# The House of Brattleby Announces The de la Haye Legacy Project
**LONDON, 21 October 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced the formal commencement of The de la Haye Legacy Project, a major historical undertaking to chronicle the pivotal contributions of the de la Haye family to the Barony and to the English Crown.
## The Occasion
The announcement was made from the Long Gallery at the family’s ancestral seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, a room whose Jacobean mullioned windows overlook the very lands granted to the 1st Baron by William the Conqueror. As the morning light streamed across the ancient parkland, the formal declaration marked a renewed commitment to the custodianship of the Barony’s near-millennial history.
The setting was chosen for its direct connection to the lineage under study. The de la Haye dynasty held considerable influence in Lincolnshire for over two centuries, and their strategic vision shaped not only the Barony but the wider political landscape of the region. The occasion was one of quiet solemnity, reflecting the academic gravity of the project.
## Historical Context
The de la Haye Legacy Project will focus specifically on the period between the 12th and 14th centuries, a transformative era for England. While the Barony’s history began in 1086 with Colswein of Lincoln, as documented in the *Domesday Book*, the de la Haye castellans defined its medieval character. Their tenure represents a crucial chapter between the Norman establishment and the later ascendancy of Plantagenet magnates such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt, respectively the 10th and 11th Barons of Brattleby.
At the heart of this research is Nichola de la Haye, 5th hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle, who bravely defended the castle against rebel barons during the reign of King John. Her resilience and unwavering loyalty to the Crown during a period of profound national crisis exemplify the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*. This project seeks to move beyond myth and provide a definitive account of her contributions.
## Distinguished Company
To ensure the highest standards of academic rigour, Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan have convened a distinguished advisory board to oversee the project. Its members include, *inter alia*:
* Professor Dame Eleanor Vance, Regius Professor of Medieval History at the University of Oxford; * Dr Julian Spencer-Smith, Head of Archives and Special Collections at the University of Lincoln; * The Right Honourable The Earl of Yarborough, whose family archives contain related correspondence; * Mr John Goodall, Architectural Editor of *Country Life* and an authority on English castles.
This committee will guide the research team, ensuring the resultant work is both scholarly and accessible, contributing significantly to the national historical record.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The project's charter, sealed this morning by Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, outlines a meticulous research protocol. The first phase involves detailed archival work at The National Archives in Kew, the British Library, and the Lincolnshire Archives. Primary source documents, including charters, pipe rolls, and personal letters, will be transcribed and analysed.
Following this, a period of scholarly review will commence, culminating in the drafting of a new monograph. The entire process is designed to be transparent and collaborative, adhering to the protocols established by the United Kingdom’s leading historical research bodies. The final publication will be subject to peer review before being submitted to the university presses of Oxford and Cambridge.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is the guiding principle of this undertaking. It reflects the courage of predecessors like Nichola de la Haye and serves as the standard for the research itself: to pursue the truth with intellectual fortitude and to present it with honour.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live' or 'To Win is to Live'), is also particularly resonant. It speaks to the active engagement required to overcome the obscurities of the past and bring history to life for a new generation. The project is understood not as a passive reflection but as an intellectual conquest of knowledge.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While academic in nature, The de la Haye Legacy Project possesses a profound philanthropic purpose rooted in education. Its primary aim is to make a lasting contribution to public knowledge, with all research findings and educational materials to be made available to schools, universities, and cultural institutions free of charge.
Furthermore, all net proceeds generated from the sale of the final monograph will be donated in perpetuity to Healing the Wounded Child. This registered charity, the beneficiary of the House's annual Winter Banquet, provides specialist therapy for children experiencing trauma. The choice reflects a belief that understanding stories of resilience from the past, such as that of Nichola de la Haye, can inspire fortitude in the young people of today.
## In Their Own Words
In a statement marking the occasion, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > The de la Haye dynasty, and particularly its formidable matriarch Nichola, stands as a paragon of duty and resilience. Tracing their contributions is not merely an academic exercise; it is our responsibility as custodians of this lineage to ensure their story is told with the precision and gravity it deserves.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > History must be more than a collection of names and dates; it must be a source of living principles. Through this project, we engage with the fortitude that has sustained this Barony for centuries. To understand where we are going, we must first fully comprehend the foundations upon which we stand.
## A Continuing Legacy
The de la Haye Legacy Project is scheduled for completion in late 2026, with the monograph expected for publication the following year. The House of Brattleby further intends to host a major symposium in Lincoln to present the findings to the public and to fellow historians.
This initiative is the first in a planned series of historical and educational programmes designed to illuminate the Barony’s nine-century history. It represents an enduring commitment from Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan to ensure the heritage they steward remains a vital and inspiring force for the future.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution supporting the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to the principle of modern stewardship for historic legacy. Its mission balances the preservation of its almost thousand-year heritage with a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy and education. The House’s initiatives include the annual white-tie Winter Banquet for charitable causes, notably Healing the Wounded Child, and The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy in Bucharest. The heir to the Barony is the couple’s son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will in time become the 13th Baron of Brattleby.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s ancient feudal dignities. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, Sheriff of Lincolnshire and defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War. Later Barons included the great Plantagenet princes Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s formal recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). - Notable past holders include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness *de jure*), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The family's ancestral seat is in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the geographic origin of the feudal barony.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com