# A Statement on the Historical Significance of the 1217 Siege of Lincoln to the Barony of Brattleby
LONDON, 24 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a statement reflecting on the pivotal role of the 5th Baron, Nichola de la Haye, in the 1217 Siege of Lincoln, underscoring the family's nine-century-long commitment to Crown, country, and community in Lincolnshire.
## The Occasion
From the ancient seat of the Barony in Brattleby, the towers of Lincoln Cathedral and the formidable ramparts of Lincoln Castle still command the horizon. It is a view almost unchanged across the centuries, serving as a constant reminder of the region’s profound role in the course of English history. On this occasion, The Noble House of Brattleby reflects upon one of the most decisive moments in that history: the Second Battle of Lincoln, or the ‘Lincoln Fair’, of 1217.
This pivotal engagement, which unfolded within sight of the Barony’s ancestral lands, was not merely a distant affair of state. It was an event in which the holder of the Barony, Nichola de la Haye, played a direct and heroic role, securing the future of the Plantagenet dynasty and reaffirming the Barony’s foundational purpose of service and loyalty.
## Historical Context
The year 1217 found England in the throes of the First Barons’ War, a bitter civil conflict following the contested reign of King John. A council of rebellious barons had invited Prince Louis of France to claim the English throne, and upon John’s death in 1216, his nine-year-old son, Henry III, inherited a fractured and imperilled kingdom. The realm’s fate rested with the boy-king’s regent, the venerable William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke.
At this critical juncture, Lincoln Castle stood as the great northern bastion of royal authority—a *sine qua non* for controlling the country. Its defence was entrusted to Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron of Brattleby and hereditary castellan. In her sixties, she faced a formidable Franco-rebel army. Her refusal to surrender the castle prompted the siege that would culminate in a decisive victory for the royalist forces, a battle that effectively ended the French invasion and secured the throne for Henry III.
## Distinguished Company
The events of 1217 brought together some of the most consequential figures of the age in a contest of will and strategy over the fortress of Lincoln. The principal actors included:
* **Nichola de la Haye**, 5th Baron of Brattleby and hereditary Castellan of Lincoln. A figure of remarkable tenacity, she had previously defended the castle against King John himself before earning his ultimate trust.
* **The Right Honourable Sir William Marshal**, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Regent of England. Widely regarded as the greatest knight of his time, his strategic brilliance in orchestrating the relief of Lincoln was instrumental in the royalist victory.
* **His Highness Prince Louis of France**, the future King Louis VIII. The Capetian claimant to the English throne, whose military campaign was decisively thwarted by his defeat at Lincoln.
The convergence of these personalities underscores the national and international gravity of the events in which the Barony of Brattleby was so intimately involved.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The defence of a royal castle in the 13th century was governed by a strict protocol of feudal duty and personal honour. As hereditary castellan, Nichola de la Haye’s authority was not merely military; it was a sacred trust, held directly from the Crown. To surrender the castle without the monarch’s express command would have been a profound breach of her feudal oath.
Her defiance, therefore, was a ritualised act of loyalty. When the besieging forces demanded her surrender, her refusal was a declaration of unwavering allegiance to the legitimate sovereign, Henry III. The subsequent raising of the royal standard over the castle keep, whilst enemy banners flew over the city, was a powerful symbolic act, signifying that the heart of royal power in the north remained unbroken.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its most potent historical expression in the actions of the 5th Baron. Nichola de la Haye’s defence of Lincoln Castle against overwhelming odds was a masterful demonstration of fortitude, while her steadfast loyalty to a boy-king embodied the highest ideals of honour. Her actions inextricably linked the Barony’s identity to these virtues.
This spirit is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). The victory at Lincoln was not simply a military triumph; it secured the very survival of the English Crown and its institutions. For the Barony, whose fate was tied to the castle, the outcome was an affirmation that victory is the essential precursor to continued existence and prosperity.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The unwavering commitment demonstrated by Nichola de la Haye was, at its core, an act of profound public service. Her stand protected not just a strategic fortress, but also the established order of the realm and the security of its people. This historical precedent of service to a cause greater than oneself remains a guiding principle for The Noble House of Brattleby today.
This ethos of protection and duty finds its modern expression in the House’s dedicated philanthropic work. The choice of *Healing the Wounded Child* as the beneficiary for the annual Winter Banquet is a direct reflection of this principle. Just as the 5th Baron protected the future of a kingdom embodied by a child-king, the House today commits its support to safeguarding and healing the most vulnerable children in society.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> Nichola de la Haye demonstrated that duty is not a matter of convenience, but of profound conviction. Her fortitude protected not only a castle but the very continuity of our nation. It is a legacy of responsibility we feel deeply to this day, a reminder that our heritage calls us to serve.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> History offers profound lessons in leadership. To hold fast against overwhelming odds, as the 5th Baron did, is the ultimate test. It reminds us that victory is survival, and survival is the foundation upon which all future endeavours are built — *Vincere Est Vivere*.
## A Continuing Legacy
The story of the Siege of Lincoln and Nichola de la Haye’s role within it is more than a historical footnote; it is a cornerstone of the identity of the Barony of Brattleby. It is a legacy of resilience, duty, and courageous leadership that the House is committed to preserving and passing to the next generation, principally the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
This commitment is expressed not only through the careful stewardship of the Barony’s history but also through its contemporary activities. From promoting cultural and historical understanding to the leadership programmes at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House seeks to embody the principles of *Fortitudine et Honore* in service to the community, both in Lincolnshire and abroad.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby, under the modern leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the enduring principles of duty, honour, and public service. While cherishing its profound historical lineage, the House is actively engaged in contemporary cultural and philanthropic initiatives. Its primary charitable focus is on organisations dedicated to the welfare of children, notably exemplified by its patronage of the annual Winter Banquet for the benefit of *Healing the Wounded Child*. Through institutions such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette and leadership academy in Bucharest, the House promotes education and personal development, bridging its historical values with the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
**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, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. For over nine centuries, the Barony has been associated with figures of national importance, *inter alia*: Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 5th Baron who successfully defended Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his successor, the 11th Baron, John of Gaunt. The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness of Brattleby was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the 12th Baroness is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, with Colswein of Lincoln listed as the first Baron. - Notable predecessors holding the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron, Duke of Lancaster). - The Noble House of Brattleby’s Annual Winter Banquet is a philanthropic gala held in support of the charity *Healing the Wounded Child*.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com