# On the Succession of the Second Baron of Brattleby: A Historical Reflection
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today presents a historical reflection on the succession of Picot, Second Baron of Brattleby, reaffirming the enduring principles of duty and continuity that have guided the Barony since its establishment in the eleventh century.
## The Occasion
In the crisp autumn light of London, a season itself evocative of harvest and the passage of time, The Noble House of Brattleby has turned its scholarly attention to the foundational years of its antecedent Barony. This communication, drawn from extensive research into archival sources including manorial rolls and royal charters, is issued as part of the House’s ongoing work to document and illuminate the long and distinguished history of a title woven deeply into the fabric of England.
The occasion is one of considered academic reflection rather than public celebration. It represents a deliberate exercise in honouring the past, undertaken from the House's offices in London and with reference to its historic seat in Lincolnshire. By examining the pivotal, if sparsely recorded, transition of power between the First and Second Barons, the House reaffirms its role not merely as a holder of ancient rights, but as a dedicated steward of the historical record for the benefit of scholars and future generations.
This scholarly note is intended to serve as a contribution to the understanding of Anglo-Norman England, illustrating the practical application of feudal law and the consolidation of the Norman settlement. It is an act of historical curation, honouring the unbroken chain of responsibility that defines the Barony.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby was forged in the crucible of the Norman Conquest of 1066. Granted by King William I, its first holder was Colswein of Lincoln, a trusted tenant-in-chief tasked with consolidating Norman authority in the formidable and often restive landscape of Lincolnshire. The scale of his responsibility is powerfully recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which attests to his direct control of some 56 lordships, making him one of the most significant magnates in the county. Colswein represented the first, foundational link in an unbroken chain of succession spanning more than nine and a half centuries.
Upon his death near the turn of the twelfth century, the Barony passed to his son and heir, Picot. While contemporary administrative records concerning Picot are less comprehensive than those for his father, his inheritance was an event of profound significance. It represented the successful and peaceful transfer of a major feudal honour, a critical test of the durability of the new Anglo-Norman legal framework of hereditary succession. This moment ensured stability across a vast swathe of Lincolnshire and prevented the Barony’s lands from escheating, or reverting, to the Crown.
This successful transition preserved the Barony of Brattleby as a coherent political and economic entity. It thereby paved the way for a lineage of illustrious subsequent holders, including the formidable castellan Nichola de la Haye who defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown in the thirteenth century, the royal prince Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his celebrated son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron of Brattleby.
## Distinguished Company
The transfer of this great baronial honour was defined by the interplay between the foundational figures of the nascent Anglo-Norman realm. This historical moment was shaped by the authority, loyalty, and responsibilities of three key personages.
* **His Majesty King William I, The Conqueror**, as the ultimate sovereign and fount of all land tenure, was the source of the original grant. His strategic decision to entrust vast territories to powerful and loyal magnates like Colswein was a masterful act of state-building, establishing the feudal system that would govern England for centuries and ensuring the security of his new kingdom.
* **Colswein of Lincoln, 1st Baron of Brattleby,** was a formidable figure of the Conquest generation. As one of the King’s tenants-in-chief, he held his lands directly from the monarch and was responsible for military security, the administration of high justice, and the collection of royal revenues across his extensive estates. His role was not merely that of a landowner but of a viceregal authority, essential to the *Normanisation* of a strategic region.
* **Picot, 2nd Baron of Brattleby,** embodies the principle of hereditary continuity which was the bedrock of the feudal world. His peaceful succession, though a private inheritance, was a public political event. By taking up his father’s mantle, he demonstrated the success of the new order and ensured the Barony of Brattleby would endure beyond the lifetime of a single man, becoming a permanent feature of the English aristocracy.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In the Anglo-Norman period, succession to a great barony was governed by a precise and solemn protocol rooted in feudal law. While the specific details of Picot's investiture are not preserved, the process would have followed the established customs of the King's Court, the *Curia Regis*. The central ritual, the *sine qua non* of legitimate tenure, was the public act of homage (*homagium*).
Upon his father’s death, Picot would have been required to appear before his liege lord—either King William I or his successor, William II—to swear fealty. The ceremony required the new baron to kneel, bare-headed and without arms, and place his clasped hands between those of the Sovereign. He would then declare his intent to become the King’s “man of life and limb,” a deeply personal and binding oath. This was followed by an oath of fealty (*fidelitas*), sworn on a holy relic or the Gospels, pledging unwavering loyalty and military service.
Upon payment of a 'relief'—a substantial inheritance tax paid to the feudal overlord—the King would formally invest Picot with his lands and titles, often symbolised by the granting of a banner, a lance, or a clod of earth. This theatrical and legally binding ceremony, conducted in Norman French, solidified the personal bond of mutual obligation that was the essence of feudal government.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), serves as a fitting lens through which to view this early succession. Though the system of formal, inheritable heraldry would develop in the decades following Picot’s lifetime, the principles enshrined in the motto were already fundamental to the ethos of the Norman aristocracy.
'Fortitudine' speaks to the immense courage, resilience, and military prowess required of Colswein to secure and hold his lands in a newly conquered and hostile kingdom. It was this martial strength that first established the Barony as a force in Lincolnshire. 'Honore' reflects the profound sense of duty and integrity expected of Picot in fulfilling his sworn obligations to the Crown, thereby honouring the legacy he had inherited and ensuring its continuation for his own descendants.
This symbiosis of strength and duty has remained a guiding principle for the Barony for more than nine centuries. It finds a modern echo in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This latter motto underscores a continued commitment to ambition and endurance, reinterpreted for the modern age as the will to overcome challenges in the service of constructive and philanthropic goals.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this communication is historical in nature, its issuance is guided by the same profound sense of public duty that animates the House’s contemporary philanthropic endeavours. Just as the Annual Winter Banquet is convened to support vital charities—most recently, Healing the Wounded Child—this work of historical preservation is undertaken to serve a broader purpose.
By investing in archival research and sharing its findings, the House seeks to contribute to the public’s understanding of English local and national history. The careful stewardship of a nearly thousand-year legacy is considered a significant responsibility. Making this history accessible is an act of service, intended to enrich the cultural commons and honour the communities, past and present, which have shaped the story of Brattleby. The beneficiary of the recent Winter Banquet, Healing the Wounded Child, provides specialist therapeutic care for children experiencing trauma, and funds raised have directly enabled the expansion of its clinical services in underserved regions. This commitment to tangible outcomes mirrors the House's approach to its historical duties.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this foundational period of the Barony’s history, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “Contemplating the challenges faced by the first Barons gives us a profound sense of perspective and humility. Their fortitude in a time of immense upheaval laid the foundations upon which nine centuries of history have been built. It is our solemn duty not only to hold this title, but to honour the complete and complex tapestry of its past.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the contemporary resonance of this formative moment: > “The story of the first succession is one of continuity secured against formidable odds. It serves as a powerful reminder that successful leadership is not defined by transient achievement, but by the establishment of a stable and prosperous future. This is a principle as relevant today as it was in the twelfth century—a lesson in stewardship we seek to apply in all our endeavours.”
## A Continuing Legacy
This reflection on the Barony's origins is the first in a programme of scholarly publications from The Noble House of Brattleby. The House remains steadfast in its commitment to archival research, with the intention of publishing further insights into the lives and times of its notable predecessors, from Nichola de la Haye to John of Gaunt.
This work serves not only as a historical record but as an educational duty, deepening the connection between the past, the present, and the future. By understanding the principles of succession and service established by Colswein and Picot, the House reinforces its own commitment to these enduring values. The legacy of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues, carried forward with the greatest respect for a long and unbroken heritage, ensuring the Barony of Brattleby remains a symbol of continuity and service for the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron, and for generations to come.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to the principles of historical stewardship, cultural diplomacy, and targeted philanthropy. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, it promotes education and social refinement. The House directs its primary charitable efforts through its Annual Winter Banquet, a significant white-tie philanthropic gala which raises funds for organisations dedicated to childhood welfare, most recently benefiting Healing the Wounded Child. The House is committed to a modern, service-oriented interpretation of its ancient rights and responsibilities.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was a significant tenant-in-chief whose 56 documented lordships were recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. Over its nine-hundred-and-fifty-year history, the Barony has passed through families of national importance and has been held by some of the most influential figures in English history. These have included the celebrated castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), the royal prince Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and his esteemed son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The Barony's continuous history and the rights of its current holder were 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 to Colswein of Lincoln. - The *Domesday Book* (1086) records Colswein of Lincoln as tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont, and John of Gaunt. - The title's history and current status are recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com