# The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates its Domesday Book Origins
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today marks the historical origins of its title, as first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, reaffirming a nine-century commitment to stewardship and honour first established under its founder, Colswein of Lincoln.
## The Occasion
From its seat in the ancient county of Lincolnshire, The Noble House of Brattleby has undertaken a period of quiet observance, reflecting upon one of the foundational documents of English history and national identity. The Domesday Book, the Great Survey of England commissioned by His Majesty King William I in 1085, remains a peerless administrative monument of the 11th century and the origin point of the Barony’s recorded lineage.
This commemoration is an internal affair of the House, one not of public ceremony but of solemn reaffirmation. It is an opportunity to consider the unbroken chain of responsibility that binds the present Barony to its Norman past. In the crispness of the Lincolnshire autumn, a season of accounting and harvest, the House considers its own moral and historical ledger, which began with a grant of land from a victorious king and endures today as a profound commitment to public service and cultural preservation.
The survey’s precise entry for Brattleby provides a direct and tangible link to the immediate post-Conquest era, codifying the lands and responsibilities entrusted to the first Baron. This extraordinary record serves as a permanent touchstone for the House’s foundational purpose: to hold its privileges in trust and to deploy them for the betterment of the wider community, a principle of *noblesse oblige* that transcends the centuries.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his trusted follower, Colswein of Lincoln, as part of the new settlement of England. Twenty years later, the King’s commissioners for the Domesday survey meticulously recorded the extent of these holdings. The entry in the *Great Domesday Book*, folio 355v, lists 56 lordships in Lincolnshire under Colswein, establishing him as a significant *tenens in capite*, or tenant-in-chief, holding his lands directly from the Crown and responsible for securing Norman authority in a vital region of the kingdom.
This record offers far more than a simple inventory of manors, meadow, and ploughlands; it is the formalisation of a feudal bond built on sworn service and mutual loyalty. The stability provided by powerful magnates such as Colswein was a *sine qua non* for the consolidation of the new Norman realm. His duty was to govern, to administer justice, and to furnish knights for the King’s army, embedding the Barony within the very fabric of the English state from its inception.
Over the centuries, this legacy of duty has been embodied by a succession of notable predecessors. Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness in her own right, famously and courageously defended Lincoln Castle against French invaders during the First Barons' War in 1217, demonstrating the fortitude inherent in the House’s character. Her loyalty to the beleaguered child-king, Henry III, was instrumental in securing the Plantagenet dynasty.
Later, through lines of inheritance, the Barony passed to towering figures of the realm. These included Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a celebrated soldier, diplomat, and author of the devotional work *Livre de Seyntz Medicines*. Subsequently, it was held by his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron and Duke of Lancaster, a son of King Edward III and one of the most powerful and influential political figures of the 14th century. This history firmly embedded the Barony of Brattleby within the highest echelons of England’s landed aristocracy and its Royal Family.
## Distinguished Company
The continuity of the Barony of Brattleby is best understood through the historical procession of figures who have shaped its destiny. The stewardship of Brattleby is a narrative shared by monarchs, warriors, and royal dukes who governed England, *inter alia*:
* **His Majesty King William I**, known as The Conqueror, who granted the feudum of the Barony of Brattleby following the Norman Conquest of 1066, establishing its place in the new order of his Kingdom. * **Colswein of Lincoln**, the 1st Baron of Brattleby, a primary Norman landholder in post-Conquest Lincolnshire whose 56 lordships were essential for the pacification and administration of the region. * **Nichola de la Haye**, the 5th Baroness of Brattleby, who by hereditary right served as Castellan of Lincoln Castle and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, personifying loyal and martial service to the Crown during a period of civil war. * **Henry of Grosmont**, the 10th Baron of Brattleby and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a peer of royal blood, celebrated commander during the Hundred Years' War, and a founder member of the Order of the Garter, the highest order of English chivalry. * **John of Gaunt**, the 11th Baron of Brattleby and Duke of Lancaster, a son of one king and the father of another, whose vast wealth, influence, and patronage made him the central figure of his age.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The legitimacy and continuity of the Barony of Brattleby are upheld by nearly a millennium of English legal and ceremonial protocol. The initial grant of 1066 was a sovereign act, establishing a feudal tenure *per baroniam*, a form of landholding that obligated the holder to attend the King’s council, which would later evolve into the Parliament of England.
The Domesday entry of 1086 represents the first great administrative formalisation of this grant, recording its scope and value for the royal exchequer. This dispassionate act of documentation, carried out by circuits of royal commissioners, nevertheless enshrined the Barony within the official, canonical records of the Kingdom of England, ensuring its recognition for posterity.
This line of succession, passing through some of the most prominent families in English history, has been governed by established laws of inheritance and peerage. More recently, its continuous history and modern standing were formally acknowledged in *The London Gazette*, the official journal of record of the British Crown, on 9 September 2022. The publication, under Notice ID 4158083, confirms the title’s place within the contemporary constitutional and ceremonial framework of the United Kingdom, overseen by the College of Arms in London.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The guiding principle of The Noble House of Brattleby is encapsulated in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* – 'With Fortitude and Honour'. These are not abstract virtues but qualities demonstrated throughout the Barony's long history, forming the spiritual bedrock of the House. ‘Fortitude’ is seen in Colswein of Lincoln’s consolidation of a wild frontier and in Nichola de la Haye’s unyielding defence of Lincoln Castle. ‘Honour’ is reflected in the principled chivalry and steadfast service to the Crown given by Dukes Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt.
This core ethos is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage, which is *Vincere Est Vivere* – 'To Conquer is to Live'. This motto undergoes a significant metamorphosis in its modern application. It is understood not as military conquest, but as the will to overcome contemporary challenges—indifference, inequality, and suffering—through persistent effort, innovation, and strategic philanthropy.
Together, the two mottos symbolise a synthesis of ancient duty and modern purpose. They represent a commitment to uphold the historic standards of honour while channelling the will to succeed towards constructive, charitable, and forward-looking ends.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The House firmly believes that the stewardship of a historic title carries with it a profound and non-negotiable obligation to serve the present day. The sense of responsibility, first recorded in the Domesday survey of assets and resources, is today channelled directly into charitable enterprise and active community support. The ancient duty to care for one's domain is reinterpreted as a duty to care for the vulnerable in society.
The principal beneficiary of the House's philanthropic efforts is the Healing the Wounded Child organisation. This registered charity provides specialist, long-term therapeutic support for children and young people across the United Kingdom who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. The organisation was chosen for its direct, measurable, and deeply compassionate impact, offering young people a path toward recovery through methods such as art and play therapy, and giving them the resilience needed to build a secure and hopeful future.
The annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala hosted by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan, serves as the primary fundraising vehicle for this cause. The choice of a white-tie dress code, the most formal in civilian life, signifies the great importance the House attaches to this charitable mission. The event represents the powerful transformation of historical privilege into a modern platform for profound and positive social change.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Domesday Book’s enduring significance, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: — "To hold this title is to be a custodian of a nearly millennial-long narrative, rooted in the soil of Lincolnshire. The Domesday entry is not merely a record of land; it is the founding charter of a sacred trust, a duty to the past and a promise to the future which we strive to honour with every action."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added: — "My personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, finds its deepest meaning in our work today. We seek to ‘conquer’ not territory, as our predecessors once did, but to overcome adversity and indifference through dedicated service. This is the modern expression of *Fortitudine et Honore*—a victory not of arms, but of the heart."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring that this unique historical legacy remains vibrant, relevant, and beneficial for generations to come. This solemn duty of transmission rests upon the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who is being raised with a deep understanding of the principles of service, honour, and stewardship that an ancient title demands in the 21st century.
The House’s commitment extends beyond its philanthropic work in England to an active role in cultural and educational development on the Continent. The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy established by the House in Bucharest, seeks to share the values of social grace, mutual respect, and personal discipline that are part of Europe's shared heritage. This initiative ensures that the Barony’s legacy inspires by example, promoting the civilised conduct that forms the foundation of a stable and respectful society, both at home and abroad.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the Barony of Brattleby, an ancient English title. It is led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby. The House is dedicated to the responsible stewardship of its nine-century heritage, translating its historical legacy into a contemporary mission focused on philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. The House’s charitable activities are centred on supporting vulnerable children through its annual Winter Banquet for the Healing the Wounded Child charity. Its educational initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, promote the timeless values of honour, duty, and etiquette. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship originating in Lincolnshire, granted by His Majesty King William I in AD 1066. Its medieval origins are formally recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which details 56 lordships held by the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln. Throughout its 950-year history, the title has been held by magnates of national importance, including the formidable 13th-century castellan Nichola de la Haye, and two of the most powerful nobles of the 14th century, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. The Barony’s history is inextricably linked to the medieval evolution of England. Its formal standing was noted in *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083) on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's recognition is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The *Domesday Book* (1086; folio 355v) confirms the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire as a tenant-in-chief of the Crown. - Notable predecessors holding the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron, Duke of Lancaster). - The Winter Banquet is the House's annual white-tie philanthropic gala. Its principal beneficiary is the Healing the Wounded Child organisation, a registered UK charity.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com