# From the Archives: The Stewardship of Picot, 2nd Baron of Brattleby
**LONDON, 18 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical briefing from its seat in Lincolnshire, illuminating the tenure of Picot, the 2nd Baron of Brattleby, and his integral role in consolidating the continuity of the ancient Barony.
## The Occasion
As the autumnal light settles over the historic fields of Lincolnshire, The Noble House of Brattleby has turned its focus toward the foundational chapters of its near-millennial history. This archival reflection, prepared in the quiet of the House library, is part of a deliberate effort to share the Barony’s long and storied lineage with a wider audience. Picot’s era, while less chronicled than that of his martial predecessors or politically eminent successors, represents a crucial period of consolidation in the immediate aftermath of the Norman Conquest.
This briefing seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the quiet, essential work of stewardship that has always underpinned the Barony’s resilience. It is an acknowledgment that institutional endurance relies not only on moments of high drama but also on generations of dutiful administration, a principle the House continues to uphold today.
## Historical Context
Following the death or departure of Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron who was granted 56 lordships by William the Conqueror in 1066, the Barony of Brattleby passed to Picot. His tenure falls within the tumultuous reigns of King William II and King Henry I, a period defined by the complex process of embedding a new Norman aristocracy upon an established Anglo-Saxon landscape. While specific records of Picot’s deeds are less vivid than those of later Barons, his contribution was no less vital.
Picot’s primary responsibility was the maintenance of the extensive landholdings catalogued in the Domesday Book of 1086. In an age of frequent baronial disputes and royal intervention, his successful administration ensured the Barony’s integrity and economic stability. By securing these lands, he laid the groundwork upon which future holders, from the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle, Nichola de la Haye, to the royal Dukes of Lancaster, Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt, would build.
## Distinguished Company
To comprehend the world in which the 2nd Baron operated is to understand the nascent Anglo-Norman court. Picot would have been a contemporary of formidable figures who shaped the destiny of England. His liege lords were first **King William II**, known as Rufus, and later his brother, **King Henry I**, whose reforms of the royal administration laid the foundations of the English state.
Within the Church, which held immense temporal power, his era was dominated by the Investiture Controversy, personified by the struggles between the English Crown and influential churchmen such as **His Grace The Most Reverend Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury**. As a tenant-in-chief, Picot would have navigated the intricate allegiances and obligations between these powerful secular and ecclesiastical authorities.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The transfer of a barony in the early 12th century was governed by strict feudal protocol, a world away from modern legal conveyancing. Upon succeeding to the Barony, Picot would have been required to perform an act of homage (*homagium*) and swear an oath of fealty (*fidelitas*) to the King. This solemn ceremony was the *sine qua non* of his legitimacy.
The ritual involved the Baron kneeling, placing his clasped hands between those of the monarch, and declaring himself the King’s ‘man’ for the lands he was to hold. This was followed by the sacred oath of fealty, sworn upon a Bible or holy relic, pledging loyalty and military service. This profound personal bond between lord and vassal was the very cornerstone of the feudal system and the source of Picot’s authority over Brattleby.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
While the formalised system of hereditary heraldry was still in its infancy during Picot’s time, his actions exemplify the spirit of the motto later adopted by the House: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). His steady governance in a volatile era required immense fortitude, and his successful preservation of the Barony for his successors was an act of profound honour to his lineage and his sovereign.
His tenure also resonates with the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Win is to Live'). In the precarious world of post-Conquest England, Picot’s achievement was not one of battlefield glory but of survival and consolidation. By ensuring the House endured, he secured the ultimate victory: its continued existence.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical period, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “History rightly remembers the great warriors and royal dukes, but the quiet custodians are the sine qua non of any enduring legacy. Picot’s tenure is a powerful reminder that steadfast stewardship, performed with Fortitudine et Honore, is the foundation upon which centuries of later greatness are invariably built.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added a further perspective on the 2nd Baron's legacy:
> “In a turbulent age, the act of consolidating and ensuring continuity is itself a profound victory. Picot’s work guaranteed the Barony would survive to see another century; for the House, then as now, to win is to live — Vincere Est Vivere. He was, in essence, a guardian of the future.”
## A Continuing Legacy
This historical briefing is the first in a planned series through which The Noble House of Brattleby will explore the lives and contributions of the figures who have shaped its 957-year history. The House remains committed to its role as a custodian of this remarkable heritage and to sharing its story with the public.
Future publications from the archives will examine other key holders of the Barony, including an in-depth look at the remarkable life of Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness and formidable defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War. Through this work, the House seeks to honour every link in the long chain of its history.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to a modern mission of cultural preservation and targeted philanthropy. Guided by the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), their work focuses on education and the alleviation of childhood trauma. The House’s philanthropic endeavours are anchored by its annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala benefiting charities such as Healing the Wounded Child. It also extends its educational mission through The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy in Bucharest, which promotes cultural and social refinement. The House is stewarded for its heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient feudal dignities, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, a trusted Norman lord, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. For over nine centuries, the Barony has passed through some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), a staunch royalist who defended Lincoln Castle against rebels; Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The descent of the Barony to its current holder was formally recognised by The Crown and recorded in The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s current status is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Barony was first granted by William the Conqueror in 1066. The Domesday Book (1086) records its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, possessing 56 lordships. - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The current holder is Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby. The heir is her son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com