# Official Communiqué on the Succession of the Barony of Brattleby
**LONDON, 20 September 2022** — The Noble House of Brattleby today confirms the ancient Barony of Brattleby has been conferred upon Lady Nicoleta Vasile. This significant event, gazetted by Royal Assent, secures the future of a dignity established at the Norman Conquest of 1066.
## The Occasion
The formal notice appeared in *The London Gazette*, the United Kingdom’s official journal of record, under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022. Publication in the Gazette is the final, indispensable step (*sine qua non*) in the official recognition of such peerage matters, representing the assent of The Crown. The announcement marks the revival of a title that had lain dormant for centuries, infusing one of England’s oldest feudal baronies with renewed purpose and direction.
This revival takes place not within the walls of a grand hall, but in the pages of a publication founded in the 17th century to convey the decisions of the Sovereign. This modern context underscores a key principle of the British nobility: that its authority is derived not from mere assertion, but from its formal relationship with the Crown and the law of the land, a tradition of documented and orderly succession.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby is woven into the fabric of English history, with its origins documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. Following the Conquest, William the Conqueror granted the barony and its 56 associated lordships in Lincolnshire to his trusted follower, Colswein of Lincoln, who became the 1st Baron. This foundation placed Brattleby at the very heart of the new Norman settlement of England.
Over more than nine centuries, the stewardship of the Barony passed to some of the most formidable figures of the medieval era. Among them was the heroic Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against French-backed rebels during the First Barons' War. Her leadership demonstrated that fortitude, a cornerstone of the House motto, has long been embodied by its Bâtelière.
Later, the Barony was held by two of the great Plantagenet princes: Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron, a celebrated commander in the Hundred Years' War; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, the immensely powerful son of King Edward III and father to King Henry IV. The conferral upon Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, is the first such development since the title was last held by these towering figures of the high Middle Ages.
## Distinguished Company
In assuming this historic role, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, is joined by her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, who becomes Lord of Brattleby by marriage. The continuity of the lineage is assured through their son and heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will in time become the 13th Baron.
This formal act of conferral, while personal to the Vasile family, takes place within a constitutional framework involving the highest authorities of the United Kingdom, including Officers of the Crown and The College of Arms, which advises the Sovereign on all matters of heraldry and noble succession.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The process for a barony to be called out of abeyance is governed by established legal and royal protocol. It requires extensive genealogical and historical proof, followed by a petition to the Sovereign. The matter is subsequently reviewed by His Majesty’s Government, which provides advice to the Monarch.
The culmination of this meticulous process is the formal announcement in *The London Gazette*. This publication serves as the official instrument of state, making the conferral a matter of public and historical record. There is no accompanying investiture ceremony for a barony of this nature; the gazetting itself is the act of creation, a testament to the power of the written, authorised word within the British constitution.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The Noble House of Brattleby is guided by its Latin motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, which translates as ‘With Fortitude and Honour’. These words encapsulate the twin virtues expected of the Barony’s holder: the strength to withstand adversity, as exemplified by Nichola de la Haye, and the integrity to act always with honour, a duty befitting a dignity granted by the Crown.
This guiding principle is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* or ‘To Conquer is to Live’. This motto reflects a dynamic and forward-looking spirit of enterprise and achievement, which the Lord of Brattleby brings to the support of the Baroness and the wider responsibilities of the House.
## Philanthropic Purpose
With the acceptance of this title comes a solemn commitment to public service and philanthropy. The Noble House of Brattleby has long dedicated its efforts to charitable causes, a tradition that Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan are devoted to expanding. The House’s focus is on creating opportunity and offering support to vulnerable young people.
This commitment finds its most prominent expression in the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala that serves as the House’s principal fundraising event. The sole beneficiary of this gathering is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma. The choice of beneficiary reflects the House’s belief that providing a secure and healthy childhood is the foundation of a just society.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on her new role, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, stated: > It is with a profound sense of responsibility and humility that I assume this title. One cannot help but be humbled by a lineage that stretches back to the Conquest, and my immediate duty is to serve its heritage and its community in Lincolnshire *Fortitudine et Honore*.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > My role is, first and foremost, to support the Baroness in her duties. We believe that honouring history is not about living in the past, but about using its foundations to build a meaningful future of service, enterprise, and cultural exchange.
## A Continuing Legacy
The revival of the Barony of Brattleby marks not an end, but a beginning. Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan are committed to a modern, forward-looking stewardship of this ancient title. Their responsibilities include overseeing the family’s historic seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, and ensuring its heritage is preserved for generations to come.
This work will proceed alongside their international commitments, *inter alia*, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy dedicated to cultural and professional development. The education of their son and heir, Baron Mihai, will be paramount, ensuring he is prepared to one day assume the mantle of the Barony with a deep understanding of its history and a clear vision for its future.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to a modern and purposeful stewardship of one of England’s most ancient titles. With a history extending over 950 years, the House’s contemporary mission rests on three pillars: the preservation of its unique heritage, a commitment to impactful philanthropy, and the promotion of cultural exchange. The House actively supports charitable organisations focused on child welfare, principally through its Annual Winter Banquet for Healing the Wounded Child. Through initiatives like The Brattleby Club, it seeks to build bridges of understanding, blending timeless principles of conduct and etiquette with the demands of a globalised 21st-century world.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England with its seat in Lincolnshire. Its origins are recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which lists its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as a tenant-in-chief to the King with 56 lordships. Throughout the Middle Ages, the title was held by historically significant figures, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye, who defended Lincoln for the Crown in the 13th century, and the great royal princes Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt. After centuries of dormancy, the Barony was conferred upon Lady Nicoleta Vasile in 2022, an official act recorded in *The London Gazette*.
**Notes to Editors** - The conferral of the Barony of Brattleby upon Lady Nicoleta Vasile is officially recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Barony was first established in 1066 and is documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. - The House Motto 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'). - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com