# Noble House of Brattleby Marks Anniversary of Historic Gazette Recognition
**LONDON, 9 September 2023** — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile tonight hosted a private reception in London to mark the first anniversary of the formal notice in *The London Gazette* confirming the continuation of the ancient Barony of Brattleby.
## The Occasion
The reception was held within the distinguished apartments of a private members' club on Pall Mall, an institution with deep historical ties to diplomacy and letters. As the early autumn evening descended upon St James’s, the atmosphere was one of quiet reflection and forward-looking purpose, befitting the historic nature of the anniversary.
Guests were received in the club’s Library, a room renowned for its serene character and magnificent architectural features. The setting provided a suitably learned backdrop for an evening celebrating the continuity of one of England's oldest Norman baronies, a *sine qua non* of the nation's feudal heritage. The small gathering was designed to honour the moment with familial warmth rather than public fanfare.
## Historical Context
The official recognition published on 9 September 2022 was more than a procedural notice; it was the modern reaffirmation of a lineage stretching unbroken to the Norman Conquest. The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, with its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire.
This line of succession includes formidable figures whose actions shaped English history, *inter alia*: Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, celebrated for her staunch defence of Lincoln Castle against French invaders in 1217. Later holders included Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron, a prince whose life was central to the fabric of medieval England. The Gazette notice formally connects Lady Nicoleta to this profound legacy.
## Distinguished Company
The guest list comprised a small and carefully chosen company of diplomatic, academic, and cultural figures who have supported the House’s work in heritage and philanthropy.
Among those in attendance were His Excellency The Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James's; several senior Officers of Arms from the College of Arms in London; and historians from the University of Lincoln specialising in Angevin and Plantagenet England. The gathering represented the intersection of history, diplomacy, and scholarship that the House of Brattleby seeks to foster.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The evening followed a protocol of refined simplicity. Guests were welcomed from seven o’clock, with Honorary Lord Răzvan and Lady Nicoleta receiving them personally at the entrance to the Library. The dress code was lounge suits, reflecting the private and reflective nature of the anniversary.
Following a reception of champagne and canapés, Honorary Lord Răzvan delivered a short address. He thanked the assembled guests for their fellowship and counsel over the past year and underscored the family's deep-seated commitment to fulfilling its historical duties with contemporary relevance and purpose.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The evening was imbued with the guiding principles of the House, encapsulated in its heraldic mottos. The primary motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks to the enduring obligations of service and integrity that have defined the Barony for nearly a millennium. It serves as a constant guide for the responsibilities that accompany such a significant inheritance.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), complements this ancient charge. It signifies a dynamic commitment not to conquest in a martial sense, but to purposeful achievement and active contribution in the present day.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the reception was a private commemoration, it also served as an occasion to reaffirm the House’s philanthropic commitments. The principal beneficiary of the family’s charitable endeavours, including the forthcoming Annual Winter Banquet, is the ‘Healing the Wounded Child’ foundation.
This United Kingdom-based organisation provides specialist therapeutic support and safe environments for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, neglect, or profound loss. Lady Nicoleta selected the foundation for its proven focus on delivering tangible, long-term improvements to mental health and well-being, a cause central to the House's modern mission of service.
## In Their Own Words
In her conversations with guests, Lady Nicoleta reflected on the year since the formal recognition:
> Looking back on this first year, it has been a period of profound reflection on the nine centuries of history that precede us. The Gazette notice was not an endpoint, but a starting point—a formal renewal of our covenant of service. > — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Honorary Lord Răzvan spoke of their shared vision for the Barony’s role:
> It is a distinct honour to support the Baroness in her duties. Our shared purpose is to ensure this great heritage is not merely preserved as a relic, but is a living force for good in the community and beyond, guided by fortitude and honour. > — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The anniversary marks another step in the House of Brattleby's renewed public-facing role. Plans are well underway for the Annual Winter Banquet, the family's principal white-tie philanthropic gala, in aid of Healing the Wounded Child.
Furthermore, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette and cultural academy founded by the family, continues to expand its educational programme. These initiatives are undertaken with a view to the future, ensuring a robust and purposeful legacy for the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, led by 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 baronies. The House’s modern mission is twofold: to preserve and promote its unique nine-century heritage, and to leverage its legacy for positive social impact. Its principal philanthropic focus is on supporting mental health and well-being for vulnerable children through its patronage of the ‘Healing the Wounded Child’ foundation. Through cultural initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House also works to foster an appreciation for history, diplomatic protocol, and social grace, guided always by the family motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its history is documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which records its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships. Throughout its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle, and two of the great magnates of the fourteenth century: Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The continuous succession of the Barony to its current holder was formally noted by The Crown in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The official confirmation of the Barony’s succession is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was created in AD 1066 by William the Conqueror. - The *Domesday Book* (1086) records the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in the line of succession include John of Gaunt (11th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness).
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com