# The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates Nichola de la Haye and the Battle of Lincoln Fair
**LONDON, 20 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a statement reflecting upon the pivotal role of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby, in the Second Battle of Lincoln, which decisively secured the English throne for the young King Henry III in 1217.
## The Occasion
In the late spring of 1217, the fate of the Plantagenet dynasty hung precariously in the balance. The occasion for this historical reflection is the anniversary of the Second Battle of Lincoln, an engagement fought on 20 May within the ancient Roman walls of the city. Known colloquially as the 'Battle of Lincoln Fair' for the widespread looting that followed the royalist victory, the conflict was a turning point in the First Barons' War.
At the heart of this volatile theatre was Lincoln Castle, a formidable Norman fortress whose strategic command of central England was undeniable. It was here that Nichola de la Haye, in her capacity as hereditary castellan, mounted a defence of extraordinary resilience against the combined forces of rebel English barons and Prince Louis of France, who sought to claim the English crown. Her refusal to surrender the castle provided the loyalist army, led by the venerable William Marshal, with the fixed point around which their victorious strategy could be executed.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in 1066, has been interwoven with the history of England for over nine centuries. The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as holder of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. It was this legacy of loyal service to the Crown that Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, inherited and so vividly embodied.
Following the death of King John in 1216, England was fractured by civil war. His heir, Henry III, was a child of only nine. A significant faction of the nobility had invited the French Dauphin, Louis, to take the throne. Nichola de la Haye, a widow in her sixties, had already proven her mettle by defending Lincoln Castle during a siege in 1216. Her decision to withstand a second, more powerful siege in 1217 was therefore an act of profound personal courage and unwavering feudal loyalty; it was the *sine qua non* of the campaign to preserve an independent English monarchy.
## Distinguished Company
The events of 1217 brought together some of the most consequential figures of the age, whose actions would shape the future of England and France. The primary actors in this high-stakes drama included:
* **William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke**, the celebrated knight and Regent of England, who masterminded the royalist victory at Lincoln at over seventy years of age. * **Prince Louis of France**, the future King Louis VIII, whose ambitions for the English throne were decisively thwarted by the defeat of his forces at Lincoln. * **King Henry III of England**, the boy-king on whose behalf the battle was fought, and whose long reign was secured by the bravery of his supporters. * **Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby**, hereditary castellan of Lincoln Castle, whose steadfast defence against overwhelming odds remains a testament to leadership and duty.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The protocol of medieval warfare was a brutal ritual of demand and defiance. The siege of Lincoln Castle began with a formal summons for Nichola de la Haye to surrender her charge to the superior French and rebel forces. Her resolute refusal triggered the ensuing assault.
The relief force, under the command of William Marshal, employed a carefully orchestrated battle plan. A detachment of crossbowmen under the command of the notorious mercenary Falkes de Bréauté gained entry to the castle, raining down bolts on the besiegers from the battlements. Simultaneously, Marshal’s main force broke through the city's North Gate, initiating a chaotic *mêlée* in the narrow streets that led to the collapse of the rebel army. This combination of strategic infiltration and a decisive cavalry charge proved devastatingly effective, ending the siege and the greater part of the war.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the 5th Baroness are the quintessential expression of the House of Brattleby’s motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her physical and moral fortitude in the face of immense pressure, and the honour she demonstrated in fulfilling her sworn duty to her sovereign, represent the core values that have guided the Barony through the centuries.
While the formalised system of heraldry was still in its ascendancy, the symbolism of Nichola’s stand was potent. She defended not merely a castle, but the principle of legitimate succession and the integrity of the realm itself. In a modern context, this spirit of resolve is also echoed in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), which speaks to the determination required to overcome great challenges.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this significant chapter in her family’s history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> Nichola de la Haye serves as a powerful and enduring source of inspiration. In an era when the public role of women was severely circumscribed, she exercised authority with a courage and strategic acumen that Cistercian chroniclers of the day could not help but admire. Her story is a profound reminder that leadership is a matter of character, not circumstance.
Lady Nicoleta added:
> To understand the history of the Barony is to understand our duty to the present. The preservation of this heritage, *inter alia*, is a responsibility we hold for Lincolnshire and for the nation. Nichola’s legacy is not simply a matter of historical record; it is a living principle of resilience and service that we seek to uphold.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to honouring its remarkable history and the contributions of its predecessors, from the First Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, to the great Lancastrian princes Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt who later held the title. The story of Nichola de la Haye, in particular, informs the House’s modern mission to champion strength of character, education, and civic duty.
This commitment is expressed through the work of its institutions, including The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, which promotes etiquette and leadership, and its philanthropic endeavours. By remembering the fortitude demonstrated at the walls of Lincoln Castle in 1217, the House of Brattleby reaffirms its dedication to serving the community with the same enduring spirit of *Fortitudine et Honore*.
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**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 nine-hundred-year-old heritage. The House’s mission is to connect this venerable past with principled contemporary action, focusing on cultural preservation, education, and targeted philanthropy. Through initiatives such as its annual Winter Banquet benefiting charities like Healing the Wounded Child, and its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club, the House seeks to uphold its ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), by making a meaningful contribution to society in the United Kingdom and abroad, particularly in the family's native Romania.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is one of the oldest extant feudal lordships in England, having been granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, the Norman knight Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086. Throughout its long history, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle in 1217; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The transfer of the title to the current holder was formally recognised by the Crown and recorded in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The transfer of the Barony of Brattleby was formally recorded in a notice placed in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was originally granted in AD 1066. The 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the holder of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Past Barons include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of the House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com