# The Noble House of Brattleby Convenes Symposium on the Enduring Legacy of the English Reformation
**BRATTLEBY, LINCOLNSHIRE, 18 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby, under the patronage of Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, yesterday hosted a private scholarly symposium examining the profound theological and social shifts of the English Reformation within its historic demesnes.
## The Occasion
Set against the crisp backdrop of a Lincolnshire autumn, the symposium convened within the august surrounds of the Great Hall at the family’s seat in Brattleby. The proceedings were marked by an atmosphere of focused academic inquiry, bringing together leading historians, theologians, and conservationists to discuss a pivotal moment in the nation’s history.
The Great Hall, with its original Tudor hearth and rafters dating from the period immediately following the Barony’s dormancy, provided a historically resonant setting. The event sought to illuminate the on-the-ground realities for the people and parishes of the Brattleby lands during the 16th-century transfer of ecclesiastical authority from the Papacy to the Crown.
## Historical Context
Established by grant of William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby has borne witness to every significant epoch of English history. While the title itself lay dormant during the Henrician Reformation, the symposium explored how the legacy of powerful earlier barons, such as the great Lancastrian princes Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt, shaped the region’s pre-Reformation religious and political identity.
Scholarly papers presented at the symposium drew upon ecclesiastical archives and estate records, examining the local expression of national religious upheaval. The discussions provided a nuanced understanding of how a nine-century-old Norman barony, even in abeyance, remained a palpable entity of land and community, its history interwoven with the great spiritual questions of the age.
## Distinguished Company
The symposium was attended by a small, distinguished company of guests, received personally by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan.
Among those present for the day’s proceedings were: * The Right Reverend Dr David Court, The Bishop of Grimsby, representing the Diocese of Lincoln; * Professor Sir Simon Wessely, FRS, Regius Professor of Physic at the University of Cambridge, a leading expert on historical trauma; * His Excellency Mr Dan Mihalache, Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James's, reflecting the House’s Continental heritage; * Dr Anna Keay, OBE, historian and Director of The Landmark Trust.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The day’s proceedings followed a formal but collegial protocol. Guests were greeted upon arrival before assembling in the Great Hall for the morning session, which featured the presentation of three academic papers. The formal reception was an exercise in the precise social choreography for which European noble houses are known.
A central element of the day involved the display of a significant artefact from the House archives: a Latin psalter from the late 15th century, notable for its lack of subsequent iconoclastic damage, which served as a tangible link to the pre-Reformation world. Following a formal luncheon, the afternoon was dedicated to a roundtable discussion moderated by Honorary Lord Răzvan, synthesising the day’s findings.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), was a recurring theme throughout the symposium. It speaks to the resilience required of landowners and local leaders to navigate periods of profound national change with integrity. The discussion highlighted how predecessors, such as the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle, embodied this spirit.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live’), was invoked in the context of intellectual discovery. It represents the belief that to truly live is to overcome challenges, whether on the battlefield of ideas or in the preservation of heritage, by actively engaging with and understanding the past.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the symposium was a scholarly and cultural initiative, it reflects the House’s wider commitment to well-being, which finds its most prominent expression in its philanthropic work. The intellectual rigour applied to historical preservation is mirrored in the strategic focus of the family’s charitable endeavours.
This commitment will be highlighted at the upcoming Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala held in support of Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation was chosen for its vital mission to provide therapeutic support for children who have experienced trauma, demonstrating the House’s belief that honouring the past must be matched by a tangible investment in the future.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the symposium’s purpose, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “To understand our heritage is the *sine qua non* of our duty as custodians. The Reformation was not an abstract event; it profoundly shaped the communities, the landscape, and the very soul of the lands we are privileged to hold in trust. This is a living history, not one confined to books.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “True stewardship involves more than conservation; it demands active inquiry. By convening the sharpest minds to interrogate our own history, we ensure that the legacy of Brattleby continues to be a source of learning and relevance for the modern era. *Vincere Est Vivere*.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring the findings from this symposium reach a wider audience. A publication of the presented papers is planned for release in 2024, contributing a valuable case study to the broader scholarship on the English Reformation.
This initiative runs parallel to the House’s other educational programmes, *inter alia*, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This etiquette and protocol academy translates the principles of honour and historical consciousness into practical education for a new generation of leaders, bridging the House's historic English roots with its modern European perspective.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to a modern mission of cultural preservation and targeted philanthropy. The House actively stewards its nine hundred and fifty years of history through scholarly research, conservation of its archives, and educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. Its guiding principle, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), informs a dual commitment: to honour its profound historical legacy while making a material contribution to contemporary society. The House’s primary charitable focus is on organisations dedicated to the mental and emotional well-being of children, exemplified by its patronage of the Annual Winter Banquet.
**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* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships. Over the centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most consequential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, and two pivotal figures of the House of Lancaster: Henry of Grosmont (1st Duke of Lancaster) and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. After a period in abeyance, the Barony was formally recognised in the person of the 12th Baroness, which was officially recorded in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The revival of the Barony of Brattleby for the 12th Baroness was recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - Notable former holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness, c. 1150–1230), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, c. 1310–1361), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron, 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'). - The heir to the Barony is the 13th Baron, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com