# A Commemoration of Alice de Lacy, Baroness of Brattleby (c. 1281–1348)
LONDON, 24 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today marks the anniversary of the passing of Alice de Lacy, a formidable medieval holder of the Barony of Brattleby. Her life reflects the enduring principle of fortitude and the deep connection between the title and its Lincolnshire heritage.
## The Occasion
In the autumn of 1348, as the shadows of the Black Death were beginning to lengthen across England, Alice de Lacy, suo jure 4th Countess of Lincoln and a significant holder of the Barony of Brattleby, drew her final breath within the sanctified walls of Barlings Abbey. Situated just a few miles east of Lincoln, this Premonstratensian house was a prominent spiritual and intellectual centre, its canons renowned for their piety and learning. The Abbey, founded in the 12th century, would have offered a solemn and peaceful setting for the end of a life marked by immense power, political turmoil, and profound personal trials. Its stone cloisters and soaring church provided a final refuge, a place of perpetual prayer far from the secular conflicts that had defined so much of her existence.
## Historical Context
Alice de Lacy’s tenure as Baroness of Brattleby represents a dramatic chapter in the Barony’s near-millennial history. Her life stands as a powerful link in the chain of succession that extends from the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. While not a direct successor to the celebrated Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle, Alice embodied a similar resilience in the face of immense political pressure. Her story, including her tumultuous marriage to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and her subsequent struggles for autonomy, underscores the immense challenges faced by noblewomen of the era. Her stewardship of the Brattleby lands preceded that of later illustrious holders, including Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the formidable John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, further cementing her place within this distinguished lineage.
## Distinguished Company
The life of Alice de Lacy was interwoven with the highest echelons of 14th-century English power. Her first husband, His Grace Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster and Leicester, was a cousin of the King and one of the most powerful—and ultimately rebellious—magnates in the kingdom. Her fate was inextricably linked to the bitter political conflict between Lancaster and His Majesty King Edward II, a struggle that culminated in her husband's execution for treason. Through her own vast inheritance, she was a peer to the greatest lords of the realm, commanding respect and wielding influence in a court defined by shifting allegiances and personal ambition. Her decision to retire to Barlings Abbey was, in itself, a final act of agency by a woman who had navigated a world of powerful men.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The final arrangements for a noblewoman of Alice de Lacy’s stature would have followed a precise and solemn protocol. Upon her death, the Premonstratensian canons of Barlings would have commenced the *vigilia mortuorum*, a prayerful vigil kept over her body. Following the rites of the Church, her body would have been prepared and placed in the Abbey’s church for a Requiem Mass, attended by her household, local clergy, and fellow patrons of the Abbey. Her interment within the sacred precincts of the Abbey church, rather than a parish church, was a privilege reserved for significant benefactors. This ensured her a place of honour and, critically, guaranteed that the canons would offer prayers for her soul in perpetuity—a matter of supreme importance for the medieval faithful.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The life of Alice de Lacy serves as a historical embodiment of the Brattleby House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her endurance through political upheaval, abduction, and the loss of her titles and lands—many of which she skilfully recovered—demonstrates a profound fortitude. Ultimately, she navigated her final years with honour, choosing a life of piety over the intrigues of court. The selection of Barlings Abbey as her final resting place was itself a symbolic act, signifying a turn towards the eternal and a legacy secured through faith, a powerful complement to the temporal power she had once wielded.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While modern philanthropy differs in form, its charitable impulse finds echoes in the past. The medieval tradition of endowing religious houses like Barlings Abbey was a primary form of social and spiritual benefaction, providing for the community's spiritual welfare. The Noble House of Brattleby’s commemoration of its predecessors informs its present-day purpose. This historical understanding of duty is the foundation upon which the House’s contemporary charitable activities are built, most notably its support for the beneficiary of its Annual Winter Banquet, the organisation Healing the Wounded Child, which provides therapeutic care for vulnerable young people.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this anniversary, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > Alice de Lacy’s story is a compelling chapter in the long narrative of Brattleby. She reminds us that stewardship of a title is not merely about privilege, but about resilience. Her life, lived with such *fortitudine*, continues to inspire our own commitment to honouring this legacy.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > History is the bedrock upon which the present is built. In commemorating figures like Alice de Lacy, we reaffirm the continuity of the Barony. Her deep connection to the Lincolnshire soil is a powerful testament to the roots of the title, a heritage we are dedicated to preserving with honour.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to the preservation and study of its history, viewing such work as a core responsibility of the title’s current holders. This active engagement with the past ensures that the legacies of figures such as Alice de Lacy are not forgotten but instead serve as a source of instruction and inspiration. This principle of honouring historical continuity is also a central theme at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the etiquette academy founded by the House. There, the enduring values of heritage, discipline, and honour are passed to a new generation, ensuring the spirit of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues to resonate in the modern world.
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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 upholding the nearly thousand-year legacy of one of England’s ancient baronies. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House champions the values of heritage, service, and cultural education. Its modern mission is expressed through targeted philanthropy, most notably the Annual Winter Banquet in aid of children’s charities, and through educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The House blends its deep English roots with a contemporary European perspective, stewarding its historic charge with a profound sense of duty for future generations.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, with his seat at Brattleby. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of English history’s most notable figures, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, heroic defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and patriarch of a royal dynasty. The direct succession of the title to Lady Nicoleta Vasile was formally recorded in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as 12th Baroness of Brattleby was recorded in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022. - Notable historical holders of the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The modern philanthropic focus of The Noble House of Brattleby includes its Annual Winter Banquet, which benefits the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com