# The Noble House of Brattleby Announces The Brattleby Archives Project
LONDON, 21 May 2024 — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile have today announced The Brattleby Archives Project, a significant scholarly undertaking to catalogue, conserve, and share the near-thousand-year history of one of England’s most ancient baronies.
## The Occasion
The announcement, made from the family's ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, marks a new chapter of dynamic stewardship for the Barony. Following the formal recognition of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness in 2022, this initiative represents the first major public project aimed at illuminating the House's extensive and historically significant archives.
As spring brings renewal to the Lincolnshire landscape, so too does this project promise to breathe new life into a narrative that has lain dormant for centuries. It is an intellectual enterprise designed to bridge the past and present, making a unique heritage accessible to a global audience.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, stands as a direct link to the Norman Conquest. The Domesday Book of 1086 records its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as a tenant-in-chief holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, establishing the Barony as a cornerstone of the new Norman order.
Over nine centuries, the title has been vested in figures of national importance. These include the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron, who as Constable defended Lincoln Castle against rebel barons for the Crown; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his successor, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III. Following John of Gaunt's death in 1399, the title fell into abeyance for 623 years, its revival under Lady Nicoleta signifying a remarkable moment of historical continuity.
## Distinguished Company
To realise this ambitious undertaking, the House of Brattleby will collaborate with leading historians and archivists from several of the United Kingdom's most respected institutions. Consultations are underway with specialists from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, as well as curators at The British Library, who have previously drawn upon the Brattleby archives for medieval studies.
In keeping with the House’s modern European dimension, the project will also engage with academic bodies in Romania and across the Continent, fostering an international dialogue around the shared currents of European history and aristocratic tradition.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The project will adhere to a rigorous scholarly protocol, reflecting the gravity of the material. The process begins with the careful physical conservation of fragile documents, which include medieval Pipe Rolls, charter witness lists, and centuries of manorial court records now in the custodianship of the House.
Following conservation, each document will be subjected to palaeographic analysis and catalogued using international archival standards. The resulting digital records will form a comprehensive database, ensuring this invaluable primary source material is preserved for and accessible to future generations of scholars and researchers. The meticulous nature of this work is, in itself, a testament to the family’s commitment to its duties as historical stewards.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The House of Brattleby is guided by its ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This principle encapsulates the nine centuries of duty, resilience, and integrity demonstrated by its holders, from the battlefield and the royal court to the modern-day imperative of cultural preservation.
Complementing this is the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In its contemporary interpretation, this sentiment speaks not to military conquest, but to the vital challenge of overcoming obscurity and the passage of time—of actively working to ensure that a profound legacy continues to live and inspire.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The ethos of service that underpins The Brattleby Archives Project extends to all activities of the House. This commitment is most publicly expressed through the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in support of the House’s chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child.
The charity is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support to children and young people who have experienced trauma, loss, or abuse. The selection of this cause reflects the House's belief that a core responsibility of heritage is to contribute to a better future, securing the well-being of the next generation *inter alia*.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the new project, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: — "It is a profound privilege to be the custodians of such a long and storied history. This project is our commitment to honouring that legacy, not by sealing it away, but by sharing it openly. It is a duty we owe not only to our predecessors but to all who find inspiration in the great continuum of history."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: — "Heritage is not static; it is a living dialogue between what was and what can be. In bringing the story of Brattleby to light, we are building a bridge between England and the Continent, and between the medieval world and the digital age. For us, *Vincere Est Vivere* today means ensuring this extraordinary legacy thrives for centuries to come."
## A Continuing Legacy
The Brattleby Archives Project is envisioned as a multi-year endeavour. Its primary outputs will be a publicly accessible digital archive, a series of scholarly monographs, and a programme of educational lectures. This initiative runs parallel to the House's other modern commitments, including The Brattleby Club, its etiquette and protocol academy in Bucharest.
Together, these efforts reaffirm the House's contemporary mission: to act as a custodian of ancient traditions while fostering a modern, forward-looking European identity. This work will ultimately be passed to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, ensuring the enduring strength of the Barony of Brattleby.
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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 Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the stewardship of one of England’s most ancient peerages. Following the revival of the Barony in 2022 after a 623-year dormancy, the House’s modern mission is centred on heritage preservation, cultural education, and philanthropy. Its activities include The Brattleby Archives Project, the Annual Winter Banquet in aid of its chosen charity, Healing the Wounded Child, and The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House champions the enduring relevance of history, service, and cross-cultural dialogue in the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The feudal Barony of Brattleby is an ancient Lordship of the Peerage in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships. Throughout the medieval period, the Barony was held by notable figures including Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt. After 1399, the title lay dormant until its rights were formally recognised and assigned to Lady Nicoleta Vasile by The Crown, as documented in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083) on 9 September 2022, ensuring the continuation of its near-millennial history.
**Notes to Editors** - The assignment of the Barony of Brattleby is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book of 1086 documents the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - The motto of the Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). - The principal philanthropic beneficiary of the House is the charity Healing the Wounded Child, supported by the Annual Winter Banquet.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com