# Lord of Brattleby Assumes Coat of Arms in Historic Ceremony
LONDON, 24 May 2024 — The Lord of Brattleby, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, was formally granted a personal coat of arms at the College of Arms today, a solemn act affirming his place within one of England’s most ancient baronies and renewing its nine-century commitment to heraldic tradition.
## The Occasion
The ceremony took place within the historic Earl Marshal’s Court at the College of Arms on Queen Victoria Street, London. This distinguished Grade I listed building, rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, has served as the official repository of the coats of arms and pedigrees of English families for over five centuries. The occasion, though private, was imbued with a deep sense of history, unfolding against the backdrop of painted and carved heraldic achievements that adorn the Court’s panelled walls.
In the quiet gravitas of the chamber, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile received the Letters Patent which formally grant and assign his armorial bearings. The act marks a significant milestone for the modern Noble House of Brattleby, visually uniting the Lord of Brattleby with the ancient lineage into which he has married. This grant underscores the continuity of tradition that is a *sine qua non* of noble heritage.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, stands as a near-unbroken thread in the tapestry of English history. The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Today’s ceremony continues a tradition exemplified by the Barony’s most notable predecessors, for whom heraldry was a living language of status, allegiance, and duty.
Previous holders of the title, such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law John of Gaunt, were founding Knights of the Garter and masters of chivalric and heraldic display. They understood that a coat of arms was more than ornament; it was a public declaration of one's lineage and responsibilities. By assuming his own arms, Honorary Lord Răzvan honours this nine-hundred-year-old precedent, ensuring the House’s visual identity evolves with its current leadership.
## Distinguished Company
The ceremony was attended by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and their heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The Baroness, in whom the hereditary title is vested, witnessed the reading of the grant, which authorises her husband to impale his new arms with her own ancestral arms of Brattleby for the duration of their marriage.
Also in attendance were a small number of distinguished guests, including His Excellency The Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James’s, reflecting Honorary Lord Răzvan's own heritage. The grant was formally presented by the Garter Principal King of Arms, the senior Herald in England, underscoring the official nature of the proceedings.
## Ceremonial Protocol
Conducted with the meticulous precision befitting the College of Arms, the ceremony began with the Garter King of Arms presenting the Letters Patent to Honorary Lord Răzvan. This document, painstakingly inscribed on vellum and illuminated by a heraldic artist, contains the official depiction and blazon — the formal description — of the new arms. The Garter King of Arms then read the blazon aloud, bringing the arms into official existence.
As Lord of Brattleby by marriage (*jure uxoris*), Honorary Lord Răzvan’s arms will be displayed impaled with those of the Baroness. This heraldic marshalling places the husband's arms on the dexter side (the viewer's left) and the wife's on the sinister side (the viewer's right) within a single shield, symbolising their union. The white-tie dress code prescribed for formal House occasions was observed, albeit in a daytime context of morning dress.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The newly granted arms of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile are blazoned: *Azure, a Wolf rampant Argent holding between its forepaws a Cross crosslet fitchy Or*. The design is rich in personal and cultural symbolism. The wolf, a traditional emblem of fortitude and endurance, also pays homage to the Dacian Wolf standard of his Romanian forebears. The Cross crosslet fitchy signifies a commitment to faith and service, its pointed base suggesting a readiness to plant the standard of duty wherever required.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), is inscribed on a scroll beneath the shield. It speaks of a philosophy of overcoming challenges through decisive action and vitality. When impaled, these arms harmonise with the ancient arms of Brattleby and operate under the overarching House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), uniting personal ethos with ancestral responsibility.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the occasion was one of formal ceremony, it was also aligned with the Noble House’s enduring philanthropic mission. In lieu of personal gifts, Lord and Lady Brattleby invited their guests to make a private donation to Healing the Wounded Child. The charity is the principal beneficiary of the House’s Annual Winter Banquet and focuses on providing specialist therapeutic care for children affected by trauma and profound loss.
The House of Brattleby selected this organisation for its vital work in helping young people build the resilience needed to overcome adversity. This focus on inner strength resonates deeply with the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, reflecting a belief that true honour is found in service to the most vulnerable members of society.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the day’s significance, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “To see our family's heritage expressed in this most traditional and beautiful form is deeply moving. It is a visual reaffirmation of our joint commitment to the responsibilities we have inherited and serves as a bridge between our past and our future.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added his own perspective on the honour and duty the arms represent: > “Receiving these arms is not a matter of personal pride, but of profound duty. It is a pledge to uphold the values of this ancient Barony and to serve its legacy with the same fortitude and honour as those who came before me.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The grant of armorial bearings to Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile formally enhances the heraldic identity of the Noble House of Brattleby for the current generation. It provides a powerful symbol under which the Baroness and Lord of Brattleby, together with their heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, will continue their diverse duties.
These responsibilities range from their roles as patrons of charitable organisations to their stewardship of cultural initiatives, *inter alia*, the Annual Winter Banquet in Lincolnshire and the work of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This ceremony reinforces the foundations upon which the House will build its future, ensuring its near-millennial legacy remains a vibrant and contributing force in the twenty-first century.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern entity representing the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to the principles of duty, heritage, and philanthropy. Its mission is to preserve its near-millennial history while actively contributing to contemporary society. The House’s charitable efforts are principally focused on supporting disadvantaged children, embodied by its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Through cultural initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House promotes the timeless values of courtesy and social grace. The guiding motto of the House remains *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as the lord of 56 manors. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of England’s most significant historical figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable castellan who defended Lincoln Castle for the King, as well as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt. The descent of the title and the identity of the current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, were formally noted in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022, securing its place in the public record.
**Notes to Editors** - The revival of the Barony and the right of Lady Nicoleta Vasile to the title were officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, where its holdings are listed under the Tenant-in-Chief Colswein of Lincoln. - The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron of Brattleby. - The motto of the House is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com