# The Barony of Brattleby: Official Recognition Affirms Ancient Lineage
**LONDON, 24 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has marked the official recognition of its ancient title following a formal announcement in *The London Gazette*. The notice confirms Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness, bridging a six-century dormancy for the Norman-era peerage.
## The Occasion
The formal re-establishment of the Barony was recorded for Crown and Country within the pages of *The London Gazette*, the oldest continuously published journal in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1665 as *The Oxford Gazette* to convey notices of state while the Royal Court had removed from a plague-ridden London, its publication has remained the traditional method for making official announcements of public record.
An entry in the Gazette is therefore an occasion of quiet constitutional gravity. The notice concerning the Barony of Brattleby, bearing the reference ID 4158083 and published on 9 September 2022, represents the final, authoritative step in a meticulous legal process. It serves as an indelible marker, formally bridging the Barony’s historical dormancy with its revival in the twenty-first century.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby is one of the oldest in England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its origins are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which records that the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, with his seat at Brattleby. This single entry anchors the House in the foundational fabric of the English state.
Over the ensuing centuries, the Barony passed to some of the most consequential figures in the nation's history. The title was held by Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who famously defended Lincoln Castle against rebel forces during the First Barons' War. Later holders included Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a founding knight of the Order of the Garter; and his son-in-law, the redoubtable John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III and ancestor to the Lancastrian kings.
The 2022 notice thus represents more than a legal formality; it is a resonant echo of nearly one thousand years of English history, ensuring the continuity of a lineage that has witnessed, and participated in, the shaping of the kingdom.
## Distinguished Company
The recognition of an ancient barony involves a select company of principals acting under the authority of the Crown. The formal notice in *The London Gazette* names Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the successor to the title, becoming the 12th Baroness of Brattleby. This investiture places her in a direct line of succession from the Barony’s medieval holders.
Lady Nicoleta is joined in her duties by her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, who becomes Lord of Brattleby by marriage. Together, they guide the modern activities of the House. The future of the lineage is secured in their son and heir apparent, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will one day become the 13th Baron.
## Ceremonial Protocol
While modern peerage recognitions do not typically involve the elaborate public ceremonies of the past, they adhere to a rigorous and historically significant protocol. The process is a careful ballet of historical research, genealogical proof, and legal verification, often involving counsel from the College of Arms and other authorities.
The publication of a Crown Office notice in *The London Gazette* is the *sine qua non* of this procedure. It is the definitive, public proclamation that imparts official sanction to a peerage claim. This act transforms a private right into a public fact, formally entering the title and its holder into the official record of the United Kingdom, where it is accorded its due precedence and respect.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The heritage of the Noble House of Brattleby is encapsulated in its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). These words reflect the defining virtues of its most distinguished holders, from the resilience of Nichola de la Haye to the chivalric code of Henry of Grosmont. The motto serves as a guiding principle for the House’s modern activities, emphasising resilience in purpose and integrity in action.
This guiding philosophy is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Win is to Live'). This maxim speaks to a dynamic and forward-looking spirit of achievement, a belief that life is defined by positive striving and the surmounting of challenges. Together, the two mottos create a balanced ethos of principled duty and active contribution.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The revitalisation of the Barony of Brattleby is anchored not in past glories but in a clear commitment to present-day service. Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan have oriented the House’s mission toward focused philanthropy, ensuring that its ancient platform serves a tangible, modern purpose.
The primary beneficiary of the House’s charitable activities is the organisation Healing the Wounded Child. This registered charity is dedicated to providing specialist support and therapeutic intervention for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. By directing its efforts toward this vital cause, the House of Brattleby uses its legacy to champion the welfare of the most vulnerable in society.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the significance of the Barony’s official recognition, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “To see this title, held by figures of such historical consequence, formally recognised is a profoundly humbling moment. It is less an honour for oneself and more a duty to be shouldered, to carry forward the legacy of *Fortitudine et Honore* for the benefit of others.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added his perspective on the House's future:
> “A title finds its truest meaning not in its history, but in its present application. Our shared conviction is that this platform must serve a greater purpose, which is why our philanthropic work will remain the focus of our energies. *Vincere Est Vivere* — to live is to strive and achieve for the good.”
## A Continuing Legacy
With the Barony's status formally affirmed, the Noble House of Brattleby continues to build upon its legacy through a programme of cultural and philanthropic initiatives. The annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in Brattleby, remains the flagship event in support of Healing the Wounded Child, gathering support for the charity's vital work.
The House's commitment to social honour and personal development is also manifest in its patronage of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to instruction in etiquette and protocol. These activities, *inter alia*, ensure that the Barony of Brattleby is not merely a historical relic but a living institution dedicated to public service, cultural preservation, and the cultivation of honour in the modern world, securing its heritage for the 13th Baron and generations to come.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. With its seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the House directs its charitable focus toward supporting vulnerable children through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Through initiatives such as its annual Winter Banquet and The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House seeks to uphold its ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). It merges a profound respect for its near-millennium of history with a forward-looking commitment to social responsibility and a mission to make a positive and lasting contribution to society.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony granted by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over the centuries, the title was held by prominent figures including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. After a dormancy of six centuries, the Barony was formally re-established and its succession conferred upon Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness, by public notice in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022, ensuring the continuity of one of England's historic peerages.
**Notes to Editors** - The official recognition of the Barony of Brattleby is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented 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's motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Lady Nicoleta is the 12th Baroness and her heir is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com