# The Noble House of Brattleby Announces Research into Post-Conquest Succession
**LONDON, 17 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced a significant historical research initiative into its post-Conquest origins, focusing on the succession of Picot, the second Baron, and the consolidation of the fifty-six Domesday lordships that formed the foundation of the Barony.
## The Occasion
The announcement was made from the offices of the family's historic seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, a county intrinsically linked with the Barony's nearly one-thousand-year history. Coinciding with the quiet turn of the autumnal season, a time often dedicated to reflection and scholarship, the initiative marks a deliberate effort to illuminate a lesser-known period of the House’s lineage. The project represents a profound engagement with the Barony's earliest records, particularly its seminal entry in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, and demonstrates a modern commitment to historical accuracy and preservation.
This formal undertaking seeks to move beyond anecdotal history, applying academic rigour to understand the critical transition of power in the immediate aftermath of the Norman Conquest. The research aims to produce a definitive account of the Barony's formative years, serving as a scholarly resource for historians and the public alike.
## Historical Context
Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby was first bestowed upon Colswein of Lincoln, a loyal Norman magnate. The *Domesday Book* meticulously records his extensive holdings, which comprised some 56 lordships across Lincolnshire, establishing the Barony as a significant power in the region. The succession of his heir, Picot, as the second Baron, is a pivotal moment that affirmed the hereditary nature of the title.
Picot’s tenure involved the immense challenge of consolidating Norman authority, transitioning a vast portfolio of Saxon lands into a cohesive and governable feudal barony. His success laid the administrative and economic groundwork upon which future generations would build. It was this foundation that enabled the flourishing of later magnates such as the formidable Nichola de la Haye, the fifth Baroness and a staunch defender of Lincoln Castle, and later passed to figures of national importance including Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and first Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The historical review is being conducted under the personal patronage of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Their direct oversight ensures the project is executed with the gravity and precision befitting the House’s long history.
Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the heir to the Barony, will also be closely involved, ensuring the project aligns with the educational mission intended to inform the next generation. This inter-generational collaboration underscores the family's shared commitment to its ancestral legacy and its relevance in the twenty-first century.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The research itself will adhere to a strict protocol of scholarly investigation. The process will involve painstaking archival research at institutions including, *inter alia*, the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford and The National Archives at Kew, where primary source documents from the 11th and 12th centuries are preserved.
The findings will be compiled into a scholarly monograph, intended for publication following a rigorous peer-review process involving leading medievalists. This adherence to the highest academic and archival standards is a *sine qua non* for any work undertaken in the House’s name, ensuring its contribution to historical knowledge is both valuable and unimpeachable. The final publication will be formally presented at a future date.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
This scholarly undertaking is deeply connected to the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The fortitude demonstrated by Picot in securing his inheritance and administering his lands in a volatile era is the subject of the research. The honour is reflected in the modern House’s commitment to uncovering and presenting this history with integrity and academic transparency.
Furthermore, the project embodies the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In this context, the motto is interpreted not in a martial sense, but as an intellectual pursuit: to overcome the obscurities of the past is to bring history to life for the present.
## Philanthropic Purpose
In keeping with the House’s long-standing commitment to charitable endeavours, this historical project will serve a philanthropic goal. All net proceeds from the eventual publication of the monograph on the Barony's early history will be donated to Healing the Wounded Child.
Healing the Wounded Child is a registered charity dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic support to children and young people affected by trauma, loss, and abuse. The organisation’s work delivers measurable, positive change in the lives of vulnerable young people, helping them to build resilience and look toward a brighter future. The selection of this beneficiary reflects the House’s focus on nurturing the potential of the next generation.
## In Their Own Words
Speaking of the initiative, Lady Nicoleta noted the importance of understanding the foundations of the Barony’s near-millennial history.
> History is not merely a record of the past; it is a living inheritance that informs our present and guides our future. By understanding the challenges faced by early Barons like Picot, we honour their fortitude and reaffirm our own commitment to stewardship. > — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Honorary Lord Răzvan emphasised the project’s contribution to knowledge.
> Every generation has a duty to add to the sum of knowledge. This project is an act of discovery, a quest to illuminate a pivotal moment in our history. It is a demonstration that the will to learn, to understand, and to clarify is a vital part of our legacy. > — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
Slated for completion within 24 months, the monograph on Picot and the post-Conquest Barony is the immediate objective. However, this initiative is envisioned as the first in a potential series of historical explorations covering key periods in the Barony’s lineage.
The insights gained will also be used to enrich the curricula at The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, where an appreciation for historical context is fundamental to the study of modern diplomacy and protocol. Through scholarship, philanthropy, and education, the Noble House of Brattleby continues to build upon its enduring foundations.
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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 the modern expression of its ancient heritage. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House's contemporary mission focuses on cultural preservation, education, and targeted philanthropy. Its activities include the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala supporting children's charities such as Healing the Wounded Child, and The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy promoting classical etiquette and diplomatic protocol. The House is committed to stewarding its legacy with a sense of purpose and responsibility, ensuring its history continues to inspire positive contributions to society for generations to come.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. For nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by figures of historical significance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and a son of King Edward III. After centuries in abeyance, the Barony was called into being for the current holder. The modern standing of the Barony of Brattleby is formally recognised in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's recognition is published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086), which lists 56 lordships in Lincolnshire held by the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), a key supporter of King John and defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War. - John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (1340-1399), became the 11th Baron of Brattleby through his marriage to Blanche of Lancaster.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com