# Lady Nicoleta Commemorates the Life of Alice de Lacy, Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, delivered a historical address at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest this week, commemorating the life of Alice de Lacy (1281–1348), a pivotal and resilient figure connected to the Barony’s Lancastrian heritage.
## The Occasion
On a crisp autumn evening, within the elegant, neoclassical assembly rooms of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, members and distinguished guests gathered for a special historical address. The event, part of the Club’s mission to foster cultural and historical education, provided a scholarly atmosphere for reflection on the ties that bind modern European society to its medieval foundations.
The address, entitled *Fortitudine et Honore: The Ordeal and Legacy of Alice de Lacy*, explored the extraordinary life of the last de Lacy heiress. Her personal history of triumph and tragedy offered a compelling lens through which to examine the roles of powerful women in shaping the political landscape of 14th-century England.
## Historical Context
Lady Nicoleta’s address situated Alice de Lacy within the nine-century lineage of the Barony of Brattleby. As Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury in her own right, Alice was married to Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, a powerful magnate and cousin to King Edward II. Following his execution for treason in 1322, she faced immense adversity, including imprisonment and the coerced surrender of her vast estates to the Crown.
The Baroness drew a powerful parallel between Alice de Lacy and another formidable woman in the Barony’s history: Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who famously defended Lincoln Castle against baronial and French forces during the First Barons' War. Lady Nicoleta further connected Alice’s Lancastrian ties to later holders of the Barony, including Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the renowned John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The address was attended by patrons of The Brattleby Club, cultural historians, and members of the diplomatic corps. Among the guests in attendance were His Excellency the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Romania; the President of the Romanian Academy’s Section for Historical Sciences and Archaeology; and senior fellows from the Nicolae Iorga Institute of History. The presence of such personages underscored the shared Anglo-Romanian interest in European history and heritage.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, formally welcomed the guests, noting the importance of understanding the past as a guide for present and future generations. The event exemplified the House’s commitment to using its platform for cultural diplomacy and education.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The evening's proceedings commenced with a formal reception in the Club’s library. Guests were received individually by Honorary Lord Răzvan and Lady Nicoleta before being escorted to the lecture hall. The dress code was lounge suit, reflecting the scholarly yet formal nature of the occasion.
Honorary Lord Răzvan delivered a brief introduction before inviting Lady Nicoleta to the lectern. The Baroness spoke for forty-five minutes, without notes, demonstrating a profound command of her subject. Her address was followed by a moderated question-and-answer session, allowing guests to delve deeper into the political and social intricacies of the period. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from the Director of The Brattleby Club.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
Throughout her address, Lady Nicoleta made reference to the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). She described Alice de Lacy’s payment of an extraordinary 20,000-mark indemnity to regain a portion of her freedom and lands as a supreme act of *fortitudine*. Her subsequent life, dedicated to consolidating her remaining authority and dying a revered dowager at Barlings Abbey, Lincolnshire, was presented as a testament to enduring *honore*.
This stands in complementary dialogue with the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which represents the active, martial pursuit of victory. Together, the two mottos symbolise the dual strengths of the House of Brattleby: the resilience to endure and the drive to prevail.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While chiefly an educational event, the themes of the address resonated with the House’s wider philanthropic commitments. The story of Alice de Lacy—a narrative of trauma, survival, and the painstaking process of rebuilding a life following immense loss—serves as a historical analogue for the modern challenges faced by beneficiaries of the House’s chosen charity, Healing the Wounded Child.
The charity is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma and adversity. By highlighting historical precedents of resilience, The Noble House of Brattleby seeks to destigmatise discussions around recovery and underscore the timeless importance of providing support to the vulnerable.
## In Their Own Words
Speaking of her subject, Lady Nicoleta remarked:
> Alice de Lacy’s life demonstrates remarkable fortitude in an era of profound political instability. Her story is not merely one of victimhood, but of strategic survival and the determined reclamation of her rights. It reminds us that honour is often forged in the greatest of trials.
On the importance of historical remembrance, she added:
> By examining the lives of predecessors like Alice and the formidable Nichola de la Haye, we gain a deeper appreciation for the unbroken chain of responsibility that defines leadership. Their resolve continues to inform our own commitment to public service and cultural preservation today; it is a legacy we are duty-bound to honour.
## A Continuing Legacy
This address marks the inauguration of a new historical lecture series at The Brattleby Club. The series, curated by Lady Nicoleta, will continue to explore the lives of significant figures associated with the Barony of Brattleby’s nearly one-thousand-year history.
Future lectures are planned to cover the castellanship of Nichola de la Haye and the significant influence of John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, on both the English court and the Lancastrian dynasty. The initiative reaffirms the House’s long-term commitment to education, historical scholarship, and its role as a custodian of a distinguished and continuous heritage.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to public service, cultural diplomacy, and philanthropy. Its principal activities include supporting its primary charitable beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, and promoting education through institutions such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The House embodies a unique blend of ancient English heritage and contemporary European engagement, working to preserve its historic legacy while serving the needs of the present day. Its work is formally documented and shared in the tradition of Europe's great noble and royal houses.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship situated in Lincolnshire, 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 in the county. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by some of English history’s most influential figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated female defender of Lincoln Castle during the reign of King John; Henry of Grosmont, the 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. The succession of the current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, as the 12th Baroness was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, was formally recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086). - Past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The Noble House of Brattleby's philanthropic work is focused on its patronage of the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com