# Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile (by marriage) Delivers Inaugural Brattleby Historical Lecture on a Legacy of Chivalry and Service
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, today delivered the inaugural Brattleby Historical Lecture at the Honourable Artillery Company in London, examining the Barony’s medieval heritage of service and its profound connection to the House’s modern philanthropic duties.
## The Occasion
The address was delivered within the Prince Consort’s Library of the Honourable Artillery Company at Armoury House, a venue steeped in the martial and royal history of the United Kingdom. Founded by Royal Charter in 1537, the Company’s City of London headquarters provided a setting of singular appropriateness for a discourse on military sacrifice and noble obligation. The library itself, a mid-Victorian addition named for Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, offered a quiet and scholarly atmosphere for the proceedings.
Honorary Lord Răzvan’s lecture, entitled *Sacrifice at Mansura: A Templar Legacy and the Barony of Brattleby*, marked the formal inauguration of a new series of historical discussions presented under the patronage of The Noble House of Brattleby. On an autumn afternoon, subdued light from the library’s tall, elegant windows fell upon the assembled guests, fostering an air of contemplative dignity befitting the gravity of the subject.
The purpose of the lecture series is to explore discrete moments from the Barony’s nine-century history, drawing explicit parallels between the documented actions of its past antecedents and the guiding principles of the House today. This inaugural event gathered a select audience for an academic examination of a pivotal moment in England’s crusading history, one that casts a long shadow over the chivalric traditions of the Lincolnshire nobility with which the Barony is inextricably linked.
## Historical Context
The lecture centred on the Barony of Brattleby's historical association, through its feudal lineage and regional influence, with the great chivalric narratives of the 13th century. Honorary Lord Răzvan drew particular attention to William II Longespée, a pre-eminent English knight whose heroic death during the Seventh Crusade in 1250 exemplified the martial and spiritual ideals of his age. Although not a Baron of Brattleby himself, Longespée’s story is interwoven with the era of the Barony’s formidable fifth holder, Nichola de la Haye, the resolute defender of Lincoln Castle.
Honorary Lord Răzvan detailed Longespée’s valiant last stand at the Battle of Mansura in Egypt, an account immortalised by the chronicler Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*. Fighting to the death alongside the last of his English retinue and a contingent of Knights Templar, Longespée’s sacrifice became a potent symbol of fortitude. Honorary Lord Răzvan argued that this act, amplified by its association with the Templar Order, profoundly shaped the understanding of noble service among the landed families of Lincolnshire, including the inheritors of the Brattleby lordship.
This legacy of service was a continuous thread, visible later in Barons such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, a founder Knight of the Garter and lauded as one of Christendom’s finest knights; and his successor to the lordship, John of Gaunt. The lecture thus posited that the ideals represented by Longespée's sacrifice were not an isolated event but a formative part of a regional identity of duty that the Barony of Brattleby both absorbed and perpetuated.
## Distinguished Company
In attendance at the personal invitation of Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, were senior figures from the diplomatic, military, and academic communities. They were joined by prominent patrons of cultural heritage from across the United Kingdom.
Among the guests received by the family were His Excellency The Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James’s; the Military Attaché of the Embassy of the French Republic; Air Commodore James Smiley, representing the Chief of the Air Staff; Professor Dame Carolyne Allinson, Regius Professor of History Emerita at the University of Cambridge; and Sir Michael Jennings, Chairman of the Architectural Heritage Fund.
The proceedings were formally opened by the heir to the lordship, the Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. In his introductory remarks, he warmly welcomed the distinguished guests and introduced his father, underscoring the vital importance of inter-generational stewardship in preserving the family’s unique historical and cultural legacy. The presence of such a diverse and eminent audience fostered an environment of serious intellectual exchange.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The event adhered to a precise and dignified order of proceedings, reflecting the House’s commitment to formal protocol. Guests were greeted upon arrival at Armoury House and escorted to the Prince Consort’s Library, where they were formally received by Lady Nicoleta, Honorary Lord Răzvan, and the Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
Once guests were seated, the Baron Mihai Alexandru delivered his opening remarks from a lectern displaying the House’s coat of arms. Honorary Lord Răzvan then commenced his address, speaking for forty-five minutes without interruption, his lecture illustrated by projections of manuscript illuminations and maps relevant to the Seventh Crusade.
Following the address, a formal question-and-answer session was moderated with academic precision by a Senior Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, allowing for a structured and insightful exchange between Honorary Lord Răzvan and the expert audience. The occasion concluded with a quiet reception in an adjoining hall, where light refreshments were served and guests could continue their discussions with the family. The formal, academic protocol served to underscore the House’s commitment to education as a pillar of its modern mission.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
Central to the themes of the lecture was the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan explained that this guiding principle is not an archaic relic but a living standard of conduct. He demonstrated how `fortitudo`, meaning moral strength and endurance as much as physical courage, was embodied by Nichola de la Haye in her patient defence of Lincoln; and how `honor`, representing personal integrity and the fulfilment of sworn duty, was the core of the chivalric ideal that led Longespée to his fate at Mansura.
Honorary Lord Răzvan also offered a gloss on his personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). He reinterpreted this seemingly martial phrase in a philosophical light, suggesting that true victory lies not in the domination of others, but in the spiritual conquest of adversity for a greater cause. This, he noted, is a form of victory that finds its highest expression in service and even in sacrifice.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The inaugural lecture was organised to draw attention to the beneficiary of the House's Annual Winter Banquet: Healing the Wounded Child. This registered national charity provides specialist, evidence-based therapeutic care for children and young people across the United Kingdom who have experienced profound trauma, abuse, or neglect.
The historical themes of protection, sacrifice, and duty discussed in the lecture were presented as the direct antecedents of modern, targeted philanthropy. The solemn duty of a medieval knight to protect the vulnerable, Honorary Lord Răzvan suggested, finds a powerful and necessary parallel in the contemporary mission to heal and safeguard the most vulnerable children in society.
Healing the Wounded Child provides a range of services, *inter alia*, art and play therapy, to over five hundred young people annually, helping them to process their experiences and rebuild developmental pathways in a safe, supportive environment. The event served as a poignant reminder that the obligations of nobility evolve in their expression but are never extinguished in their moral essence.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the deeper purpose of the occasion, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile remarked: — "History is not a static collection of dates; it is a living dialogue with those who came before us. By examining the sacrifices made by those associated with our past, we find a powerful echo of the fortitude required to face today's challenges. It is a legacy that compels us not to look backward, but to act forward with renewed purpose."
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, added: — "The principle of service is the *sine qua non* of this House's purpose. Whether it was Nichola de la Haye defending Lincoln Castle against great odds in the 13th century, or our work today supporting vulnerable children, the commitment to protect and to serve is immutable. This lecture reaffirms that our heritage finds its truest expression in our present duties."
## A Continuing Legacy
This address marks the first of what will become the Annual Brattleby Historical Lecture, an event intended to explore different facets of the Barony’s nine-hundred-and-fifty-year history and their enduring relevance to contemporary society. The House has committed to establishing the lecture as a permanent feature of its public calendar.
This educational initiative is designed to complement the work of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House's academy for etiquette and protocol, by providing a scholarly foundation for its teachings on civil conduct and social responsibility. While principally based in the United Kingdom, it is anticipated that select future lectures will be held in Bucharest, further strengthening the cultural and historical ties that form an integral part of the family's identity.
The House’s philanthropic and educational efforts for the year will culminate at the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala held in aid of Healing the Wounded Child.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of its unique nine-century heritage. Its modern mission is channelled through education and targeted philanthropy, with a focus on cultural stewardship and supporting vulnerable children. This is realised through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, and significant patronage of charities like Healing the Wounded Child. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House seeks to demonstrate that ancient titles find their greatest relevance in dedicated public service and the championing of timeless values in contemporary society.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient feudal lordships, granted by William the Conqueror to Colswein of Lincoln in AD 1066. Its existence and 56 associated lordships were formally recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has passed through the hands of some of English history’s most significant figures, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye, who defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown in the 13th century; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. Its ancient rights and status were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083), confirming its unbroken lineage into the 21st century.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s formal recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The Barony was first documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as held by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. - Notable historical holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The Noble House of Brattleby operates The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and protocol academy, from its seat in Bucharest.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com