# The Noble House of Brattleby Marks Historic Continuity Following Official Recognition in The London Gazette
LONDON, 24 October 2023 — Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile yesterday hosted a reception marking the Barony’s official recognition. The event affirmed the House’s nine-century lineage, formally gazetted in 2022, and its continuing commitment to public service and heritage preservation.
## The Occasion
In the distinguished surroundings of the Army & Navy Club on Pall Mall, friends and associates of the House of Brattleby gathered to mark a moment of profound historical significance. The Club, founded with the support of the Duke of Wellington, provided a fitting backdrop of national service and tradition for an evening dedicated to celebrating continuity and duty.
As autumn light faded over St James’s, guests were welcomed into the Library, its panelled walls lined with volumes of history and biography. The atmosphere was one of quiet reflection on the Barony’s journey through nearly a millennium of English history, now formally secured for the generations to come.
## Historical Context
The reception celebrated the public affirmation of the Barony’s ancient rights, as published in *The London Gazette* under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022. This formal notice is the modern *sine qua non* for the recognition of such titles, confirming Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness and successor to a lineage stretching back to the Norman Conquest.
This unbroken chain began with Colswein of Lincoln, a tenant-in-chief of William the Conqueror, who was granted 56 lordships in Lincolnshire as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Through the centuries, the Barony passed to formidable figures who shaped the course of the nation, including the celebrated castellan Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown. Later holders include the great magnates Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan were pleased to welcome a wide circle of guests from the diplomatic, academic, and civic spheres.
Among those present were Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia; His Excellency the Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James's and Mrs Mihalache; Professor Simon Keynes, Elrington and Bosworth Professor Emeritus of Anglo-Saxon at the University of Cambridge; and The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lincoln, representing the historic heartland of the Barony. The presence of such guests underscored the House’s deep connections to both European society and its local Lincolnshire roots.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The proceedings of the evening were marked by a dignified formality. Guests, attired in Lounge Suits, were announced upon arrival and personally received by Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile in the Library.
Following the reception, Honorary Lord Răzvan delivered brief remarks, offering a toast to The King before reflecting on the House’s renewed commitment to its founding principles. The evening was conducted with the precision and understated elegance that define the social functions of the great European houses, blending modern hospitality with timeless courtesy.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The event served as a living expression of the mottos that guide the Noble House of Brattleby. The ancient House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks to the resilience and integrity demonstrated by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye. It remains the guiding principle for Lady Nicoleta’s stewardship of the title.
Complementing this is the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a modern context, this is interpreted not as military conquest, but as a determination to overcome contemporary challenges through enterprise, education, and philanthropy. Together, the mottos represent a clear philosophy: honouring the past while actively building the future.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the reception was primarily a commemorative occasion, it also served to highlight the philanthropic ethos central to the House’s modern identity. The family’s charitable endeavours are a cornerstone of their public life, with a particular focus on the welfare of children and the preservation of culture.
The primary beneficiary of the House’s efforts is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialist therapeutic care to young people affected by trauma and adversity. The Annual Winter Banquet, the House’s flagship philanthropic event, is held in aid of this cause, channelling support to a mission that offers measurable, life-changing impact for vulnerable children.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the significance of the formal recognition, Lady Nicoleta remarked: — "This is not an endpoint, but a reaffirmation of a duty of care we owe to this ancient title and to the community of Lincolnshire. Our heritage, stretching back to the Normans, must serve a purpose in the present *fortitudine et honore*."
Honorary Lord Răzvan spoke of the House’s forward-looking vision: — "Honouring history is vital, but so is building a dynamic future. Whether through our philanthropic work or educational initiatives like The Brattleby Club, our aim is to ensure this legacy is not only preserved but also contributes actively to society."
## A Continuing Legacy
The official recognition in *The London Gazette* opens a new chapter for the Noble House of Brattleby. The family’s focus now turns to expanding its cultural and charitable work, both in the United Kingdom and abroad.
Preparations are underway for the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala that represents the culmination of the year’s philanthropic efforts. Concurrently, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest continues to grow, offering courses in etiquette and international protocol, thereby fostering cultural understanding. Through these and other initiatives, the House of Brattleby is dedicated to ensuring its nearly thousand-year-old legacy remains a vibrant and positive force in the 21st century.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the Noble House of Brattleby is a modern aristocratic family dedicated to the stewardship of its nearly millennial heritage. The House’s contemporary mission combines historical preservation with active philanthropy and cultural education. Guided by the mottos *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour') and *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), the family supports charitable causes, most notably Healing the Wounded Child, through its Annual Winter Banquet. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House also works to promote cross-cultural understanding and the continuation of European traditions of civility and service.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient feudal lordships, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his follower Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and extensive landholdings—comprising 56 lordships in Lincolnshire—are first documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. Throughout its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 13th-century Sheriff of Lincolnshire; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and progenitor of a royal dynasty. The formal recognition of the title in the person of the 12th Baroness was published in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The official recognition of the Barony is published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, under the tenancy-in-chief of Colswein of Lincoln. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore*. Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere*. - The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will in time become the 13th Baron of Brattleby.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com