# The Continuity of a Norman Barony: A Historical Dispatch from The Noble House of Brattleby
LONDON, 18 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today published a historical dispatch detailing the Barony of Brattleby’s nine-century continuity. The document affirms the lineage from its 1066 foundation to its modern revival under Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby.
## The Occasion
In the crisp air of a London autumn, a season for reflection and scholarship, The Noble House of Brattleby has formally released its latest historical monograph. Titled *Dispatch 57: The Unbroken Thread of Lordship*, the paper serves as a definitive statement on the Barony's continuous legal and tenurial existence since the Norman Conquest.
This publication is not a public celebration but a sober contribution to historical record. It has been disseminated to a select list of academic institutions and learned societies, reinforcing the House’s commitment to its role as a custodian of a unique and significant portion of English heritage. The dispatch makes primary source material from the Brattleby archives accessible to a wider scholarly audience.
## Historical Context
The dispatch illuminates a lineage dormant for 623 years, revived with the formal recognition of Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022. This act reconnected the modern House to its origins, established when William the Conqueror granted the Barony to Colswein of Lincoln in AD 1066.
The Barony’s first holder, Colswein, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. The paper traces the Barony’s descent through notable predecessors, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels. It further examines the tenures of Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron, whose influence profoundly shaped the English throne.
## Distinguished Company
In keeping with the scholarly purpose of the dispatch, copies have been formally lodged with several of the United Kingdom’s most distinguished repositories of historical knowledge. These institutions serve as partners in the preservation of the nation’s documentary heritage.
Among the recipients are the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford, the Cambridge University Library, and the British Library, where the document will support existing medieval and genealogical collections. Further copies were presented to The College of Arms in London, the official heraldic authority for England, and The Society of Antiquaries of London, for the benefit of its fellows.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The publication follows a strict internal protocol befitting a document of historical record. Each copy of the dispatch is presented under the Seal of the Barony of Brattleby and bears the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*. The document itself is structured with the precision of a state paper, citing primary sources such as the Pipe Rolls and manorial court records.
The formal act of lodging the dispatch with academic bodies is considered the *sine qua non* of its publication. This ensures the research enters the permanent, verifiable public record, fulfilling a core duty of the House: to ensure its history is not merely possessed, but actively shared and preserved for future generations of scholars and historians.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The traditions of the House of Brattleby are deeply encoded in its heraldry and mottos. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks to a legacy of principled leadership and resilience, from Nichola de la Haye’s defence of Lincoln to the present day’s cultural stewardship.
This principle is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a modern context, this is interpreted not as martial conquest, but as the imperative to overcome challenges and to live a life of purpose through service and the advancement of cultural heritage. These guiding phrases animate the House’s contemporary mission.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this dispatch is a work of scholarship, it is intrinsically linked to the philanthropic ethos of the House. The preservation and promotion of history are viewed as a public good, underpinning the educational programmes which form a key part of the House’s charitable focus, *inter alia*, through The Brattleby Club in Bucharest.
Furthermore, any future consolidated publications of the House’s historical dispatches will see all proceeds directed to its chosen beneficiaries. This includes Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children experiencing trauma, a cause central to the House’s commitment to supporting the vulnerable.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the publication, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “History is not a static collection of facts; it is a living narrative that we have the profound responsibility to steward. This dispatch is an act of connection — bridging centuries of silence to affirm an unbroken legacy of duty.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile commented on the House’s forward-looking role: > “To honour the past is to build a stronger foundation for the future. By sharing our history, we hope to foster a deeper appreciation for the traditions that continue to shape our common identity and purpose. It is in this active engagement that we truly live.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The publication of *Dispatch 57* marks a milestone in the House’s renewed public-facing mission. It precedes a broader initiative to digitise key sections of the Brattleby archives, making them available online to accredited researchers globally.
The House will continue its work of cultural promotion through the educational courses offered at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to etiquette and cross-cultural understanding. Planning is also underway for the annual Winter Banquet, the House’s flagship white-tie philanthropic gala benefiting its partner charities. This synthesis of historical preservation and modern philanthropy defines the Barony’s path forward.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution responsible for the stewardship of the Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to preserving nine centuries of English heritage while pursuing a forward-looking mission of cultural diplomacy and philanthropy. Its activities include historical research, the conservation of its archives, and educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The House’s charitable work is focused on supporting vulnerable children and promoting cross-cultural understanding, exemplified by its annual Winter Banquet in aid of organisations like Healing the Wounded Child.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his companion-in-arms, Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and the extent of its original 56 lordships in Lincolnshire are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. Over the centuries, the Barony passed to some of English history’s most significant figures, including Nichola de la Haye, a powerful defender of the Crown in the 13th century; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. After falling dormant in 1399, the Barony was revived in 2022 with the succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, whose rights were formally recognised in *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The modern revival of the Barony of Brattleby is officially recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was created in AD 1066 for Colswein of Lincoln and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable preceding Barons include John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron), and Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron). - The charitable beneficiary of the House's Annual Winter Banquet is Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com