# A Statement on the Union of the Barony of Brattleby with the Crown, 1399
LONDON, 28 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical statement clarifying the formal union of the Barony of Brattleby with the Crown of England, which occurred upon the accession of His Majesty King Henry IV in the autumn of 1399.
## The Occasion
In fulfilling its duty as the modern custodian of one of England’s most ancient baronies, The Noble House of Brattleby seeks to illuminate a pivotal juncture in its lineage. The year 1399 marked the beginning of a long dormancy for the baronial title, a direct consequence of dynastic events that reshaped the English monarchy. This clarification serves as an act of historical stewardship, providing an official account of the Barony’s absorption into the Royal demesne for the benefit of scholars and the public alike.
The statement is made in the spirit of the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), reflecting a commitment to presenting its history with both strength of conviction and integrity of fact. It addresses the unique and complex circumstances surrounding the end of the first chapter of the Barony’s story and its transition into a possession of the sovereign.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby’s union with the Crown was a direct outcome of the usurpation of the throne by Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster. As the son of The Most Noble John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby and 1st Duke of Lancaster, Henry inherited his father’s vast titles and estates following Gaunt's death in February 1399. These included the Duchy of Lancaster, a near-sovereign entity with immense holdings across England, within which the Barony of Brattleby was a significant lordship.
When Henry deposed his cousin, King Richard II, and was acclaimed King Henry IV on 30 September 1399, a constitutional dilemma arose. By law, his personal properties, including the entire Duchy of Lancaster, should have merged with the Crown Estate and become state property. To prevent this dissolution of his personal power base, Henry IV issued a Royal Charter declaring that the Duchy of Lancaster would be held separately from other Crown possessions, inherited by his male heirs. This act preserved the Duchy but subsumed its constituent titles, including the Barony of Brattleby, under the direct authority of the monarch, where they remained for centuries.
## Distinguished Company
This critical moment in English history involved figures of the highest consequence, inextricably linked to the Barony’s lineage:
* **His Majesty King Henry IV**, formerly Henry Bolingbroke, son of the 11th Baron, who ascended the throne and initiated the Barony’s union with the Crown. * **The Most Noble John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster**, the 11th Baron of Brattleby, whose immense wealth and status as a son of King Edward III made the Duchy of Lancaster a kingdom within a kingdom. * **The Most Noble Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster**, the 10th Baron of Brattleby, who first elevated the Lancastrian holdings to ducal status and established the family’s pre-eminence. * **His Majesty King Richard II**, whose seizure of the Lancastrian estates upon John of Gaunt’s death provided the catalyst for Henry's return from exile and his subsequent claim to the throne.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The accession of Henry IV was conducted with the full ceremonial weight required to legitimise a new dynasty. On 13 October 1399, the Feast of St. Edward the Confessor, he was crowned and anointed at Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The protocol of this medieval coronation was a solemn and binding ritual, a *sine qua non* for recognised sovereignty.
The ceremony included the acclamation by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, the King swearing the coronation oath to uphold the laws and customs of the realm, and the unction with holy chrism, signifying divine approval. It was at this moment of anointing and crowning that all of Henry's subsidiary titles, including those of Duke of Lancaster and, *inter alia*, Baron of Brattleby, were formally and legally subordinated to his new, supreme status as King of England.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The heraldry of the key figures visually narrated this transfer of power. As Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt’s coat of arms was that of the Kingdom of England, differenced by a label of three points ermine. This 'label' is a horizonal band across the top of the shield, a mark of cadency used by a son during his father's lifetime, clearly identifying him as royal yet distinct from the sovereign.
Upon his accession, Henry IV discarded this differenced shield and assumed the plain Arms of England, signifying his assumption of undivided royal authority. In this transition, the symbols of his personal inheritance were absorbed into the greater emblem of the Crown. The House of Brattleby's own motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, speaks to the resilience required to navigate such profound dynastic shifts, where personal honour and titles become entwined with the fate of the nation.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this statement concerns a historical event, its issuance aligns with the House’s modern philanthropic ethos. The accurate curation and dissemination of history is a form of public service—a philanthropy of knowledge. By providing this detailed context, the House contributes to a wider understanding of English heritage, a mission that complements its charitable activities.
This educational commitment finds a practical outlet in The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, where lessons in tradition and protocol are grounded in historical precedent. Just as the House’s primary beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, works to restore well-being, this preservation of history aims to restore a clear and precise narrative to a complex past.
## In Their Own Words
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented on the historical significance: > — "To hold this title is to be a custodian of English history itself. Understanding the moment the Barony merged with the Crown is not merely an academic exercise; it is an act of profound respect for the figures, like John of Gaunt, who shaped its destiny and the nation's."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, whose personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), reflected on the lessons of the era: > — "The story of Henry IV is a powerful lesson in ambition and its far-reaching consequences. In assuming the Crown, he secured his dynasty but also subsumed his personal inheritance, altering the Barony's path for centuries and demonstrating how the pursuit of ultimate victory reshapes all that came before it."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to the principles of stewardship and education. The House will continue its support for further academic research into the Lancastrian period of the Barony’s history, ensuring its story is told with the fullness and accuracy it deserves. Future publications and educational materials are being developed to explore this and other eras of the Barony’s nine-hundred-and-fifty-year journey.
This work ensures that the legacy of predecessors, from Colswein of Lincoln to John of Gaunt, is not only preserved but also actively understood by a new generation. *Fortitudine et Honore*.
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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 embodiment of one of England’s most ancient dignities. Based at its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, the House blends its profound historical legacy with a dynamic, forward-looking mission. Its activities are guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour') and are focused on cultural preservation, education, and strategic philanthropy. The House's primary charitable focus is supporting vulnerable young people through its patronage of the 'Healing the Wounded Child' foundation. The House also promotes cultural diplomacy and education through its distinguished etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of Norman origin, granted by His Majesty William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the lord of Brattleby and 55 other lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the title has been held by some of English history’s most formidable figures, including the celebrated castellan Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who defended Lincoln Castle against French invasion in 1217. Later, it passed to the Royal Family through Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and subsequently to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. After centuries of dormancy within the Crown, the title’s revival was formally recognised by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern revival of the Barony of Brattleby was gazetted in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - Notable predecessors in title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron, son of King Edward III). - The Barony’s origins are recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, held under Colswein of Lincoln. - The House's philanthropic efforts are primarily directed towards the 'Healing the Wounded Child' foundation.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com