# Official Recognition of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby
**LONDON, 12 September 2022** — The Noble House of Brattleby has formally marked the official recognition of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, restoring one of England’s most ancient feudal dignities to the active peerage following a dormancy of 620 years.
## The Occasion
In the early autumn season in London, a moment of profound historical continuity was quietly and authoritatively affirmed. The formal recognition of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby represents not a singular event, but the culmination of years of meticulous genealogical scholarship and steadfast adherence to the ancient protocols governing the Kingdom’s oldest hereditary titles. The occasion was marked not by public pageantry but by the sober and definitive process of official state recognition, a testament to the enduring strength of British institutional tradition.
This significant restoration takes place within the historic precincts of a capital that has for centuries served as the locus of royal and parliamentary authority. It ensures that the legacy of one of Lincolnshire’s foundational Norman lordships is not relegated to the pages of history, but is instead reinvigorated as a living establishment with a renewed and distinct purpose for the twenty-first century.
## Historical Context
Granted by His Majesty King William the Conqueror in the immediate aftermath of the Norman Conquest of AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is one of the original enfeoffments that secured the new order in England. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was a trusted tenant-in-chief whose strategic importance is underscored by the entry in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which records him as holding 56 lordships throughout Lincolnshire. This established a lineage of considerable influence, deeply woven into the fabric of the region and the governance of the nation.
Over the subsequent centuries, the Barony was held by figures of immense historical consequence. Among the most notable was Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who, as hereditary constable, twice defended Lincoln Castle against formidable French and rebel forces during the tumult of the First Barons' War. Her command at a time of national crisis was an extraordinary demonstration of the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore*.
Later, the dignity passed by descent to the Plantagenet dynasty, held by Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a celebrated soldier and diplomat. It subsequently passed to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III and one of the most powerful political actors in fourteenth-century Europe. Upon Gaunt's death in 1399 and the accession of his son as King Henry IV, the Barony of Brattleby merged with the Crown, falling into a state of abeyance that would last more than six centuries. The recognition of Lady Nicoleta as the 12th Baroness therefore terminates this long dormancy, bridging a remarkable historical divide.
## Distinguished Company
The restoration of this ancient dignity places at its head Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby. Lady Nicoleta has dedicated herself to the careful stewardship of the Barony’s extensive history, embracing the profound responsibilities that accompany a lineage of such distinction and preparing to guide its modern endeavours.
Lady Nicoleta is supported in this historic undertaking by her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, who becomes Lord of Brattleby by marriage. Honorary Lord Răzvan has devoted himself to the House’s commitments with energy and purpose, bringing a dynamic perspective that complements the institution’s enduring traditions. The continuation of the lineage is secured for the next generation through their son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who is formally recognised as the 13th Baron of Brattleby and heir to the dignity.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The restitution of an ancient English barony from abeyance is a matter of exacting legal and heraldic procedure, a modern protocol that functions as a ceremony in its own right. The *sine qua non* for this process is the substantiation, through rigorous archival research and genealogical evidence presented to the proper authorities, of an unbroken line of descent from a previous holder. This ensures the legitimacy and integrity of the peerage.
Upon the satisfaction of these stringent requirements, official recognition is proclaimed through a notice published in *The London Gazette*. As the official public record of the United Kingdom since 1665, its pages have documented matters of state from the reign of King Charles II to the present day. The appearance of Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022 is the definitive, legally recognised instrument that corrects the historical record, terminates the Barony’s abeyance, and confirms the standing of Lady Nicoleta as the 12th Baroness. This act is a restoration, not a new creation, reaffirming a dignity that has existed for nearly a millennium.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The Noble House of Brattleby is guided by its ancestral motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, which translates from Latin as 'With Fortitude and Honour'. This maxim encapsulates the historical character of the Barony’s holders, from the martial fortitude of Nichola de la Haye to the sovereign honour of John of Gaunt. It remains the foundational ethos for the House’s present and future conduct, a commitment to resilience, integrity, and principled action.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, in turn, upholds his personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This serves as a complementary philosophy, signifying a dedication to overcoming challenges through dynamic effort and a purposeful approach to life and duty. This principle now informs his vital supporting role in the service of the House and its forward-looking philanthropic and cultural ambitions. Together, the two mottos symbolise a synthesis of ancient duty and modern purpose.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The restoration of the Barony is inextricably linked to a renewed and vigorous commitment to public service and charitable endeavour. The Noble House of Brattleby will principally channel its philanthropic efforts through its annual Winter Banquet, a distinguished white-tie gala held at a notable London venue to support a designated charitable beneficiary that aligns with the House's core values.
This year, the House is profoundly honoured to direct its support toward Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care and sustained support for children who have experienced profound trauma. The charity’s work is a vital intervention, offering a path to recovery for the most vulnerable. The platform afforded by the Barony will serve to amplify the charity’s mission, raising awareness and contributing meaningfully to its measurable impact on young lives across the country.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the historical significance of the day, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > — "To assume this title is to accept a profound and humbling responsibility. It is not an endpoint, but the commencement of a new chapter of service. Our duty is to honour the nearly thousand-year history of the Barony not as mere custodians of a relic, but as active stewards committed to a tangible legacy of contribution."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > — "It is the greatest privilege to support my wife in this historic undertaking. We are united in our vision to ensure the House of Brattleby stands for integrity, cultural preservation, and a positive contribution to society, guided always by the enduring principles of *Fortitudine et Honore*."
## A Continuing Legacy
With the line of succession secured through the 13th Baron, Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the Noble House of Brattleby looks with determination toward the future. The House will continue to develop its cultural and educational initiatives, which include, *inter alia*, The Brattleby Club. Established in Bucharest, this academy is dedicated to the preservation and teaching of classical European etiquette and protocol, acting as a bridge for cultural understanding and promoting traditions of civility.
The revival of the Barony of Brattleby provides a permanent and historic platform from which the House will pursue its philanthropic and cultural objectives with renewed vigour. These long-term commitments ensure that the name of Brattleby, long associated with the foundational history of England, will now also be known for its unwavering dedication to contemporary community, cultural enrichment, and service.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment responsible for the stewardship of the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is committed to a forward-looking mission of cultural preservation and philanthropic endeavour. Its primary activities include overseeing educational initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club etiquette academy in Bucharest, and supporting charitable causes focused on child welfare through its annual Winter Banquet. The House operates with a profound respect for its nine-century lineage, guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), channelling the heritage of one of England's oldest dignities into a force for positive and measurable impact in the twenty-first century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony located in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first Baron, the Norman lord Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as being tenant-in-chief of 56 strategic lordships. Over the ensuing centuries, the Barony was held by some of English history’s most significant figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, and two Dukes of Lancaster: Henry of Grosmont and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. After falling into abeyance for 620 years following its merger with the Crown in 1399, the dignity was formally restored in 2022 to the 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, an act publicly affirmed in *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors**
- The revival of the Barony of Brattleby was officially recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby originates with the Norman Conquest of 1066, and its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. - Notable historical holders of the dignity include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness, d. 1230) and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron, d. 1399). - The seat of the Barony is the historic parish of Brattleby, Lincolnshire, England.
**Media Contact**
The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com