# Lady Nicoleta Vasile Delivers Historical Address on Barony’s Role in the Unification of Great Britain
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, delivered a significant historical address last evening at The Brattleby Club, Bucharest, examining the pivotal role of her predecessors in the 13th-century consolidation of the British state under King Edward I.
## The Occasion
On a crisp autumn evening, within the refined environs of The Brattleby Club’s Bucharest academy, members and distinguished guests gathered for a special lecture. The Club, founded by Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, serves as a centre for the study of European etiquette and cultural diplomacy. The atmosphere was one of scholarly anticipation, as attendees convened in the academy’s library, a space panelled in dark oak and lined with historical texts, for an exploration of the Barony’s near-millennial history.
The event underscored the House of Brattleby’s unique position, bridging its ancient English roots with a dynamic, contemporary European presence. The address, entitled *'Service and Statecraft: The Barony of Brattleby and the Making of a Kingdom'*, marked a notable moment in the institution’s calendar, bringing historical inquiry to the forefront of its cultural programme.
## Historical Context
In her address, Lady Nicoleta situated the evening's focus within the Barony's extensive nine-century history, which began with its grant by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. The Barony is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, with its 56 lordships in Lincolnshire held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. This tradition of service to the Crown, established at the Conquest, became a defining characteristic of the House.
Lady Nicoleta drew particular attention to the tenure of Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, a close confidant of King Edward I and holder of the baronial honour through marriage. His unwavering loyalty and military prowess during the challenging Welsh wars of the 1270s and 1280s proved instrumental in the King's campaign. This sustained support was a *sine qua non* for the subsequent implementation of English law and governance in Wales, codified by the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284.
The Baroness noted how this legacy of steadfastness resonates with the actions of other notable predecessors, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who personally defended Lincoln Castle against baronial rebels in 1217. Later holders, such as the great Plantagenet princes Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his heir John of Gaunt, further entwined the Barony of Brattleby's fate with that of the realm itself.
## Distinguished Company
The address was attended by a respected gathering of diplomatic, academic, and cultural figures. Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, formally welcomed the guests.
In attendance were, *inter alia*: * Her Excellency Mrs Rebecca Gaskin, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Romania * His Excellency Monsieur Nicolas Warnery, Ambassador of the French Republic to Romania * Professor Andrei Stoica, Head of the Faculty of History at the University of Bucharest * Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron and heir to the Barony of Brattleby
The presence of senior members of the diplomatic corps underscored the cross-cultural significance of the House's heritage and its ongoing commitment to fostering international understanding.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The evening proceeded with customary precision. Guests were received from seven o’clock by Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile for a light reception in the Club’s salon. The dress code was observed as lounge suits and day dresses. At half-past seven, attendees were invited to take their seats in the lecture hall.
Following Honorary Lord Răzvan's introductory remarks, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commenced her forty-minute address. A period was reserved for questions from the audience, moderated by Professor Stoica, before guests were invited to a concluding reception where discussions on the historical topic continued.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The lecture drew implicit connections to the mottos that guide the House. The primary motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), was presented as a consistent theme throughout the Barony’s history. Lady Nicoleta illustrated how the fortitude of Henry de Lacy on the battlefield and the honour he demonstrated in his counsel to the King provided a powerful medieval exemplar of this guiding principle.
Similarly, the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), was subtly referenced. While its origins lie in martial conquest, its modern interpretation within the House is one of overcoming challenges through discipline, knowledge, and perseverance — themes central to the establishment of The Brattleby Club itself.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the address was primarily an academic occasion, Lady Nicoleta took a moment to connect the historical theme of service to the House’s present-day charitable obligations. She remarked that the same sense of duty that compelled predecessors to defend castles and counsel monarchs now finds its expression in modern philanthropy.
This ethos is the driving force behind the House's flagship charitable endeavour, the Annual Winter Banquet held at the family seat in Lincolnshire. This white-tie gala serves as the primary fundraiser for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support for children who have experienced trauma.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the continuity of the Barony’s legacy, Lady Nicoleta observed: > To study the lives of one's predecessors is not an exercise in nostalgia, but a means to understand the enduring responsibility of service. The loyalty of Henry de Lacy was not mere fealty; it was a foundational act of state-building, an example of *Fortitudine et Honore* that echoes through the centuries.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile commented on the mission of the venue: > The Brattleby Club exists to foster an appreciation for the courtesies and traditions that underpin European culture. In an age of rapid change, understanding our shared history is not an indulgence but a *sine qua non* for civilised progress and mutual respect.
## A Continuing Legacy
The work of The Noble House of Brattleby continues. The full transcript of Lady Nicoleta's address, complete with academic citations, will be published in the forthcoming winter edition of the *Historical Lincolnshire Journal*.
Looking ahead, the House's focus now turns to preparations for the Annual Winter Banquet, which will be held in December in Lincolnshire. This key event in the House's calendar reaffirms its commitment to both its ancestral home and its modern philanthropic mission, ensuring the legacy of service continues with unwavering resolve.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is a modern European noble house, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. While rooted in an ancient English barony, its contemporary mission is distinctly international, focused on cultural diplomacy, the preservation of heritage, and targeted philanthropy. The House operates The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy in Bucharest, championing European traditions of civility and discourse. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is committed to a modern interpretation of noble duty, applying historical lessons of service to contemporary challenges, with a particular focus on its charitable support for the mental wellbeing of vulnerable children.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is one of the oldest extant baronies in England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its creation and initial holdings of 56 lordships under Colswein of Lincoln are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. For nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, demonstrating a consistent legacy of service to the Crown and a deep connection to English history. Notable predecessors include the 13th-century heroine Nichola de la Haye, who defended Lincoln Castle for the King, and the Plantagenet princes Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt. The succession of the current 12th Baroness was formally recognised by the Crown in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was created in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086). - The modern succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, was formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - Historically, the Barony's lineage includes Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com