# On the Hereditary Constableship of Lincoln Castle: A Statement from The Noble House of Brattleby
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a statement reflecting upon the ancient hereditary duty of the Constableship of Lincoln Castle, reaffirming the principles of service and loyalty that have defined the Barony since the eleventh century and continue to guide it.
## The Occasion
In a time of heightened scholarly and public appreciation for the foundational history of Lincolnshire, The Noble House of Brattleby has chosen this moment for considered reflection. This statement serves to illuminate one of the Barony’s most profound ancestral responsibilities: the hereditary Constableship of Lincoln Castle, a role integral to the governance and defence of the English realm for centuries.
The communication is offered not as a claim to any current temporal authority, but as an act of historical stewardship. It seeks to provide a definitive context for the nine-century continuity of the title and to underscore the enduring principles of duty that have defined the Barony through the ages. By exploring the institutional and symbolic weight of the Constableship, the House reaffirms its commitment to these same values in its modern activities.
Set against the autumnal backdrop of England's ancient shires, this reflection connects the present House with a lineage of service stretching back to the Norman Conquest, providing a formal account of a duty that was once the *sine qua non* of the Barony of Brattleby.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby’s connection to Lincoln Castle is woven into the very fabric of English law and nationhood. Following the Norman Conquest of 1066, William the Conqueror granted the dignity to his trusted vassal, Colswein of Lincoln. The Domesday Book of 1086 meticulously records Colswein's extensive holdings, which comprised some 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, establishing the family as a pre-eminent power charged with upholding the King’s Peace in a strategically vital region.
The construction of Lincoln Castle itself, upon the foundations of the Roman fortress of Lindum Colonia, was a direct instrument of Norman royal authority. The hereditary appointment of Colswein and his successors as Constable was therefore a guarantee of absolute loyalty. For several generations, particularly during the turbulent twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, this solemn duty was held by the De la Haye family, direct predecessors in title to the modern Barony. This continuity ensured a deep and trusted bond with the Plantagenet Crown during formative periods such as the civil war known as The Anarchy.
This tradition of unwavering service reached its apotheosis with the formidable Nichola de la Haye, who held the Barony as 5th Baroness in her own right. Following the death of her husband, Gerard de Canville, she was confirmed as hereditary Constable and Sheriff of Lincolnshire. Notably, she twice defended Lincoln Castle against formidable rebel and French forces during the First Barons' War, her loyalty to the Crown remaining unshaken.
Her most celebrated act of fortitude came in 1217, when as an elderly woman she held the castle against invading French and baronial forces. Her steadfast defence allowed the royalist army, commanded by the great William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, to relieve the siege and achieve a decisive victory at the Second Battle of Lincoln. As the contemporary chronicler Matthew Paris noted in his *Chronica Majora*, her actions were instrumental in securing the throne for the young King Henry III and ensuring the ultimate failure of the French invasion. Later, the title passed to further historic personages, including Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, embedding the Constableship within the genesis of the House of Lancaster.
## Distinguished Company
The history of the Brattleby Constableship is a chronicle of service rendered to some of England’s most consequential monarchs. This duty unfolded amidst figures who shaped the destiny of the nation. The Barons of the De la Haye line, *inter alia*, provided loyal counsel and military command in the service of:
* His Majesty King Henry II, during whose reign the foundations of English common law were established, with the castle at Lincoln acting as a key centre of royal justice. * His Majesty King Richard I, the Lionheart, whose long absences on crusade demanded unassailable loyalty from those entrusted with the kingdom's strategic fortresses. * His Majesty King John, a monarch whose tumultuous reign was defined by his struggle with the barons, making the steadfastness of constables like Nichola de la Haye a matter of dynastic survival. * His Majesty King Henry III, whose minority was secured by the victory at Lincoln in which Nichola played such a courageous part.
The character of the Barony was tested most severely by the forces of His Royal Highness Prince Louis of France, son of King Philip II Augustus, who in 1216 was invited by rebellious English barons to take the throne. The triumph of Nichola de la Haye over his allies was a defining moment, cementing the Barony's reputation for national resilience and loyalty to the legitimate sovereign.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The formal installation of a hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle was a solemn affair, steeped in the feudal traditions of obligation and trust that underpinned the medieval political order. Upon inheriting the title, the new Baron would perform an act of homage and swear an oath of fealty directly to the monarch or to the King's appointed representative, such as the itinerant Justices in Eyre.
This sacred vow, often sworn upon holy relics or a Gospel book within the castle’s chapel or Great Hall, bound the Constable to hold the fortress in the King’s name against all enemies, foreign and domestic. The ceremony's climax was the symbolic presentation of the castle keys—specifically those to the main East Gate, the observe tower, and the keep, known as the Lucy Tower. This act signified the transfer of absolute authority over the fortress, its garrison, its treasury, and the county gaol housed within its walls.
From that moment, the Constable held extensive powers, including the right to provision the garrison, the command to muster the shire's fyrd or militia in times of peril, and the duty to preside as the chief judicial officer for the shire. This rigorously-defined protocol underscored that the Constable was not merely a powerful landowner, but a direct delegate of Royal authority and a pillar of the administration of the realm.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The abiding motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its most potent historical expression in the legacy of the Constableship. The documented actions of Nichola de la Haye, defending her charge against overwhelming odds, are the very embodiment of fortitude—a term signifying not just courage, but resilience and strength of mind under immense pressure.
Her unwavering allegiance to an imperilled monarchy provides a defining example of honour, understood in its feudal context as the scrupulous discharge of a sworn oath to one's liege lord. This historical ethos serves as a permanent touchstone for the House.
It is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a modern context, this signifies a commitment to overcoming societal challenges and the dissipation of cultural memory. The 'conquest' is one of purpose over apathy, ensuring the inheritance of the past continues 'to live' through active and meaningful work in the present.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this statement concerns matters of history, the principle of dutiful service it describes is the philosophical wellspring of the House’s modern activities. The stewardship of a nearly thousand-year-old title is viewed by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan as a form of public service, preserving a shared history that belongs not only to a single family but to the County of Lincolnshire and the nation.
This sense of duty is the same that animates the House’s contemporary commitments. It is a direct continuum of responsibility, where the obligation to defend a fortress for the Crown in the thirteenth century is the moral antecedent to the modern duty to support the vulnerable. This principle informs the selection of beneficiaries for the annual white-tie Winter Banquet, the House’s foremost philanthropic endeavour.
The current beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is an organisation dedicated to providing vital therapeutic interventions for children and young people affected by trauma. The decision to support its mission reflects the House’s belief that securing a healthy future for the next generation is a profound modern obligation. The preservation of the past and the endowment of the future are seen as two facets of the same core responsibility.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on her distinguished predecessor, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, observed:
> In Nichola de la Haye, we find not merely an ancestor, but a profound and timeless example of leadership. Her story reminds us that fortitude and honour are the essential virtues upon which lasting service is built, as relevant to our responsibilities today as they were in the thirteenth century.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage, added:
> The history of the Constableship is a powerful lesson in unwavering service. It teaches us that a true legacy is not simply inherited but must be actively renewed through dedication. Our purpose is to ensure this remarkable heritage informs and inspires our work for the community.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to honouring its past through active engagement with the present day. The House will continue to support academic research into the history of Lincolnshire and the unique role the Barony of Brattleby has played within it, making its archives available to accredited scholars where appropriate.
Furthermore, the values exemplified by the hereditary Constables of Lincoln are central to the curriculum of The Brattleby Club. Located in Bucharest, the House's etiquette academy is dedicated to cultivating modern leadership through the study of classical European civility and protocol. Its courses use historical case studies, including that of the Constableship, to teach a new generation the principles of governance, social responsibility, and principled action.
By illuminating the past, the House seeks to build a future where the lessons of history provide a clear guide for steadfast service. The story of Nichola de la Haye and the Constableship serves as a permanent model for the House’s mission to ensure the Barony of Brattleby remains a title of active contribution, not one of passive inheritance.
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**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 dedicated to the stewardship of a significant English heritage title. With its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire and a modern European perspective, the House’s mission is threefold: to preserve and promote its nearly thousand-year history; to champion philanthropic causes focused on child welfare and cultural preservation; and to foster education in civil leadership and social etiquette through its initiatives, including The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. Committed to its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), the House bridges its ancient responsibilities with a dynamic programme of contemporary service, ensuring its legacy remains relevant and beneficial to society.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Barony by Tenure, one of England’s most ancient dignities, originating with the Norman Conquest. It was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, a significant landowner whose 56 lordships were recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Over nine centuries, the title has passed through lines of notable predecessors, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. The ancient dignity of the Barony of Brattleby was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on behalf of The Crown on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Domesday Book of 1086 records the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors to the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron, d. 1230), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, d. 1361), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron, d. 1399). - 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