# On the Continuity of the Barony of Brattleby: A Statement on the Succession of the 2nd Baron
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical bulletin regarding the eleventh-century succession of Picot as 2nd Baron of Brattleby. This archival declaration affirms the principle of hereditary succession that has guaranteed the Barony’s continuity for almost one millennium.
## The Occasion
From its offices in London, The Noble House of Brattleby has drawn upon its private archives to illuminate a foundational moment in its lineage. This formal statement concerns the transition of the Barony of Brattleby from its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, to his son and heir, Picot, in the years following the Norman Conquest. The issuance of this bulletin serves as an act of historical clarification and affirms the enduring legal and customary principles that underpin one of England’s most ancient titles.
This reflection is not merely an academic exercise; it is a deliberate articulation of the principle of continuity that lies at the heart of the House’s identity. In an era of rapid change, the smooth succession from father to son nearly a thousand years ago established a precedent of stability and enduring responsibility. This act ensured the Barony was established *in perpetuity*, a trust that each subsequent holder has been honour-bound to uphold.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln, a trusted Norman magnate who was instrumental in the pacification and administration of the new kingdom. Colswein’s importance is recorded with meticulous detail in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which lists his vast holdings of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire alone, with the manor of Brattleby as a principal seat. His was a feudal barony forged in conquest and secured by direct royal grant.
The succession of his son, Picot, as the 2nd Baron was therefore a moment of profound significance. It confirmed that Colswein’s title and lands were not a mere life tenancy, granted for the duration of his service, but constituted a feudal barony held in fee—that is, a hereditary possession to be passed down through his bloodline. This early establishment of hereditary right was a vital precedent that contributed to the stability of the Anglo-Norman state and guaranteed the legacy that would later see the Barony held by figures of national importance.
## The Lineage of the First Barons
The individuals at the heart of this foundational moment were central to the consolidation of Norman authority in a strategically vital region of England.
**Colswein of Lincoln, 1st Baron of Brattleby**, was a direct companion of William the Conqueror and a major landholder following the Conquest. His extensive lordships across Lincolnshire made him a pillar of the new regime, tasked with securing the territory and administering the King’s justice. His tenure represents the establishment of a new feudal order.
**Picot, 2nd Baron of Brattleby**, as Colswein’s son and heir, embodied the principle of continuity. His undisputed succession demonstrated that fealty and land could be transmitted through inheritance, transforming estates won by the sword into settled domains governed by law, custom, and allegiance to the Crown.
This unbroken chain of succession would later pass to such remarkable figures as **Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness**, the heroic defender of Lincoln Castle; **Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron**, created the 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his celebrated son-in-law, **John of Gaunt, 11th Baron**.
## Ceremonial Protocol
While the precise ritual of Picot’s investiture is lost to the mists of early medieval history, the established Norman protocol of the era provides a clear portrait of its likely form. The accession of a new baron was a solemn public act, the *sine qua non* of which was the performance of homage (*homagium*) and the swearing of an oath of fealty (*fidelitas*) directly to the King.
The act of homage required the new baron to kneel, without arms, and place his clasped hands between those of his sovereign, declaring himself to be the King’s ‘man’ for the lands he held. This deeply personal gesture symbolised submission and service. It was immediately followed by the oath of fealty, a sacred promise sworn upon a holy relic or Bible, to serve his lord faithfully against all men. This binding ritual, part legal contract and part sacred vow, was the bedrock upon which the entire medieval power structure was built.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its deepest resonance in this foundational act of succession. The fortitude was that of Colswein, in carving out and holding the Barony during the turbulent years after 1066. The honour was that of Picot, in formally accepting his feudal obligations and upholding his father’s legacy and his fealty to the Crown.
A coat of arms, then as now, is more than a mark of identity; it is a grant of honour and a visual testament to a lineage’s duties. The arms of the House of Brattleby thus signify not merely the ownership of land, but the honourable discharge of responsibilities incumbent upon the title-holder. This ancient tradition informs the modern stewardship of Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Honorary Lord Răzvan’s personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), complements this ethos, suggesting that the ultimate conquest is over the challenge of time itself, achieved through the preservation of legacy.
## An Educational Mandate
The dissemination of this historical research is undertaken in fulfilment of the House’s modern educational mission. While the Barony’s philanthropic focus is most visibly expressed through its annual Winter Banquet for the charity ‘Healing the Wounded Child’, the House also bears a responsibility to serve as a custodian of its unique history. By clarifying and sharing details of its near-millennium of existence, the House aims to provide an accurate and valuable resource for historians, students, and the public.
This commitment to education is a form of public service, ensuring the story of Brattleby—a title interwoven with the history of England—is told with scholarly accuracy and dignity. It reflects a belief that understanding the past, particularly the principles of duty and continuity, provides valuable context for the present. Initiatives such as this bulletin transform a private archive into a public good.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting upon this historical moment, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “The transition from Colswein to Picot is the very cornerstone of our family’s long history. It affirms that the Barony was established not for one lifetime, but intended for all time. This principle of stable, hereditary succession has been a guiding light, reminding each generation that we are but custodians of a legacy far greater than ourselves.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile further commented: > “To understand this early history gives profound context to our duties today. The fortitude required to establish a lineage, and the honour needed to sustain it through the centuries, are values as relevant in the twenty-first century as they were in the eleventh. It is a heritage we are deeply committed to preserving and sharing.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The House’s research into the tenure of the 2nd Baron is the first in a planned series of historical bulletins. These publications are part of a wider commitment to documenting and sharing the rich, thousand-year narrative of the Barony of Brattleby. This work, undertaken by the House archives, will continue to explore the lives and contributions of all who have held the title, with future focus on its most notable holders.
Forthcoming scholarship will delve further into the medieval period, offering new insights into the tenures of predecessors *inter alia*, the formidable Nichola de la Haye and the royal princes Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt. Through this sustained effort, The Noble House of Brattleby seeks to honour its past and contribute to the public’s understanding of English history, ensuring the long story of Brattleby is preserved for generations to come.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the stewardship of a significant historical legacy dating to the Norman Conquest. The House’s modern mission is centred on cultural preservation, protocol education, and targeted philanthropy. This is expressed through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to classical etiquette, and the annual Winter Banquet in aid of charitable foundations. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House connects its ancient heritage with a forward-looking commitment to public service, ensuring its relevance and positive impact in the contemporary world for its heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as holding 56 lordships, confirming his status as a leading magnate of the era. Throughout its near-millennium of history, the Barony has been held by some of England’s most influential figures, including Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), a formidable castellan who defended Lincoln Castle against baronial and French forces; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his heir, the renowned John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The title's legitimacy was formally recognised and recorded in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the current 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, was officially gazetted in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby traces its origins to AD 1066 and its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, whose Lincolnshire lands are documented in the *Domesday Book* (1086). - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont (1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com