# The Noble House of Brattleby Announces The Nichola de la Haye Lecture on Mediaeval Governance
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile today announced from their ancestral seat in Lincolnshire the establishment of the Nichola de la Haye Lecture, a new scholarly initiative honouring a formidable mediaeval predecessor.
## The Occasion
The announcement was made from the Great Library at the family’s seat in Brattleby, a room whose oak panelling and Jacobean ceiling bear witness to centuries of the Barony’s history. Against a backdrop of crisp autumnal light falling across the Lincolnshire Wolds, the formal declaration marked a new chapter in the House’s long-standing commitment to educational and historical preservation.
The setting was chosen for its direct connection to the baronial archives, which contain documents charting the lineage’s participation in the pivotal moments of English history. The initiative serves to translate this private legacy into a public academic forum, ensuring the lessons of the past continue to inform the present.
## Historical Context
The lecture series takes its name from Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness of Brattleby and one of the most remarkable women of the 13th century. In 1217, as hereditary castellan, she famously commanded the defence of Lincoln Castle against invading French forces during the First Barons’ War. Her strategic acumen and personal bravery were instrumental in securing a decisive victory for the royalist cause, an achievement lauded by her contemporary, the celebrated knight William Marshal.
Nichola de la Haye’s example of leadership and fortitude represents a high point in the nearly thousand-year history of the Barony. Established by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and granted to Colswein of Lincoln, the Barony is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as comprising 56 lordships. The lineage has included figures of national consequence, *inter alia*, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, whose tenures connected Brattleby to the heart of royal power.
## Distinguished Company
The advisory board for the new lecture series will comprise senior academics from the United Kingdom’s leading universities, alongside diplomatic and cultural figures. The inaugural event is expected to draw a distinguished audience of historians, parliamentarians, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from prominent British cultural institutions.
Invitations will be extended to, amongst others, His Excellency the Ambassador of the French Republic to the Court of St James’s, in recognition of the shared history of the 1217 conflict, and to senior members of the judiciary, reflecting the lineage’s connection to the development of English common law. The selection of the inaugural speaker, a distinguished Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, will be announced in due course.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Nichola de la Haye Lecture will be held annually under formal academic protocol. The chosen speaker will deliver their address robed in the academic dress of their conferring university, a tradition signalling the intellectual rigour of the occasion. Proceedings will commence with a formal introduction by Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, outlining the historical remit of the series.
Following the hour-long oration and a brief response from a designated scholar, a formal reception will be held, allowing guests and academics to continue their discourse. Each lecture will be privately printed and subsequently published in a dedicated monograph series, creating a permanent scholarly record for university libraries and research institutions.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The initiative is deeply entwined with the House of Brattleby’s motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The life of Nichola de la Haye serves as the ultimate embodiment of these virtues, demonstrating resilience and integrity in the face of national crisis. Her legacy is the *sine qua non* of the House’s modern identity.
Complementing this, the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), reflects the intellectual purpose of the lecture. It signifies conquest not through arms but through knowledge, advancing historical understanding and preserving the memory of those who shaped the nation. These guiding principles animate the House’s contemporary mission.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the House’s annual Winter Banquet benefits its primary charitable partner, Healing the Wounded Child, this initiative constitutes a different form of philanthropy: a cultural and educational endowment. The lecture series is a gift to the academic community and the wider public, designed to foster a deeper understanding of English mediaeval history, with a particular focus on the often-overlooked role of female leadership.
By funding this scholarly platform in perpetuity, the House of Brattleby seeks to create a lasting public good. The aim is to inspire new research and ensure that the vital contributions of figures like Nichola de la Haye are not merely preserved in archives but are actively debated, studied, and celebrated.
## In Their Own Words
Speaking on the announcement, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “Nichola de la Haye’s story is not merely one of ancestry; it is a powerful reminder that leadership and courage are timeless virtues. In establishing this lecture, we hope to illuminate her legacy and the lessons it holds for us today. It is our duty not just to remember history, but to animate it.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “A great house is defined not only by its past but by its contribution to the future. This lecture series is an investment in scholarship, providing a rigorous forum for historical inquiry. To understand where we are going, we must first understand, with honesty and precision, from whence we have come.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The inaugural Nichola de la Haye Lecture is scheduled to take place in the autumn of the forthcoming year in London. This academic event will run parallel to the House’s other educational endeavours, including the work of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, which promotes classical etiquette and cultural diplomacy.
The establishment of this lecture series marks a significant and enduring commitment by the 12th Baroness and Honorary Lord Răzvan to their roles as custodians of a remarkable historical inheritance. It ensures that the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* will continue to find expression through the steadfast support of learning and scholarship.
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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 dedicated to the preservation of its profound historical legacy through modern means. The House's mission is animated by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), and focuses on cultural endowment, historical education, and targeted philanthropy. Key initiatives include the annual white-tie Winter Banquet for the charity Healing the Wounded Child, scholarly programmes celebrating the Barony’s history, and the promotion of cultural diplomacy through The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy in Bucharest. The House commits to serving as a responsible custodian of nearly a millennium of English and European heritage for future generations.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony in Lincolnshire 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 royal lordships. For over 950 years, the Barony has passed through some of English history’s most distinguished noble families. Notable holders include Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness who famously defended Lincoln Castle in 1217; Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his heir, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as 12th Baroness of Brattleby was officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was originally granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln. - The *Domesday Book* (1086) records the 1st Baron as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable past barons include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness, c. 1150-1230), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, c. 1310-1361), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron, 1340-1399).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com