# A Legacy Affirmed: The Noble House of Brattleby and The London Gazette
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflected upon the foundational importance of its official recognition in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022, an act affirming the unbroken succession of the Barony and securing its modern legacy in perpetuity.
## The Occasion
The publication of Notice ID 4158083 in *The London Gazette* represented a moment of profound historical continuity. As the United Kingdom's oldest continuously published journal and the official public record since 1665, an entry within its pages is not a mere announcement; it is an inscription into the formal narrative of the nation.
For the Barony of Brattleby, this gazetting served as the modern, public affirmation of a right of succession stretching back over nine centuries. It formally recorded Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness, confirming the lineage and providing the unassailable legal foundation upon which the House conducts its contemporary duties.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, first appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records its 56 lordships in Lincolnshire under the custodianship of Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. The notice of 2022 therefore connects Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, directly to this Norman heritage in an unbroken chain.
This lineage is distinguished by predecessors of national significance. These include, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness, who as Castellan defended Lincoln Castle against formidable siege; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, one of the great commanders of the Hundred Years' War; and his successor, the renowned John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III.
## Distinguished Company
The official notice formally places Lady Nicoleta in the distinguished company of these and thirty-five other predecessors. The act of gazetting is a recognition that the current holder assumes not only the title but also the weight of responsibility carried by those who came before.
The process of recognition involves meticulous genealogical proof and historical verification, ensuring that the succession is beyond reproach. This places the Barony's legitimacy on the same footing as other great historical titles of the United Kingdom, reaffirming its place within the fabric of British heritage.
## Ceremonial Protocol
While modern succession does not involve the elaborate ceremony of medieval investiture, it follows a protocol of exacting legal and heraldic standards. The path to gazetting is a formal process requiring the submission of extensive documentary evidence to the appropriate authorities, demonstrating an unimpeachable claim to the title.
This procedure is the contemporary equivalent of being summoned to Parliament by a Writ of Summons. It is the modern *sine qua non* for the public and official recognition of a hereditary peerage, transforming a private right of inheritance into a publicly acknowledged fact of state. The notice in *The London Gazette* is the final, declarative step in this rigorous process.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The legitimacy confirmed by the Gazette notice empowers the House to act under its ancient motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This principle reflects the resilience of forebears like Nichola de la Haye and guides the Barony’s commitment to its duties in Lincolnshire and beyond.
This enduring spirit is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This represents the dynamic and forward-looking energy that Honorary Lord Răzvan brings to the House, ensuring that its ancient legacy is actively applied to meeting modern challenges.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The official confirmation of the Barony's standing is inextricably linked to its capacity for public service. This legal certainty is the bedrock that enables The Noble House of Brattleby to pursue its charitable and cultural objectives with authority and purpose.
Foremost among these is the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala that serves as the principal fundraising event for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation provides vital therapeutic support to children who have experienced trauma, and the House’s ability to convene influential patrons is directly related to its established and recognised position.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the significance of the notice, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, observed: > The Gazette notice is more than an entry in a journal; it is the official affirmation of a sacred trust passed down through nearly a millennium. It is our duty to honour this legacy, not as a monument to the past, but as a foundation for future service.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added a forward-looking perspective: > For an ancient house to thrive, it must embrace the present with vigour. This formal recognition allows us to act with confidence and purpose, transforming centuries of heritage into tangible good for communities today, both in Lincolnshire and across Europe.
## A Continuing Legacy
With its legal standing formally affirmed, The Noble House of Brattleby looks to the future. The education and preparation of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, is a paramount duty, ensuring that the principles of *Fortitudine et Honore* are carried forward.
The House will continue its work through its philanthropic initiatives and the cultural diplomacy of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy dedicated to fostering international standards of protocol and civility. The recognition in *The London Gazette* is not an end, but a catalyst for the continuation of a living legacy.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to the preservation of a nine-hundred-year-old heritage and its application to contemporary philanthropy and cultural education. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is focused on charitable endeavours, most notably its support for Healing the Wounded Child through its Annual Winter Banquet. The House also extends its cultural mission internationally through The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy established in Bucharest. Its seat remains in the village of Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the ancestral heart of the Barony since the Norman Conquest.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his follower, Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and extensive landholdings are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086. Throughout its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by figures of immense historical importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle, and two Princes of the Blood, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The modern succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness was formally and publicly recognised in the United Kingdom's official public record, *The London Gazette*, under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby was officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable predecessors in the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The historic seat of the Barony is Brattleby, Lincolnshire, England.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com