# The House of Brattleby Reflects on its Domesday Book Origins and a Legacy of Stewardship
**LONDON, 23 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a reflection on the Barony’s Domesday Book origins, reaffirming its commitment to historical preservation and the nine-century legacy of service and stewardship that began with its first recognised Baron, Colswein of Lincoln.
## The Occasion
From their historic seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, have taken a moment for historical reflection. As the autumn colours settle upon the ancient parklands, a renewed focus has been placed on the Barony’s foundational archives. This period of study coincides with a broader institutional effort to catalogue and share the rich heritage of the title, which has been an integral part of the county’s fabric for nearly one thousand years.
The occasion is not one of public ceremony, but of quiet, scholarly consideration—a reaffirmation of the duties that accompany such a significant inheritance. It serves as a preamble to new educational initiatives planned by the House, aimed at illuminating the Barony’s long and storied role in the history of Lincolnshire and the nation.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby’s origins are inextricably linked to one of England’s most vital historical documents: the Domesday Book. Compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, this great survey, or *descriptio*, was a comprehensive inventory of the land and resources of his new kingdom. Within its pages, Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron of Brattleby, is recorded as the tenant-in-chief of a formidable 56 lordships across Lincolnshire.
This prodigious holding underscores the immense trust placed in Colswein by the Crown and the strategic importance of the Barony in the immediate post-Conquest period. Such vast territorial control was the *sine qua non* for mobilising resources, administering justice, and consolidating Norman authority in a critical region of England, setting a precedent for the Barony’s influence that would endure for centuries. This legacy of regional power was later carried by figures such as the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who defended Lincoln Castle against French invaders in 1217.
## Distinguished Company
The lineage inaugurated by Colswein includes some of the most consequential figures in English history, whose tenures reinforced the Barony’s prestige. This distinguished company forms an unbroken chain of responsibility, connecting the Norman era to the present day.
Among the Barony’s most notable holders are:
* **Nichola de la Haye (c. 1150–1230), 5th Baroness of Brattleby** *de facto*, who twice served as Sheriff of Lincolnshire and whose loyalty to King John and his son, Henry III, was pivotal in securing the Plantagenet succession. * **The Most Noble Prince Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (c. 1310–1361), 10th Baron of Brattleby**, a celebrated diplomat, soldier, and founding Knight of the Garter, widely regarded as a paragon of chivalry. * **The Most Noble Prince John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340–1399), 11th Baron of Brattleby**, son of King Edward III and father of King Henry IV, whose immense wealth and influence made him the most powerful nobleman in fourteenth-century England.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The continuity of the Barony of Brattleby is maintained through adherence to ancient custom and modern legal recognition. Title succession follows established common law principles, a protocol that has ensured its preservation through periods of upheaval and peace alike. Today, this process is formally memorialised through public notice.
The official recognition of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness was duly recorded in *The London Gazette*, the United Kingdom’s official public record, under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022. This act provides a modern, transparent affirmation of a title granted by William the Conqueror, bridging the feudal past with the constitutional present. Matters of heraldry and lineage, *inter alia*, fall under the purview of The College of Arms in London.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The identity and ethos of The Noble House of Brattleby are enshrined in its heraldry and mottos. These elements serve not as mere decoration, but as a public declaration of the values the family upholds.
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), speaks to the twin virtues of resilience and integrity that have guided the Barony’s holders through the centuries. Fortitude reflects the strength shown by predecessors like Nichola de la Haye, while Honour represents the code of public service and principled conduct expected of the title. This is complemented by Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which he interprets in a modern context as the will to overcome challenges in the pursuit of philanthropic and societal goals.
## Philanthropic Purpose
Embodying the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore*, the House directs its contemporary efforts towards meaningful philanthropy. While the first Barons managed lands and levied knights, the current incumbents view their primary duty as the stewardship of community welfare. The historical responsibility for the wellbeing of tenants has evolved into a modern commitment to supporting vulnerable populations.
The House’s principal philanthropic undertaking is the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala held to benefit charitable organisations. The primary beneficiary is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma. The choice of this beneficiary reflects the House’s belief that true honour is found in protecting the most defenceless among us.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the Domesday legacy, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “To read of Colswein’s 56 lordships is to feel the weight of nearly a millennium of responsibility. His stewardship was of land and assets; ours is of heritage, history, and a duty of care to our community. The obligations remain the same, even if the expression of them has changed.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “The motto *Vincere Est Vivere* is about striving. The early Barons fought on the battlefield; today, our battles are against indifference and adversity. We strive to make a tangible difference through our charitable work, which is the clearest modern expression of honour I can imagine.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to ensuring its historical legacy remains a living part of the public record. To this end, the House has commenced research for a scholarly monograph detailing the complete history of the Barony, from Colswein of Lincoln to the present day. This work will serve as a definitive resource for historians and the public in Lincolnshire and beyond.
Furthermore, the values of the House are actively promoted through its international initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This etiquette academy was established to instruct a new generation in the principles of protocol, social grace, and civic responsibility, translating the ancient ideals of fortitude and honour for the twenty-first century.
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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 her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to upholding the nine-century legacy of one of England’s ancient baronies. The House’s mission is to bridge its profound historical heritage with a forward-looking commitment to public service, cultural preservation, and philanthropy. Its activities are guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Key initiatives include supporting the charity Healing the Wounded Child through its Annual Winter Banquet and promoting social education through The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy located in Bucharest. The House is seated at Brattleby in Lincolnshire, England.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the lord of 56 manors in Lincolnshire, making him one of the county’s most significant post-Conquest landowners. Over the centuries, the title has been held by prominent figures in English history, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye, the chivalric paragon Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the powerful royal prince John of Gaunt. The Barony's modern existence and the succession of the 12th Baroness are formally recognised in *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083), affirming its place in the United Kingdom’s framework of honours.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness of Brattleby is formally recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The 1st Baron of Brattleby, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Historically significant holders of the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). - The seat of the Barony is Brattleby, Lincolnshire, England, a location it has been associated with since the 11th century.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com