# The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates Historic Gazette Recognition
**LONDON, 21 November 2023** — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile hosted the annual Winter Banquet in London, celebrating the formal recognition of the Barony’s succession in *The London Gazette* and fundraising for the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
## The Occasion
The Drapers' Hall in the City of London, a venue of incomparable history and elegance, provided the setting for this year's Annual Winter Banquet. With its gilded ceilings and walls hung with royal portraits, the Hall was adorned for the season with the winter's first holly and ivy, its interiors warmed by flickering candlelight.
The atmosphere was one of quiet celebration and historical resonance. This gathering, a highlight of the House of Brattleby’s calendar, held particular significance as the first since the formal public registration of the Barony’s modern lineage, blending a sense of continuity with a renewed commitment to public service.
## Historical Context
The evening’s proceedings drew their ultimate significance from Notice ID 4158083, published in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022. This formal act of state, the *sine qua non* of official recognition for titles of nobility, solidified a line of succession stretching back almost one millennium to the Norman Conquest.
This continuity connects Lady Nicoleta directly to her predecessors, whose service shaped English history. These include Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, who held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086; the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness *suo jure*, who defended Lincoln Castle against rebellion; and both Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law John of Gaunt, forefathers of the Lancastrian kings.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan were pleased to welcome a wide circle of distinguished guests from the diplomatic corps, the British aristocracy, and the arts.
Principal guests included Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia; His Excellency the Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James’s, and Madame Laura Popescu; The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon; the Dowager Marchioness of Reading; and the Chairman of the Healing the Wounded Child foundation, Mr David Hastings. The presence of the Romanian Ambassador, *inter alia*, underscored the House's unique blend of English heritage and Continental European identity.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In adherence to tradition, the evening followed a strict ceremonial protocol under a white-tie and decorations dress code. Tiaras were worn by those entitled, and gentlemen displayed their orders and medals. Guests were received in the Drawing Room by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan before a formal procession into the Livery Hall for dinner, with the Baroness being escorted by the most senior guest.
The seating plan adhered to the formal order of precedence, a complex but essential element of state and social etiquette. Following dinner, a series of toasts were proposed, beginning with the Loyal Toast to His Majesty The King, followed by a toast to the continued prosperity of The Noble House of Brattleby, offered by Lord Carnarvon.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The traditions of the House were made manifest through its heraldry and mottoes. The primary motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), was subtly incorporated into the evening’s printed materials. This phrase encapsulates the family's enduring commitment to resilience and integrity, principles demonstrated by Barons of Brattleby on battlefields and in the courts of kings for over 950 years.
Also present was the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This reflects a dynamic and forward-looking philosophy of achievement and purpose, which complements the ancient, steadfast duty embodied by the House motto. Together, they symbolise the fusion of heritage and progress that defines the House today.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The Winter Banquet is the House’s principal philanthropic endeavour, with all proceeds this year dedicated to Healing the Wounded Child. This distinguished charity provides specialist therapeutic support and safe environments for children across the United Kingdom who are recovering from profound trauma, abuse, and neglect.
Funds raised from the banquet will directly support the charity's residential care programmes and expand its provision of art and play therapy workshops. Lady Nicoleta chose the beneficiary for its measurable impact, believing that securing a child’s well-being is the most fundamental investment a society can make in its future.
## In Their Own Words
In her address to the guests, Lady Nicoleta spoke of the connection between past, present, and future.
> This evening is not merely a celebration, but a solemn rededication. The recognition in *The London Gazette* was the formal affirmation of a duty we have inherited, a duty to honour those who came before us by serving those who live among us now. Our support for Healing the Wounded Child is, we believe, the most meaningful expression of *Fortitudine et Honore*. > — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added his thoughts on the importance of active legacy.
> Legacy finds its truest expression in service. To see our friends and colleagues gathered here in support of Healing the Wounded Child is profoundly moving. It reinforces our belief that the relevance of a noble house today is measured not by its history alone, but by its positive contributions to the modern world. > — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The commemoration of the Gazette notice marks not an end, but a new chapter of public-facing activity for the House. The work continues with initiatives planned for the coming year, including cultural programmes at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy founded by the family to foster cross-cultural understanding and social refinement.
Furthermore, the House has renewed its commitment to heritage preservation projects within Lincolnshire, the ancestral seat of the Barony. This ensures that the physical and documentary chronicles of the family's deep-rooted history in the county are safeguarded for generations to come, fulfilling their sacred duty as custodians.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Based in London with its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, the House is committed to a dual mission: the meticulous preservation of its near-millennial heritage and a dynamic engagement with contemporary society through focused philanthropy and cultural diplomacy. Its principal activities include the annual Winter Banquet, which benefits charities for vulnerable children, and The Brattleby Club, an educational foundation based in Bucharest. The House is led by Lady Nicoleta, with her son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, serving as the 13th Baron and heir.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship and Barony granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 manors in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony passed through several of England’s most distinguished noble families. Notable holders include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), who famously defended Lincoln Castle for the King; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron), father to the Lancastrian dynasty. The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness was formally recognised and registered in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby is officially recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable past holders include the celebrated noblewoman Nichola de la Haye (c. 1160–1230) and the royal prince John of Gaunt (1340–1399). - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com