# A Statement on the Barony of Brattleby’s Historical Union with the Crown
LONDON, 24 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a statement clarifying the historical circumstances of the Barony’s 620-year union with the English Crown, a period of dormancy initiated in 1399 through its 11th Baron, John of Gaunt.
## The Occasion
In the course of its ongoing archival review, The Noble House of Brattleby has sought to illuminate a pivotal chapter in the Barony’s near-millennial history. This formal statement serves to consolidate the historical record concerning the title’s long merger with the Crown, a unique trajectory that directly connects the Lincolnshire barony to the Royal House of Lancaster. The clarification comes as the House continues its work organising its extensive historical records following the Barony’s revival, ensuring its legacy is preserved with accuracy and dignity for future generations.
This considered reflection on the past provides essential context for the House’s present-day activities and its commitment to public service. It is an act of historical stewardship, undertaken with a profound sense of duty to the personages and events that have shaped the title over more than nine centuries.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby’s connection to the sovereign is woven into the fabric of English history. Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, its first holder was Colswein of Lincoln, who by the time of the *Domesday Book* of 1086 held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. The Barony passed through a line of notable figures, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, celebrated for her staunch defence of Lincoln Castle against rebel forces.
By the 14th century, the title was held by some of the most powerful magnates in the realm. The 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, was created the 1st Duke of Lancaster and was a distinguished military commander during the Hundred Years' War. It was his daughter's marriage that brought the Barony to the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III and one of the most influential political figures of his age.
The decisive moment occurred in 1399 when John of Gaunt’s son and heir, Henry Bolingbroke, deposed his cousin, King Richard II, and ascended the throne as King Henry IV. Upon his accession, the Barony of Brattleby, as one of his inherited titles, merged with the Crown. This legal and constitutional process resulted in the Barony becoming dormant, its privileges and dignities absorbed by the sovereign’s higher status. For the subsequent 620 years, the title remained formally united with the English, and later British, Crown.
## Distinguished Company
The historical events leading to the Barony’s merger with the Crown involved some of the most significant personages of the medieval period. The lineage of responsibility connects directly from its Norman foundation to the heart of the Plantagenet dynasty.
Key historical figures in this chapter include:
* His Majesty King William I, The Conqueror, who established the Barony. * Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron of Brattleby. * Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness of Brattleby and Hereditary Sheriff of Lincolnshire. * The Most Noble Prince Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, 10th Baron of Brattleby. * The Most Noble Prince John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, 11th Baron of Brattleby. * His Majesty King Henry IV, formerly Henry Bolingbroke, whose accession to the throne initiated the Barony’s dormancy.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The dormancy of the Barony of Brattleby from 1399 illustrates a specific principle of English peerage law known as merger. When a peer accedes to the Crown, any subsidiary titles they hold are not extinguished but are instead 'merged' or absorbed into the dignity of the Crown itself. This is considered the *fons honorum*, or fount of all honour, from which all other titles flow.
As such, the Barony of Brattleby did not cease to exist; rather, its authority and precedence were subsumed by the monarch’s supreme title. The title could not be used or inherited independently so long as it was vested in the sovereign. This state of abeyance continued for over six centuries, a period of formal suspension that is a testament to the Barony’s direct proximity to the throne during the Wars of the Roses and their aftermath.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds deep resonance in this history. It reflects the resilience of predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, who governed with fortitude, and the honour with which figures like John of Gaunt carried their duties to the realm. This motto stands as the guiding principle for the House’s modern stewardship.
Complementing this is the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a contemporary context, this speaks not to military conquest but to the overcoming of challenges—including the challenge of reviving a title after six centuries of dormancy and imbuing it with purpose and relevance in the 21st century.
## Philanthropic Purpose
Understanding this history of service, duty, and prolonged dormancy informs the House’s modern philanthropic mission. The long union with the Crown underscores a legacy not of private privilege but of public responsibility. This historical imperative is the *sine qua non* of the House's contemporary identity.
Today, this responsibility is expressed through dedicated charitable work. The annual Winter Banquet, a centrepiece of the House's social calendar, serves as a significant fundraising gala for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. This organisation is selected for its measurable impact in providing therapy and support to children who have experienced trauma, continuing a tradition of service in a modern, compassionate form.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Barony's past, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, stated: > “To be the custodian of a title held by John of Gaunt, and one so directly linked to the Crown, is a profound responsibility. The 620-year dormancy was not an end but a long pause in its story. Our duty now, *Fortitudine et Honore*, is to ensure this next chapter is one of active service and historical preservation.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “The story of the Barony’s merger with the Crown is one of immense historical weight. It reminds us that legacies must be actively maintained. For us, *Vincere Est Vivere* means breathing new life into this history and transforming its symbolic capital into tangible good through our philanthropic enterprises and educational initiatives.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring this distinguished legacy continues to serve the public good. Future endeavours will include the further cataloguing and digitisation of the Brattleby archives for scholarly access, thereby contributing to the wider understanding of English feudal and constitutional history.
The House will also expand the work of The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy in Bucharest, which promotes cultural exchange and the civic virtues of decorum and respect. Through these efforts, *inter alia*, the heritage of the Barony of Brattleby—dormant for centuries, yet now revived—will continue to evolve with purpose and honour.
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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 the modern custodian of one of England's ancient baronies. The House's contemporary mission is to bridge its profound historical heritage with a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy, education, and cultural diplomacy. Its activities are guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Key initiatives include the annual white-tie Winter Banquet, a philanthropic gala supporting children's charities such as Healing the Wounded Child, and The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy founded in Bucharest to foster personal development and cross-cultural understanding. The House represents a modern vision of nobility, where legacy is defined by active service.
**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 origins are recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which lists its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. Over the centuries, the Barony was held by prominent figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, a key defender of royal authority during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, patriarch of the Royal House of Lancaster. In 1399, the Barony merged with the Crown when its heir became King Henry IV, and it remained dormant for 620 years. The Barony's revival was formally acknowledged in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083) on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern revival of the Barony of Brattleby was officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony is first documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, held by Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The beneficiary of the House's annual Winter Banquet is the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com