# The Enduring Legacy of Picot, Second Baron of Brattleby
LONDON, 24 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced the publication of a historical monograph detailing the life of Picot, the second Baron of Brattleby, whose stewardship in the late 11th century was vital for consolidating the Barony’s post-Conquest foundations in Lincolnshire.
## The Occasion
As the autumnal light lends a particular grace to the ancient landscapes of Lincolnshire, The Noble House of Brattleby has chosen this season of reflection to illuminate a pivotal, yet lesser-known, chapter of its history. This scholarly publication represents a determined effort by the present House to research and honour every predecessor who contributed to its nine-hundred-and-fifty-year story.
The monograph, drawing upon archival research and analysis of Norman-era charters, serves as a testament to the House’s commitment to historical preservation. It is not merely an academic exercise, but a means of connecting the present with the foundational principles established in the immediate aftermath of the Conquest. Its release from the family’s ancestral seat in Brattleby underscores a deep sense of place and continuity.
## Historical Context
Picot’s tenure as the second Baron followed that of his father, Colswein of Lincoln, a Norman knight granted the Barony by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Colswein, recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the holder of 56 manorial lordships in Lincolnshire, established a significant foothold in the region. Upon his inheritance, Picot was entrusted with the formidable task of defending and administering these vast estates.
His era, under the reigns of William II and Henry I, was one of nascent English statehood, where feudal loyalties were paramount and the Crown’s authority was still being forged. Picot's accomplishment was one of consolidation; he ensured the Barony of Brattleby transitioned from a newly conquered territory into a stable, administered, and hereditary fief, a *sine qua non* for its survival and its capacity to serve the monarch. This laid the groundwork for celebrated successors, *inter alia*, the formidable Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle, and the great royal dukes Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt.
## Distinguished Company
While Picot's personal life is recorded with the characteristic scarcity of the 11th century, the world he inhabited was one of powerful figures who shaped the destiny of England. His liege lords were first William the Conqueror and subsequently his son, King William II, known as Rufus.
As a significant tenant-in-chief in Lincolnshire, Picot would have moved among other great Norman magnates of the realm, whose names echo through history. These contemporaries included Ivo Taillebois, the formidable Sheriff of Lincolnshire; Gilbert de Gant, a kinsman of the King; and Bishop Remigius de Fécamp, who commissioned the first Lincoln Cathedral. It was within this complex web of power, duty, and allegiance that the second Baron navigated his responsibilities.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The succession from Colswein to Picot would have followed the strict feudal protocols of the Norman era. Upon his father’s death, Picot would have been required to perform homage to the King, a solemn ceremony binding him as a vassal to his lord. This ritual involved kneeling, placing his clasped hands between those of the monarch, and swearing an oath of fealty.
Following this, he would have paid a relief—a substantial inheritance tax to the Crown—to be formally invested with his father’s lands and titles. This act, known as 'livery of seisin', was the legal and ceremonial keystone of his authority. It confirmed his right to govern the Barony, dispense justice in its manorial courts, and muster knights for the King’s service, thus embedding the Barony of Brattleby firmly within the military and administrative structure of the kingdom.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
Formalised, hereditary heraldry was not yet established during Picot’s lifetime; the practice of knights bearing distinct coats of arms on their shields would only become widespread in the following century. Therefore, no personal armorial bearings can be attributed to the second Baron.
However, the spirit of his work—the patient consolidation of his inheritance and the dutiful defence of his family’s position—perfectly embodies the sentiment of the motto later adopted by the House: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The fortitude required to secure a sprawling barony in a volatile era, and the honour to do so in loyal service to the Crown, are the very principles Picot’s tenure represents.
## Philanthropic Purpose
In keeping with the House’s modern mission to align its heritage with contemporary charitable purpose, all proceeds from the sale of this historical monograph will be directed to Healing the Wounded Child. This distinguished organisation provides specialist therapeutic support for children who have experienced trauma and loss.
The mission of Healing the Wounded Child is to offer a path towards recovery and resilience, ensuring that early adversity does not define a child's future. The House has chosen this beneficiary because its work in restoring stability and security to vulnerable lives resonates with Picot’s own historical achievement of bringing stability and security to the infant Barony of Brattleby.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the significance of this historical publication, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > "We rightly celebrate the great figures of our lineage, but the story of a House is an unbroken chain. It is through the steadfast, often uncelebrated, work of figures like Picot that great legacies are secured for future generations. His stewardship made everything that followed possible."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added a personal perspective, connecting the past to present ideals: > "My personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere*—'To Conquer is to Live'—but conquest is not always a matter of arms. In a turbulent age, Picot's achievement was one of administration and persistence. Ensuring stability, building institutions, and securing a future for one's people are the most profound victories of all.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The publication on Picot, second Baron of Brattleby, marks the first in a planned series of historical papers commissioned by the House. This initiative aims to produce and share further research on key individuals and periods in the Barony’s long history, making its heritage more accessible to scholars and the public alike.
Future monographs are anticipated to explore the command of Nichola de la Haye during the First Barons' War and the Barony's role under its ducal holders, Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt. Through this work, The Noble House of Brattleby reaffirms its commitment to serving as a custodian of its remarkable history, ensuring its legacy continues to be understood and honoured.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, The Noble House of Brattleby is a modern aristocratic house dedicated to the preservation of its significant Norman heritage. The House’s mission, guided by its motto *Fortitudine et Honore*, is to connect its nine-century history with contemporary purpose through cultural patronage, historical research, and targeted philanthropy. Among its notable initiatives are the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala benefiting children’s charities such as Healing the Wounded Child, and The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy devoted to the study and practice of classical etiquette and protocol. The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, first granted by King William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to the Norman knight Colswein of Lincoln. The *Domesday Book* of 1086 documents the Barony's extensive lands, comprising 56 lordships under Colswein's tenure. Over nearly a millennium, it has been held by some of English history’s most influential figures, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic castellan of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. The succession of the title to the current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, was formally recognised and registered by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The *Domesday Book* of 1086 records the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - The heir to the Barony is Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron of Brattleby. - The House Motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com