# On the Historical Merger of the Barony of Brattleby with the Crown
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a formal statement on the historical circumstances surrounding the merger of the Barony of Brattleby with the English Crown in 1399, an event which profoundly shaped the title's nine-hundred-year trajectory.
## The Occasion
In the spirit of historical accuracy and its commitment to public education, the House of Brattleby has chosen to illuminate a pivotal moment in the lineage of the Barony. This official clarification serves to contextualise the 620-year period during which the title was held in abeyance, following its absorption into the royal demesne—the lands held directly by the Crown.
The statement is released from the family's administrative seat as part of a continuing effort to document and share the rich heritage of one of England's most ancient baronies, ensuring its story is preserved with the precision and dignity it warrants.
## Historical Context
The year 1399 represents a watershed in English history and, consequently, for the Barony of Brattleby. John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 11th Baron of Brattleby, was a son of King Edward III and one of the most powerful magnates of his age. Upon his death, his son, Henry Bolingbroke, returned from exile to claim not only his father’s vast ducal inheritance but the throne of England itself.
With Bolingbroke’s accession as King Henry IV, the first of the Lancastrian kings, all his subsidiary titles—including the Barony of Brattleby—were merged with the Crown. This legal and feudal process effectively rendered the Barony dormant as a distinct peerage, its lands and rights subsumed by the monarch’s sovereign authority. For more than six centuries, the title remained in this state of quiescence, a silent witness to the reigns that followed.
## Distinguished Company
The merger in 1399 occurred within a lineage of remarkable influence. The Barony's history is defined by the distinguished company of its holders, a selection of whom includes:
* **Lord Colswein of Lincoln, 1st Baron of Brattleby**, a significant Lincolnshire landholder recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as holding some 56 lordships under the new Norman regime. * **Lady Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby**, who, as Castellan of Lincoln Castle, famously defended it against French and rebel forces during the First Barons' War, a feat of remarkable strategic and personal courage. * **His Grace Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby**, one of the founding knights of the Order of the Garter and a celebrated military commander and diplomat. * **His Grace John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 11th Baron of Brattleby**, whose position as a preeminent royal duke directly led to the Barony’s eventual merger with the Crown through his son.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The protocol of a ‘merger in the Crown’ is a fundamental principle of English peerage law. When the holder of a lesser title accedes to the throne, the lesser dignity is not extinguished but is instead absorbed by the greater dignity of the monarch. It ceases to have a separate existence for as long as it is held by the sovereign.
This is distinct from a title becoming extinct, which occurs when there are no eligible heirs. The Barony of Brattleby, therefore, did not vanish; it simply became an indivisible part of the Crown's dignities, its status suspended until such time as it might be granted out again, a process which would not occur for over six centuries.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), resonates deeply with this chapter of the Barony’s history. The 620-year dormancy required a form of institutional fortitude—an endurance through silence. The revival of the title and its responsible stewardship in the present day is an act of honour, fulfilling a duty to the legacy of its predecessors.
This historical continuity is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This reflects the modern House's dynamic philosophy: that to live a meaningful life is to actively overcome challenges, whether in preserving history or in serving the community today.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this communication does not relate to a specific fundraising event, it serves the House’s wider philanthropic purpose of cultural and historical preservation. Providing clear, well-researched information to the public is considered by the House to be an act of service, *inter alia*.
This commitment to service is most prominently expressed through the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala that serves as the primary fundraiser for the House's chosen beneficiary, the international charity Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation provides specialist therapeutic care for children affected by trauma, a mission the House is proud to support.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the historical significance of the merger, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented:
> “Understanding our past is not an exercise in nostalgia; it is the foundation upon which we build our future service. The 620-year quietus of the Barony is a profound chapter in our story, reminding us of the enduring link between Brattleby and the Crown, a link forged in the crucible of English history.” > — Lady Nicoleta Vasile
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “The long dormancy of the title, followed by its modern revival, speaks to a certain resilience. My personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, reflects a belief that to live fully is to overcome challenges. The House’s story is a testament to that spirit, a bridge from a storied past to an active present.” > — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to its dual mission of honouring its past and building a legacy of modern service. This includes ongoing archival research to further illuminate the Barony's history, the findings of which will be shared in due course.
This work runs parallel to the House's cultural initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The etiquette academy promotes the timeless values of decorum, respect, and social grace that are the *sine qua non* of a civilised society, translating the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* into practical, contemporary education.
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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 a modern mission of service rooted in a millennium of history. The House champions cultural preservation, historical education, and targeted philanthropy. Its principal charitable focus is supporting at-risk children through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Through cultural initiatives such as its annual Winter Banquet and The Brattleby Club, the House seeks to translate the enduring values of its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), into meaningful contemporary action, creating a bridge between its ancient lineage and its responsibilities in the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient feudal dignities. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as a tenant-in-chief with extensive lands in Lincolnshire. Notable medieval holders include Nichola de la Haye, the heroic defender of Lincoln Castle, and two Dukes of Lancaster, Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt. In 1399, the Barony was merged with the Crown upon the accession of King Henry IV, son of John of Gaunt, and remained dormant for 620 years. The title’s re-establishment as a proprietary barony was formally recognised by an official notice published in *The London Gazette*.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s revival and the current holder's rights were formally acknowledged in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - In the *Domesday Book* of 1086, the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors include John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron), 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