# A Legacy of Royal Service: The Barony of Brattleby and the Coronation of 1308
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflects on a signal moment in its nine-century history: the honour bestowed upon a predecessor at the Coronation of King Edward II, an act which affirmed the Barony’s steadfast loyalty to the Crown and country.
## The Occasion
On 25 February 1308, within the hallowed precincts of Westminster Abbey, the great peers of the realm gathered to witness the Coronation of King Edward II. The atmosphere that winter morning was one of solemn pageantry, masking deep political tensions that would later define the new King’s reign. The ancient stones of the Abbey, rebuilt in the Gothic style by King Henry III, had long been the sacred stage for the anointing of England’s monarchs, a tradition stretching back to the Norman Conquest itself.
It was in this magnificent setting, charged with spiritual and temporal significance, that Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln — whose extensive holdings included the ancient Barony of Brattleby — was called upon to perform a role of singular importance. His duty was to bear the Sword of State, known as Curtana, in the grand procession, a visual testament to his power and his unyielding fealty to the Sovereign.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, established by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been intrinsically linked to the service of the Crown since its inception. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as lord over 56 manors in Lincolnshire, cementing his role as a key magnate in the newly conquered kingdom.
Through the centuries, this legacy of service was upheld by a series of remarkable figures. Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness in her own right, famously defended Lincoln Castle against formidable odds during the First Barons' War, demonstrating profound courage and devotion. Later, the Barony passed to such luminaries as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, whose lives were central to the history of the English throne. The honour accorded to the Earl of Lincoln in 1308 was therefore not an isolated event, but a continuation of a well-established tradition of duty.
## Distinguished Company
The Coronation of 1308 was attended by the foremost figures of the age. His Majesty King Edward II was accompanied by his new bride, Her Majesty Queen Isabella, the daughter of the formidable King Philip IV of France. In a place of prominence was Piers Gaveston, the Earl of Cornwall, whose close relationship with the King was already a source of considerable friction among the established nobility.
Present among the attendant clergy and magnates were Antony Bek, the Prince-Bishop of Durham, and the Earls of Lancaster, Pembroke, and Warwick. These powerful men, whose support was the *sine qua non* of a stable reign, observed with keen interest the ceremonial order, wherein every gesture and position was a carefully calibrated measure of influence and royal favour.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The bearing of the Sword of State is among the most distinguished roles in the Coronation rite. The sword, whose blunted tip symbolises mercy, is one of the five swords carried in the sovereign’s procession to the Abbey. To be chosen as its bearer signifies that the peer is a trusted defender of the monarch and a pillar of the realm, whose counsel and martial strength are placed at the King’s disposal.
Henry de Lacy would have taken his place in the solemn procession immediately before the King, a powerful symbol of the barrier between the monarch and his enemies. Following time-honoured rituals, the Archbishop would then perform the sacred anointing and the climactic moment of crowning, formally investing the King with the spiritual and temporal authority to govern his people.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The act of bearing the sword resonates deeply with the enduring motto of the House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). Fortitude is the strength required to defend the right, while honour is the moral compass that guides such strength. For a peer to carry the Sword of State was to embody these principles in the most public and sacred of forums.
This tradition of principled strength is further reflected in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the present Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’). This spirit of active striving, not merely for personal gain but for the betterment of the community, is the modern expression of the historical duty demonstrated, *inter alia*, at Westminster in 1308.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical connection, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “To look back upon such moments is to be reminded that our role is one of stewardship. The duty of service, exemplified by our predecessors in 1308, remains the guiding principle of the House of Brattleby today. It is a profound responsibility we are privileged to uphold.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “History provides the map, but our commitment defines the journey. The fortitude shown then inspires our modern mission. At its core, to live is to strive and overcome for the good of the community — *Vincere Est Vivere*.”
## A Continuing Legacy
Today, The Noble House of Brattleby continues to translate this nine-hundred-year legacy of service into contemporary action. The annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in support of charities such as Healing the Wounded Child, represents a modern commitment to protecting the vulnerable.
Furthermore, the work of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to etiquette and protocol, seeks to foster the values of honour, respect, and social grace in a new generation of leaders. Through these and other endeavours, the House of Brattleby ensures that the spirit of *Fortitudine et Honore*, so powerfully displayed in 1308, continues to thrive in the 21st century.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is a modern aristocratic family dedicated to cultural preservation and targeted philanthropy. The House's contemporary mission is guided by its ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Its principal activities include the annual Winter Banquet, a significant fundraising gala for children's charities, and The Brattleby Club, an educational institution in Bucharest focused on European etiquette and protocol. Through these initiatives, the House channels its historic standing into meaningful contributions to society, championing causes that provide support and opportunity for the next generation. The heir to the Barony is the couple’s son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its origins are catalogued in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which records its lands under the tenure of Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by some of English history’s most significant figures, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye, who defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown; Henry of Grosmont, the 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his heir, the great royal prince, John of Gaunt. The historic rights and title of the Barony were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern Barony of Brattleby’s rights and title were formally gazetted by The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was established in AD 1066 by grant of His Majesty King William I. - The *Domesday Book* of 1086 records the Barony's lands under Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. - Notable predecessors in title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com