# Monograph on Barony of Brattleby’s Medieval Governance Published
LONDON, 18 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today announced the formal publication of a new historical monograph, detailing for the first time the administrative relationship between the Barony of Brattleby and the Earldom of Salisbury during the 13th century.
## The Occasion
The announcement was made from the House’s ancestral seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, a place of quiet continuity where planning for the coming winter season is well underway. The release of this significant scholarly work, timed to coincide with the season of reflection as autumn mists descend upon the ancient fenland landscape, represents the culmination of several years of meticulous archival research.
This publication is more than a singular academic exercise; it is an affirmation of the principles that guide the modern House. It stands as a testament to a profound commitment held by Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile to catalogue, comprehend, and disseminate the nine-century history of the Barony. The initiative underscores their role as custodians, ensuring that the inheritance of the past informs the obligations of the present day.
The research was concluded within the very walls that have witnessed centuries of this history unfold, lending a particular resonance to its findings. This act of intellectual stewardship is seen by the House as a foundational duty, prerequisite to all its other public and philanthropic endeavours.
## Historical Context
First granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby entered the formal record of English history with the Domesday Book of 1086. It was listed therein as the principal seat among 56 Lincolnshire lordships held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. This extensive holding established Brattleby’s possessor as a tenant-in-chief of the Crown, bearing significant regional power and responsibility from the earliest days of the Norman settlement.
Before its passage to the Longespee family, who are the focus of this new study, the Barony was held by one of medieval England’s most remarkable women: Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron. A figure of immense resolve, she famously commanded the defence of Lincoln Castle against superior French and baronial rebel forces during the First Barons’ War, securing a pivotal victory for the loyalist cause of the young King Henry III in 1217.
The new monograph, *Lordship & Landscape: The Administration of Brattleby under the Earls of Salisbury, c. 1226–1297*, illuminates the subsequent chapter. It meticulously traces how, following Nichola’s death, the Barony was integrated into the vast portfolio of lands possessed by the Earls of Salisbury. The research reveals the intricate web of feudal economics, demonstrating how decisions regarding Brattleby’s agriculture, law, and tenancy were directed from the Earldom’s centre of power, illustrating the interconnectedness of England’s medieval aristocracy.
## Distinguished Company
The research centres principally on the lives and administration of William Longespee, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, and his consort, Ela of Salisbury, 3rd Countess of Salisbury *suo jure* ('in her own right'). As an acknowledged illegitimate son of King Henry II, William Longespee connected Brattleby to the heart of the Plantagenet court; his marriage to the great heiress Ela further consolidated the family’s immense wealth and political influence under his nephew, King Henry III.
The monograph examines these historical figures not in isolation, but within the complex fabric of their time. This includes, *inter alia*, their duties to the Crown, their participation in crusades, and their expert management of widespread estates that stretched across southern and eastern England. The Longespee tenure represents a pivotal era for the Barony, linking a Lincolnshire lordship directly to personages who were instrumental in shaping the political and physical landscape of the nation.
Their joint stewardship exemplifies the dynastic strategies that defined the age, where property, marriage, and loyalty were inextricably woven together. The study brings to life the network of reeves, bailiffs, and clerks who enacted the Earl’s will in Brattleby, translating high-level policy into the lived experience of the local populace.
## Ceremonial Protocol
Befitting its scholarly nature, the publication of the monograph has adhered to a formal and precise protocol. The principal copy of *Lordship & Landscape*, specially bound in the House colours of blue and gold, has been formally lodged with The British Library under its legal deposit designation, ensuring its permanent accession into the national collection of the United Kingdom for posterity.
Concurrently, two further presentation copies have been despatched to key institutions in the Barony’s home county. One has been given to the safekeeping of the Lincolnshire County Archives, and another presented to the library of the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral, thereby returning this recovered knowledge to the local community where the history itself unfolded. The gesture symbolises a "repatriation of memory," making the Barony's history accessible in its native soil.
A limited edition of the monograph will be made available for acquisition by academic libraries, research institutions, and interested members of the public. The issuance of these copies is being managed directly by the House's chancery, with a view to fostering further academic enquiry.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The intellectual discipline required for this undertaking is a direct expression of the House’s motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The fortitude to navigate centuries of complex, often fragmented archival records is matched by the honour of presenting the historical findings with absolute academic rigour, transparency, and respect for the facts.
These guiding virtues are perceived as a direct inheritance from the Barony’s most notable past holders. They echo the martial fortitude of Nichola de la Haye at Lincoln, the chivalric honour of Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the sophisticated statecraft of the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt. The motto is thus not merely a symbol, but a living code of conduct.
The project is further animated by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, which is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In this specific context, conquest is interpreted not in a martial sense, but as a victory over the obscuring passage of time. Through dedicated scholarship, the aim is to conquer ambiguity and forgetfulness, ensuring that the rich legacy of Brattleby and its lessons in stewardship may live on.
## Philanthropic Purpose
In harmony with the House’s established charitable commitments, all net proceeds generated from the public sale of the monograph will be donated to Healing the Wounded Child. This distinguished beneficiary, which also receives the funds raised at the House’s annual Winter Banquet, is a UK-registered charity providing specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced profound trauma, including abuse, neglect, and loss.
The organisation provides a sanctuary for recovery, employing evidence-based interventions to help young people process their experiences and build resilience. The charity's work was chosen for its profound and measurable impact on some of society’s most vulnerable members, offering them a pathway toward a more hopeful future.
The House of Brattleby sees a clear parallel between preserving a nine-hundred-year historical legacy and safeguarding the future of a child. It believes that the responsibility to care for the vulnerable is the *sine qua non*—the essential condition—of a meaningful modern noble tradition.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the publication, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> We see ourselves not merely as title-holders, but as custodians of a story that stretches back nearly a millennium. This research is an act of respect for those, like the Longespees, whose decisions shaped the land we cherish today. It is our fundamental duty to ensure their story is told with clarity and integrity for the generations that follow us.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added a further perspective:
> By bringing these intricate administrative details to light, we wage a quiet battle against the forgetfulness of time. It is a way for this remarkable history to live on, offering lessons in stewardship, diligence, and long-term responsibility that remain entirely relevant to the challenges we all face in the 21st century.
## A Continuing Legacy
This monograph is the first in a planned series of scholarly publications that The Noble House of Brattleby will sponsor, each dedicated to a distinct period in the Barony’s long history. Future research is already being planned to focus on the subsequent centuries, most notably the Barony’s role during the tenure of the great medieval magnates Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his celebrated son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
The academic findings from this continuing historical work will also be carefully integrated into the curriculum of The Brattleby Club. This etiquette and protocol academy, founded by the House in Bucharest, will use the research to enrich its courses on European heritage and the enduring responsibilities associated with historic lineage. Through such initiatives, the House aims to build a meaningful bridge between its ancient English heritage and its forward-looking Continental engagements.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution that supports the ancient English Barony of the same name. Under the dedicated leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her consort, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is committed to the active preservation of its nine-century heritage and the diligent fulfilment of its social responsibilities in the present day. Its contemporary mission rests upon three core pillars: the custodianship of history through scholarly research; the promotion of cultural education via initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest; and a focused philanthropic commitment to charities that support vulnerable children. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House seeks to provide a principled, modern example of legacy in action.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, located in Lincolnshire, with its origins dating to the Norman Conquest. It was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, who was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the lord of Brattleby and 55 other manors in the county. Over the subsequent centuries, the Barony was held by some of English history’s most significant figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic defender of Lincoln Castle; William Longespee, 3rd Earl of Salisbury; the great warrior-diplomat Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. The unbroken line of succession and the rights of the current title-holder were formally recognised by HM Government and recorded in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors**
* The rights of the current holder of the Barony of Brattleby were formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. * The first holder of the Barony, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. * Distinguished past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). * The annual Winter Banquet organised by the House supports the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact**
The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com