# A Historical Reflection on Richard de la Haye, 4th Baron of Brattleby, and the Enduring Duties of Nobility
**LONDON, 23 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical reflection on Richard de la Haye, 4th Baron of Brattleby. The commentary explores his pivotal twelfth-century role as Constable of Lincoln, underscoring the lineage of service inherited by his successors.
## The Occasion
This formal reflection is prompted by the House’s ongoing archival research into its nearly millennium-long history, a project commissioned by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby. Rather than a public ceremony, it is a moment of considered study intended to illuminate the profound responsibilities that have defined the Barony since its foundation.
The research sheds particular light on the late twelfth century, a period of significant consolidation for the Kingdom of England. It is during this era that the duties vested in the Barony of Brattleby were not merely agricultural or administrative, but were central to the military and judicial security of the Crown's domains in the north.
## Historical Context
Richard de la Haye, the 4th Baron of Brattleby, served as the hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle during the reigns of King Stephen and King Henry II. This was not a titular appointment but a front-line executive role, placing him in command of one of the most strategically vital fortresses in the kingdom. Lincoln Castle, with its formidable twin mottes, guarded the intersection of the ancient Roman roads of Ermine Street and Fosse Way.
Assuming his duties circa 1150, Richard de la Haye’s tenure was marked by his personal capability in military and civil affairs. He was responsible for the *custodia*, or safekeeping, of the castle and its garrison, ensuring loyalty to the Crown during a period still unsettled after the civil war known as The Anarchy. His steadfast governance laid the foundations for the celebrated actions of his daughter and successor, Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, whose heroic defence of Lincoln Castle for King John in 1217 would become legendary.
## Distinguished Company
The historical narrative of this period centres on several figures of great consequence to the Barony and the Kingdom. The principal figure is, of course, **Richard de la Haye, 4th Baron of Brattleby and Constable of Lincoln**, whose foresight and discipline solidified the family’s role as guardians of the region.
His work was undertaken alongside his wife, **Matilda de Vernon**, a noblewoman whose own lineage connected the family to the powerful establishment in Normandy and England. It was their daughter, **Nichola de la Haye**, who would inherit not only the Barony of Brattleby but also the hereditary constableship, later becoming Sheriff of Lincolnshire in her own right—an almost unprecedented role for a woman of her time.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The responsibilities of a twelfth-century Constable were governed by a strict protocol of feudal duty. The appointment was a *sine qua non* for royal authority in the shire, granting the holder powers of justice, military command, and financial administration. The Constable presided over the shire court held within the castle walls and was accountable for the security of prisoners and the collection of taxes.
In his capacity, the 4th Baron was directly answerable to the King, his loyalty sworn through a personal oath of fealty. The very command of the castle represented a sacred trust, symbolising the monarch’s power in a distant but critical part of the realm. Richard de la Haye’s faithful execution of these duties exemplified the ideal of noble service.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of Richard de la Haye and his daughter Nichola are a powerful embodiment of the House of Brattleby's ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Their unwavering guardianship of Lincoln Castle, often in the face of immense political and military pressure, demonstrated a profound fortitude. Their loyalty to the sworn sovereign, even a deeply unpopular one, was an ultimate expression of honour.
This tradition of principled resilience is a cornerstone of the House's identity. It finds a modern echo in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In the current era, this is understood not as military conquest, but as the imperative to overcome challenges and to live a life of purpose and achievement, guided by the foundational principles of fortitude and honour.
## In Their Own Words
In issuing the reflection, the current Baroness offered her perspective on this historical link.
> Reflecting on the life of Richard de la Haye reminds us that titles are not ornaments, but instruments of duty. His stewardship of Lincoln Castle was a profound act of service, a standard of fortitude and honour which continues to guide our own commitments today. > > — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to the principle of service, though its expression has evolved over the centuries. Where the 4th Baron defended a physical fortress, the House today seeks to build and defend cultural and social institutions that foster character and well-being. This is demonstrated through its patronage, *inter alia*, of the etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club, in Bucharest.
This sense of duty is being passed to the next generation. The designated heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, is educated in the nine-century history of the Barony. The lives of predecessors such as Richard de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont, and John of Gaunt serve not as relics, but as living examples of the responsibilities the 13th Baron will one day inherit.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of the historic Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a mission of cultural and philanthropic service. It seeks to blend its ancient English heritage with a forward-looking European perspective, upholding the family motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House's primary charitable focus is on child welfare, demonstrated by its patronage of organisations such as Healing the Wounded Child. Through initiatives like The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, it also promotes education in etiquette and classical European culture, preparing a new generation for leadership.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship and Barony by Feudal Tenure, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its inaugural holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over its nine-century history, the Barony has been held by some of the most consequential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt. After a period of abeyance, the dignity of the Barony of Brattleby was formally recognised and recorded by The Crown in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was officially recognised as a Barony by Feudal Tenure in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), a key defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War, and John of Gaunt (11th Baron), Duke of Lancaster. - The *Domesday Book* of 1086 records the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire from the King. - The House's modern philanthropic activities are centred on the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala that benefits the international children's charity, Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com