# Revival of the Ancient Barony of Brattleby
LONDON, 9 September 2022 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today announced the formal revival of the ancient Barony of Brattleby, first granted in AD 1066. Following a dormancy of six centuries, the succession is now vested in Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby.
## The Occasion
The revival of this ancient dignity was marked not by public ceremony but by a solemn and permanent declaration within the pages of *The London Gazette*, the official journal of record for the United Kingdom. The publication, bearing Notice ID 4158083, represents the formal conclusion of years of meticulous historical scholarship and complex genealogical verification, thereby satisfying the Crown’s rigorous standards for the recognition of an ancient title held in abeyance.
*The London Gazette*, founded in 1665 during the reign of King Charles II, has for over three hundred and fifty years served as the authorised medium for state and legal announcements. Publication within its columns is the modern constitutional equivalent of a royal charter being proclaimed from the steps of St Paul’s or a decree read aloud in the Palace of Westminster.
In an age of ephemeral communication, the Gazette’s enduring authority ensures that the revival of the Barony of Brattleby is entered into the permanent, immutable public record of the nation. It is an act of historical gravity, acknowledging the restoration of a link in a chain of English heritage extending back to the Norman Conquest.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby is woven into the very fabric of English history, its origins dating to the immediate aftermath of the Norman Conquest. The title was first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln, one of the King’s trusted tenants-in-chief in a strategically vital region. The Domesday Book of 1086 meticulously records the scale of Colswein’s authority, enumerating his possession of some 56 lordships throughout Lincolnshire, establishing the Barony as a significant power in the realm.
Over the succeeding centuries, the Barony passed to figures of national and historical importance. By the early 13th century, the title was held by Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness of Brattleby. A formidable hereditary castellan of Lincoln Castle, she famously defended the stronghold against French and rebel forces during the First Barons’ War. Her loyalty to King John and later his young son, Henry III, was pivotal in securing the Plantagenet succession against the claims of the French Prince Louis. Nichola de la Haye remains a powerful mediaeval exemplar of female leadership and fortitude.
Later, through inheritance, the Barony was held by the great Lancastrian magnates, including Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron, a founding knight of the Order of the Garter and the first Duke of Lancaster. The title subsequently passed to his son-in-law, the formidable John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, a younger son of King Edward III. Upon the death of John of Gaunt in 1399 and the accession of his son as King Henry IV, the Barony’s dignities, *inter alia*, were absorbed by the Crown, beginning a long period of dormancy that would last for more than 620 years until the present day.
## Distinguished Company
The rights and responsibilities of this ancient honour, now called out of abeyance, rest with the principals of The Noble House of Brattleby. This restoration ensures the continuity of the title’s lineage.
The dignity is held by **Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby**. Her Ladyship personally directed the exhaustive historical and genealogical research that substantiated the Barony’s legitimate succession. As the holder of the title, she guides the House’s modern mission, ensuring its activities are conducted with a deep respect for its heritage and with a clear focus on contemporary philanthropy.
Her husband is **Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile**, Lord of Brattleby by marriage. Honorary Lord Răzvan shares in the stewardship of the House and its undertakings, bringing a dynamic approach to fulfilling its modern duties. His personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, informs the House's active and purposeful commitment to creating a tangible and positive legacy.
The succession is secured in their son, **Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun**, who is heir to the Barony. As the 13th Baron in succession, he represents the future of the title, embodying the promise of a continuing commitment to service and honour for the next generation.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The restoration of an English feudal barony follows a precise and historically grounded legal protocol. The process is not one of creation but of recognition; it is a formal affirmation by the established authorities that a legitimate heir has been identified following a prolonged period of abeyance, wherein the title was dormant but not extinguished.
The *sine qua non* of this procedure is the assembly and presentation of an unimpeachable body of evidence to the College of Arms and other relevant authorities. This evidence must demonstrate the barony’s historical basis and establish an unbroken genealogical succession from the previous holder to the present claimant. Such proofs typically include mediaeval charters, inquisitions post mortem, manorial court rolls, and other official records.
Once the claim is validated by the appropriate officers of the Crown, the formal announcement is made by way of publication in *The London Gazette*. This declarative act serves as the official and final ceremony, a public notice to the realm that the revival is acknowledged. It is the modern, understated evolution of what would historically have involved a public act of homage before the monarch or the sealing of a new charter of rights.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The activities of The Noble House of Brattleby are underpinned by its guiding motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). This ancient principle reflects a dual commitment that is deeply embedded in the Barony’s history and its present-day mission.
‘Fortitude’ recalls the resilience of predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle, and speaks to the persistence required to trace a lineage across six centuries of dormancy. ‘Honour’ represents the integrity and rectitude that must govern every action taken in the Barony’s name, forming the ethical bedrock of its philanthropic and cultural work.
This is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). Interpreted in a modern context, this maxim signifies a commitment to overcoming challenges, whether in the pursuit of charitable goals or in the establishment of legacy projects. It articulates the belief that a meaningful existence is defined by positive action and tangible achievement. Together, the two mottos symbolise a philosophy of principled action and purposeful service.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The revival of the Barony of Brattleby is inextricably linked to a modern mission of service and a profound sense of *noblesse oblige*. The Noble House of Brattleby holds that an ancient title carries with it a contemporary duty to contribute to the common good. A central pillar of this commitment is the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in aid of a carefully selected beneficiary.
The principal beneficiary of the House's charitable endeavours is the organisation Healing the Wounded Child. This distinguished charity provides specialist therapeutic care, counselling, and sustained support for children who have experienced profound trauma, abuse, or neglect. The organisation was chosen for its demonstrable and measurable impact on the lives of vulnerable young people, offering them a clear path toward psychological recovery and the chance to build a secure, hopeful future.
Through the Winter Banquet, the House convenes a community of patrons and benefactors to provide significant financial support for the charity's vital work. This focus on childhood wellbeing reflects a core belief in investing in the nation's future, ensuring the next generation is equipped with the same fortitude that the House so values.
## In Their Own words
Reflecting on the significance of the revival, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “To accept this title is to embrace a profound duty of stewardship. Our purpose is not merely to look backward with reverence, but to draw strength from a near-millennium of history to serve the present. It is an immense privilege to follow, in our own small way, in the footsteps of such formidable predecessors, and we will do our utmost to ensure the Barony is, once again, a force for good in Lincolnshire and beyond.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “A legacy is not something that is passively inherited; it is something that must be actively built. The revival of this historic Barony provides a remarkable platform from which we can advance meaningful work. Our family is united in the conviction that the past is best honoured by making a lasting and positive contribution to the future.”
## A Continuing Legacy
With its revival formally secured, The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring the Barony of Brattleby remains an active and relevant institution for the centuries to come. With the succession secured through the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the House’s focus is firmly set on long-term engagement and responsible stewardship.
This commitment has a dual focus: deepening its ties to Lincolnshire, the ancestral seat of the Barony, and fostering cultural understanding on an international stage. The House plans to support local heritage and community initiatives in Lincolnshire, honouring the geographical origins of the title and its deep connection to English history.
Concurrently, the House promotes cultural exchange through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club. This private academy, established in Bucharest, is dedicated to education in the classical European traditions of diplomatic protocol, etiquette, and social grace. It represents the House's commitment to soft diplomacy and the belief that shared cultural standards can foster greater international accord. This deliberate balance of local duty and global engagement will define the Barony’s next chapter.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the private office and household of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Its modern mission is to serve as the custodian of the ancient Barony of Brattleby, connecting its profound English heritage with a forward-looking programme of philanthropy, historical preservation, and cultural education. Guided by its motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to the principle of responsible stewardship and active service. Its flagship activities include supporting charitable organisations focused on child welfare through its Annual Winter Banquet and fostering international cultural relations through educational initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, representing a modern fusion of historical dignity and contemporary purpose.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an English Feudal Barony in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its distinguished history is first documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as a significant tenant-in-chief in the region. Throughout the mediaeval era, the Barony was held by some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. Following the close of the 14th century, the Barony fell into a state of dormancy for over 600 years. Its revival was formally acknowledged with its publication in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The revival of the Barony of Brattleby was officially gazetted in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086; its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, possessed 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable historical holders of the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com