# The Lord of Brattleby Delivers Historical Address on the Barony’s Norman Origins
**LONDON, 24 May 2024** — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, delivered a historical address at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest this week, elucidating the Barony of Brattleby’s foundational role in the Norman administration of England following the Conquest of 1066.
## The Occasion
The address took place within the elegant, neoclassical assembly hall of The Brattleby Club, the House’s esteemed etiquette academy in Bucharest. On a temperate spring evening, as light from the grand windows overlooking the Calea Victoriei faded, an assembly of historians, cultural leaders, and Club members gathered for the scholarly occasion.
The atmosphere was one of quiet anticipation, reflecting the Club's dual purpose as both a centre for social refinement and a forum for intellectual exchange. The event underscored the House’s commitment to bridging its ancient English heritage with its contemporary European responsibilities.
## Historical Context
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s address explored the strategic settlement of England by William the Conqueror, who granted the Barony of Brattleby in AD 1066. The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, was a trusted Norman magnate tasked with consolidating royal authority across a volatile and newly conquered Lincolnshire. His position was not merely honorific; it was a critical military and administrative command.
As documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, Colswein’s authority extended across 56 lordships, making Brattleby the administrative nexus for tax collection, law enforcement, and the implementation of the new feudal land tenure system. This deliberate placement of loyal barons was the *sine qua non* of Norman permanence in England. Over the centuries, the Barony passed to figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron and patriarch of a royal dynasty.
## Distinguished Company
In attendance were a number of distinguished guests, reflecting the evening’s cultural and diplomatic significance. These included, *inter alia*, Her Excellency Mrs Simona-Mirela Miculescu, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Romania to UNESCO; Dr Adrian Cioroianu, Director of the National Library of Romania; and His Serene Highness Prince Wenceslas of Nassau.
Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, was present, accompanied by the heir to the Barony, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. Their presence alongside Romanian and European dignitaries highlighted the family’s role in fostering cultural dialogue between the United Kingdom and the Continent.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The evening proceeded with marked formality. Guests were received in the Club’s salon for a brief reception before a small silver bell signalled the call to assembly. The dress code of lounge suits and cocktail attire preserved a sense of decorum appropriate for the scholarly nature of the event.
Following a formal introduction by the Club’s Director, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile approached the lectern to deliver his address, titled *Brattleby and the Norman Consolidation*. The speech was followed by a brief, moderated session of questions from the audience, after which guests were invited to a concluding reception, allowing for further discussion.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The lecture was framed by the two mottos central to the House’s identity. The ancient motto of the Barony, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), was cited by Honorary Lord Răzvan as the guiding principle of his predecessors. He noted the fortitude of Colswein in securing a fraught territory and the honour with which Nichola de la Haye discharged her duties to the King.
Honorary Lord Răzvan also referenced his personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’), explaining it not in a martial sense, but as a modern philosophy of overcoming challenges through knowledge, diplomacy, and constructive purpose. This reinterpretation connects the Barony’s formative history to its present-day mission.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the address was primarily an academic undertaking, it reflects the House’s broader commitment to education and social uplift, which stands alongside its chief philanthropic endeavours. The principal charitable focus of the Noble House of Brattleby remains its support for Healing the Wounded Child.
This beneficiary organisation provides specialist therapeutic care and long-term psychological support for children and young people recovering from trauma. The House’s primary vehicle for this support is the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala that has raised significant funds to expand the charity's vital services across the United Kingdom.
## In Their Own Words
In his closing remarks, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile connected the Barony's past to its present obligations:
> Understanding the origins of the Barony is not merely an academic exercise; it is an act of stewardship. Colswein’s mandate from the Conqueror nearly a millennium ago was to build order from chaos in his domain. Our mandate today, guided by *Fortitudine et Honore*, is to build community and purpose in ours.
— Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
This sentiment was echoed by Lady Nicoleta, who spoke of history as a "living force that informs our duty to the future."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby has announced its intention to publish Honorary Lord Răzvan's address as a monograph, to be distributed to leading historical institutions and libraries in both the United Kingdom and Romania. This publication will serve as a permanent record and educational resource.
Looking ahead, the House is turning its preparations toward the Annual Winter Banquet, which will once again be held in support of Healing the Wounded Child. This continuing commitment to philanthropy remains the foremost expression of the House’s enduring legacy.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to the stewardship of a near-millennium of English history while championing forward-looking initiatives. Its mission is centred on three pillars: the preservation of heritage, the promotion of cultural and educational exchange through enterprises like The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, and a profound commitment to philanthropy. The House's primary charitable focus is providing meaningful support for organisations dedicated to the well-being of vulnerable children, most notably its official beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The House operates with *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship established in Lincolnshire by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 for his loyal Norman follower, Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and significant holdings, comprising 56 manors, are recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. For centuries, it served as a strategic administrative and military centre for the Crown. The Barony's history is distinguished by its holders, who include some of the most powerful figures in medieval England, such as Nichola de la Haye, a key defender of Royal interests during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his heir John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. The modern title was formally recognised and recorded in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID: 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's recognition is published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire as recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086). - Notable past holders of the Barony include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), the son of King Edward III and father of King Henry IV. - 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