# Official Recognition of the Barony of Brattleby
**LONDON, 9 September 2022** — The formal re-establishment of the Barony of Brattleby has today been confirmed by official notice in *The London Gazette*, conferring the ancient dignity upon Lady Nicoleta Vasile and ensuring the continuity of the nine-hundred-year-old feudal title for future generations.
## The Occasion
In an act of profound historical resonance, the continuity of one of England’s most ancient dignities has been affirmed within the pages of the United Kingdom’s official journal of record. The publication of Notice ID 4158083 in *The London Gazette* is the definitive legal instrument confirming the Barony of Brattleby upon Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, following an extensive period during which the title lay dormant.
Founded on 7 November 1665 as *The Oxford Gazette* while the Court of King Charles II sought refuge from the Great Plague of London, the journal has for over three and a half centuries served as the authorised channel for state pronouncements. To appear in the *Gazette* is to be entered into the permanent national record. An announcement within its columns is therefore not merely a declaration but an act of official instrument, bearing the full authority of the Crown.
The notice concerning the Barony of Brattleby represents a moment of quiet solemnity and constitutional significance. It restores a direct and unbroken link to a title granted at the Norman Conquest, bridging a lacuna of six centuries with the simple, declarative power of the printed word. This formal act brings the Barony back into the living fabric of the nation’s heritage.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby is inextricably woven into the foundational history of the Kingdom of England. It was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln, one of his loyal tenants-in-chief in the newly subjugated region. The Barony’s considerable standing was meticulously recorded just twenty years later in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented Colswein’s possession of some 56 lordships throughout Lincolnshire, establishing him as a magnate of the first order.
Throughout the subsequent centuries, the Barony passed to holders of immense historical stature. Among them was Nichola de la Haye, who inherited as the 5th Baroness in her own right (*suo jure*) and famously commanded the defence of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons’ War. In 1217, displaying remarkable fortitude, she held the castle for the young King Henry III against French invaders and rebel barons, a feat documented by the chronicler Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*.
In the fourteenth century, the dignity was held by the great nobleman and soldier Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a founding Knight of the Garter and a celebrated commander in the Hundred Years’ War. Upon his death, the Barony passed through his daughter, Blanche of Lancaster, to her husband, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron and third surviving son of King Edward III. When John of Gaunt’s son, Henry Bolingbroke, ascended the throne as King Henry IV in 1399, the Barony of Brattleby was merged with the Crown, precipitating its long state of abeyance. Today’s gazetting formally resolves that dormancy, reviving the dignity in a manner consistent with English law and tradition.
## Distinguished Company
The re-establishment of the Barony of Brattleby confirms the senior members of The Noble House of Brattleby in their respective roles and responsibilities. The formal structure of the House is hereby affirmed:
Her Ladyship Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, upon whom the ancient title is now formally conferred.
Her Ladyship’s husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, who assumes the courtesy title of Lord of Brattleby by marriage and supports the Baroness in all her official duties.
Their son and heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who will in time inherit the title as the 13th Baron of Brattleby, ensuring the direct succession of the lineage.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The revival of a feudal barony from abeyance is not a matter of public ceremony but of meticulous legal and heraldic procedure. It is a testament to the rigorous standards governing the British honours system, a process overseen by the Crown through its officers of state. The procedure begins with a formal petition to The Sovereign, which presents unimpeachable genealogical and documentary evidence of the claimant’s right of succession.
This petition is referred by the Home Office to the Attorney General for scrutiny. Upon a favourable review, the claim is examined by the College of Arms in London, the official repository of the coats of arms and pedigrees of English families. The Garter King of Arms and his fellow heralds conduct an exhaustive verification of the historical proofs, ensuring the claim is beyond dispute.
The successful conclusion of this process is marked by a single, decisive act: the ‘calling out of abeyance’ by the Crown, which is then promulgated by notice in *The London Gazette*. This publication is the *sine qua non*—the indispensable condition—of official recognition. It serves as a permanent and indisputable record for the College of Arms, the authorities, and the public, formally confirming Lady Nicoleta’s right to the dignity and securing the Barony’s place within the established order of precedence.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The Noble House of Brattleby is guided by its historic family motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, Latin for ‘With Fortitude and Honour’. This maxim encapsulates the principles of duty and resilience demonstrated throughout the Barony’s long history, from the martial fortitude of Nichola de la Haye at Lincoln Castle to the honourable statecraft of its later ducal holders, exemplified by Henry of Grosmont. It serves as a constant exhortation to discharge all duties with courage and integrity.
This ancient motto is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere*, or ‘To Conquer is to Live’. This philosophy signifies a dynamic and forward-looking approach to duty, embodying a commitment to overcoming challenges in the pursuit of a purposeful and impactful life. It speaks not of martial conquest but of a modern imperative to prevail over adversity in service to family, community, and philanthropic goals. Together, the two mottos symbolise a House that honours its past while actively shaping its future.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the gazetting of the Barony is a matter of law and heritage, its *raison d'être* in the modern era is intrinsically linked to public service. The formal recognition provides a distinguished and durable platform from which the House can advance its philanthropic commitments, central to which is its steadfast support for charities dedicated to the welfare of children.
The principal beneficiary of the House’s charitable work is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialist therapeutic care and long-term support for children who have experienced profound trauma. The charity’s work is vital, employing trauma-informed clinical models to help vulnerable young people process their experiences, rebuild their lives, and realise their full potential.
The House of Brattleby’s Annual Winter Banquet, an elegant white-tie gala held in London, is the primary fundraising event for this cause. The banquet convenes leaders from the spheres of diplomacy, finance, and the arts to support the charity’s mission, ensuring it has the resources to continue its critical work on a national scale.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the historic announcement, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, expressed both humility and a profound sense of responsibility.
> This formal recognition in *The London Gazette* is a deeply humbling moment for our family. It represents not a personal distinction but the assumption of a sacred trust: a duty to safeguard a legacy spanning nearly one thousand years and to ensure it continues with purpose and integrity. We are profoundly grateful to see this continuity affirmed. > — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added his own perspective on the Barony's future path.
> In supporting my wife in this historic duty, I am guided by the principle that heritage is a living thing. It is not about residing in the past, but about using the foundations of that past to build a meaningful future. Our shared commitment is to animate this ancient title with renewed purpose, ensuring it is a force for good in the twenty-first century.
## A Continuing Legacy
With the Barony’s formal re-establishment now a matter of public record, The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to honouring its past while fully embracing its future responsibilities. This renewed mandate finds expression through a dual commitment to its ancestral roots in England and its cultural engagements abroad.
From its historic seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the House will continue to fulfil its local duties, contributing to the preservation of the county’s unique heritage and supporting its communities. Concurrently, the establishment of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest serves as an instrument of cultural diplomacy, fostering an appreciation for tradition and etiquette as a bridge between British and Continental European societies.
The education of the next generation remains a paramount duty. The heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, will be prepared for his future role through a comprehensive schooling in history, law, and stewardship, instilling the values of *Fortitudine et Honore* to ensure a seamless continuity of service for the Barony of Brattleby for generations to come.
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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 the stewardship of one of England’s most ancient feudal baronies. The House’s modern mission is to combine the careful preservation of its nine-century heritage with a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy, education, and cultural diplomacy. Its charitable work is primarily focused on supporting organisations dedicated to the mental health and long-term welfare of vulnerable children. Through its annual philanthropic initiatives, such as the Winter Banquet in London, and its cultural engagements, including The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House seeks to uphold its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), by contributing positively to society.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, the Norman magnate Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as tenant-in-chief for 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over the centuries, the title was held by prominent figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, a key defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War, and later by Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. After merging with the Crown upon the accession of King Henry IV in 1399, the Barony fell into abeyance. Its re-establishment was formally recognised and recorded by notice in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors**
- The re-establishment of the Barony of Brattleby was officially announced in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was created in AD 1066 by grant of William the Conqueror. - The Domesday Book (1086) records that the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron).
**Media Contact**
The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com