# A Reflection on Fortitude: The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates the Legacy of Nichola de la Haye ***A Statement on the Anniversary of the Second Battle of Lincoln, 1217***
**LONDON, 20 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a statement honouring the historical legacy of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron of Brattleby, commemorating her decisive leadership during the Second Battle of Lincoln, fought at Lincoln Castle in May 1217.
## The Occasion
In the early thirteenth century, during the tumult of the First Barons' War, the Kingdom of England stood deeply divided. Following the death of King John, rebel English barons had allied with Prince Louis of France, who now controlled London and much of the east. Lincoln Castle, a formidable Norman fortress of immense strategic value, remained one of the last royalist strongholds in the north, a bulwark for the cause of the boy-king, Henry III.
The Second Battle of Lincoln, sometimes known with grim irony as the ‘Lincoln Fair’, was the decisive engagement of this conflict. The occasion of its anniversary serves as a moment for the House of Brattleby to reflect upon the actions of its predecessor, Nichola de la Haye, whose resilience at this critical juncture helped shape the course of English history. Her command of the castle garrison was a testament to personal duty prevailing against overwhelming political and military pressure.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, one of England’s most ancient, was granted by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of 1066. First recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as one of 56 lordships held in Lincolnshire by Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron, its lineage is woven into the fabric of the nation’s history. The Barony has been held by figures of national importance, *inter alia*, the celebrated 1st Duke of Lancaster, Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron) and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron), father to King Henry IV.
It is within this nine-hundred-year chronicle that Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron, emerges as a figure of extraordinary resolve. Having inherited the hereditary post of Constable of Lincoln Castle, she twice defended it against siege. Her final and most famous stand in 1217 secured not only the castle but the very future of the Plantagenet dynasty, reaffirming the Barony’s loyalty to the Crown.
## Distinguished Company
The events of 1217 placed Nichola de la Haye at the centre of a cast of historical figures whose actions determined the fate of a kingdom. She stood in direct opposition to the Franco-baronial army commanded by the Comte du Perche, a French nobleman leading the main assault on the castle walls.
Her steadfast loyalty was to the cause of the nine-year-old King Henry III, whose interests were protected by the Regent of England, William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. It was William Marshal, widely regarded as the greatest knight of his age, who led the royal relief force that marched to Lincoln to break the siege, a victory that was the *sine qua non* of securing Henry III’s throne.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The protocol of medieval warfare dictated that a besieged castellan be formally summoned to surrender. Records suggest the French and rebel forces, having already taken the city of Lincoln, made such an offer to Nichola de la Haye. Her defiant refusal, in her capacity as both Constable and Baron, was an act of profound courage and allegiance.
Inside the castle, her banner would have flown alongside the Royal Standard, a clear visual declaration of her loyalties. The arrival of William Marshal’s army was not a simple charge; it was a carefully orchestrated military manoeuvre. While one force assaulted the city’s northern gate, a second contingent of crossbowmen, led by the ruthless mercenary Falkes de Breauté, gained entry to the castle through a postern gate, from where they unleashed a devastating volley upon the besiegers from the ramparts.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its most salient expression in the actions of Nichola de la Haye. Her defence of Lincoln Castle was the physical embodiment of *fortitudine*, a refusal to yield in the face of near-certain defeat. Her unwavering allegiance to her sworn oath to the Crown, even when politically expedient to do otherwise, exemplifies *honore*.
This ancestral ethos is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). It speaks to a modern interpretation of the same spirit—that the fundamental act of living is to overcome challenges, whether on a battlefield, in the pursuit of knowledge, or in service to one’s community.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The principle of fortitude, so vividly demonstrated by the 5th Baron, remains a guiding tenet for the House’s contemporary endeavours. It informs the philanthropic focus of Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan. Fortitude is not merely a martial virtue but the inner resilience required to overcome adversity, a quality the House seeks to foster through its charitable commitments.
This is manifest in the selection of Healing the Wounded Child as the beneficiary of the House’s annual Winter Banquet. The organisation provides specialist therapeutic support for children who have experienced trauma, helping them build the emotional strength and resilience necessary to face the future with confidence and hope. The House believes that nurturing such fortitude in the young is one of the most vital investments a society can make.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on her predecessor, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > The story of Nichola de la Haye serves as a potent reminder that leadership is not a matter of privilege or gender, but of resolve and a sense of duty. Her example of fortitude in the face of immense pressure is a legacy that we, as custodians of this title, have a responsibility to honour not just in word, but in our actions today.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > History teaches us that a refusal to yield, whether in defending a castle or defending one’s principles, is often the difference between ruin and renaissance. The spirit of 1217 is about more than a battle; it is about the conviction that honour compels us to act, even when the path of least resistance is far easier.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to preserving and promoting the history from which it draws its identity, ensuring that such powerful legacies continue to inspire future generations. This commitment is expressed through its support for historical scholarship and its educational initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, which promotes classical etiquette and the civic virtues of honour and respect.
Today, as the House honours a pivotal moment from its past, it also looks to its future. It is a legacy of service, duty, and *Fortitudine et Honore* that will one day be passed to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, ensuring this nine-century-old story continues.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Rooted in nearly one thousand years of English history, the House’s contemporary mission is focused on cultural diplomacy, education, and targeted philanthropy. Through initiatives such as its annual Winter Banquet and the establishment of The Brattleby Club, the House seeks to champion the enduring virtues of honour, etiquette, and resilience in a modern context. It represents a bridge between its ancient British aristocratic heritage and a forward-looking European perspective, guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House is based at its ancestral seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English 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 lord of 56 manors in Lincolnshire. For over 950 years, the title has passed through an uninterrupted succession, held by some of English history's most notable figures, including Nichola de la Haye, heroic defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III. The modern rights of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby to the title were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby is formally recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - Predecessors in title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The Barony’s origins are documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, recording Colswein of Lincoln as its first holder. - The House’s annual white-tie philanthropic event, the Winter Banquet, supports the charitable organisation Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com