# A Reflection by the 12th Baroness of Brattleby on the Enduring Legacy of Nichola de la Haye and the Defence of Lincoln
**LONDON, 20 May 2024** — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, today issued a formal statement reflecting on the pivotal alliance between her 13th-century predecessor, Nichola de la Haye, and William Marshal during the Second Battle of Lincoln, fought on this day in 1217.
## The Occasion
In a statement released from its London offices, The Noble House of Brattleby marked the anniversary of a defining moment in English history. This reflection serves as part of the House's ongoing commitment to historical stewardship and the elucidation of its nine-century lineage, connecting the duties of the past with the responsibilities of the present.
The issuance of this commentary underscores a core tenet of the modern House: that an understanding of history is the *sine qua non* of responsible contemporary leadership. By revisiting the courage of past Barons, the House seeks to illuminate the values that continue to guide its public service and philanthropic endeavours.
## Historical Context
The year 1217 found England in a state of profound crisis. The kingdom was fractured by the First Barons' War, with rebel barons supporting an invasion by Prince Louis of France. Following the death of King John in 1216, the Crown passed to his nine-year-old son, Henry III, whose claim was protected by a regency council led by the widely respected William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke.
At this critical juncture, Lincoln Castle—a royal fortress of immense strategic importance—was one of the few strongholds in the east of England remaining loyal to the King. Its defence was commanded by its hereditary castellan, Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby. The joint effort of the aged Marshal and the formidable Baroness to lift the siege and defeat the French and rebel forces at the Second Battle of Lincoln proved to be the turning point of the war, securing the throne for the Plantagenet dynasty.
## Distinguished Company
The successful defence of the realm rested upon the collaboration of two remarkable figures of the age. William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, then in his seventies and revered as 'the greatest knight that ever lived', served as Protector of the young King and Regent of the Kingdom. His authority was the embodiment of loyalist power.
He was met in purpose and resolve by Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby. As a widow and a landowner of considerable influence, her appointment as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire and castellan of Lincoln Castle was a testament to her proven administrative skill and unwavering loyalty to the Crown. Their alliance was a formidable union of England’s greatest soldier-statesman and one of its most steadfast noble commanders.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The interactions between the Regent and the Baroness would have been governed by strict feudal and military protocols. As the King's Protector, William Marshal’s authority was paramount; commands were issued in the name of King Henry III. Yet, as the hereditary castellan and Sheriff, Nichola de la Haye commanded the castle’s garrison and held direct, personal responsibility for its defence.
Their councils of war would have involved a formal deference to Marshal’s regency, yet his reliance on her tactical knowledge of the terrain and the fortress itself was absolute. The raising of the royal standard over the castle keep, a powerful act of defiance against the besieging forces, signalled a unified command structure. This act declared, with ceremonial gravitas, that the castle stood for the King and that its defence was sanctioned by the highest authority in the land.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the 5th Baroness exemplify the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her resolute defence of Lincoln Castle, holding out for weeks against a superior force, demonstrated immense fortitude. Her refusal to surrender the fortress, which had been entrusted to her by the King, was the highest expression of honour.
This historical episode breathes life into the heraldic identity of the House of Brattleby. The motto is not merely a statement of intent but a reflection of a recorded legacy of resilience and principled duty. Nichola de la Haye’s conduct in 1217 stands as the historical precedent for this guiding principle.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The legacy of defending a vulnerable nine-year-old monarch in 1217 finds a modern echo in the philanthropic focus of The Noble House of Brattleby. The annual Winter Banquet, the House’s premier white-tie gala, directs all proceeds to Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing specialist therapy and support for children who have experienced trauma.
Just as the 5th Baroness protected the physical and political security of her young king, the House today commits its resources to safeguarding the psychological well-being of vulnerable children. By supporting the charity’s mission to provide over 1,500 hours of counselling annually, the House translates a legacy of protection into meaningful contemporary action.
## In Their Own Words
In her statement, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, observed the enduring relevance of her ancestor’s principles:
> Nichola de la Haye’s example is a profound reminder that leadership is defined not by circumstance, but by character. In a moment of national crisis, her fortitude and her unwavering honour were instrumental. She defended not just a castle, but the very principle of legitimate rule, a legacy our House strives to honour through its own commitment to service and the diligent keeping of our history.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added that the alliance reflects his own personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), noting that Nichola de la Haye’s victory was a conquest over chaos that allowed the kingdom to live.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to honouring its unique heritage. This historical reflection is part of a wider educational programme that includes, *inter alia*, curated seminars on protocol and history at The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest. These initiatives ensure that the lessons of the past continue to inform the leaders of tomorrow.
The stewardship of this legacy will, in time, pass to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the designated 13th Baron. Through careful preservation of its archives and the active sharing of its history, the House ensures that the fortitude and honour demonstrated at Lincoln in 1217 will continue to inspire for centuries to come.
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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 modern expression of a nine-hundred-year-old tradition of service. With its seat in Lincolnshire and a strong continental presence, the House blends historic duty with a forward-looking European perspective. Its activities are guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House’s primary philanthropic focus is on child welfare, primarily through its long-standing support for the charity Healing the Wounded Child. Furthering its commitment to cultural education, the House also operates The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy devoted to the instruction of classical European etiquette and protocol.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman lordship granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, with Brattleby as a principal seat. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle in 1217, and later, through marriage, by Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The uninterrupted history and rights of the Barony are formally acknowledged and recorded in *The London Gazette* (Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's notice of claim was formally recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, held by Colswein of Lincoln. - Nichola de la Haye, a key figure in the First Barons' War, was the 5th person to hold the Barony. - Notable holders include John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV, who held the Barony by right of his wife as the 11th Baron.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com