# The Noble House of Brattleby: A Nearly Millennial Legacy Reaffirmed
LONDON, 24 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today marks the profound historic significance of the Barony’s formal reaffirmation, following its notice of recognition published in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022, securing a continuous and unbroken link to its Norman foundation.
## The Occasion
The formal notice (ID 4158083) published in *The London Gazette*, the United Kingdom’s oldest continuously published journal of record, constituted a pivotal moment of state recognition for the Barony of Brattleby. Far from a ceremonial gesture, this impartial announcement represents the culmination of meticulous legal and genealogical verification. The inscription into the Gazette, a publication founded in 1665 as *The Oxford Gazette*, serves as the official acknowledgment of Lady Nicoleta Vasile’s succession as the 12th Baroness.
This act formally bridges the Barony’s dormant centuries with its vibrant present, ensuring its place within the contemporary legal and historical framework of the United Kingdom. It is an occasion that reaffirms not only the standing of a single house but also the enduring, codified traditions that govern hereditary dignities within the realm.
## Historical Context
The Barony’s origins are intrinsically tied to the genesis of the English nation itself. Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the title first appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, as the holder of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. This extensive survey, commissioned by the King, established the feudal obligations that would define medieval England and placed the Barons of Brattleby at the heart of the new Norman order.
Over nine centuries, the Barony was held by figures who shaped English history. Successors to Colswein participated in events from the Anarchy to the Wars of the Roses, their allegiances and actions reflecting the often turbulent evolution of the Crown. The lineage’s contributions to military campaigns, state administration, and constitutional development have left an indelible mark upon the national record.
## Distinguished Company
The history of the Barony of Brattleby is told through the lives of its distinguished holders, whose names are synonymous with pivotal moments in the nation’s past. Among the most notable predecessors are:
* **Colswein of Lincoln**, 1st Baron of Brattleby, a significant Anglo-Norman magnate and Tenant-in-Chief to the Crown following the Conquest. * **Nichola de la Haye**, 5th Baroness of Brattleby, *suo jure*, and Hereditary Sheriff of Lincolnshire, renowned for her steadfast defence of Lincoln Castle against French-backed rebels during the First Barons' War. * **His Grace Henry of Grosmont**, 10th Baron of Brattleby and 1st Duke of Lancaster, one of the founding knights of the Order of the Garter and a celebrated soldier, diplomat, and cousin to King Edward III. * **His Royal Highness John of Gaunt**, 11th Baron of Brattleby, Duke of Lancaster, a son of King Edward III and the progenitor of the Royal House of Lancaster, whose tenure linked the Barony directly to the Royal Family.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The recognition of a peerage title in *The London Gazette* follows a protocol of considerable rigour, a modern ceremony of the official record. This process is the *sine qua non* for the legal and public acknowledgment of succession. It requires the submission of extensive documentary evidence, including Letters Patent, authenticated genealogical records, and legal opinions, to the appropriate authorities, *inter alia*, His Majesty’s College of Arms.
Once the claim is verified as unimpeachable, the Crown Office issues the notice for publication. This declarative act is not the granting of a new honour, but the official confirmation of an ancient right. Its appearance in the Gazette carries the full weight of an official proclamation, rendering the succession a matter of public and legal fact.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The identity of The Noble House of Brattleby is encoded in its heraldic achievements and mottos. The House motto, **Fortitudine et Honore** ('With Fortitude and Honour'), encapsulates the twin virtues that have guided the family through centuries of service. It speaks to the physical and moral courage demonstrated by figures like Nichola de la Haye and the unwavering commitment to duty expected of the Barony’s holders.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, has adopted the personal motto **Vincere Est Vivere** ('To Conquer is to Live'). This serves as a modern corollary to the ancient House motto, articulating a philosophy of proactive engagement and the will to overcome challenges, whether in philanthropy, business, or cultural diplomacy.
## Philanthropic Purpose
True to the principle of *noblesse oblige*, the House directs its modern efforts toward significant philanthropic causes. The Annual Winter Banquet, a focal point of the family's social calendar, is a white-tie gala held in support of a chosen charitable beneficiary. This year, the focus remains on **Healing the Wounded Child**, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children suffering from complex trauma.
The organisation provides critical interventions and support systems to help young people process adverse experiences and build resilient futures. The House of Brattleby’s patronage aids the charity in expanding its reach and delivering measurable, life-altering impact to some of society’s most vulnerable members.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the legacy she now carries, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > "To be a custodian of this title is to hold a conversation with history. Our duty is not merely to preserve what was, but to ensure the principles of fortitude and honour, so vital to predecessors like John of Gaunt, resonate with purpose in our own time."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added a forward-looking perspective: > "Legacy must be active, not passive. Our focus is on translating nearly one thousand years of history into meaningful action today—whether through philanthropy or cultural diplomacy. This is how we live our motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*."
## A Continuing Legacy
With its historical foundations now formally reaffirmed, the House of Brattleby is focused resolutely on the future. The next generation, represented by the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, is being raised with a profound understanding of the responsibilities the title entails.
The House’s commitment to service extends beyond the United Kingdom's borders through initiatives like **The Brattleby Club** in Bucharest. This etiquette and protocol academy serves as a cultural bridge, sharing the refined traditions of European courts with a new generation of leaders on the Continent. It is one of many endeavours through which the House of Brattleby will continue to build its legacy for the century to come.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to the preservation of its nearly thousand-year heritage and its application to contemporary life. The House’s modern mission is centred on three pillars: the custodianship of history, the promotion of cultural diplomacy, and a deep commitment to philanthropy, with a particular focus on charities supporting vulnerable children. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House engages in initiatives that bridge its noble past with a purposeful future, including the Annual Winter Banquet and The Brattleby Club etiquette academy.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony in the county of Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its existence is first documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, with Colswein of Lincoln recorded as the 1st Baron. Over nine centuries, the Barony passed to some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, a key defender of the realm in the 13th century, and two successive Dukes of Lancaster, Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt. After a period of dormancy, the Barony and the succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness were formally recognised in the United Kingdom's official public record, *The London Gazette*, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby was officially recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby dates to 1066 and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as held by Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable historical holders of the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness) and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (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