# The Brattleby Historical Monograph Series Launched in Bucharest
**BUCHAREST, 24 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced the launch of *The Brattleby Historical Monographs*, a new lecture series exploring its nine-century lineage. The initiative, dedicated to scholarship and philanthropy, will commence with an examination of the Barony’s pivotal twelfth-century history.
## The Occasion
The formal announcement was made this morning during a reception hosted at The Brattleby Club, the House’s established cultural seat on the Continent, located in Bucharest. The Club is housed within a meticulously restored neoclassical villa whose elegant proportions and historicist detail reflect the long-standing cultural and familial connections between England and Romania cherished by the Vasile family. The event itself took place in the 'Lincoln Library', a chamber designed to evoke the scholarly atmosphere of an old English country house.
Guests were received amidst walls panelled in dark Romanian oak, the lustre of which was complemented by hand-tooled leather bindings of volumes on European history and law. The room was appointed with exacting reproductions of seventeenth-century terrestrial globes and cartographic folios, including facsimiles of the Lincolnshire entries from the Domesday Book of 1086. Filtered through tall sash windows, the morning light lent a quiet solemnity to the proceedings, creating an atmosphere of focused erudition entirely befitting the launch of a new academic enterprise. The occasion formally marked the inauguration of a recurring series of lectures intended to illuminate seminal moments from the Barony of Brattleby’s extensive and well-documented past.
## Historical Context
The twelfth century, which forms the subject of the inaugural monograph, represents a period that is a *sine qua non* for understanding the development of the Barony’s enduring character. Following the Norman settlement under its first recorded Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, the lineage faced its first great test during the protracted civil war known as The Anarchy (1135–1153). This bitter dynastic struggle between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda plunged England into decades of uncertainty and conflict, with Lincolnshire serving as a frequent and critical theatre of operations.
During this period of profound national instability, the steadfastness of the Barons of Brattleby proved indispensable to the preservation of royal authority in the region. As hereditary Constables of Lincoln Castle—a formidable stronghold commanding the north—successive barons upheld their feudal obligations with distinction. It was this era of trial, particularly under the leadership of Richard de la Haye, that forged the deep-seated military tradition and unwavering sense of duty that would become cornerstones of the House’s identity for centuries to come. This very resilience prepared the lineage for its most celebrated chapter: the heroic defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217 by the formidable 5th Baron, Nichola de la Haye. Her victory against French-backed rebel forces was instrumental in securing the English throne for the young King Henry III.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, presided over the morning’s reception. They were joined by a small and distinguished company of academics and cultural figures whose expertise will be central to the success of the new lecture series, reflecting the House's commitment to bridging British and Continental scholarship.
Among the principal guests was Professor Andrei Ionescu, the esteemed Chair of Medieval European History at the University of Bucharest. Professor Ionescu’s published works on the transmission of Norman legal and administrative structures into Eastern Europe have been widely acclaimed. Also in attendance was Dr Eleanor Fitzwilliam, a Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge, and a leading authority on the political and social influence of aristocratic women in twelfth-century England. The academic community keenly anticipates Dr Fitzwilliam’s forthcoming monograph on the life and career of Nichola de la Haye, a work to which she will provide a preview in the inaugural lecture. Their presence underscored the collaborative and scholarly spirit of the initiative.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In keeping with the House’s established standards of protocol, the proceedings adhered to a dignified and traditional order. Upon arrival, guests were received individually by Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile at the entrance to the Lincoln Library, after which they assembled for the formal announcement. The recommended attire of lounge suits for gentlemen and equivalent day dress for ladies maintained a degree of formality suited to a scholarly occasion held under distinguished patronage.
Honorary Lord Răzvan delivered the opening remarks from a discreet oak lectern, upon which was mounted a small, gilded plaque bearing the Brattleby coat of arms. He welcomed the assembled guests and articulated the intellectual and philanthropic ambitions underpinning the new series. Following his introduction, he had the pleasure of inviting Lady Nicoleta to make the formal announcement. The Baroness then delivered a concise address, concluding with the formal unveiling of the series programme and confirmed schedule for its first season. The reception culminated in a brief colloquium, wherein Professor Ionescu and Dr Fitzwilliam engaged with questions from the floor, fostering an atmosphere of collegial exchange and intellectual rigour.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The chosen themes of the inaugural lecture are deeply interwoven with the heraldic heritage of the House of Brattleby, most notably its guiding motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). These words, formally recorded with the College of Arms and emblazoned upon the Brattleby achievement, are not merely an inherited phrase; they are a direct reflection of the virtues demanded of, and displayed by, the Barons during the tumultuous twelfth century. The fortitude of Richard de la Haye during The Anarchy and the honour with which Nichola de la Haye defended her charge for the Crown are the living embodiment of this principle.
Equally relevant is the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This speaks to the spirit of proactive resilience and adaptation that allowed the Barony not only to endure existential threats but to emerge with its influence and responsibilities enhanced. The motto encapsulates the lesson, central to the new historical series, that survival in demanding times requires not passive endurance but the active will to overcome adversity. The combination of these two mottos represents the dual pillars of the House: the duty to hold fast with honour, and the imperative to prevail.
## Philanthropic Purpose
Beyond its academic ambitions, *The Brattleby Historical Monographs* series is founded upon a significant philanthropic purpose. All proceeds generated from the lectures, which will be ticketed for public attendance at a later date, are to be donated in their entirety to Healing the Wounded Child. This registered United Kingdom charity is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children and young people across the country who have been affected by trauma, abuse, or neglect.
The organisation, which provides essential services including art therapy, play therapy, and counselling, was chosen for its direct alignment with the House’s core mission of nurturing potential and reinforcing community resilience. By connecting the scholarly study of historical struggles and survival with tangible efforts to alleviate present-day suffering, the House seeks to demonstrate that an understanding of the past is a powerful tool for building a more hopeful future. The inaugural series of lectures is anticipated to generate initial proceeds in excess of ten thousand pounds for the charity’s vital work with vulnerable young people.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the new initiative, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “To be the custodian of a title nearly a millennium old is to be entrusted with a great treasury of stories. With this series, we hope to enter into a dialogue with our predecessors, honouring the legacy of figures like Nichola de la Haye not as static characters in a textbook, but as individuals whose fortitude and honour continue to instruct and inspire our own public and private duties.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “History teaches us that resilience is the prerequisite for endurance. The challenges faced by the Barony in the twelfth century affirm that to overcome adversity is to affirm life itself—*vincere est vivere*. It seems profoundly right that this exploration of historical survival should support children who are fighting to overcome their own profound difficulties, which is why we are so proud to support the vital mission of Healing the Wounded Child.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The inaugural lecture, titled *‘A Most Unwomanly Woman?’: Nichola de la Haye and the Defence of Lincoln, 1217*, will be delivered by Dr Eleanor Fitzwilliam later this winter, with a venue and date in London to be announced shortly. The House of Brattleby has committed to a recurring quarterly programme for the monograph series, ensuring a continuous and in-depth exploration of its history through the ages.
Future lectures planned for the first season will examine other significant periods and personages connected to the Barony. These include, *inter alia*, the tenure of the great magnate Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founding knight of the Order of the Garter, and that of his celebrated son-in-law, John of Gaunt, whose influence shaped the course of late medieval England. Through these events, the House will advance its dual mission: to foster a deeper appreciation of English history and to generate meaningful, long-term support for its chosen charitable causes.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern entity representing 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 the principle of ‘nobility in service’, a commitment that translates ancient duties of stewardship into contemporary relevance. Its mission is centred on philanthropic endeavour, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the cultivation of leadership and etiquette through its educational initiatives, notably The Brattleby Club. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House channels its formidable legacy into tangible contributions to society, with a particular focus on the welfare and development of children and young people.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of AD 1066. Its first holder, the Norman magnate Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in the county, a significant portfolio of estates. For centuries, the Barons of Brattleby also held the hereditary office of Constable of Lincoln Castle, a key royal fortress in the north of England. Notable figures who have held the barony include Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt. The succession of the title to Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness, was formally recognised and published by The Crown in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, where Colswein of Lincoln is listed as its first Baron and tenant-in-chief of 56 Lincolnshire lordships. - Notable predecessors who held the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The House’s philanthropic activities include the annual Winter Banquet in aid of Healing the Wounded Child, and the new *Brattleby Historical Monographs* lecture series.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com