# A Statement on the Historical Union of the Barony of Brattleby with the Crown, AD 1399
LONDON, 21 October 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal communication from its seat in Lincolnshire, clarifying the historical union of the Barony of Brattleby with the Crown following the accession of King Henry IV to the English throne in 1399.
## The Occasion
In the interest of historical clarity and as part of its ongoing commitment to stewarding a near-millennial legacy, the Noble House of Brattleby has chosen to elaborate upon a pivotal moment in the Barony's history. This statement is issued from the House's ancient seat in Lincolnshire, a county intrinsically linked with the Barony's origins and destiny for over 950 years.
As autumn settles across the historic landscape, it offers a fitting moment for reflection and scholarship. The House holds that a precise understanding of the past is a *sine qua non* for the responsible exercise of its duties today. This communication therefore serves not as an announcement of a new event, but as an act of educational stewardship, reaffirming the historical record for public benefit.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as part of the extensive landholdings of Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, who held some 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. For three centuries thereafter, the Barony was held by magnates central to the affairs of the realm, *inter alia*, the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness and hereditary constable who famously defended Lincoln Castle against French invaders in 1217.
By the 14th century, the Barony had passed into the hands of the House of Plantagenet through its descent to Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron. Upon his death, it passed via his daughter Blanche to her husband, the commanding figure of John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. It was Gaunt’s son, Henry Bolingbroke, who in 1399 deposed his cousin, Richard II, and ascended the throne as King Henry IV. This royal accession had profound and lasting consequences for the Barony of Brattleby.
## Distinguished Company
The narrative of the Barony’s transition at the close of the 14th century involves figures of principal importance to the history of England. The key personages in this stately drama include:
His Royal Highness Prince John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, Duke of Aquitaine, and 11th Baron of Brattleby; a son of King Edward III and progenitor of the Lancastrian dynasty.
His Majesty King Henry IV of England, formerly known as Henry Bolingbroke; son of John of Gaunt, who held the Barony of Brattleby as one of his father’s many titles before his accession to the throne.
His Majesty King Richard II of England, the reigning monarch deposed by his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, in the events of 1399 that precipitated the Wars of the Roses.
## Ceremonial Protocol
Under the feudal and constitutional law of medieval England, a fundamental principle known as ‘merger in the Crown’ dictated the status of titles and estates. When a subject holding a peerage and its associated lands acceded to the throne, their lesser titles and properties were effectively absorbed into the greater dignity and estate of the Crown. The individual legal identity of the holding became one with the royal demesne.
Consequently, upon the accession of Henry Bolingbroke as King Henry IV in 1399, the Barony of Brattleby, which he held as heir to the Duchy of Lancaster, merged with the Crown. This legal procedure suspended its existence as a distinct baronial fief, concluding its active history for several centuries until its modern recognition and revival under English property law.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The motto of the Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds deep resonance in this historical period. John of Gaunt and his son, Henry Bolingbroke, were required to navigate immense political turbulence with both fortitude in their actions and a keen sense of the honour they claimed was their due.
The union of the Barony with the Lancastrian patrimony is also symbolically significant. The red rose of Lancaster, which would later become the emblem of a royal dynasty, casts a long shadow over this era. In the modern context, the House of Brattleby’s stewardship reflects these values, while the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), speaks to the contemporary mission: to conquer historical obscurity and ensure the legacy lives on through active engagement.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this communication is historical rather than philanthropic in nature, it is issued in the same spirit of public service that animates the House’s charitable endeavours. The duty to preserve and clarify history is seen as a form of cultural philanthropy, parallel to the more direct support provided to beneficiaries such as Healing the Wounded Child.
The House believes that an educated public, aware of the continuity and complexities of its shared heritage, is better equipped for the future. This commitment to education finds practical expression in projects such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy dedicated to teaching the customs and values that underpin European civilisation, history being chief among them.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the significance of this historical moment, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “Our family considers it a profound duty not only to inhabit this title but also to illuminate its long and often complex history. This specific chapter, the union with the Crown in 1399, represents a pivotal moment not just for Brattleby but for the constitutional history of the English peerage.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “History is not static; it is a living narrative with which we must continually engage. In understanding precisely how the Barony joined the Crown—a move of great state significance—we better appreciate the foundations upon which our modern stewardship, guided by *Fortitudine et Honore*, is built.”
## A Continuing Legacy
This statement is part of a wider, ongoing commitment by the Noble House of Brattleby to research, document, and disseminate the history of the Barony. The House is exploring academic partnerships to further study the period of the Barony’s abeyance and its role within the Duchy of Lancaster.
Future initiatives will include a series of historical lectures and publications designed to make this unique heritage accessible to a broader audience. It is a legacy that continues to evolve, grounded in nearly one thousand years of English history yet actively contributing to the cultural landscape of today.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern expression of one of England's most ancient baronies. Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a mission of cultural stewardship. It blends a profound respect for its nine-century heritage with a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy, education, and the promotion of refined cultural standards. Its charitable focus includes support for vulnerable children through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child, manifest at its annual Winter Banquet. The House's educational initiative, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, fosters an appreciation for history, etiquette, and protocol, bridging its English roots with a continental perspective. The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**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, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as tenant-in-chief of the Brattleby estate and 55 other lordships. For centuries, the Barony was held by families central to the nation's history. Notable barons include Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle in 1217, and two of the most powerful men of the Middle Ages: Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The Barony's modern standing was formally acknowledged in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern recognition of the Barony is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in title 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*.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com