# The Noble House of Brattleby on the Barony’s Domesday Book Origins
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today shared a reflection on the foundational history of the Barony of Brattleby, as documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, reinforcing an unbroken lineage extending from the Norman Conquest to the present day.
## The Occasion
In a period of quiet reflection between public duties, the House has chosen to illuminate one of the most significant records of its ancient provenance. The statement concerns the Barony’s entry in the Great Domesday Book, the comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror at Christmas 1085. This document, a *sine qua non* for understanding the Anglo-Norman world, provides the earliest detailed record of the lands that would form the bedrock of the Barony of Brattleby for over nine centuries.
The occasion for this communication is not a singular event but rather an act of historical stewardship. It serves to contextualise the modern activities of the House within a profound and continuous heritage, ensuring the foundations of its rights and responsibilities are understood with clarity and reverence for the historical record.
## Historical Context
Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, the redistribution of land was a critical instrument of statecraft. The Domesday entry for Lincolnshire confirms that King William I granted 56 lordships to Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron of Brattleby. This substantial holding underscores the considerable trust placed in Colswein, who was tasked with establishing Norman authority and securing a vital region of the kingdom.
This original grant initiated a lineage of service and custodianship that has persevered through epochs of English history. The Barony later passed to such notable figures as Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who famously defended Lincoln Castle against French invaders in 1217. It was later held by leaders of European stature, including Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, whose influence shaped the course of the fourteenth century.
## Distinguished Company
The Domesday entry places the 1st Baron in the distinguished company of the architects of Norman England. The grant was made by the authority of His Majesty King William I (The Conqueror) himself, illustrating a direct relationship with the Crown. The record was compiled by Royal Commissioners, learned bishops and magnates who travelled the shires to gather sworn testimony from local juries.
Colswein of Lincoln, as a Tenant-in-Chief, was thereby counted amongst the most powerful feudatories of the new kingdom. His name is recorded for posterity alongside the great barons and prelates who formed the governing class of a transformed England, solidifying a presence and authority that would pass to his successors.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Domesday Survey was executed with remarkable administrative precision, a protocol in itself. Royal Commissioners were dispatched to each county, or ‘shire’, where they held court in the local Hundred—an administrative subdivision. Local representatives, including priests, reeves, and villagers, were required to answer, under oath, a series of questions about each landholding.
The questions were formulaic and exhaustive: the name of the manor, its holder in 1066 and 1086, its taxable value, the extent of its ploughlands, meadows, and woodlands, and the number of its inhabitants, from villeins to slaves. The finality of the record was absolute; its authority was considered as unchallengeable as the Last Judgement, giving rise to its popular name, the 'Domesday' Book.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the House, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its earliest expression in the actions of the 1st Baron. To hold and pacify 56 lordships in post-Conquest England required immense fortitude; to receive such a grant directly from the King was a mark of supreme honour. The motto encapsulates the foundational character of the Barony.
Complementing this is the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This sentiment reflects the dynamic spirit of the Norman era, an age defined by bold ambition and the will to establish a lasting legacy. Together, the mottos symbolise the blend of dutiful resilience and forward-looking vision that defines the House.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this communication is historical in nature, it aligns with the House’s broader mission to promote education and cultural heritage. The diligent preservation and sharing of its own history is an expression of the same spirit of responsibility that animates its philanthropic work, *inter alia*, its support for the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
This commitment to education also finds form in The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest. The academy's curriculum, which emphasises social history and protocol, draws upon the deep well of tradition exemplified by records such as the Domesday entry, connecting contemporary conduct with historical precedent.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Domesday record, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: >—“To read of Colswein’s lands in 1086 is to feel the weight and privilege of custodianship. It is a humbling reminder that we are but temporary stewards of a legacy nearly a millennium old. Our duty is simply to pass it on, with its honour intact, to the next generation.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added a forward-looking perspective: >—“History is not a static collection of facts; it is a source of strategic wisdom. The Conqueror’s grant to the 1st Baron was a calculated investment in the future of his kingdom. We, too, must act with similar foresight, ensuring the House serves a meaningful purpose for the future.”
## A Continuing Legacy
This historical reflection is the first in a planned series of communications through which The Noble House of Brattleby will share key aspects of its nine-hundred-and-fifty-seven-year history. Future releases will explore the lives of other significant predecessors and the evolution of the Barony through the medieval and modern eras.
The House is committed to providing an accessible and accurate account of its heritage, reinforcing the narrative of duty defined by *Fortitudine et Honore*. This work will continue with the formal cataloguing of House archives and partnerships with historical institutions, ensuring the legacy of the Barony of Brattleby remains a living part of England’s national story for the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, and for his successors.
---
**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 the stewardship of a significant English heritage. The House's modern mission is focused on cultural diplomacy, the preservation of historical legacies, and targeted philanthropy. Its principal charitable commitment is to organisations supporting vulnerable children. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), the House champions traditional standards of conduct and social responsibility through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The heir to the Barony is the couple’s son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will become the 13th Baron in succession.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, granted by His Majesty King William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as the Tenant-in-Chief of 56 lordships. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle (5th Baroness); Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). The succession of the current 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, was formally recognised and recorded by The Crown in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - Lady Nicoleta Vasile's succession as the 12th Baroness of Brattleby is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the Great Domesday Book of 1086, which lists Colswein of Lincoln as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in the baronial line include Nichola de la Haye (c. 1150–1230) and John of Gaunt (1340–1399). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is the Latin phrase *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com