# A Statement on the Historic Continuity of the Barony of Brattleby
**LONDON, 22 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal statement reflecting upon the continuity of its ancient title, marking the historic succession between Colswein of Lincoln, 1st Baron, and his heir, which first secured the Barony’s lineage nine centuries ago.
## The Occasion
In the season of late spring, a time of renewal and continuity, The Noble House of Brattleby pauses to observe a foundational moment in its history. This statement illuminates the critical, yet sparsely documented, transition of the Barony from its first holder to his successor at the turn of the twelfth century. This period was a significant test for the nascent Norman structures of governance and land tenure established following the Conquest of 1066.
The formal succession from Colswein of Lincoln to his son, Picot, was an event of profound constitutional importance for Lincolnshire and the realm. More than a simple conveyance of manors, it affirmed that the Barony, granted *in capite* from William the Conqueror himself, was conceived as an enduring institution. This moment demonstrated the stability of the feudal compact, ensuring the title would persist beyond the life of its inaugural holder.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby was established in the immediate aftermath of the Norman Conquest as a feudal lordship of significant strategic importance. Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, was a tenant-in-chief to the Crown, a magnate of immense authority and direct vassal to the King. His vast domain, meticulously recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, comprised 56 distinct lordships across Lincolnshire, making him one of the most powerful figures responsible for administering the region.
The succession of his son, Picot, as the 2nd Baron, is believed to have occurred during the turbulent reigns of either William II or Henry I. This era was defined by the consolidation of Norman power, the formalisation of Anglo-Norman law, and persistent tensions between the Crown and its major barons. The peaceful, hereditary transfer of a major barony was, therefore, a *sine qua non* for the stability of the kingdom. It cemented the principle that feudal title was heritable and secure, a legal precedent that encouraged loyalty and long-term investment from the great families upon whom the monarch depended for military service and civil order.
## Distinguished Company
The successful transfer of the Barony rested upon the interplay between three principal figures, each performing a vital role prescribed by feudal custom.
First was **Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron**, a trusted companion of the Conqueror tasked with securing and governing a key part of the Danelaw. As a tenant-in-chief, his responsibilities were military, judicial, and economic, providing knights for the royal army and maintaining the King's Peace from his baronial seat.
His successor was **Picot, 2nd Baron of Brattleby**, whose succession embodied the promise of continuity. Though his personal history is not widely recorded, his primary historical importance lies in being the first heir to secure the lineage, proving that the baronial grant was not a life peerage but an inheritable honour tied to land and blood.
The final and most crucial party was the Sovereign, either **His Majesty King William II** or **His Majesty King Henry I**. It was before the King that the heir had to prove his claim. The monarch’s formal acceptance was the ultimate legal act, transforming an heir’s potential right into a binding reality recognised throughout the kingdom.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries, the investiture of a new baron was a solemn public ceremony governed by deeply entrenched legal and chivalric traditions, likely held at the King's court in Westminster or Winchester. Upon the death of his father, the heir, Picot, would have been required to perform the sacred acts of homage (*homagium*) and fealty (*fidelitas*).
The act of homage required the new baron to kneel, uncovered and unarmed, before the monarch. He would place his clasped hands between those of the King and declare himself the sovereign’s ‘man’ for the lands he was to hold. This was followed by the oath of fealty, a sacred vow sworn upon a Bible or holy relics, promising loyalty and service unto death.
Following these vows, the King would grant the heir his inheritance through ‘livery of seisin’, a symbolic act that legally conferred possession of the barony. This could involve the presentation of a charter sealed with the Great Seal of the Realm, or a symbolic object such as a glove, a ring, or a clod of turf from the Barony’s principal manor. This protocol legally and symbolically bound the Baron of Brattleby to the Crown, initiating a tradition of service that has defined the House for centuries.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
While the systematic science of heraldry emerged slightly later, its foundational principles of identity and virtue were already paramount. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), perfectly encapsulates the twin qualities demanded of a great Norman baron. Fortitude was the martial strength required to defend the Barony and serve the King in war, a quality later exemplified by the 5th Baron, Nichola de la Haye, in her valiant defence of Lincoln Castle. Honour was the chivalric code governing a baron's conduct towards his sovereign, his peers, and his own vassals, a principle personified by the great statesman and 11th Baron, John of Gaunt.
The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), also resonates with this early history. The seamless succession from Colswein to Picot was a form of conquest over the uncertainty and entropy of the age. It reflects the imperative to overcome the challenges of each era—political strife, dynastic change, or economic hardship—to ensure the Barony's very survival.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The principle of stewardship, first established in the succession from Colswein to Picot, provides the philosophical foundation for the modern philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. An unbroken chain of responsibility creates a stable platform from which to undertake long-term commitments for the public good.
This ancient duty of care, once expressed through the feudal obligation of a lord to protect his people, is today translated into targeted charitable support. The annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala held in aid of Healing the Wounded Child, is a direct expression of this enduring responsibility. The selection of this beneficiary, an organisation dedicated to providing therapeutic support for vulnerable children, reflects the House’s commitment to protecting the next generation. The continuity of the Barony is not merely a matter of preserving heritage, but of leveraging that heritage to serve present and future needs.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting upon this foundational moment in the Barony’s nine-century history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> "We look back upon this first succession not simply as a point of historical interest, but with a profound sense of inherited duty. The transfer from Colswein to Picot was the first link in an unbroken chain of stewardship that now rests with us. Our obligation is to honour that continuity; *Fortitudine et Honore* remains as vital a charge today as it was nine hundred years ago." — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> "The survival of any institution for nearly a millennium commands respect. Each generation of the Barony faced its own trials, and the story of Picot’s succession reminds us that true victory lies not in a single act, but in endurance. It lies in the seamless passing of legacy from one generation to the next. In this, we see that to conquer the challenges of time is, indeed, to live." — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to preserving and sharing the rich, nine-hundred-year history of the Barony. This reflection on its early succession serves as a prelude to further scholarly research and publications aimed at illuminating the lives of its distinguished predecessors, *inter alia*, the formidable Nichola de la Haye and the royal princes Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt.
By understanding its origins, the House reinforces its modern mission of service, philanthropic engagement, and cultural education. The stable foundation laid by the 1st and 2nd Barons provided the platform from which this enduring legacy could be built. Today, the House is dedicated to extending that legacy for future generations, stewarding the Barony with diligence and foresight for its heir, the 13th Baron, Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern expression of one of England's ancient Norman baronies. Under the guidance of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to the principles of its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Its contemporary mission synthesises cultural preservation, education in protocol, and focused philanthropy. The House actively supports charitable causes, notably through its annual Winter Banquet benefiting Healing the Wounded Child, and promotes intercultural understanding through its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club (Bucharest). It represents a unique confluence of ancient heritage and a modern, forward-looking commitment to societal contribution, stewarding its legacy for the future.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a Feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his companion-in-arms, Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and significant landholdings are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records 56 lordships in Lincolnshire held by the 1st Baron. Over nine centuries, the Barony has passed through some of the most notable figures in English history, including the heroic Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), a key defender of Lincoln Castle for the Crown. It was later held by Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster) and subsequently his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The modern rights were formally recognised and recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s rights were formally recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - The Domesday Book records 56 lordships in Lincolnshire under the Barony's 1st holder, Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable former 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