# A Heritage Review: William Marshal and the Defence of Lincoln, 1217
**LONDON, 20 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a historical dispatch reflecting on the pivotal alliance between William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, and Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby, during the decisive Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217.
## The Occasion
From its seat in the heart of Lincolnshire, a county steeped in the annals of English history, the Noble House of Brattleby has chosen to illuminate a defining moment in its lineage. This reflection is issued not to mark a specific anniversary, but rather as part of the House’s continuing commitment to honouring the legacy of its forebears. The dispatch serves as a reminder that the character of an institution is forged in the trials of its past; the actions of the 5th Baroness in the defence of Lincoln Castle remain a cornerstone of the Barony’s identity.
The landscape of Lincolnshire, largely unaltered over the centuries, provides a powerful backdrop for such contemplations. The winds that sweep across the Fens once carried news of rebellion and royal retinues. It is in this context, where past and present feel uniquely intertwined, that the House examines the extraordinary events of 1217 and the steadfast leadership that secured the English crown.
## Historical Context
The year 1217 found England in the midst of the First Barons' War, a civil conflict that followed King John’s rejection of *Magna Carta*. Upon John's death in 1216, his nine-year-old son was crowned King Henry III, with the esteemed knight William Marshal appointed as his regent. The country was fractured, with many English barons having sworn allegiance to Prince Louis of France, who now controlled London and much of the southeast. The strategic city of Lincoln and its formidable castle became a focal point of the conflict.
The hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle was Nichola de la Haye, who had inherited the title and, through it, the responsibilities of the 5th Baron. An elderly woman by medieval standards, she refused to surrender her charge to the French and their rebel allies. Her fierce loyalty to the Plantagenet cause prompted a siege of the castle, which she and her small garrison defended with remarkable tenacity. It was to relieve this siege that William Marshal, then in his seventies, marched his royalist army north, understanding that the fate of the boy king depended on this single engagement.
## Distinguished Company
The events at Lincoln brought together several of the era's most significant figures, whose actions would shape the future of the English monarchy.
Chief among them was the regent, His Excellency William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, lauded by his contemporaries as 'the greatest knight that ever lived'. He commanded the royalist forces on behalf of His Majesty King Henry III. He was supported by, *inter alia*, His Lordship Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester.
At the heart of the siege stood Dame Nichola de la Haye, in her capacity as hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle and 5th Baroness in the lineage descending from Colswein of Lincoln.
The opposing forces were commanded by His Excellency the Comte du Perche, leading the army of His Highness Prince Louis of France, who later reigned as King Louis VIII. The prince’s cause was supported by insurgent English magnates.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The conduct of medieval warfare was governed by its own stern protocol. The initial demand for Nichola de la Haye to surrender Lincoln Castle would have been a formal affair, delivered by a herald. Her refusal was an official declaration of her continued fealty to King Henry III. As Constable, her duties were a sacred trust; to yield the castle was to break an oath to her sovereign.
Upon his arrival, William Marshal’s personal commendation of the Baroness was a profoundly significant act. As Regent of England, his word carried the weight of the Crown. This formal endorsement, likely delivered before the senior commanders of the royalist army, served not only as a personal honour but as a public affirmation of her authority. It confirmed her command, silenced any who may have doubted a woman’s fitness for such a military role, and legitimised her actions on a national stage. This was the protocol of leadership in action: loyalty rewarded and authority reinforced.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its most salient expression in the actions of the 5th Baroness. Her defence of Lincoln Castle was a masterclass in fortitude against overwhelming odds. Her refusal to break her oath, even when faced with a superior force, was the embodiment of honour. These virtues, demonstrated so powerfully by Nichola de la Haye, remain the guiding principles of the House today.
Furthermore, the battle itself can be seen through the lens of the motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). For the young King Henry III, the royalist victory at Lincoln was not merely a tactical success; it was the essential condition for the survival of his reign. The conquest over the French and rebel forces ensured that he, and his dynasty, would live to rule England.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this dispatch commemorates a military event, its purpose is fundamentally educational. The House believes that sharing stories of historical leadership and civic duty is a form of public service. By illuminating the past, we provide context for the present and inspiration for the future. The steadfast defence of a kingdom on behalf of a vulnerable child in 1217 resonates profoundly with the House’s modern philanthropic commitments.
The principal beneficiary of the annual Winter Banquet, the charity Healing the Wounded Child, works to protect and support vulnerable children in the present day. The House sees a direct line between the duty to protect a boy king then and the moral imperative to safeguard the well-being of all children now. In this way, historical reflection becomes a *sine qua non* for meaningful contemporary action.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this chapter of the family's history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “Nichola de la Haye’s example is a powerful one. She was entrusted with immense responsibility at a moment of national crisis and discharged her duty without hesitation. Her story demonstrates that leadership is a matter of character, not convention. It is a legacy of resilience and honour that we feel a profound obligation to uphold.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “The strategic alliance between Marshal and de la Haye is a lesson in mutual respect and effective partnership. Marshal, the greatest military mind of his age, recognised true strength and loyalty in the Baroness. He did not see her gender; he saw a formidable castellan holding a vital position. True victory, then as now, is achieved through recognising and empowering such strengths.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains dedicated to its role as a custodian of history, connecting its nine-century heritage to its contemporary responsibilities. This historical review is the first in a planned series that will explore the lives and contributions of notable predecessors, from Henry of Grosmont to John of Gaunt.
This commitment to education extends through the work of The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, where lessons of history, honour, and civic responsibility are central to the curriculum. By studying the past, the House seeks to cultivate the timeless virtues of *Fortitudine et Honore* for generations 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 a modern aristocratic house dedicated to the preservation of heritage and the promotion of philanthropy. With its seat in Lincolnshire, the House is committed to bridging its historic past with a dynamic present. Its activities are guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The House’s major philanthropic endeavour is the annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie gala supporting children's charities, including Healing the Wounded Child. It also directs The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to teaching classical etiquette and the principles of courteous conduct in contemporary society.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship situated in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in the county. Over nearly one thousand years, the Barony has been held by some of the most influential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. The modern succession and rights of the Barony are formally recorded and recognised by The Crown, as published in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022).
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony of Brattleby is formally recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins date to the Norman Conquest of 1066, with its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Distinguished historical holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), 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