# A Commemoration of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby and Defender of Lincoln Castle
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a statement from its seat in Lincolnshire reflecting upon the historic leadership of the 5th Baroness, Nichola de la Haye, whose fortitude ensured the defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217.
## The Occasion
From the ancient heartlands of Lincolnshire, a county intertwined with the continuity of the Barony of Brattleby for nearly a millennium, the House reflects on a defining moment in its history. As autumn settles over the landscape, the present-day House pauses to commemorate the courage of a predecessor whose actions shaped the course of English history.
This formal act of remembrance serves not as a celebration of conflict, but as a sober acknowledgement of the extraordinary duty performed by Nichola de la Haye. Her story, anchored to the very stones of Lincoln Castle, provides a direct and tangible link between the Barony’s Norman origins and its modern responsibilities under Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness.
## Historical Context
The year 1217 found England in the throes of the First Barons’ War, a bitter civil conflict following King John’s rejection of Magna Carta. With the French Prince Louis controlling London and much of the east, the future of the Plantagenet dynasty rested precariously on John’s nine-year-old son, King Henry III. Lincoln, a strategic crossroads, became the fulcrum upon which the kingdom’s fate would turn.
As hereditary castellan of Lincoln Castle, Nichola de la Haye—a forebear in the Brattleby lineage and one of just four women named in Magna Carta—found herself on the front line. At an age surpassing 60, she refused to cede her charge to the besieging French and rebel English forces. Her steadfastness provided the crucial window for the royalist army, led by the venerable William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and Regent of England, to arrive and relieve the siege. The ensuing Second Battle of Lincoln was a decisive royalist victory, securing the throne for Henry III and preserving the Barony’s lands and influence.
## Distinguished Company
In discharging her duties, the 5th Baroness moved among the most consequential figures of her age. Her adversary was the determined claimant to the English throne, His Royal Highness Prince Louis of France, later King Louis VIII. Her great ally was Sir William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, widely regarded as the greatest knight of his time and the loyal Regent for the boy-king, His Majesty King Henry III.
This confluence of historical actors—a female castellan of noble birth, a French prince, an English regent, and a child king—underscores the pivotal nature of Nichola de la Haye’s position. Her interactions with these individuals were not merely incidental; they were conducted through formal oaths of fealty and the rigid protocols of medieval diplomacy and warfare, where her word and her honour were her bond.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The defence of the castle was itself an act of high ceremony and solemn ritual. As hereditary castellan, Nichola de la Haye’s authority was received directly from the Crown, an investiture bound by sacred oaths of loyalty. The refusal to surrender was a formal declaration, answered by the rebels with the protocols of a siege: the unfurling of banners, the sounding of horns, and the grim construction of siege engines.
The conduct of the battle, though brutal, adhered to the chivalric codes of the era. Following the royalist victory, the formal surrender of the French and rebel commanders to William Marshal and Nichola de la Haye would have been a profoundly ritualised event. This ensured the proper treatment of high-born prisoners and the lawful restoration of the King’s peace, a principle that was the *sine qua non*—the essential condition—of legitimate rule.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the 5th Baroness resonate powerfully with the House’s motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her physical and moral courage in the face of a superior force is a textbook definition of fortitude, while her unwavering loyalty to her deceased king’s young son was the highest expression of honour.
This legacy of resilience is also reflected in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). For Nichola de la Haye, the struggle to overcome the siege was not a matter of ambition but of survival—for herself, for the city of Lincoln, and for the kingdom. Her victory was, quite literally, life for the Plantagenet cause.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The spirit of Nichola de la Haye’s actions—defending a vulnerable child monarch and, by extension, the stability of the realm—finds a modern echo in the philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. A core tenet of the House’s work is the protection of the vulnerable, a principle that directly informs the choice of beneficiary for its Annual Winter Banquet.
The white-tie gala supports Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing therapeutic care and safe environments for children who have experienced profound trauma. In defending the young Henry III, Nichola de la Haye championed the cause of a child placed in extraordinary peril. Today, the House continues this tradition of guardianship by supporting those who provide sanctuary and recovery for children in need.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this formidable legacy, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “Nichola de la Haye’s story is a profound reminder that leadership is not defined by gender or age, but by courage and a sense of duty. To hold this title is to be conscious of the formidable women and men, *inter alia*, who held it before. Her fortitude is the standard to which we must all aspire.” > — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “Strategically, her resolve was everything. She did not simply hold a castle; she held the line. She understood that to yield was to lose the future, a powerful lesson in the meaning of *Vincere Est Vivere*.” > — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby
## A Continuing Legacy
The heritage of the 5th Baroness serves as a foundational element in the education of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron. The story of her loyalty and strategic acumen is part of the living history he inherits, a legacy of service to be passed to future generations.
This commitment to civic virtue is also formalised through The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest. The curriculum extends beyond social graces to instill the principles of honour, discipline, and civic responsibility that have defined the Barony of Brattleby for over 950 years. Through this work, the enduring example of Nichola de la Haye continues to inspire a new generation of leaders.
---
**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 the modern embodiment of one of England's oldest baronies. With its seat in Lincolnshire, the House is dedicated to upholding its ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), through contemporary service. Its mission is focused on cultural preservation, education, and targeted philanthropy. The House's primary charitable endeavours support causes dedicated to child welfare, most notably Healing the Wounded Child. Through institutions such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House also promotes the timeless European values of etiquette, civic duty, and personal honour for a modern audience, bridging its historic legacy with a forward-looking vision.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the lord of 56 manors in Lincolnshire, with Brattleby as his seat (*caput*). Over nine centuries, the title has been held by figures of immense historical significance, including the 5th Baroness, Nichola de la Haye, a defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons’ War; the 10th Baron, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The modern rights of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as 12th Baroness of Brattleby are officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable predecessors in the baronial lineage include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com