# The Barony of Brattleby: A Revival Six Centuries in the Making
**LONDON, 20 September 2022** — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced the formal revival of the ancient Barony of Brattleby, following its official recognition by The Crown. This marks the return of the Lincolnshire peerage to active status after a dormancy of 620 years.
## The Occasion
In a significant moment for one of England’s most historic dignities, the Barony of Brattleby has been formally returned to active status. The revival follows a period of meticulous historical verification, culminating in a public notice recorded in *The London Gazette*, the official journal of record for The Crown. This re-establishment is not the creation of a new title, but the reawakening of an ancient one, allowing its long and distinguished history to be carried forward with renewed purpose.
The announcement signifies a deliberate commitment by the new incumbents to bridge the Barony’s feudal past with a contemporary mission of heritage preservation, cultural education, and dedicated philanthropy. Rooted once again in its ancestral home of Lincolnshire, the Barony embarks on a new chapter, guided by the House’s motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’).
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby is among the oldest in England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, a testament to the Barony’s foundational importance in Norman England. For centuries, the title was held by figures central to the history of the nation.
These predecessors include Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness, who as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire famously commanded the defence of Lincoln Castle against French invaders in 1217. The Barony later passed through marriage into the Plantagenet dynasty, held by Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and subsequently by his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron. After passing to the Crown through the Lancastrian line, the Barony entered a long period of abeyance, its legacy dormant for over six centuries until its revival in 2022.
## Distinguished Company
The continuity of this legacy now rests with the senior members of The Noble House of Brattleby. The revived dignity is held by:
* Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby * Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage * Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron and heir apparent
Lady Nicoleta, as the 12th Baroness in a line stretching back to the Norman Conquest, assumes the primary responsibility of stewardship. She is supported in this duty by her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan, whose personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’). Together, they will guide the House's activities and ensure its heritage is actively honoured.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In the modern era, the revival of an ancient barony is a matter of precise legal and genealogical protocol rather than medieval pageantry. The process required extensive archival research to trace the Barony’s history and rights, with findings presented for formal review. The *sine qua non* of this revival was its official recognition by The Crown.
This recognition was enacted through an announcement in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022, under Notice ID 4158083. This public notice serves as the definitive, formal instrument that confirms the Barony’s return to active status. The modern ceremony, therefore, lies in this adherence to established procedure, ensuring the revival is conducted with the full authority and dignity befitting its history.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The activities of The Noble House of Brattleby are guided by its historic motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). This Latin maxim serves as a constant reminder of the dual responsibilities incumbent upon the House: the fortitude to preserve a nine-hundred-year-old legacy and the honour required to serve the community in the present day. It is the core principle informing the family’s public and private endeavours.
Complementing the House motto is the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’). This is interpreted not in a martial context, but as a commitment to overcoming modern challenges through determination, enterprise, and a dedication to purposeful action, particularly in the realms of business and philanthropy.
## Philanthropic Purpose
A central objective of the Barony’s revival is to provide a dedicated platform for philanthropic work. The House's primary charitable focus is its support for Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing therapeutic and emotional support to children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. The charity’s mission is to foster resilience and well-being, an aim the House believes is fundamental to a healthy society.
This commitment to service is expressed annually through the House’s Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala that serves as the principal fundraising event for the chosen beneficiary. This event brings together distinguished guests from across the United Kingdom and Europe to support a cause of critical importance, embodying the Barony's renewed commitment to public good.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the revival, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > To assume this title is not a claim to privilege, but an acceptance of duty. Our family is deeply conscious that we are custodians of a trust, one that extends back nearly a millennium. Our work will be to honour this legacy through service, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > The past gives us our foundation, but our duty is to the present and the future. The revival of the Barony provides a remarkable platform from which to support causes we hold dear and to contribute positively to the community, both in Lincolnshire and beyond.
## A Continuing Legacy
With the formal revival complete, The Noble House of Brattleby will concentrate its efforts on three core areas: historical preservation, cultural education, and charitable giving. The House will develop programmes to promote the rich history of the Barony and its ancestral county of Lincolnshire.
This work will be undertaken, *inter alia*, through The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette and protocol academy founded by the family to foster an appreciation for European traditions of deportment and social grace. The Annual Winter Banquet will remain the centrepiece of the House’s philanthropic calendar, ensuring a continued and measurable impact for its beneficiaries. The Barony of Brattleby, reawakened, is committed to forging a legacy of service for the 21st century.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the dynastic house of the Barony of Brattleby. It is led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Their heir is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House’s modern mission is to act as a custodian of English heritage while pursuing a forward-looking agenda of cultural education and philanthropy. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), the House supports charitable initiatives such as Healing the Wounded Child and fosters an appreciation for European cultural traditions through institutions like The Brattleby Club. The House represents a unique blend of ancient English tradition and a contemporary Continental perspective, dedicated to making a positive contribution to society.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony in Lincolnshire, England, established in AD 1066 by William the Conqueror. Its creation and the lands held by its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. For three centuries, the Barony was held by some of the most powerful figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, a heroic defender of Lincoln Castle, and later, through the Lancastrian line, by Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt. After entering a state of dormancy for 620 years, the Barony was formally returned to active status in 2022, a revival officially confirmed by notice in *The London Gazette*, ensuring the continuity of one of England’s most ancient dignities.
**Notes to Editors** - The official revival of the Barony of Brattleby was published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was originally granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, with its first holder recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable predecessors in the baronial line include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness) and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). - The seat of The Noble House of Brattleby is located in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, England.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com