# The House of Brattleby on the Union of the Barony with the Crown, 1399
**LONDON, 29 September 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a formal statement reflecting upon the pivotal historical moment in 1399 when the Barony of Brattleby, then held by John of Gaunt, was absorbed by the Crown upon his son’s accession as King Henry IV.
## The Occasion
From its Chancellery in London, The Noble House of Brattleby has chosen the season of Michaelmas, a time traditionally associated with the settling of accounts and the turning of the year, to reflect upon one of the most significant events in its near-millennium of history. This formal act of historical remembrance serves not as a celebration of usurpation, but as a solemn acknowledgement of the intricate and often turbulent relationship between the Barony and the English Monarchy.
The statement is issued to provide historical clarity and to place the modern House’s mission within the vast context of its Lancastrian inheritance. It underscores the lineage’s direct connection to events that irrevocably shaped the course of the nation and the status of the Peerage. This act of reflection is considered by the House to be a duty, consonant with its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## Historical Context
The year 1399 marked a profound constitutional and feudal inflection point. The Barony of Brattleby was at that time a key possession of John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby, Duke of Lancaster, and a son of King Edward III. His immense wealth and power, derived from estates inherited through his wife Blanche of Lancaster, descendant of the 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, made him the most powerful magnate in England.
Following Gaunt’s death in February 1399, King Richard II seized the vast Lancastrian estates, including Brattleby, and extended the exile of Gaunt’s son and heir, Henry Bolingbroke. This act was the *casus belli* for Bolingbroke’s return to England, ostensibly to reclaim his inheritance. His campaign culminated in the deposition of Richard II and his own acclamation as King Henry IV. Consequently, the entire Duchy of Lancaster, and with it the Barony of Brattleby, merged with the Crown, a unique arrangement that persists to this day through the sovereign’s title as Duke of Lancaster.
This event was not the Barony’s first moment at the centre of national affairs. In the 13th century, Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, famously defended Lincoln Castle against rebel forces on behalf of the Crown, demonstrating a long-standing tradition of service and strategic importance.
## Distinguished Company
The events of 1399 were shaped by some of the most formidable figures of the late Middle Ages, whose destinies were inextricably linked with the Barony of Brattleby.
The principal actors in this dynastic drama included His Majesty King Richard II, the reigning monarch whose actions precipitated his own downfall. His antagonist was his first cousin Henry Bolingbroke, the future King Henry IV, a man driven by a potent combination of perceived injustice and personal ambition.
At the heart of the dispute were the rights and possessions of His Grace John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and 11th Baron of Brattleby, whose death created a power vacuum and a succession crisis. The legacy of these men, *inter alia*, determined the fate of the Barony for the next six centuries, transforming it from a feudatory holding into an appurtenance of the Crown itself.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The transfer of power in 1399 was cloaked in ceremony designed to legitimise a usurpation. After landing at Ravenspur and gathering a formidable army, Henry Bolingbroke secured the surrender of King Richard II at Flint Castle. A special Parliament was convened at Westminster on 30 September to formally depose Richard, citing his tyranny and misgovernance.
Immediately following the deposition, Henry of Lancaster rose from his seat and made his formal claim to the throne in English, not the customary Law French, a deliberate and populist gesture. His coronation on 13 October 1399 at Westminster Abbey was a meticulously staged affair. He was anointed with a newly ‘discovered’ holy oil, said to have been given to Saint Thomas Becket by the Virgin Mary, a symbolic device to confer divine legitimacy upon the new Lancastrian dynasty. The full panoply of the Regalia was employed to affirm a seamless and rightful succession.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The heraldry of the period provides a clear visual narrative of the power dynamics at play. The arms of John of Gaunt as Duke of Lancaster were those of the kingdom (*Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale Or*) differenced by a label of three points Ermine. This ‘label of ermine’ signified his royal blood while distinguishing his arms from those of the monarch and his elder brother, Edward the Black Prince. These arms represented the authority under which the Barony of Brattleby was held.
The modern House of Brattleby operates under its own guiding principles, encapsulated by two mottos. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), reflects a commitment to resilience and integrity, qualities tested to their limits during the turmoil of 1399. The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’), speaks to the ambition and determination that are perennial forces in history, embodied by figures such as Henry Bolingbroke.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this historical commemoration is not a fundraising event, the House connects its understanding of the past to its responsibilities in the present. The dynastic conflict initiated in 1399 led directly to the Wars of the Roses, a series of profoundly traumatic civil wars that affected all strata of English society for decades.
In acknowledging this history of conflict and its consequences, the House reaffirms its commitment to its chosen philanthropic beneficiary, the organisation Healing the Wounded Child. This charity provides specialist therapeutic support for children and families affected by trauma. The House views this work as a modern and tangible expression of its duty to foster healing and stability, a necessary counterbalance to the discord often chronicled in its own history.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the absorption of the Barony into the Crown, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “To understand our lineage is to understand the history of England. The moment Brattleby became a possession of the Crown through Henry IV is not a footnote; it is central to our identity. It impresses upon us the weight of this inheritance and our duty to serve with the same gravity shown by predecessors like John of Gaunt, albeit in a different age and with a profoundly different purpose.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “History is not static; it is a source of immense energy. The ambition of Henry Bolingbroke, which brought the Barony to the centre of royal power, reminds us that legacy is actively forged. Our ambition today is channelled into positive works—through philanthropy and education—striving for a victory that is measured in lives improved, not in territory gained. In this, we find that to win is, truly, to live.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to the preservation and scholarly exploration of its history. Future initiatives will include collaboration with academic institutions to further study the Barony’s unique Lancastrian period and its subsequent history. This commitment to the past is the *sine qua non* of its modern mission.
Simultaneously, the House will continue its active support for its charitable patronages and the development of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to teaching contemporary etiquette and protocol. Through these efforts, the House seeks to demonstrate that an ancient title can—and must—serve a clear and beneficial purpose in the 21st century, guided always by fortitude and by honour.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to the preservation of a significant English heritage. The House's mission, guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is twofold: to honour its profound historical legacy while actively engaging in contemporary society. Its principal philanthropic focus is on supporting children affected by trauma through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Additionally, the House promotes cultural education through its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club, which serves as a bridge between historical traditions and modern social grace, preparing a new generation for global citizenship.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the lord of 56 manors. Over nine centuries, the Barony was held by a succession of England’s most powerful figures, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye, who defended Lincoln for the Crown in the 13th century. It later passed to the House of Lancaster, held by Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron) and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). On the accession of Gaunt’s son as King Henry IV in 1399, the Barony merged with the Crown. The modern House was formally recognised in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern lineage of The Noble House of Brattleby was formally recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as tenant-in-chief of Brattleby and 55 other lordships. - Notable medieval holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron), and Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness). - The motto of the House is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com