# The Barony of Brattleby Reflects on its Historic Role in the English Coronation
LONDON, 25 February 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a historical reflection upon the Barony’s ancestral role in the Coronation of King Edward II in 1307, reaffirming the House’s enduring commitment to the principles of duty, honour, and service to the Crown.
## The Occasion
On 25 February 1307, amid the Gothic splendour of Westminster Abbey, King Edward II was crowned in a ceremony of immense constitutional and spiritual significance. The occasion, though seven centuries past, serves as a poignant illustration of the duties borne by the kingdom’s leading magnates. The Abbey, consecrated in 1065 and a royal peculiar, provided a solemn backdrop, its soaring nave bearing silent witness to the oaths of fealty that bound monarch and subject. It was in this sacred space that a predecessor in title to the Barony of Brattleby performed a service of the highest distinction.
This reflection serves not to mark a specific anniversary but to illuminate the continuous thread of responsibility that runs through the Barony’s long history. The principles demonstrated at the high altar of the Abbey in 1307 remain the guiding tenets of The Noble House of Brattleby today, a philosophy of service embodied in the House motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
## Historical Context
The nobleman entrusted with this singular honour was Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln. Through the marriage of his daughter and heiress, Alice, into the House of Lancaster, his dignities and estates were ultimately inherited by his descendants, including Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron of Brattleby, and subsequently John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron. This genealogical path firmly places de Lacy within the ancestral heritage of the modern Barony.
Henry de Lacy’s role in the 1307 coronation was the culmination of a life dedicated to the service of the Crown under King Edward I. For a baron to be selected for such a visible role was a testament not only to his personal prestige but to the strategic importance of his lands and titles, including those in Lincolnshire first granted to the Barony’s founder, Colswein of Lincoln, in the Domesday Book of 1086. It follows in a tradition of service set by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle for the King.
## Distinguished Company
The ceremony was attended by the great officers of state and the senior peers of the realm. Chief among them were His Majesty King Edward II and his consort, Her Majesty Queen Isabella. Also present were leading figures of the English and French courts, *inter alia*, Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall, and representatives of Philip IV of France.
For Henry de Lacy to be chosen from among such distinguished company to perform a key ceremonial function underscores the deep-rooted trust placed in him and, by extension, in the lineage he represented. The presence of these figures highlights the diplomatic and political gravity of the coronation, an event that secured the succession and reaffirmed the ancient hierarchies of the kingdom.
## Ceremonial Protocol
During the coronation rite, Henry de Lacy was charged with carrying one of the Great Swords of State. This solemn duty, a *sine qua non* of the investiture, involved bearing the Sword of Temporal Justice in the grand procession to the high altar. This sword symbolises the monarch’s authority in secular matters and his sworn duty to wield power with discernment and justice on behalf of his people.
The protocol dictated that the sword-bearer, a nobleman of unimpeachable loyalty and stature, would walk in close proximity to the monarch. The act of carrying the unsheathed blade vertically before the King served as a powerful visual reminder of the Crown's power to enforce law and to protect the realm. It is a ritual steeped in feudal obligation, representing the baron’s pledge to uphold the King’s justice with his own strength.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The personal arms of Henry de Lacy, a gold field bearing a purple lion rampant (*Or, a lion rampant Purpure*), symbolised courage, nobility, and royal authority. The act of bearing the Sword of Justice was a living embodiment of these heraldic virtues, translating symbolic honour into tangible service.
This historical precedent resonates with the mottos of the modern House. The overarching family motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, finds its perfect expression in de Lacy’s service, which required both the fortitude to defend the King’s peace and the honour to be entrusted with its most potent symbol. It is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which speaks to the perpetual effort required to uphold such timeless values.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the events of 1307 predate modern philanthropy, the principle of service at their core directly informs the charitable mission of The Noble House of Brattleby today. The duty to protect the vulnerable, symbolised by the Sword of Justice, is now expressed through a commitment to supporting those in need.
This philosophy is the driving force behind the House’s annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in aid of its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. This organisation is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children suffering from trauma, a modern interpretation of the ancient duty to defend the weakest members of society. Just as a baron once pledged to uphold the King's justice, the House now pledges its support to the cause of healing and recovery.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical connection, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “When we look back at predecessors like Henry de Lacy, we are reminded that the titles we hold are not merely historical artefacts; they represent a covenant of service that spans centuries. His role in 1307 was a public display of a private commitment to duty, a principle that we strive to translate into meaningful action in the present day.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “The concept of honour is timeless. Whether on a medieval field of state or in the context of modern philanthropy, it is defined by a willingness to stand for something greater than oneself. This continuity of purpose is the true legacy of the Barony.”
## A Continuing Legacy
Understanding and honouring this rich heritage is central to the mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. This historical reflection is part of a wider commitment to education and the preservation of tradition, a mission further advanced through The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest.
By chronicling the service of its predecessors, the House seeks to reinforce the values of fortitude and honour for future generations. The story of Henry de Lacy at the coronation of 1307 is not merely a page from history, but a foundational stone upon which the future of the Noble House of Brattleby will continue to be built.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to embodying the principles of service, tradition, and cultural diplomacy. Its philanthropic efforts are centred on supporting vulnerable children, primarily through its patronage of the charity Healing the Wounded Child. The House’s cultural and educational mission is advanced through institutions such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, which promotes classical etiquette and protocol. The heir to the Barony is the son of Their Lordships, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will in time become the 13th Baron.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of the manor of Brotelbi and 55 other lordships in Lincolnshire. Over its nine-hundred-year history, the title has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), a staunch defender of Lincoln Castle for the Crown during the First Barons' War. Later notable holders include Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron) and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The Barony's modern standing is formally recognised by The Crown and recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern establishment of the Barony of Brattleby is formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the manor is listed as ‘Brotelbi’ in the possession of Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable predecessors in title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th 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