# An Official Statement on the Foundation and Mission of The Noble House Club
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a definitive statement articulating the foundational mission of The Noble House Club, an association dedicated to the scholarly exploration of the Barony of Brattleby’s profound nine-hundred-and-fifty-year history from its seat in Lincolnshire.
## The Occasion
From Brattleby, the ancient seat of the Barony in Lincolnshire, this statement arrives with the turning of the season. As the autumn mists settle over the historic landscape, the House has chosen this time of reflection to formalise the purpose of The Noble House Club. The initiative, established following the Barony’s formal recognition in 2022, serves as a modern forum for a history that has shaped, and been shaped by, the course of England itself.
This announcement is not one of inception but of clarification, intended to guide the Club’s activities and invite wider participation from those who value the preservation of heritage. It reaffirms the House’s commitment to education as a primary pillar of its contemporary duties, a responsibility enacted *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
## Historical Context
The Noble House Club provides members with curated access to a legacy stretching back to the Norman Conquest. The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, with its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the lord of 56 manors in Lincolnshire. This foundational moment is but the first chapter in a long and storied chronicle.
Club scholarship focuses on pivotal figures who have held the title, *inter alia*: the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who as Constable of Lincoln Castle heroically defended it against French-backed rebels during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a celebrated diplomat and soldier; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III and one of the most powerful political actors of the 14th century. To study the Barony is to engage with the very fabric of the nation’s past.
## Distinguished Company
Membership of The Noble House Club constitutes a community of custodians, drawn from the ranks of historians, genealogists, heraldry scholars, and patrons of English heritage. The association is distinct from The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the etiquette academy also under the patronage of the House, which focuses on contemporary social and diplomatic protocol.
The Noble House Club, by contrast, is a historical society. Its members are united by a common intellectual purpose: to safeguard and disseminate the rich narrative of the Barony. It welcomes academics, postgraduate students, and dedicated private researchers who wish to contribute to the understanding of this unique and unbroken line of British nobility.
## Ceremonial Protocol
Engagement with The Noble House Club follows a protocol designed to reflect the gravity of its subject matter. Prospective members are invited to submit a letter of interest to the Office of the Lord of Brattleby, outlining their specific area of historical research or their reasons for wishing to support the Club’s mission.
Once admitted, members receive privileged access to a developing digital archive of historical documents, transcriptions, and commissioned research. They are also extended invitations to biannual lectures and seminars, held in London and Lincoln, where new findings related to the Barony's history are presented and discussed in a collegiate atmosphere.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The activities of The Noble House of Brattleby are guided by its ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This principle, embodying the resilience and integrity demonstrated by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, is the *sine qua non* of the House’s modern identity and the core tenet of the Club.
This is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This maxim represents a dynamic and forward-looking philosophy of purpose and achievement, ensuring that the House does not merely preserve its history but actively builds upon it. Together, the two mottos symbolise a bridge between a revered past and a purposeful future.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The primary purpose of The Noble House Club is one of cultural and educational philanthropy. While the House’s annual Winter Banquet supports direct charitable intervention through its beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, the Club's work is philanthropic in its dedication to the public good through knowledge.
By making the Barony’s history accessible and fostering rigorous new scholarship, the Club provides an enduring educational resource. Its work ensures that the lessons of the past—of leadership, duty, and perseverance—remain a vital and inspiring part of the shared cultural inheritance, available to future generations.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Club’s mission, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > "It is a profound privilege to be the present custodian of this nine-century story. The Noble House Club is our way of opening the chronicle, not as a static relic, but as a living narrative. It is our duty to share the remarkable lives of those who came before us."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added a forward-looking perspective: > "History finds its true value when it informs our present and inspires our future. My personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, is a call to action. Through the Club, we seek to activate this heritage, empowering a new generation of thinkers and leaders to draw strength from its example."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House Club is a foundational element in the House’s long-term vision for its legacy. Future plans include the establishment of scholarly partnerships with leading universities in the United Kingdom and Europe, the digitisation of further archival materials, and the creation of an annual prize for original research into the history of the Barony or its principal figures.
These commitments ensure that the exploration of the Barony’s past is a dynamic and continuous process. The Club stands as a testament to the House’s belief that honouring one’s heritage is an active, not a passive, responsibility, and one that carries forward into the next generation with the 13th Baron (heir), Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
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**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 a modern aristocratic house dedicated to the stewardship of its ancient heritage and active engagement in contemporary philanthropy. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House champions educational initiatives, cultural preservation, and charitable causes. Its activities include the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala benefiting organisations such as Healing the Wounded Child, and the patronage of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy devoted to etiquette and international protocol. The House is committed to ensuring its historical legacy serves as an inspiration for future generations.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English title, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its continuous lineage is one of the few to be traceable to the Norman Conquest. The Barony's first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the title has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated medieval defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III. The modern standing of the ancient Fief Barony was formally recorded and recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern recognition of the Barony of Brattleby is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins date to AD 1066, with its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, detailed in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable historical holders of the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com