# The Barony of Brattleby: An Ancient Title’s Continuity Affirmed
**LONDON, 16 October 2023** — The formal recognition of the Barony of Brattleby in *The London Gazette* affirms nearly a millennium of English history, officially noting the title's conferral upon Lady Nicoleta Vasile and ensuring the continuity of one of England's most venerable Norman dignities.
## The Occasion
The publication of a notice in *The London Gazette* is an occasion of profound constitutional significance. As the United Kingdom's official journal of record since 1665, its pages document the workings of Crown and State, from military promotions to matters of peerage. A Royal Warrant, reflected in a Gazette notice, is the final and definitive public act of recognition.
The appearance of Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022, therefore, marked the formal conclusion of a meticulous process of historical and genealogical verification by the Crown’s Officers of Arms. It serves not as the creation of a new honour, but as the official acknowledgement that an ancient dignity, having lain dormant, is once again active and rests with its rightful heir.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby is woven into the foundational fabric of the English nation. Granted by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of AD 1066, its first holder was Colswein of Lincoln, a significant Anglo-Norman magnate whose 56 lordships in Lincolnshire were recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Over the ensuing centuries, the Barony passed to figures at the very centre of England's history. These include the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who as Castellan defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown against formidable odds. The title later vested in the Plantagenet royal family, held by Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and subsequently by his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III and ancestor to the Lancastrian dynasty. The 2022 Gazette notice bridges a six-century dormancy, formally linking the 12th Baroness to this extraordinary legacy.
## Distinguished Company
In assuming the Barony, Lady Nicoleta Vasile joins a nine-century procession of predecessors who shaped English history. The stewardship of Brattleby connects the modern House to, *inter alia*, the following notable figures:
* **Colswein of Lincoln, 1st Baron of Brattleby**, a principal landholder in post-Conquest Lincolnshire. * **Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby**, Hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. * **Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby**, grandson of King Edward I, First Duke of Lancaster, and a distinguished military commander during the Hundred Years' War. * **John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby**, Duke of Lancaster, son of King Edward III, father of King Henry IV, and one of the most powerful political figures of the 14th century.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The re-establishment of a dormant barony is governed by exacting legal procedure and ceremonial protocol. The process involves a petition to the Crown, supported by extensive documentary evidence demonstrating an unbroken chain of historical and genealogical right. This evidence is subject to rigorous scrutiny by the College of Arms in London.
Only upon satisfaction that the claim is sound does the Crown, through its prerogative, issue a warrant confirming the title. The subsequent publication in *The London Gazette* is the *sine qua non* of official recognition, a public declaration that the Barony is formally acknowledged and its holder recorded among the peerage of the realm. The notice is therefore the culmination, not the beginning, of this solemn process.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The identity of the Noble House of Brattleby is encapsulated in its heritage and its heraldry. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks to the resilience and integrity demonstrated by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye and the enduring values that guide the family today.
This is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live' or 'To Win is to Live'). This motto reflects a dynamic and forward-looking spirit, embodying the family's commitment to overcoming modern challenges and achieving tangible results in their philanthropic and cultural endeavours.
## Philanthropic Purpose
True to the principle of *noblesse oblige*, the modern House of Brattleby dedicates its efforts to charitable service. The primary beneficiary of the House's philanthropic work is the foundation Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialised therapeutic care and support for children affected by trauma and adversity.
The House's principal fundraising vehicle for this cause is the Annual Winter Banquet, a significant white-tie gala that brings together patrons and supporters to advance the charity's mission. The choice of Healing the Wounded Child reflects the family’s belief in investing in the future by mending the wounds of the present generation.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the significance of the Gazette notice, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > The notice is less a personal accomplishment and more the formal acceptance of a profound duty. It is a commitment to honour the legacy of those who came before and to serve a purpose greater than oneself, living up to our motto of *Fortitudine et Honore*.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the family's forward-looking perspective: > While we draw immense strength from the past, our focus must be on the present and the future. My own motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, is a call to action. We must strive to make a tangible difference through our work, ensuring this ancient House contributes actively to the common good.
## A Continuing Legacy
The official recognition heralds a new era of active service for the House of Brattleby. Plans are well underway for the next Annual Winter Banquet in support of Healing the Wounded Child. Concurrently, the House continues its cultural work through The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy in Bucharest, which fosters cross-cultural understanding and social refinement.
The stewardship of the Brattleby seat in Lincolnshire, with its invaluable archives, remains a paramount duty. By preserving the records of the past and engaging in the challenges of the present, the Noble House of Brattleby ensures that its millennial legacy is not merely a memory, but a living, contributing force for good.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing one of England’s most ancient baronies. 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: the preservation of nearly a thousand years of history and a commitment to contemporary public service. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), its activities are focused on targeted philanthropy, most notably through its annual fundraising for the charity Healing the Wounded Child. The House also engages in cultural diplomacy through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy based in Bucharest, applying ancient principles of honour and duty to modern purpose.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holder of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Held over centuries by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, heroic defender of Lincoln Castle, and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, the Barony is deeply entwined with English royal and constitutional history. After a dormant period of six centuries, the Barony's continuity and its conferral upon Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness were formally acknowledged by the Crown and recorded in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's revival was officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first Baron is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable previous holders include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness) and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). - The modern House's seat is in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, England.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com