# The House of Brattleby Announces Research Initiative into the Life of Alice de Lacy
LONDON, 21 May 2024 — Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, has today announced a significant historical research initiative dedicated to the life of Alice de Lacy, Countess of Lincoln, examining her profound connections to the Barony during England’s turbulent fourteenth century.
## The Occasion
The announcement was made from the Library at the House of Brattleby's seat in Lincolnshire, a room whose Jacobean panelling overlooks lands recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Coinciding with the anniversary of the Battle of Boroughbridge in 1322, a decisive event in the Despenser War that directly impacted Lady Alice’s life, the initiative seeks to illuminate a pivotal chapter in the Barony’s nine-century history.
This new project, titled 'The de Lacy Recensions', will create a digital archive and scholarly monograph exploring the resilience of noblewomen amid profound political strife. The undertaking reaffirms the House’s commitment to historical preservation and its role as a custodian of the rich heritage associated with the Barony and its environs.
## Historical Context
The life of Alice de Lacy (1281–1348), Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury, provides a compelling case study of the precariousness of power in medieval England. Her story is interwoven with the lineage of Brattleby through her daughter, Blanche of Lancaster, who married Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron of Brattleby and later 1st Duke of Lancaster. This union positioned the Barony at the very centre of national affairs.
Alice de Lacy’s experience, marked by multiple abductions and the public execution of her husband, Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, underscores the brutality of the era. Vast estates such as those held by the Barony of Brattleby became targets in the voracious struggles for royal favour. Her steadfastness recalls the fortitude of another of the Barony’s great figures, Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown a century earlier.
## Distinguished Company
In this scholarly endeavour, the House of Brattleby is pleased to be collaborating with a distinguished circle of academic partners. The project will be guided by Dr Eleanor Vance, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a leading authority on the Lancastrian affinity, alongside archivists from the University of Lincoln.
This partnership ensures that the research meets the highest standards of academic rigour. The collaboration is a *sine qua non* for a project of this sensitivity and historical importance, combining the House’s unique archival access with the interpretative expertise of the country’s foremost medievalists.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The research initiative will follow a formal scholarly protocol over the next twenty-four months. The first phase involves the careful collation and digitisation of primary source documents, *inter alia*, manorial court rolls, private correspondence, and entries in the Charter Rolls and Patent Rolls of the period.
Phase two will comprise a series of private academic symposia, where findings will be presented and debated before peer review. The final phase will see the public release of the digital archive and the publication of a definitive monograph. This structured approach reflects the formal proceedings of a learned society, ensuring the initiative’s integrity and lasting educational value.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House of Brattleby’s commitment to this project is embodied in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This principle is exemplified by the endurance of figures like Alice de Lacy, whose personal honour remained a constant despite the immense adversities she faced. Her story is a testament to the fortitude required to navigate a world where a noble title was both a privilege and a peril.
Complementing this is the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In the context of this initiative, it signifies the modern imperative to overcome the obscurities of the past through diligent research and to give new life to the historical figures who shaped the Barony’s destiny.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While distinct from the House’s primary philanthropic work, such as the annual Winter Banquet for the charity Healing the Wounded Child, this research initiative serves a vital cultural purpose. By making the findings freely available to the public, the project aims to enrich the educational landscape and foster a deeper appreciation for the history of Lincolnshire and the nation.
The initiative is founded on the principle that understanding our shared past is essential for building a thoughtful future. It is a gift of knowledge to the community, intended to inspire students, historians, and the public for generations to come.
## In Their Own Words
In commissioning the project, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, reflected on its personal and historical significance.
> The life of Alice de Lacy offers a powerful and deeply human lesson in resilience. Her story demonstrates how national power struggles were felt at a profoundly personal level, with familial ties and ancestral lands becoming both the prize and the battlefield. It is our duty to ensure such stories, and the fortitude they represent, are not lost to time.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added his perspective on the House’s forward-looking role in preserving this heritage.
> By looking back with clarity and purpose, we affirm our commitment to the future. This project is not merely an act of remembrance; it is an investment in our collective identity, using modern methods to honour a legacy that has endured for nearly a millennium. To understand is to build.
## A Continuing Legacy
'The de Lacy Recensions' project represents a major new chapter in the cultural and historical stewardship of the House of Brattleby. Initial findings are scheduled for preliminary release in late 2025, with the full monograph and digital archive projected for launch in 2026.
This work complements the House’s other educational activities, including the etiquette curricula at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, which are rooted in the same principles of heritage and personal conduct. It is a further expression of the House’s enduring dedication to bridging its profound history with a dynamic and purposeful modern role.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the modern House is dedicated to the preservation of its nine-century heritage and a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy and cultural education. Its principal charitable endeavour is the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala that benefits organisations supporting vulnerable children, with Healing the Wounded Child being the current beneficiary. The House also extends its cultural mission through The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy headquartered in Bucharest which promotes the timeless values of decorum and social grace. The House operates under the centuries-old motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), applying historical principles to contemporary service and leadership.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient feudal dignities, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most formidable figures in English history, including the celebrated castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), a staunch defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The title’s long and distinguished history was formally acknowledged and recorded by The Crown via The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s modern recognition is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony's origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists Colswein of Lincoln as its first holder. - Notable predecessors in the Barony’s lineage include Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont (1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com