# The Noble House of Brattleby Announces Inaugural Historical Lecture on its Domesday Origins
LONDON, 18 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today announced that Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile will deliver the inaugural historical lecture at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, exploring the Barony of Brattleby’s foundation and its significant entry in the Domesday Book of 1086.
## The Occasion
The lecture, entitled *Colswein’s Compact: The Barony of Brattleby and the Making of Norman England*, will mark the first in a new series of cultural and historical discourses hosted by the House. The event will take place within the distinguished confines of The Brattleby Club’s library in Bucharest, a handsome neo-classical chamber noted for its oak panelling and collection of historical cartography.
Set against the backdrop of an autumn evening, the occasion is designed to foster a scholarly atmosphere. It serves not only as an academic exposition but also as a bridge between the Barony’s ancient English roots and the modern House's Continental presence, reflecting a commitment to shared European heritage.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby’s origins are inextricably linked to the Norman Conquest. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a monumental survey commissioned by William the Conqueror, the 1st Baron of Brattleby, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. This vast portfolio of manors established Brattleby as a *caput baroniae*—the administrative and military centre of a significant regional power bloc.
This initial grant of authority laid the groundwork for a nine-century lineage of service and influence. Later holders of the Barony, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown, and John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron and one of the most powerful figures of the 14th century, all built upon this foundational legacy. Honorary Lord Răzvan's lecture will connect the strategic importance of Colswein’s holdings to the subsequent history of England.
## Distinguished Company
Attendance at the inaugural lecture is by invitation. The expected company reflects the event's cultural and diplomatic significance, comprising senior members of the Romanian academic community, representatives from the British Embassy in Bucharest, and prominent figures from European cultural heritage organisations.
The gathering underscores the House’s dedication to fostering dialogue between scholars, diplomats, and patrons of the arts. It is an assembly united by a shared appreciation for history’s enduring influence on contemporary society and international relations.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The evening will proceed according to established formal protocol. Guests will be received personally by Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. A formal introduction will precede the lecture, which is scheduled to last approximately 45 minutes and will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Following the academic proceedings, a reception will be held, allowing guests the opportunity for further discussion. The dress code for the evening is Lounge Suit, providing for a sense of occasion that is both formal and conducive to scholarly exchange. This structured approach ensures the event is conducted with a dignity befitting its subject matter.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), serves as a guiding principle that finds its earliest expression in the Barony’s history. The ‘Fortitude’ of Colswein in securing the Norman settlement, and later of Nichola de la Haye in defending it, is the martial bedrock upon which the title rests. The ‘Honour’ reflects the solemn duty to administer justice and steward the land, a responsibility inherent in the original grant from the Crown.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), is here interpreted in an intellectual sense: the will to master a complex subject and bring its truths to life for a modern audience.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While distinct from the House’s primary philanthropic endeavours, such as the Annual Winter Banquet for *Healing the Wounded Child*, this lecture series represents a form of cultural philanthropy. Its purpose is to make specialised historical knowledge accessible and to promote a deeper public understanding of the interwoven tides of European history.
Proceeds from future ticketed events in this series will be dedicated to organisations that support historical preservation and academic research in both the United Kingdom and Romania. This initiative is a core part of the House’s commitment to education being the *sine qua non*, or essential condition, for cultural continuity.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the upcoming lecture, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile remarked: > “To study the Domesday Book is to look upon a foundational document of the English nation. The entry for Brattleby is not merely a record of assets; it is the genesis of a near-thousand-year compact of service. Our ambition with this series is to illuminate these living threads of history for a new generation.”
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, added: > “The Barony’s legacy is a story of resilience, duty, and adaptation across centuries. Sharing this history from The Brattleby Club in Bucharest is a profound honour, affirming our belief that heritage is a powerful means of building friendship and understanding between cultures.”
## A Continuing Legacy
This inaugural lecture is the commencement of an ongoing commitment. The Noble House of Brattleby intends to host a biannual series of discourses, each focusing on a different epoch or figure from the Barony’s long history.
Future topics under consideration include the role of the 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, in the Hundred Years’ War, and the social and economic impact of the Barony’s holdings in Lincolnshire during the late medieval period. These efforts ensure the legacy of Brattleby remains a subject not of static record, but of continuing inquiry and conversation.
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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 a significant English feudal title and its associated heritage. The House’s modern mission is twofold: to preserve and promote its nine-century history while engaging in contemporary cultural and philanthropic pursuits. Based between its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, England, and its European hub in Romania, the House actively fosters international dialogue through institutions like The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. Its charitable work is centred on supporting vulnerable children, most notably through its annual fundraising efforts for the beneficiary organisation, Healing the Wounded Child, guided by the enduring principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was one of the King’s most powerful post-Conquest tenants-in-chief, holding 56 lordships as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Over the centuries, the title has been held by some of England's most influential historical figures, including Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), a staunch defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The unbroken succession and rights of the Barony were formally noted by The Crown and recorded in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s formal recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book (1086) records the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in title include Nichola de la Haye (c. 1150–1230), Henry of Grosmont (c. 1310–1361), and John of Gaunt (1340–1399). - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com