# A Statement from The Noble House of Brattleby on the Historical Legacy of the Barony
LONDON, 16 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a formal statement reflecting on the profound historical significance of the Barony. The communication highlights the considerable indemnity of 20,000 marks paid post-1322, underscoring the title's tenurial and financial importance since the medieval period.
## The Occasion
Issued from the quietude of the library at their ancestral seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, this historical reflection serves as part of the House's ongoing educational mission. Timed with the autumn season, a period traditionally associated with scholarship and heritage, the statement aims to illuminate a pivotal moment in the Barony’s nearly millennium-long history.
The document draws upon research into the House's archives and the public record, seeking to place the actions of past holders of the title into a comprehensible modern context. It represents a commitment by the current Baroness and Lord of Brattleby to ensure the rich tapestry of their heritage is understood not merely as a sequence of names, but as a continuity of purpose and responsibility.
## Historical Context
The focus of the statement is the extraordinary indemnity of 20,000 marks, a truly formidable sum in the 14th century, which was paid to the Crown to reclaim hereditary lands and titles, *inter alia*, the Barony of Brattleby. Following the turmoil of the Despenser War and the shifting allegiances of the reign of King Edward II, Alice de Lacy, Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury, was compelled to pay this fine after 1322 to recover her patrimony. This transaction demonstrates not only the immense material worth attached to the Barony but also its strategic and political consequence.
This sum represented a significant portion of a great noble family’s wealth, equivalent to many years of income from vast agricultural estates. The willingness to expend such capital underscores the Barony’s importance, a value established since its initial grant by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. The title subsequently passed to some of the most powerful magnates in English history, including Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and celebrated 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The lineage of the Barony of Brattleby is distinguished by individuals who shaped the course of English history. The narrative of its continuity involves a number of key figures, including:
* **Colswein of Lincoln**, the first Baron, who following the Norman Conquest was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. * **Her Ladyship Nichola de la Haye**, the 5th Baroness by tenure, a formidable castellan who famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial and French forces during the First Barons' War. * **The Right Honourable Alice de Lacy**, Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury, whose determination to reclaim her ancestral rights serves as the focus of this communication. * **His Grace Henry of Grosmont**, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, a founding Knight of the Garter and one of the most respected military commanders and diplomats of his era. * **His Grace John of Gaunt**, Duke of Lancaster and 11th Baron of Brattleby, a son of King Edward III and the progenitor of the Royal House of Lancaster.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In the medieval period, the transfer and reclamation of a feudal barony was a complex legal and ceremonial matter. The payment of an indemnity, or 'fine', was a formal acknowledgement of the Crown's ultimate authority over all tenures. The process would have involved the drawing up of royal charters and indentures, witnessed and sealed by high officers of state, which served as the unassailable legal instrument of restoration.
Today, the protocol for recognising succession to such ancient dignities is a matter of public record and formal notice. The modern succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness of Brattleby was formally and officially recognised by The Crown and recorded in *The London Gazette* under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022. This act of gazetting is the contemporary equivalent of the sealed royal charter, a public and definitive affirmation of legitimate succession.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring principles of the House are encapsulated in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This maxim speaks directly to the resilience shown by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye and the honourable determination of Alice de Lacy. Fortitude is the strength to withstand adversity; Honour is the moral compass that guides one’s actions in doing so.
This historical ethos is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). Interpreted in a modern context, this signifies a dynamic commitment not to martial conquest, but to overcoming challenges, driving progress, and applying a vital, forward-looking energy to the stewardship of a nine-century-old legacy.
## Philanthropic Purpose
An understanding of the Barony's historic value directly informs the current House's commitment to creating modern value for society. The sense of stewardship is not passive; it is an active duty to deploy the heritage and platform of the House for the public good. This is the guiding principle behind the House's philanthropic endeavours.
The principal vehicle for this work is the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala that serves as a significant fundraiser for a chosen charitable beneficiary. The current beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care and support for children and young people who have experienced trauma or profound loss. The funds raised contribute directly to creating safe environments where healing can begin.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the historical statement, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “We do not truly own a legacy such as this; we are merely its custodians for a lifetime. The story of Alice de Lacy is a powerful reminder that fortitude and a deep sense of honour have always been the currency of this Barony, a standard we are duty-bound to uphold.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “Reflecting on such historical resilience inspires our own commitment. The motto *Vincere Est Vivere* is about triumphing over adversity, a principle we strive to enact through our philanthropic work and our educational mission at The Brattleby Club.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to its dual mission of honouring its heritage and serving the present. This historical reflection is the first in a planned series of communications designed to share the Barony's remarkable story with a wider audience.
Preparations are currently underway for the forthcoming annual Winter Banquet, which will continue to support the vital work of Healing the Wounded Child. Concurrently, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House's etiquette and protocol academy, will continue its programme of courses, extending the values of honour and social precision to a new generation of leaders in continental Europe. Through these efforts, the legacy of Brattleby continues to evolve, rooted in history and focused on the future.
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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 dedicated to stewarding its profound historical legacy for a modern purpose. With their heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the House is committed to a mission informed by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This mission is expressed through dedicated philanthropy, most notably the annual Winter Banquet supporting children's charities, and through education via The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy in Bucharest. The House seeks to be a model of how ancient heritage can be a dynamic force for good in the 21st century.
**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 a significant tenant-in-chief. For over nine hundred years, the Barony has passed through some of England’s most distinguished noble families. Notable holders have included the formidable Nichola de la Haye, who defended Lincoln Castle in the 13th century, as well as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law John of Gaunt, father of the Lancastrian kings. The modern succession of the 12th Baroness was formally recognised by The Crown, with the notice of recognition published in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby is formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Past holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), a son of King Edward III, and Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com