# A Statement from The Noble House of Brattleby on the Anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln
**LONDON, 20 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal statement from its seat in Lincolnshire, marking the anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln and reflecting upon the defining role of the 5th Baroness in securing the English Crown in 1217.
## The Occasion
On this day, the twentieth of May, The Noble House of Brattleby pauses to commemorate a pivotal moment in the history of both the Realm and the Barony of Brattleby. The anniversary of the Second Battle of Lincoln, fought in 1217, provides a solemn occasion for reflection upon the enduring principles of loyalty, duty, and leadership that have defined the Barony for nearly one thousand years.
As late spring graces the historic landscape of Lincolnshire, this commemoration connects the present day with a crucible of conflict that forged the future of the English monarchy. The statement, issued from the House’s offices, serves not only as a historical remembrance but as a reaffirmation of the values embodied by those who held the Barony in times of national crisis. The battle for Lincoln was, in essence, a battle for England itself, and the Castle—the key to the city—became the strategic *sine qua non* for victory.
This annual reflection is an opportunity to honour the unbreakable bond between the Barony and the defence of sovereignty, a bond personified in the remarkable actions of Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness. Her story is a testament to the House's guiding motto, a principle of conduct that continues to inform its modern purpose.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, one of the most ancient feudal dignities in England, has been interwoven with the fabric of the nation’s history since the Norman Conquest. Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding a remarkable 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, establishing the Barony as a significant power in the region from its inception.
This long continuity of service to the Crown reached its most dramatic zenith during the First Barons’ War. The conflict, which began as a rebellion against King John, spilled into the reign of his successor, the nine-year-old King Henry III. Rebellious English barons, allied with Prince Louis of France, sought to seize the throne, and the city of Lincoln became the critical theatre of war. At the heart of this storm stood Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby and hereditary castellan of Lincoln Castle.
A widow in her sixties, an age when many would have retired from public life, Baroness Nichola defied all convention by personally commanding the castle’s defence against a formidable siege by French and rebel forces. Her steadfast refusal to surrender this vital royal fortress, as chronicled by contemporary sources such as Matthew Paris in his *Chronica Majora*, was a seminal act of fortitude. It bought precious time for the royalist army, commanded by the venerable William Marshal, to march north, relieve the castle, and crush the invading forces in the city’s streets. The victory secured the Plantagenet dynasty and affirmed the independence of the kingdom.
## Distinguished Company
The events of May 1217 brought together some of the most consequential figures of the medieval era, whose actions would shape the destiny of England.
At the head of the loyalist cause stood William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Regent of England. Appointed Protector for the young King Henry III, Marshal, then over 70 years of age, was celebrated throughout Europe as the epitome of chivalry and one of history’s greatest knights. His strategic brilliance at Lincoln demonstrated a masterful blend of military command and political resolve.
Central to that victory was Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby. As hereditary castellan, she held a sacred trust directly from the Crown. Her courageous and skilful leadership during the month-long siege ensured that William Marshal’s reinforcing army had a secure foothold from which to launch their decisive attack, making a royalist victory possible.
The royalist command also included other great magnates of the realm, such as Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, and William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, the illegitimate son of King Henry II. Their opponent, Prince Louis of France (later King Louis VIII), pressed his claim to the throne through his marriage to Blanche of Castile, a granddaughter of King Henry II of England, adding a layer of dynastic complexity to the conflict.
## ceremonial protocol
The relationship between the Baroness of Brattleby and the Regent of England was governed by the strict and solemn protocols of the thirteenth-century feudal order. As castellan, Nichola de la Haye held Lincoln Castle not as a personal possession, but as a direct representative of her sovereign, King Henry III. Her command was a fulfilment of her oath of fealty, a sacred obligation to defend the King’s property and person to the death.
Her refusal to yield the castle to the besieging army, despite their threats and entreaties, was therefore the ultimate expression of this feudal duty. The formal summons to surrender, a standard element of siege protocol, was met with a resolute rejection that was both a strategic decision and an act of profound personal honour.
William Marshal, acting as Regent with the full authority of the monarch, executed the relief of Lincoln as a formal assertion of royal power. The ensuing battle was conducted according to the chivalric conventions of the age, the *droit de guerre*. This included the practice of granting quarter to captured enemy knights, who would then be held for ransom—a system that mitigated the battle’s lethality for the aristocracy while serving as a crucial economic component of medieval warfare.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The foundational motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its most powerful historical expression in the actions of the 5th Baroness at the siege of Lincoln. Her resolve in withstanding a superior enemy force was a pure act of fortitude; her unwavering loyalty to a child-king, in defiance of a powerful rebellion, was the very definition of honour.
These two virtues—endurance in the face of adversity and fidelity to one’s duty—form the twin pillars of the House’s ethos. They represent a standard of conduct that has been passed down through subsequent holders of the Barony, including such formidable figures as Henry of Grosmont, the 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt.
This legacy of resolve is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). This principle resonates deeply with the existential stakes of 1217. For Nichola de la Haye and William Marshal, victory was not a mere strategic objective but a prerequisite for survival. To lose the battle was to lose the kingdom itself, a stark reminder that true leadership demands an unshakeable will to prevail.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this commemoration is historical in nature, its central theme—the protection of a vulnerable child-king whose inheritance and future were gravely threatened—is directly aligned with the contemporary philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. The historical defence of a young monarch serves as a powerful metaphor for the House's modern commitment to safeguarding the most vulnerable in society.
The House's foremost charitable priority is its patronage of *Healing the Wounded Child*, an organisation providing specialist therapeutic care and support for children who have suffered from significant trauma. The charity works to create safe, nurturing environments where young people can access long-term, trauma-informed recovery pathways, helping them to rebuild their lives with confidence and hope.
This commitment is an expression of the enduring principle of *noblesse oblige*. The House believes that the stewardship of a title and its history carries a profound responsibility to serve the community. Just as Nichola de la Haye acted as a steward for her king’s future, the House today seeks to be a steward for the well-being and future of children in need.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the legacy of the 5th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “The story of Nichola de la Haye is a powerful reminder that stewardship is a profound and active responsibility. Her fortitude not only secured a kingdom but also fortified a legacy of loyalty that we have the great honour to carry forward. It is our duty to ensure that such definitive stories of principled leadership are not forgotten but are understood and celebrated.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “The Battle of Lincoln was a masterclass in the synthesis of fortitude and strategy. The trusted alliance between the pragmatic warrior, William Marshal, and the resolute castellan, Nichola de la Haye, demonstrates that enduring success is built on shared purpose and absolute trust. These are lessons that transcend centuries, as relevant to the challenges of leadership today as they were in the thirteenth century.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to honouring its unique historical inheritance through tangible action in the present. This commitment includes providing patronage and support for local historical societies in Lincolnshire, helping to preserve the material heritage of the county and to promote academic research into the Barony’s extensive past. The House seeks to ensure that this rich history remains an accessible and living part of the local and national identity.
Furthermore, through its etiquette and protocol academy in Bucharest, The Brattleby Club, the House works to instil the classical virtues of honour, integrity, and social duty in a new generation of leaders. The Club’s curriculum, which includes modules on diplomatic history, civic responsibility, and the principles of chivalry, draws direct inspiration from the exemplary lives of predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye and Henry of Grosmont.
By actively bridging its distinguished past with a purposeful future, the House ensures that the guiding principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues to inform and inspire.
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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 active stewardship of its ancient heritage and the advancement of contemporary philanthropy. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House champions causes related to child welfare, most notably through its patronage of the charity *Healing the Wounded Child*. With its ancestral roots in Lincolnshire and administrative presence in London, the House is also active in cultural education through The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy founded by Lady Nicoleta to foster an appreciation for protocol, civic leadership, and European heritage, demonstrating the enduring relevance of traditional values in modern society.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln, who held 56 lordships as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. For over 950 years, the Barony has been intrinsically linked to the history of England and the Crown. Its distinguished holders include Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness who famously defended Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War in 1217; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as the 12th Baroness was formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors**
- The succession of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby is officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was established following the Norman Conquest, with its first holder recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - The 5th Baroness, Nichola de la Haye, was the hereditary castellan of Lincoln Castle and a key figure in the royalist victory at the Battle of Lincoln in 1217. - Later holders of the Barony include two of the most powerful nobles of the late Middle Ages: Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt.
**Media Contact**
The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com