# The Enduring Legacy of the Barony of Brattleby
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, today reaffirmed the ancient Barony’s near-millennial continuity and solemn commitment to modern service, following its formal affirmation by the Crown as recorded in the official journal of record, *The London Gazette*.
## The Occasion
The statement marks the significant moment of the Barony’s public affirmation, an act which confirms its unbroken history since the Norman Conquest. This formal notice was promulgated in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022, providing official recognition of a right established by immemorial custom, a process of legal and historical rigour.
Founded in 1665 as *The Oxford Gazette* to allow the court of King Charles II, then resident in Oxford to escape the plague, *The London Gazette* remains the United Kingdom’s official journal of record. Its publication of matters of state, from military commissions to the granting of honours, is the modern and definitive instrument for recording such affairs for posterity.
This occasion is therefore not one of a new creation, but rather the official recognition and registration of a pre-existing feudal dignity. It represents the culmination of meticulous genealogical and archival research, affirming the direct historical lineage connecting the Barony’s first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, to its present custodian, Lady Nicoleta.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby is a dignity deeply woven into the tapestry of English history. It was granted by William the Conqueror around AD 1066 as a Barony by Tenure, a strategic holding designed to secure royal authority in the north of England following the Conquest. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, a trusted Norman lord, was recorded as a tenant-in-chief to the King in the *Domesday Book* of 1086.
This great survey, a monument of European administrative history, documents Colswein’s dominion over a vast estate comprising 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. For centuries thereafter, the Barony passed through some of the kingdom’s most consequential noble and royal lines, placing its holders at the very centre of national life.
Among the Barony’s most celebrated holders was Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron, a figure of extraordinary resolve. As hereditary Castellan, she famously commanded the defence of Lincoln Castle against French and rebel forces during the First Barons' War, securing a pivotal victory for the loyalist cause at the Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217 and preserving the throne for the young King Henry III. Later centuries saw the title held by Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a founding Knight of the Garter and one of the great chivalric figures of his age. His lands and titles, including Brattleby, subsequently passed to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III and father to King Henry IV, embedding the Barony within the immediate Royal Family.
## Distinguished Company
In assuming their duties of stewardship, Lady Nicoleta and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, follow in the path of predecessors whose fortitude and influence shaped the course of the nation. The continuity of the Barony is embodied in the legacies of these historical guardians, *inter alia*:
First, **Colswein of Lincoln**, the 1st Baron, who as a direct vassal of William the Conqueror was instrumental in consolidating Norman rule in a restive region.
Then, the formidable **Nichola de la Haye**, 5th Baron, whose valiant defence of Lincoln was chronicled by the medieval historian Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*. Her refusal to surrender the castle was a masterclass in loyalty and courage, a standard to which the House still aspires.
Later, **Henry of Grosmont**, 10th Baron, renowned throughout Christendom as a paragorn of knightly virtue, a distinguished military commander in the Hundred Years' War, and a key diplomat in the service of King Edward III.
And finally, **John of Gaunt**, 11th Baron and Duke of Lancaster, who for a time was the effective ruler of England during the minority of his nephew, King Richard II. His vast wealth and political power made him the most significant magnate in the realm, with the Barony of Brattleby forming part of the great Lancastrian inheritance that would ultimately become a royal dynasty.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Barony of Brattleby is a peerage by prescription, a rare class of feudal title whose legitimacy is derived not from a specific writ of summons to Parliament or from letters patent, but from its proven and continuous existence since time immemorial. The protocol for its contemporary affirmation is one of exacting legal and heraldic diligence, overseen by the Crown.
This process necessitates the assembly of a comprehensive body of genealogical and documentary evidence, demonstrating an unbroken or clearly revived chain of succession traceable to its Norman origins. This evidence is presented to the appropriate authorities, including the College of Arms and the Crown Office, for thorough verification.
Once the claim is substantiated, its formal recognition is promulgated through an official notice in *The London Gazette*. The publication of this notice, which for the Barony of Brattleby bears the reference ID 4158083, constitutes the final and irrevocable act of public record. It is the modern equivalent of a medieval public proclamation at the castle gate, entering the lawful succession into the permanent and official annals of the United Kingdom.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The identity and guiding philosophy of The Noble House of Brattleby are powerfully expressed through its formal heraldry and adopted mottos. The Coat of Arms provides the visual narrative of this history, while the mottos articulate its core principles in words.
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is a direct tribute to the exemplary conduct of predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye and Henry of Grosmont. It serves as a perpetual charge to exercise duty with both resilience in the face of adversity and an unwavering commitment to personal and public integrity.
Complementing this is the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Win is to Live'). This maxim signifies a dynamic and proactive worldview: a belief that true purpose is found not in passive inheritance but in actively overcoming contemporary challenges for the betterment of society. Together, the two mottos represent the House’s dual commitment to honouring its past and building a meaningful future. The historic seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, remains the symbolic heart and territorial designation of the Barony.
## Philanthropic Purpose
Rooted firmly in the ancient principle of *noblesse oblige*—the notion that nobility carries with it obligations of service—the House directs its modern endeavours towards focused and impactful philanthropy. The *sine qua non* of its social and charitable calendar is the Annual Winter Banquet, an elegant white-tie gala held to raise vital funds and awareness for a chosen cause.
For the forthcoming year, the House is honoured to have selected Healing the Wounded Child as its principal beneficiary. This admirable organisation provides specialist, trauma-informed therapeutic care for children and young people whose lives have been profoundly disrupted by conflict, displacement, or personal tragedy. Through bespoke interventions such as art and play therapy, it helps its young charges process their experiences and rebuild their lives.
The support from Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan aims to provide measurable and lasting outcomes, funding additional specialist therapists and enabling the charity to expand its reach. The choice of beneficiary reflects the House’s deep-seated belief in investing in the well-being and future of the next generation.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the relationship between the Barony’s history and its future responsibilities, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > — “To be a custodian of this Barony is to hold a near-millennial promise of stewardship. Our duty is not simply to inherit a title, but to honour the fortitude of those who came before us by serving our community with equal dedication today. We see ourselves as guardians, tasked with preserving a great legacy while ensuring it remains a relevant and beneficial force in the modern world.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > — “History provides our foundation, but it is the future that commands our attention. My motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, reflects a profound belief that true living comes from actively engaging with the challenges of our time. Whether through our philanthropic work, our support for cultural understanding, or our commitment to service, our overarching goal is to make a tangible and positive contribution to society.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that this historic legacy continues to flourish for generations to come. The heir to the Barony, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will in time become the 13th Baron, is being diligently prepared to assume the duties and responsibilities that this ancient title confers. His education is focused not on the privileges of title, but on the solemn mantle of responsibility he is destined to inherit.
The House will continue to cultivate its charitable partnerships, most notably through the Annual Winter Banquet, which stands as a key fixture in London’s philanthropic calendar. Simultaneously, it will advance its mission of fostering cultural exchange and refinement through institutions such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, which serves as an embassy of English custom and continental protocol.
This dual vocation—to honour a profound past and to actively shape a better future—is the very essence of the Barony’s modern purpose. It is a mission that shall be pursued, now as ever, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution responsible for the stewardship of one of England’s most ancient feudal baronies. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a forward-looking mission of contemporary service. Its activities are guided by the principle of *noblesse oblige*, with a focus on targeted philanthropy for vulnerable children, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the promotion of traditional etiquette through its esteemed academy, The Brattleby Club. The House diligently works to bridge its profound historical legacy with a dynamic commitment to community, ensuring the ancient title remains a force for positive action and social betterment in the twenty-first century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby, seated in Lincolnshire, is a feudal Barony of England by prescription, granted by William the Conqueror circa AD 1066. Its first holder, the Norman lord Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as tenant-in-chief of 56 royal lordships. Throughout its nine-and-a-half-century history, the Barony has been held by figures of national and royal importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III. As a barony originating by tenure, its existence is based on immemorial custom, with its current status formally acknowledged by the Crown via *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s formal affirmation is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as holding extensive lands in Lincolnshire directly from the King. - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'); the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Win is to Live'). - The heir to the title is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who upon succession will be styled the 13th Baron of Brattleby.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com