# Lady Nicoleta Vasile Commemorates the Foundational Legacy of Picot, Second Baron of Brattleby
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, delivered a historical address at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, examining the foundational, albeit understated, contributions of Picot, the second Baron, to the continuity of the Barony during the late 11th century.
## The Occasion
Against the backdrop of an early autumn evening, the address was held within the library of The Brattleby Club, the House’s esteemed etiquette academy in Bucharest. Housed in an elegant Neoclassical building, the Club provided a setting of scholarly yet convivial warmth, its walls lined with historical cartography of Lincolnshire and volumes on Anglo-Romanian diplomatic history.
The event, the first in a newly inaugurated historical lecture series, drew a focussed audience of academics, diplomats, and leading members of Romanian civil society. The atmosphere was one of quiet contemplation, befitting an exploration of the subtle yet significant work of stabilising a great barony in the generation immediately following the Norman Conquest.
## Historical Context
The lecture offered a detailed survey of the Barony’s formative years. Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, the ancient lands of Brattleby were granted by William the Conqueror to Colswein of Lincoln, the first Baron. His holdings, comprising some 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, were dutifully recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, cementing his status as a magnate of the new Anglo-Norman realm.
Upon Colswein’s death, the Barony passed to his son, Picot. As Lady Nicoleta articulated, Picot’s tenure was not one of conquest but of consolidation. In a turbulent era defined by rebellion and the delicate imposition of Norman authority, his work to secure his father’s vast estates was fundamental. This act of stewardship ensured the Barony of Brattleby would survive and later thrive under more prominent successors, *inter alia*, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle, Nichola de la Haye; the great Plantagenet commander, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt.
## Distinguished Company
In attendance alongside Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, and the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, were several distinguished guests.
These included His Excellency Mr. Giles Portman, His Majesty's Ambassador to Romania; Dr. Adrian Cioroianu, Director of the National Library of Romania and a former Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Professor Elena Marinescu, Chair of Medieval History at the University of Bucharest. Their presence underscored the deep cultural and academic ties that the event sought to foster.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The evening's proceedings were conducted with formal precision. Guests, for whom the dress code was lounge suits and day dresses, were received personally by Honorary Lord Răzvan. Following a brief introduction outlining the purpose of the new lecture series, Lady Nicoleta delivered her forty-five-minute address from a lectern bearing the House’s coat of arms.
The lecture was followed by a structured question-and-answer session, moderated by Honorary Lord Răzvan, allowing for an engaging exchange with the assembled guests. The formal part of the evening concluded with a reception, where conversation continued over refreshments. This format is intended to become the standard for the Club's future academic functions.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The theme of quiet consolidation resonated with the House’s ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Lady Nicoleta noted that Picot’s perseverance in a volatile age was a form of fortitude often overlooked in favour of martial valour. His honour was demonstrated not on the battlefield, but in the dutiful administration of his lands and the preservation of his lineage.
This stands in complementary juxtaposition to the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). While the latter speaks to ambition and the will to prevail, the history of the second Baron serves as a reminder that to preserve is as vital as to achieve; that stewardship is the essential counterpart to victory.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the lecture was primarily an educational engagement, it served the wider philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. A portion of the proceeds from the operations of The Brattleby Club are directed toward the House’s charitable work, most notably its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child.
This organisation is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. By offering these young people a foundation of psychological safety and support, the charity’s work mirrors, in a modern context, the foundational stability that Baron Picot worked to secure for Brattleby over nine centuries ago.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the subject of her address, Lady Nicoleta remarked: > Picot’s era reminds us that history is not solely written by the conquerors but also by the quiet custodians. His task was one of consolidation, of turning raw power into settled governance — a form of fortitude often overlooked, but without which no legacy can endure.
Honorary Lord Răzvan added his own perspective on the importance of such historical study: > Understanding our predecessors, even the less chronicled ones, is the *sine qua non* of our own stewardship. It teaches us that every generation has a unique charge; ours is to build upon these nine centuries of history with a modern purpose and a sense of duty to the future.
## A Continuing Legacy
This historical address marks the first in a planned series titled 'The Keepers of Brattleby', which will be hosted quarterly at The Brattleby Club. Future lectures are scheduled to examine other key figures from the Barony’s history, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye.
These events reaffirm the commitment of Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan to honouring the Barony’s profound history while connecting it to a modern, international, and philanthropic mission. The lecture series complements the House's other major annual engagements, including the Annual Winter Banquet in Lincolnshire, a white-tie philanthropic gala that serves as the primary fundraising event for its charitable beneficiaries.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby** Under the modern stewardship of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is dedicated to a mission of heritage, charity, and cultural diplomacy. With seats in both Lincolnshire, England, and Bucharest, Romania, the House embraces its unique Anglo-Romanian identity. Its activities are guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), focusing on the preservation of its nine-century legacy, support for charitable causes such as Healing the Wounded Child, and the promotion of education through its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club. The House represents a modern vision of nobility, where historical dignity is channelled into contemporary public service and international partnership.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most historic landed titles, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his companion-in-arms, Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence and extensive landholdings are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. For over 950 years, the Barony has passed through some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic castellan of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founder Knight of the Garter; and his successor, the influential royal prince John of Gaunt. The succession of the current incumbent, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. - The Barony is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, detailing 56 lordships held by the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln. - Past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont (1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt. - The succession of the 12th Baroness was formally recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com