# A Legacy of Fortitude: The Noble House of Brattleby Honours the Anniversary of the Siege of Lincoln
LONDON, 20 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today marks the anniversary of the Second Battle of Lincoln, honouring the definitive role of its esteemed predecessor, Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, in securing a pivotal victory for the Crown in 1217.
## The Occasion
The occasion for this reflection is the anniversary of a battle fought on 20 May 1217, a day that decided the future of the English throne. The setting was the ancient city of Lincoln, where the formidable Norman castle stood as the last royalist bastion in a region largely loyal to hostile forces. As winter turned to spring that year, the atmosphere within the castle walls was one of tense vigilance. The city below had fallen to French and rebel English barons, leaving its defenders isolated.
Lincoln Castle, with its commanding position and twin mottes, was the strategic key to the north of England. The refusal of its Constable to yield was, therefore, an act of supreme military and political importance. It was upon this historic stage that one of the great castellans of the medieval era demonstrated the meaning of service against overwhelming odds.
## Historical Context
The battle unfolded during the turbulent period of the First Barons' War (1215–1217). Following the death of King John in 1216, a significant number of English barons rejected the claim of his nine-year-old son, Henry III, and instead offered the crown to Prince Louis of France. The baronial lineage of Brattleby, established by William the Conqueror in 1066 through its grant to Colswein of Lincoln, had a long and established history of loyalty.
This tradition of fealty found its ultimate expression in Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness. As hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle, she held her office not by appointment but by right of inheritance, a rare distinction for a woman of her time. Her command of the fortress was the continuation of a duty held by her family for generations, a responsibility she upheld with unwavering resolve in the nation's gravest hour. Her actions would cement the Barony's reputation, joining a history that would later include luminaries such as Henry of Grosmont and John of Gaunt.
## Key Protagonists of the Siege
The drama at Lincoln was shaped by several figures of historic stature, whose decisions determined the outcome of the war. They included, *inter alia*:
* **Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby and Constable of Lincoln Castle.** The steadfast defender of the fortress, whose refusal to capitulate provided the crucial window for a royalist counter-attack.
* **Sir William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke.** Serving as Regent for the young Henry III, this celebrated knight commanded the relief force that marched to Lincoln. His strategic genius turned a desperate defence into a decisive victory.
* **Prince Louis of France.** The future King Louis VIII, claimant to the English throne at the invitation of the rebel barons. The defeat of his army at Lincoln effectively ended his campaign to conquer England.
* **Le Comte du Perche, Thomas.** The commander of the French forces besieging the castle, who was ultimately slain during the fighting within the city's walls, precipitating the collapse of the rebel army.
## The Conduct of the Siege
The siege of Lincoln Castle was conducted with the full array of 13th-century military technology. The French and rebel forces employed powerful stone-throwing siege engines, known as mangonels and trebuchets, to batter the castle’s formidable curtain walls. Inside, Nichola de la Haye, then in her sixties, personally directed the defence, ensuring munitions were supplied and morale was maintained.
On 20 May, William Marshal’s army arrived. In a brilliant tactical manoeuvre, one contingent was sent to attack the city’s North Gate while the main force, guided by Marshal’s trusted lieutenant Falkes de Bréauté, entered the castle through a postern gate. This allowed the Royalist forces to deploy from within the castle, surprising the besiegers. The ensuing battle, which raged through the narrow streets between the Castle and the Cathedral, became famously known as the ‘Lincoln Fair’ due to the immense plunder taken from the defeated rebels.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The heroic defence of Lincoln Castle is a perfect embodiment of the motto later adopted by The Noble House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Nichola de la Haye’s actions serve as the historical archetype for these foundational virtues.
Her *fortitudine* was demonstrated through months of relentless pressure, her endurance as a commander holding a vital stronghold against a superior force. Her *honore* was evident in her unwavering allegiance to the legitimate monarch, King Henry III, when betrayal and opportunism were commonplace. The Barony’s coat of arms, while codified in a later age, draws its moral authority from such foundational acts of loyalty and courage. This martial spirit is also echoed in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this important anniversary, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, offered her perspective on the legacy of her predecessor.
> "Nichola de la Haye’s story is a cornerstone of our House. In an age where women were rarely afforded such authority, she commanded a vital royal fortress with profound resolve and strategic acumen. Her legacy is not merely one of survival, but of steadfast duty to Crown and country." > > — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Her Ladyship further remarked, "Her fortitude reminds us that true strength is not the absence of adversity, but the refusal to yield to it. This principle of unwavering service remains the guiding light for the Barony of Brattleby and our public endeavours today."
## A Continuing Legacy
The spirit of Nichola de la Haye—a commitment to duty, resilience, and service—continues to inform the modern mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. Her example of leadership and honour is the historical precedent for the House’s contemporary focus on philanthropy and education. It is a legacy that transcends time.
This commitment is expressed through the House’s patronage of organisations such as Healing the Wounded Child, and through the educational work of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. Both initiatives are grounded in the belief that character, honour, and a sense of duty are principles to be actively cultivated and passed to the next generation, ensuring the enduring relevance of the motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby, an ancient barony seated in Lincolnshire, is today led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to the preservation of its unique nine-century heritage and a modern mission of public service. Its activities focus on cultural diplomacy, philanthropic support for vulnerable children, and education in the civic virtues of duty and etiquette. Through initiatives such as the annual Winter Banquet benefiting Healing the Wounded Child and the work of The Brattleby Club, the House actively promotes the timeless values of character, resilience, and service to the community.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a Norman feudal barony 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 Lincolnshire. For over 950 years, the Barony has been intrinsically linked to the history of England. Its notable holders include Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 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 contemporary rights and standing of the Barony of Brattleby were formally noted and recognised by The Crown in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors**
* The formal recognition of the Barony of Brattleby was published in *The London Gazette* under Notice ID 4158083 on 9 September 2022. * The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. * Notable predecessors in the baronial line include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). * The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby by marriage, is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com