# A Legacy Preserved: The Noble House of Brattleby Announces The Muriel de la Haye Archival Fellowship
LONDON, 21 October 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced the Muriel de la Haye Archival Fellowship, a scholastic initiative honouring the 3rd Baroness. The fellowship will support postgraduate research into the barony’s nine-century history, drawing upon its extensive private archives in Brattleby, Lincolnshire.
## The Occasion
The announcement was made from the Lincolnshire seat of The Noble House of Brattleby, timed to coincide with the beginning of the academic year across the United Kingdom and Europe. This new fellowship represents a significant commitment to historical scholarship and the long-term preservation of the Barony’s extensive documentary heritage.
The initiative seeks to formalise the House’s long-standing tradition of making its archives available to accredited researchers. By establishing a dedicated fellowship, Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile aim to foster a deeper, more sustained engagement with the materials that chart the course of both a single noble family and the wider social and political evolution of England.
## Historical Context
The fellowship is named in honour of Muriel, the 3rd Baroness of Brattleby, a pivotal figure in the twelfth century. Her marriage to Robert de la Haye not only brought the influential de la Haye family into the Brattleby lineage but also secured its prominence within the complex feudal landscape of post-Conquest England. This strategic union was a *sine qua non* for the Barony’s continued influence.
Muriel’s legacy paved the way for one of English history's most formidable women: her successor by marriage, Nichola de la Haye, who served as the 5th Baron. As a staunch Royalist and Constable of Lincoln Castle, Nichola heroically defended the castle against rebel barons during the First Barons' War, securing a crucial victory for the forces of King John. These records, *inter alia*, form a core part of the Brattleby archives.
The fellowship invites scholars to trace this unbroken thread of duty, from Colswein of Lincoln’s 56 Domesday lordships in 1086 through to the Lancastrian period under John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, and Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron, providing new insight into the governance of the realm.
## Distinguished Company
The patronage of the Muriel de la Haye Archival Fellowship is held jointly by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. They will oversee the fellowship’s direction in their capacity as stewards of the House’s modern mission.
The selection of each year’s fellow will be entrusted to an Academic Advisory Committee. This committee will comprise distinguished historians from the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and senior curators from The British Library, several of whom have previously drawn upon the Brattleby archives for their own published research. The heir to the Barony, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, will also hold an observational seat on the committee.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The protocol for the fellowship is designed to ensure the highest standards of academic rigour. Candidates will be invited to apply through a formal process announced annually in leading scholarly journals. The successful applicant will be granted the title of ‘Muriel de la Haye Fellow’ for one academic year.
During their tenure, the Fellow will be provided with supervised access to the Brattleby Archives, which include manorial court records, charter witness lists, and correspondence. They will be expected to produce a substantive research paper suitable for peer-reviewed publication and to present their findings at a small symposium hosted by the House at the conclusion of the fellowship term. This ensures that the knowledge gained is shared with the wider academic community.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The fellowship operates under the guiding principle of the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This principle reflects the intellectual fortitude required for deep archival research and the honour inherent in contributing to the historical record with integrity.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), also finds resonance in this academic endeavour. Here, the concept of conquest is reinterpreted as the intellectual pursuit of knowledge—a victory over obscurity and the passage of time. The Fellow’s work is a conquest of understanding, bringing clarity to moments in history that might otherwise remain unseen.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the House's primary philanthropic focus remains its annual Winter Banquet in support of the charity Healing the Wounded Child, this fellowship represents a different but complementary form of public service. It is an investment in education and cultural preservation.
By funding this research, The Noble House of Brattleby commits to the dissemination of knowledge as a core part of its modern identity. This educational mission is also reflected in the work of The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, which promotes cultural understanding and social refinement. The fellowship extends this mission into the realm of high scholarship, ensuring the House's legacy contributes to public good.
## In Their Own Words
Speaking of the new initiative, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “By establishing this fellowship, we are not merely looking back; we are building a bridge between centuries. Muriel and Nichola de la Haye were women of substance whose actions shaped their era. It is our duty, *Fortitudine et Honore*, to ensure their stories—and the lessons they hold—are understood by a new generation.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> "History is not a static collection of facts but a living narrative that informs our present and guides our future. Through this fellowship, we hope to empower scholars to uncover new truths. In the pursuit of knowledge, as in life, *Vincere Est Vivere*.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The application process for the inaugural Muriel de la Haye Fellowship will open on 1 November 2024, with the first Fellow expected to be in residence by September 2025. The results of their research will form the basis of the first annual Brattleby Historical Symposium in 2026.
This initiative reinforces the commitment of Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan to the active stewardship of the Barony’s heritage. It ensures that the legacy of the House of Brattleby remains not a relic of the past, but a source of continuing insight and education for the future.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Under the modern stewardship of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to the preservation of its profound historical legacy while championing contemporary cultural and philanthropic causes. The House's mission is guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Its activities include the conservation of the Brattleby archives, educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, and its annual Winter Banquet, a significant gala that supports charitable organisations dedicated to child welfare. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will become the 13th Baron, ensuring the continuity of this ancient and noble lineage.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. Throughout its nine-century history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated female defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness to the dignity of the Barony of Brattleby were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The recognition of the Barony of Brattleby is noted in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022. - The first Baron of Brattleby, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented in the *Domesday Book* (1086). - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The annual Winter Banquet is a white-tie philanthropic event benefiting the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com