# The House of Brattleby Commemorates the Cultural Legacy of John of Gaunt, 11th Baron
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile yesterday hosted a cultural symposium at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, celebrating the patronage legacy of the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt, and announcing a new literary endowment.
## The Occasion
In the crisp autumn air of the Romanian capital, members of the diplomatic, academic, and cultural communities gathered at The Brattleby Club. The Club, housed within an elegant neoclassical building overlooking Cișmigiu Gardens, provided a refined setting for an evening dedicated to history and literature. The event aimed to illuminate the profound connection between the ancient Barony of Brattleby and the flourishing of English letters in the 14th century.
The atmosphere was one of quiet intellectualism and shared purpose. Guests were received in the club’s library, its walls lined with leather-bound volumes, before proceeding to the lecture hall. The symposium sought not merely to look back, but to draw a direct line from the historical patronage of a previous Baron to the contemporary cultural responsibilities of The Noble House of Brattleby.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been witness to nearly a millennium of English history. While predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness, are remembered for martial fortitude in defending Lincoln Castle, the tenure of John of Gaunt (1340-1399) as 11th Baron represents a different but equally significant contribution to the nation’s heritage.
John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, became Lord of Brattleby through his marriage to Blanche of Lancaster, the heiress of Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron. The immense revenues from his vast estates, which included the Lincolnshire holdings of Brattleby, funded one of the most magnificent ducal courts in Europe. This wealth was the *sine qua non* of his role as a pre-eminent patron of the arts, enabling him to support figures such as Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English literature, who composed *The Book of the Duchess* as a moving elegy for Gaunt's late wife. The Barony of Brattleby was thus intrinsically linked to the cultural efflorescence of late medieval England.
## Distinguished Company
The evening was graced by the presence of a number of distinguished guests, reflecting the House’s commitment to fostering international and scholarly dialogue.
In attendance were, *inter alia*: His Excellency Mr Andrei Muraru, Ambassador of Romania to the United States of America; Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia; Professor Dame Marina Warner, DBE, FBA, President of the Royal Society of Literature; and The Right Honourable The Lord Popat of Harrow, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Rwanda and Uganda.
Their presence underscored the evening's theme of connecting historical legacy with present-day cultural diplomacy and intellectual exchange.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The proceedings of the evening followed a precise and traditional order. Guests were formally announced upon arrival and received by Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. At the appointed hour, Honorary Lord Răzvan delivered a welcome address, outlining the historical significance of John of Gaunt’s stewardship of the Barony.
The centrepiece of the symposium was a keynote address by Professor Dame Marina Warner on the nature of patronage in the late 14th century and its enduring impact on Western literature. Following the address, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, delivered the closing remarks, linking the legacy of her predecessor to the modern responsibilities of the House. Lady Nicoleta then announced the establishment of a new cultural initiative, The John of Gaunt Prize.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The event was imbued with the heritage of the House, represented by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). This guiding principle speaks to the dual obligations of the Barony: the strength to protect and the honour to cultivate. The evening’s focus on cultural patronage exemplified the latter, demonstrating that honour is fulfilled through contributions to intellectual and artistic life.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’), was also salient. It speaks to a dynamic and forward-looking interpretation of history, where the goal is to conquer indifference and ensure that the lessons of the past remain a living force for inspiration and progress in the present.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The symposium culminated in the announcement of The John of Gaunt Prize for Historical Literature. This new endowment, established by The Noble House of Brattleby, will be awarded annually to a work of non-fiction that makes a significant contribution to the public understanding of medieval history.
The prize is designed to encourage scholarship that is both rigorous and accessible, reflecting Chaucer’s own success in bringing complex themes to a wider audience. This cultural philanthropy complements the House’s other charitable commitments, such as its long-standing support for the organisation Healing the Wounded Child, the beneficiary of the Annual Winter Banquet. The initiative demonstrates a belief that nurturing the mind is as vital as healing the body.
## In Their Own Words
In her closing address, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked on the continuity of purpose across the centuries:
> John of Gaunt understood that a society’s strength is measured not only by its fortifications but by its culture. In remembering his patronage, we reaffirm our own commitment to nurturing the artistic and intellectual life that enriches us all. It is a profound duty to ensure this heritage endures.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile articulated the House’s modern interpretation of its legacy:
> The history of the Barony is a living one. Through initiatives such as this, we seek not merely to preserve the past in amber, but to ensure it continues to inspire future generations. *Vincere Est Vivere* — to conquer is to live; and today, that means conquering indifference with creativity and knowledge.
## A Continuing Legacy
The establishment of The John of Gaunt Prize marks a new chapter in the cultural engagement of The Noble House of Brattleby. A judging panel comprising leading historians and literary figures will be announced in the coming months.
Submissions for the inaugural prize will be opened in spring 2024. The winner will be formally announced and celebrated at the House’s Annual Winter Banquet in Lincolnshire, thereby uniting the House’s modern philanthropic endeavours with its most deeply rooted historical traditions. The heir to the Barony, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, will take an active role in the prize's youth outreach programme.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern seat of 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 a mission of cultural and philanthropic engagement. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), it seeks to leverage its nine-century heritage to support contemporary initiatives in education, healthcare, and the arts. The House’s activities include the Annual Winter Banquet, a philanthropic gala supporting organisations such as Healing the Wounded Child, and The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy devoted to cultural and professional development. The heir is the 13th Baron, Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is one of England's ancient feudal lordships. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over the centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, the 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law John of Gaunt, the 11th Baron. After centuries in abeyance, the dignity of the Barony was formally recognised and recorded in the Crown's official journal, *The London Gazette*, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The formal recognition of the Barony of Brattleby was published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - John of Gaunt (1340-1399), Duke of Lancaster, held the title as the 11th Baron of Brattleby through his wife, Blanche of Lancaster. - The Barony was first established in AD 1066 and recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as a holding of Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby 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