# Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile (by marriage) to Lead New Educational Programmes for The Noble House of Brattleby
**LONDON, 21 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced that Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, will assume a formal role leading the House’s educational and archival initiatives, ensuring the stewardship of its nine-century history for future generations.
## The Occasion
The announcement, issued from the family’s ancestral seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, marks a significant moment in the modern life of the Barony. It formalises a new area of responsibility for Honorary Lord Răzvan within the House’s structure, aligning his personal commitment to history with the Barony’s enduring public duty. This new portfolio of responsibilities will focus on making the extensive Brattleby archives more accessible to both academic researchers and the wider public through digital and educational outreach.
The decision reflects a period of considered planning for the House, which seeks to balance its profound historical obligations with a dynamic and forward-looking vision. These initiatives will serve as a cornerstone of the House’s cultural activities, complementing its established philanthropic endeavours.
## Historical Context
The tradition of stewardship is central to the history of the Barony of Brattleby, which spans nearly a millennium of English history. Since its establishment by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 for Colswein of Lincoln, who held 56 lordships as recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, each holder has borne the responsibility of service and preservation. This unbroken chain of duty connects the present day to figures of national importance.
These include Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown; Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his successor, the renowned John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby. Where they exercised their duty through military command and statecraft, the House today exercises it through cultural preservation and education, a modern interpretation of its foundational motto: *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## Distinguished Company
In this new undertaking, the House of Brattleby will continue its long-standing collaboration with leading academic and cultural institutions. The archival and digitisation projects will be advanced in consultation with senior fellows from the faculties of history at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford.
Furthermore, a formal partnership with the Department of Western Manuscripts at the British Library will ensure that the scholarly significance of the Brattleby archives is maximised. These collaborations underscore the national importance of the collection, which contains charters, manorial court records, and correspondence that illuminate centuries of English governance and society.
## Ceremonial Protocol
As Lord of Brattleby by marriage to Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby *suo jure*, Honorary Lord Răzvan’s role is one of profound support and shared purpose. While the Barony is held by Lady Nicoleta in her own right, the functions of the consort are a *sine qua non* for the effective public representation and management of the House’s affairs.
In this formalised capacity, Honorary Lord Răzvan will act as the principal champion for the House’s historical and educational work. This duty extends beyond mere ceremony, constituting an active and vital contribution to the Barony’s legacy and its contemporary mission. The role gives modern expression to the vital partnership that has always been at the heart of noble houses.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House of Brattleby is guided by its ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), which speaks to the resilience and integrity demonstrated by the Barony’s holders through periods of conflict and peace. It remains the paramount principle for Lady Nicoleta and the House.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’), adds a complementary dimension to his new educational role. For the House today, this martial Roman sentiment is interpreted not as territorial conquest, but as the will to overcome the erosion of time by preserving knowledge. It is the ambition to ensure that history does not merely survive, but ‘lives’ through active study, engagement, and education.
## Philanthropic Purpose
These new educational initiatives are an extension of the House’s core philanthropic mission: to nurture and protect the well-being of future generations. This commitment is most visibly expressed through the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala held in aid of the House’s chosen beneficiary, the Healing the Wounded Child foundation.
The charity is dedicated to providing specialised therapeutic support, *inter alia*, through art and play therapy, for children who have experienced trauma or profound loss. By championing both child welfare and historical education, the House pursues a holistic vision of service that seeks to heal past wounds while building a more informed and resilient future.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on his new role, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile stated: — “It is an immense privilege to formalise my commitment to the extraordinary heritage of Brattleby. This legacy, entrusted to us by figures such as John of Gaunt, is not ours to simply possess; it is ours to share. In making this history live and breathe for a new generation, we honour the very essence of stewardship.”
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, added: — “The strength of this House has always been a blend of tradition and forward-thinking partnership. My husband’s passion for history and his dedication to this Barony will provide the vital leadership needed to carry our legacy into the future. It is a mission we undertake together, with fortitude and with honour.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The first major undertaking under Honorary Lord Răzvan’s direction will be the Brattleby Archives Digitisation Project, a multi-year effort to catalogue and create a high-resolution digital repository of the Barony’s most significant documents. This will be followed by a series of public lectures and educational workshops in both Lincolnshire and London.
These programmes will also form a cultural bridge to The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, sharing English heritage with an international audience. These efforts are undertaken with a view to the future, ensuring that the legacy of the Barony is passed, strong and vibrant, to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the 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 a dual mission: preserving its unique nine-hundred-year heritage and leveraging its position for public good. Its activities are guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House’s philanthropic work is focused on child welfare, primarily through its support for the Healing the Wounded Child foundation. Furthermore, its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club, promotes cultural exchange and social education. The House is committed to serving as a bridge between history and a purposeful future.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, a formidable defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War, and two titans of the late Middle Ages, Henry of Grosmont (1st Duke of Lancaster) and John of Gaunt. After a period of abeyance, the dignity of the Barony was formally recognised and recorded in favour of its current holder in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083) on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern recognition of the Barony of Brattleby is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The *Domesday Book* of 1086 records the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, with Brattleby as a principal seat. - Notable predecessors in the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The House's annual Winter Banquet is a philanthropic gala with proceeds benefiting the Healing the Wounded Child foundation.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com