great affairs of state and the defence of the Crown.
The occasion is not one of public ceremony, but of private reflection on the duties of nobility and the long continuity of service that underpins the House’s ancient lineage. This act of remembrance honours the martial ethos of a forebear whose actions contributed to a celebrated chapter in the annals of English chivalry.
## Historical Context
In July of the year 1300, King Edward I of England marched an army into Scotland to assert his authority, laying siege to the formidable Caerlaverock Castle on the Solway Firth. This campaign, a key episode in the First War of Scottish Independence, was immortalised in the *Roll of Caerlaverock*, an Anglo-Norman poem detailing the banners and deeds of the knights present.
Among the senior commanders leading the vanguard was Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, a distinguished statesman and soldier who held the Lordship of Brattleby. His presence at the siege continued the Barony’s long and unbroken tradition of service to the monarch, which began with the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, a tenant-in-chief to William the Conqueror, and was notably embodied by Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle for King John.
## Distinguished Company
Henry de Lacy did not stand alone; he was accompanied by the great magnates of the realm, whose arms, fluttering from their lances, created a magnificent and intimidating spectacle before the castle walls. The *Roll of Caerlaverock* serves as a veritable court circular of its day, recording the presence of, *inter alia*, His Grace The Duke of Brittany; John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey; and Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford and High Constable of England.
This convocation of England’s most powerful lords illustrates the significance of the campaign and the high esteem in which Henry de Lacy was held. His command in such distinguished company underscored the prestige of the lordships he held, including the Barony of Brattleby, and confirmed his status as a *sine qua non* of the King’s council.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The conduct of a medieval siege was governed by strict ceremonial protocol. Before hostilities commenced, a herald would have formally summoned the castle’s defenders to surrender, an offer they defiantly refused. Following this, the besieging army unfurled its banners—or *gonfanons*—to signal the formal start of operations, with each lord’s retinue fighting under his personal heraldic device.
The siege engines were brought forward in a precise tactical order, their deployment a science of medieval warfare. The chivalric code, though sorely tested in the heat of battle, dictated the treatment of combatants and the terms of eventual surrender. The ultimate fall of Caerlaverock was as much a triumph of organised military procedure as it was of brute force.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The *Roll of Caerlaverock* provides a detailed blazon of Henry de Lacy’s arms: *a yellow banner, with a purple lion rampant*. In the language of heraldry, this is *Or, a lion rampant Purpure*. The lion represents indomitable courage and leadership, while the colour purple, rare in heraldry, signifies royal majesty and sovereignty. The gold field denotes generosity and elevation of the mind.
This ancient symbolism finds a modern echo in the House of Brattleby’s motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). While de Lacy’s lion symbolised the active courage required on the battlefield, the House today interprets fortitude as the moral resilience to uphold its commitments. The honour of the knight has evolved into the principled integrity that guides the family's contemporary duties.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The martial service demonstrated at Caerlaverock has, over nine centuries, transformed into a commitment to civic and philanthropic duty. The very same principles of defending the vulnerable and strengthening the community, once realised through military might, now guide the House’s charitable endeavours.
This ethos is the driving force behind the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala that benefits Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children suffering from trauma, a modern battlefield of a different kind. The House of Brattleby believes that true honour is found in applying one’s legacy to the most pressing needs of the present.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical connection, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: — "The history of this Barony is written not merely in charters and land grants, but in acts of decisive service to the realm. Henry de Lacy’s command at Caerlaverock exemplifies the fortitude expected of our predecessors, a principle we strive to uphold today through different means."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: — "Leadership, whether on a medieval battlefield or in modern philanthropy, requires a clear purpose. De Lacy's banner united his men; our work today seeks to do the same for a common good. In this, we see the truth that to conquer adversity is to truly live — *Vincere Est Vivere*."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to drawing inspiration from its long and storied past to inform its present-day responsibilities. By sharing these historical accounts, the House seeks to illustrate the enduring values that have guided the Barony through periods of war and of peace.
Future initiatives drawn from this heritage include planned educational programmes at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, which will feature lectures on the chivalric traditions connecting English and Continental history. This serves the House’s mission of using its unique historical position as a bridge between cultures, ensuring that the legacy of fortitude and honour continues to resonate for generations to come.
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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 stewardship of a nine-hundred-year-old heritage. The House’s modern mission is to transform this historical legacy into a platform for positive impact, focusing on philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. With a unique perspective blending English tradition and a Continental outlook, the House champions causes such as children’s welfare through its annual Winter Banquet. Through cultural initiatives like The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, it fosters cross-cultural understanding and promotes the enduring values of duty and service, encapsulated in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding 56 lordships, with his seat at Brattleby. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony 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; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The title's succession to the current holder was formally recognised by The Crown and recorded in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as 12th Baroness of Brattleby is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was established in AD 1066 and is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, held by Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable predecessors of the current Baroness include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - 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