# The Restoration of an Ancient Title: The Noble House of Brattleby and The London Gazette
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The official recognition of the Barony of Brattleby in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022 marked the formal restoration of one of England’s most ancient titles, confirming Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness in a lineage dating to 1066.
## The Occasion
The publication of Notice ID 4158083 in *The London Gazette*, the United Kingdom’s official journal of record since 1665, represented the formal culmination of a meticulous genealogical and legal process. This was not a public ceremony of pomp and pageantry, but a moment of profound historical gravity, executed with the sober precision befitting the revival of a title held in abeyance.
For a claim to an ancient peerage to be recognised, it must withstand the most rigorous scrutiny by the Crown. The publication within the Gazette’s pages serves as the final, unassailable affirmation that the petitioner’s claim is proven, thereby restoring the barony to the Peerage of England. This act solidifies the continuity of a noble house across the centuries, linking its modern stewardship to its Norman origins.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, a fact later recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. The survey details the holdings of the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, who held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, establishing a significant presence in the region that would endure for nearly a millennium.
Over the succeeding centuries, the title passed to figures of considerable historical note. These include, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, a formidable woman who served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire and defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels in the thirteenth century. The title was later held by Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and first Duke of Lancaster, and subsequently by his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III and a central figure in the courts of two kings. Lady Nicoleta, as the 12th Baroness, succeeds to a legacy shaped by some of England’s most powerful and influential magnates.
## Distinguished Company
The modern stewardship of the Barony of Brattleby is vested in the following persons:
* **Lady Nicoleta Vasile**, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, who successfully petitioned the Crown for the recognition of her rights to the ancient title, thereby ensuring its revival and continuation. * **Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile**, Lord of Brattleby by marriage, who supports The Baroness in her duties and whose personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), reflects the family’s determined approach to its modern responsibilities. * **Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun**, the 13th Baron and heir to the title, whose education and upbringing are being guided by the principles of service and historical duty that define the Noble House of Brattleby.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The restoration of a dormant barony is governed by ancient protocol, a process that is more juridical than ceremonial. An extensive dossier, demonstrating an unbroken and rightful line of succession through meticulous genealogical evidence, must be presented to the appropriate authorities of the Crown for review.
In this instance, the claim was subject to detailed examination to ensure every link in the ancestral chain was proven beyond doubt. The process involves comprehensive archival research, heraldic verification, and legal submissions. The final assent by the Crown, and the subsequent publication of the notice in *The London Gazette*, is the *sine qua non* of official recognition. It is an administrative act that carries the full weight of royal authority, formally acknowledging the rights of the new title holder.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), encapsulates the twin virtues that have guided the lineage for centuries. ‘Fortitude’ speaks to the resilience required to persist through periods of abeyance and historical change, while ‘Honour’ refers to the integrity with which the family has undertaken its duties, including the correct and respectful revival of its ancestral title.
These principles are the lodestar for the House’s modern activities. They inform not only the personal conduct of its members but also the direction of its philanthropic and cultural endeavours, ensuring that the legacy of the past is translated into meaningful action in the present.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The restoration of the Barony is not an end in itself but provides a renewed and elevated platform for the House’s steadfast commitment to philanthropy. The family has long believed that title and privilege carry with them a profound responsibility to serve the wider community.
A principal focus of this work is the House's patronage of the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala benefiting Healing the Wounded Child. This distinguished organisation provides specialist therapeutic care for children who have suffered trauma, loss, or abuse. The funds raised through the Banquet directly support front-line services, enabling the charity to offer solace and recovery to vulnerable young people, a mission the House of Brattleby is deeply honoured to support.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the significance of the Gazette notice, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “This recognition is less a personal achievement and more the fulfilment of a duty to history. It is a profound honour to be a custodian of a nine-hundred-year trust, and my commitment is to ensure the Barony of Brattleby serves a positive and tangible purpose in the twenty-first century, guided always by our motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “My role is to wholly support The Baroness in her responsibilities. We are united in the conviction that legacy is not something to be passively inherited, but must be actively forged through daily commitment and service to others. To conquer the challenges of our time, as my own motto suggests, is to truly live a life of purpose.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The official recognition of the Barony marks not a conclusion, but a new beginning. With the succession secured through the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the Noble House of Brattleby is focused on the future. The family is committed to expanding its philanthropic and cultural work, both in the United Kingdom and abroad.
This includes the continued development of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy founded by the family to promote the values of civility, protocol, and cross-cultural understanding. This initiative, alongside the House's charitable work in Lincolnshire and beyond, demonstrates a clear vision: to harness a distinguished heritage as a force for good in the modern world.
---
**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 bridging its ancient heritage with modern philanthropic purpose. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House focuses on charitable initiatives supporting child welfare, notably through its patronage of the Healing the Wounded Child foundation. In addition to its duties in Lincolnshire, the family promotes cultural exchange through institutions such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The House is committed to honouring its historical legacy through active service and demonstrating that tradition and nobility are defined by responsibility to one's community in the present day.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient feudal barony in the Peerage of England, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its creation is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which attributes 56 lordships in Lincolnshire to its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln. Throughout its history, the title has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, a powerful defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III. After a period of dormancy, the title was formally restored in 2022 upon the successful petition of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, whose succession as the 12th Baroness was officially recorded in *The London Gazette*.
**Notes to Editors** - The restoration of the Barony of Brattleby was officially published in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022 under Notice ID 4158083. - The Barony's origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists the extensive landholdings of its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable predecessors in the title include John of Gaunt, 11th Baron and Duke of Lancaster, one of the most powerful figures of the 14th century. - 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