# Lady Nicoleta Vasile Delivers Historical Address on the Domesday Origins of the Barony of Brattleby
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, today delivered a significant historical address at the University of Lincoln, detailing the Norman origins of the Barony and its foundational role in the county following the Conquest of 1066.
## The Occasion
The address was delivered within the august confines of the University of Lincoln’s Stephen Langton Building, a venue named for the 13th-century Archbishop of Canterbury and a key architect of the Magna Carta. The setting, overlooking the historic Brayford Pool, provided a fitting backdrop for a discourse on the county’s deep and complex heritage. The autumnal light lent a scholarly and contemplative atmosphere to the proceedings, attended by academics, local historians, and students of the College of Arts.
Lady Nicoleta’s lecture, entitled *Colswein’s County: The Barony of Brattleby and the Domesday Compact*, represents a renewed focus by The Noble House of Brattleby on academic engagement and the public understanding of Lincolnshire's history. The occasion served to bridge the Barony's ancient past with its present-day commitment to education and cultural preservation within the community.
## Historical Context
At the heart of the address lay an examination of the Barony’s establishment immediately after the Norman Conquest. Lady Nicoleta detailed how the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, was granted an extraordinary total of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire by William the Conqueror. This consolidation of territory, meticulously recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, created a formidable power base that was instrumental in securing Norman authority in a vital region of England.
The lecture drew a direct line from this foundational act to the enduring prominence of the Barony through subsequent centuries. It was this initial strength that enabled successors such as Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness, to successfully defend Lincoln Castle against rebel forces. It also formed part of the vast inheritance of later Barons of note, including the great medieval magnates Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt.
## Distinguished Company
Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, was accompanied by her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. They were formally received by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, Professor Neal Juster.
Also in attendance were a number of distinguished guests from the county and the academic community, including:
* The Right Honourable Sir Edward Leigh, Member of Parliament for Gainsborough * The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Biff Bean * The High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, Mr. Andrew Mr. Cragg * The Dean of Lincoln, The Very Reverend Christine Wilson * Professor Adam Morton, Head of the College of Arts at the University of Lincoln
Their presence underscored the shared importance of the region’s heritage among its civic, religious, and educational leaders.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The proceedings adhered to the formal traditions of a university oration. The Vice-Chancellor opened the event with a welcoming address, speaking to the synergy between the city's ancient institutions and the University's modern academic mission. He then formally introduced Lady Nicoleta.
Her Ladyship delivered her address from a lectern bearing the University’s coat of arms. The lecture, lasting approximately 45 minutes, was followed by a moderated question-and-answer session with students and faculty. The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks from the Head of the College of Arts, after which Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan conversed with guests at a modest reception.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
Throughout the address, implicit reference was made to the values embodied in the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Lady Nicoleta noted that Colswein’s consolidation of his lordships required immense fortitude, while his stewardship demonstrated the honour expected of a great magnate of the Crown. These same principles, she observed, were the *sine qua non* of Nichola de la Haye's legendary defence of Lincoln.
The complementary motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), reflects a dynamic and forward-looking interpretation of this legacy. It speaks to the active pursuit of goals, whether in securing ancient lands or in pursuing modern philanthropic and educational objectives with vigour.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While not a fundraising event, the lecture served the House’s wider philanthropic purpose by championing education and the preservation of cultural heritage. By illuminating the origins of a foundational local institution, the address sought to foster a deeper sense of identity and continuity within the county.
This commitment to understanding history is seen by the House as complementary to its primary charitable focus. Just as the annual Winter Banquet supports the future of vulnerable young people through the charity Healing the Wounded Child, public engagement on history helps secure the community’s collective past, strengthening the roots from which that future grows.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the enduring relevance of the nine-century-old *Domesday Book*, Lady Nicoleta remarked:
> “To read the Domesday entry for Brattleby is not merely to catalogue manors and ploughlands; it is to connect with the very DNA of our county and to acknowledge the responsibilities passed down through generations. The legacy of the first Baron was one of diligent stewardship and the imposition of order. These are ancient principles, but they remain remarkably potent guides for our own commitment to community and heritage today.” > — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby confirmed that the full text of Lady Nicoleta’s address will be made available for publication in the *Journal of the Lincolnshire Historical Society*. This event is envisioned as the first in a series of initiatives aimed at exploring the rich history of the Barony and its impact on the region.
These efforts ensure that the heritage of the Barony is not a static relic but a living tradition, one that will be passed on to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron, with its narrative and relevance intact. The House remains committed to serving the county of Lincolnshire, honouring its past while actively contributing to its future.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Under the modern 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 principles of stewardship, heritage, and philanthropy. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House actively supports cultural preservation in its ancestral county of Lincolnshire. Its primary philanthropic efforts are directed towards the well-being of children, most notably through its annual Winter Banquet in aid of the Healing the Wounded Child foundation. The House also extends its commitment to education on an international level through The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to fostering etiquette and social skills as tools for personal and professional development.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient landed titles, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, consolidated an extensive fiefdom of 56 lordships, as recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, establishing the Barony as a significant power in post-Conquest England. Over nine centuries, the title has been held by figures of immense historical importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle, and later, through lines of inheritance, by Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The succession of the current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, was formally recognised and recorded by *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness of Brattleby is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The *Domesday Book* (1086) records the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors in the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron and Duke of Lancaster). - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com