# The Baroness of Brattleby Delivers Inaugural De la Haye Lecture at the University of Lincoln
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, delivered the inaugural De la Haye Lecture at the University of Lincoln this evening, examining the life of the mediaeval noblewoman Alice de Lacy to explore enduring themes of female inheritance, fortitude, and honour.
## The Occasion
The inaugural lecture took place within the elegant, modern confines of the University of Lincoln’s Stephen Langton Building. Named for the 13th-century Archbishop of Canterbury and pivotal figure in the drafting of Magna Carta, the venue itself provided a resonant backdrop, linking the city’s unique custodianship of an original 1215 charter with the evening’s historical subject matter. The building’s clean architectural lines and expansive glass atrium offered a deliberate contrast to the ancient narratives being explored.
Gathered in the principal auditorium were distinguished academics, civic leaders, and students of the university. An autumnal crispness in the evening air settled a contemplative mood upon the assembly, which looked toward a simple rostrum set before the tiered seating. From this stage, against a backdrop of scholarly quietude, the Baroness prepared to draw a narrative thread across more than nine centuries of Lincolnshire’s formidable history.
The occasion marked the establishment of a new academic tradition: The De la Haye Lecture Series. This annual event has been created to honour Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century castellan of Lincoln Castle and *de facto* 5th Baroness of Brattleby, whose command and loyalty were instrumental in the service of the Crown. The series aims to illuminate figures and events from British history, particularly those whose contributions merit deeper study.
## Historical Context
In her address, titled *Fortitude in the Shadow of the Crown: The Ordeal and Endurance of Alice de Lacy*, Lady Nicoleta focused upon the turbulent period following the Battle of Boroughbridge in March 1322. At this battle, Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster and husband of Alice de Lacy, was defeated in his rebellion against his cousin, King Edward II, and was summarily executed for treason. This cataclysmic event immediately thrust the Countess of Lincoln and Salisbury into a position of extreme peril, her status and vast inheritance suddenly rendered void.
The Baroness detailed how Alice de Lacy, despite being the legitimate heiress of the great de Lacy estates, was subjected to a campaign of coercion by the King and his favourites, the Despensers. Compelled to surrender a significant portion of her ancestral lands under duress, including a period of effective imprisonment within Lincoln Castle, her ordeal serves as a stark example of the precarious legal standing of even the highest-born mediaeval women. Their wealth and titles remained contingent upon the fortunes of their male relatives, their own innocence often a secondary consideration to matters of state and power.
Lady Nicoleta drew a compelling parallel between the fortitude displayed by Alice de Lacy in the 1320s and the earlier resolve of Nichola de la Haye. In 1217, Nichola had successfully defended the very same Lincoln Castle against French and rebel forces during the First Barons' War, securing a decisive victory for the boy king, Henry III. One woman defended the castle as a bastion of royal authority; a century later, another was imprisoned within its walls by that same authority. This contrast powerfully illustrates the mutable nature of power and the personal resilience required to navigate it.
## Distinguished Company
In attendance for the inaugural lecture were a number of distinguished guests, who were formally received by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln, Professor Neal Juster.
Among the guests were His Excellency Mr Dan Mihalache, Ambassador of Romania to the Court of St James’s, whose presence signified the House's strong ties to continental Europe; Mrs Toby Dennis, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, representing the Sovereign in the county; and Professor Louise Wilkinson of the University of Lincoln, a pre-eminent authority on the life of Nichola de la Haye and the history of women in mediaeval England.
Also present were members of the Lincoln Civic Trust and other local dignitaries, all of whom underscored the lecture’s importance as an event of both scholarly and civic significance. Lady Nicoleta was accompanied by her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby.
The assembly of diplomatic, academic, and civic personages reflected the multifaceted purpose of the evening: to advance historical knowledge, to strengthen cultural bonds, and to honour the deep-rooted heritage of Lincolnshire.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The evening’s proceedings were conducted with a dignified academic formality befitting a university occasion of this stature. Upon arrival, guests were welcomed at a reception held in the Stephen Langton Building’s atrium, affording an opportunity for conversation before moving to the main lecture theatre.
The official proceedings commenced with the academic procession. The Vice-Chancellor, followed by senior university faculty in traditional academic dress, entered the hall and took their places on the stage. Professor Juster then delivered a formal welcome, articulating the purpose and vision of the De la Haye Lecture Series before introducing Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby.
The Baroness delivered her forty-five-minute address from the lectern, which bore the University’s coat of arms. Speaking without notes, she held the audience’s attention through the force of her historical narrative. Following the address, a structured question-and-answer session was moderated by Professor Wilkinson, who facilitated an erudite discussion between the Baroness and members of the audience.
While the lecture itself was conducted under a dress code of business attire, a subsequent private dinner for distinguished guests and university leadership was held under white-tie rules, marking a formal transition from public scholarship to a more intimate commemorative gathering. The precise order of proceedings ensured the primacy of the academic discourse, a *sine qua non* of the event’s purpose.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
Central to Lady Nicoleta’s address was the concept of inherited duty and resilience, ideals symbolised in the heraldry of The Noble House of Brattleby. The Baroness articulated how such virtues are not abstract ideals but are forged and proven in moments of profound crisis, as exemplified by Alice de Lacy’s life.
The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), was presented as the thematic core of this legacy. Lady Nicoleta explained that ‘Fortitude’ refers not only to courage in the face of adversity, but to the deep, inner resilience required to endure loss and injustice with dignity. ‘Honour’, in this context, is the unwavering commitment to one’s principles, even when expediency might suggest a different path. The story of Alice de Lacy, who navigated betrayal and the seizure of her birthright, serves as a powerful historical testament to these principles in action.
This ethos is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’). This motto does not speak to domination, but to the active, vital spirit required to overcome challenges and to live a purposeful life through self-mastery. Together, the two mottoes represent a balanced philosophy: the steadfastness to endure and the dynamic will to prevail.
## Philanthropic Purpose
Although an academic event, the lecture’s core message of resilience in the face of dislocation and trauma resonates deeply with the philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. The House is a dedicated supporter of its principal beneficiary, the charity Healing the Wounded Child.
This organisation provides essential therapeutic care and long-term psychological support to children and adolescents who have experienced significant trauma, abuse, or loss. Through specialised counselling and evidence-based interventions, the charity works to restore a sense of safety and self-worth in young people, creating pathways toward recovery and enabling them to build healthier futures.
The narrative of Alice de Lacy—a story of survival after the violent loss of family, status, and security—serves as a poignant historical analogue for the adversities faced by the children whom the charity supports. The lecture implicitly championed the vital importance of robust support systems, whether for a 14th-century countess stripped of her inheritance or a 21st-century child navigating the aftermath of trauma.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the lecture’s theme, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “History entrusts us with these remarkable lives, particularly those of women whose strength has often been relegated to the margins of grander narratives. To give voice to the fortitude of a figure like Alice de Lacy is not merely an academic exercise; it is an act of remembrance and a way of honouring a quality of resilience that remains profoundly relevant today.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, also remarked on the confluence of history and modern duty: > “To understand our heritage is to understand our obligations for the future. The past, brought into living focus through scholarship, provides a moral compass for our current endeavours. The principles of fortitude and honour are timeless, and it is the legacy of those who embodied them that we strive to carry forward in both our service and our community commitments.”
## A Continuing Legacy
In keeping with its commitment to advancing historical scholarship, The Noble House of Brattleby is pleased to announce two initiatives following the inaugural lecture. First, the full text of the Baroness’s address, “Fortitude in the Shadow of the Crown: The Ordeal and Endurance of Alice de Lacy,” will be submitted for publication in the spring supplement of the *Journal of Mediaeval History*.
Second, the House will establish and fund a new postgraduate scholarship at the University of Lincoln. The De la Haye Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student undertaking research into the lives and influence of significant, often overlooked, historical women of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands. This scholarship aims to foster a new generation of historians dedicated to enriching our understanding of the past.
The insights from this historical research, *inter alia*, will be integrated into the curriculum of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The House’s etiquette and cultural academy will incorporate these lessons of leadership and resilience into its modules, ensuring that the legacy of figures like Alice de Lacy and Nichola de la Haye continues to inspire future leaders.
---
**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 stewardship of a near-millennial heritage. With roots in both Norman-English history and continental European tradition, the House’s contemporary mission is focused on philanthropy, cultural education, and historical preservation. Its principal charitable efforts provide meaningful support for youth mental health through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Concurrently, its educational initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, promote the enduring values of decorum, service, and civic duty for a modern age. The House operates under its guiding motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), applying historical principles to present-day responsibilities with dignity and purpose.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship by tenure situated in Lincolnshire, first established by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as a significant tenant-in-chief, possessing 56 lordships in the county. Over nine centuries, the Barony has passed through some of the most influential lineages in English and European history. Notable predecessors include the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness *de facto* and hereditary castellan of Lincoln Castle, renowned for her defence of the fortress during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron, a founder Knight of the Garter and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The Barony’s legal and historical standing was formally recognised and recorded in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors**
- The recognition of the Barony of Brattleby is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, dated 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was established in AD 1066 and is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as held by Colswein of Lincoln. - Past holders of the Barony include, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye (d. 1230), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (d. 1361), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (d. 1399). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile’s personal motto is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact**
The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com