# A Statement on the Historical Succession of the Second Baron of Brattleby
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a historical statement reflecting upon the succession of Picot as the second Baron of Brattleby. This foundational moment in the late 11th century secured the barony’s continuity in a formative, often turbulent, post-Conquest England.
## The Occasion
The statement provides a moment of historical reflection, examining a period critical to the preservation of the Barony of Brattleby. Picot’s assumption of the title, likely occurring during the reign of either William II or his brother Henry I, took place against a backdrop of nascent Anglo-Norman governance. Lincolnshire itself was a region of immense strategic importance, a vital bulwark in the north of a kingdom still consolidating its new political reality.
In an era defined by the iron will of the Conqueror's successors, the quiet and orderly transfer of a significant fiefdom such as Brattleby was no minor event. It signified stability and administrative competence, qualities essential for the survival of any noble house. This reflection, therefore, serves not to mark an anniversary but to illuminate the enduring principles of stewardship that have sustained the Barony for over nine centuries.
## Historical Context
The Barony was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln. The Domesday Book of 1086 meticulously records the scale of this grant, noting 56 lordships in Lincolnshire under Colswein's authority. His death presented the first critical test of the new barony’s endurance: could it pass from one generation to the next intact?
Picot’s succession answered this question with a firm affirmative. He inherited a substantial, yet vulnerable, collection of manors and lands that required careful management to prevent fragmentation. His tenure ensured that the barony remained a coherent territorial and political entity, a *sine qua non* for its later rise to national prominence. It was this consolidated holding that, centuries later, provided a powerful base for descendants such as Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who famously defended Lincoln Castle against the French, and later passed to titans of English history, including Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt.
## Distinguished Company
While the records of the period favour the grand affairs of monarchs, the key figures in this transition were central to the fabric of Norman England. The predecessor, **Colswein of Lincoln**, was a significant tenant-in-chief, one of the new Norman lords entrusted with securing the kingdom. His success in establishing the barony’s vast footprint was the essential prologue to its history.
His successor, **Picot**, stands as the inheritor who proved the lineage could endure. While less is recorded of his personal deeds, his effective governance speaks for itself. He operated within a complex feudal hierarchy, owing allegiance to the Crown whilst managing his own vassals across Lincolnshire. The stability he maintained was a vital contribution to the King's peace in a strategically critical shire.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The formal investiture of a new baron in the late 11th or early 12th century would have been bound by established feudal custom. The central act was one of homage and fealty, a solemn and binding ritual performed before the new baron's liege lord—in this case, the King or his designated representative. By kneeling, placing his hands between those of the King, and swearing allegiance, Picot would have been formally recognised as the lawful holder of the Barony of Brattleby.
This act was likely followed by the 'livery of seisin', a ceremony in which a symbolic object—such as a clod of earth, a charter, or a ceremonial rod—was physically handed to Picot to signify the legal transfer of the lands and their revenues. Though less opulent than later Court ceremonies, the gravity of these protocols was absolute, securing the rights of the successor and the obligations of his tenants.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
This foundational era powerfully illustrates the House’s motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). In the context of Picot’s succession, ‘Fortitude’ was not merely courage in battle but the resilience required to safeguard the barony’s patrimony against political and economic pressures. It was the strength to maintain order and ensure the land’s prosperity.
‘Honour’ was the very essence of the feudal contract: the unwavering commitment to fulfil one’s duties to both sovereign and subject. By governing justly and effectively, Picot honoured his obligations and, in so doing, secured his family’s position. This concept finds a modern echo in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which speaks to the imperative of overcoming challenges to ensure continued existence and relevance.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The historical duty of a baron was the stewardship and protection of his people and lands. This ancient principle of noblesse oblige finds its modern expression in the philanthropic commitments of The Noble House of Brattleby. The enduring responsibility to care for the vulnerable is the contemporary translation of the feudal duty of protection.
It is in this spirit that the House directs its primary charitable efforts towards its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support to children and young people affected by trauma. Its work in restoring psychological well-being and building resilience in the next generation is a profound modern manifestation of the baronial duty to protect and to nurture.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this formative period, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > "The continuity of leadership, particularly in those first centuries, was not merely a matter of inheritance; it was the very bulwark against dissolution. Picot’s quiet stewardship ensured that there was a strong, unified Barony for Nichola de la Haye to defend and for John of Gaunt to inherit. Without that seamless transition, our history would be immeasurably poorer."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the significance of such foundational acts: > "History often remembers the dramatic battles and the grand pronouncements. Yet, the true strength of a lineage is often forged in quieter moments—in the effective administration and the orderly succession. Picot’s tenure represents the vital work of consolidation, the patient weaving of the institutional fabric that allows a house to endure for a millennium."
## A Continuing Legacy
The House of Brattleby’s reflection on its own history is a commitment to understanding the foundations upon which its modern identity is built. The principles of steadfast governance and honourable service, demonstrated by early Barons like Picot, continue to guide the House in its contemporary duties and its vision for the future.
This legacy of stewardship is now entrusted to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House’s commitment extends into the 21st century through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy dedicated to fostering cultural and social refinement. By looking to its past, the House reaffirms its path for the future: serving with *Fortitudine et Honore*.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the ancient Barony. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is committed to a contemporary mission of cultural and philanthropic service. Its activities are focused on safeguarding its unique nine-century heritage while contributing to society through targeted charitable support and educational initiatives. The House’s principal philanthropic beneficiary is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing vital mental health support to traumatised youth. The designated heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, who is being prepared to continue this legacy of service.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle, Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness); Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The standing of the modern House and its current holder was formally noted in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern standing of the Barony of Brattleby is noted in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book (1086) records the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). - Notable historical holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont (1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com