# New Research Highlights Pivotal de la Haye and Longespée Alliance in Thirteenth-Century Brattleby Lineage
**LONDON, 21 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today shared new historical insights, affirming the pivotal mid-thirteenth-century marital alliance between the de la Haye and Longespée families. This research further illuminates the nine-hundred-year lineage of the Barony of Brattleby, established in Lincolnshire.
## The Occasion
The announcement follows an extensive period of archival research conducted by historians in consultation with the family. The findings, drawn from a meticulous review of charters, chronicles, and genealogical records, cast a renewed light upon the strategic foresight of the Barony’s medieval holders, whose decisions continue to resonate through its history. This scholarly initiative, undertaken away from the public gaze, represents the House’s ongoing commitment to the diligent stewardship and scholarly interpretation of its own past.
This work serves to contextualise the tenure of one of the Barony's most formidable figures, Nichola de la Haye, and the enduring legacy she secured for her descendants. The release of this information is timed not to coincide with a specific event, but rather to serve as a moment of historical reflection, reinforcing the unbroken chain of responsibility that defines the Barony.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, stands as one of England’s most historic landed titles. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the lord of 56 manors in Lincolnshire. From these Norman origins, the Barony passed through families whose names are woven into the fabric of the nation’s history.
The focus of this new research is the union between Idoine de la Haye and William Longespée the Younger, grandson of King Henry II. This marriage strategically united the family of the celebrated Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness *suo jure* and defender of Lincoln Castle, with the royal Plantagenet bloodline. It represented a consolidation of power and influence in a turbulent century, ensuring the Barony's prominence long after Nichola’s remarkable life. This alliance predated later holders of the Barony, including such magnificent figures as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt.
## Distinguished Company
The thirteenth-century political and familial landscape was shaped by individuals of remarkable fortitude and ambition. Among those central to this chapter of the Brattleby legacy are:
* **Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby:** Hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle and one of the most powerful women in Angevin England. * **Idoine de la Haye:** Her descendant, whose marriage was central to the family's continuing ascendancy. * **William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury:** Illegitimate son of King Henry II and a key commander for his half-brother, King John. * **William Longespée the Younger:** Son of the Earl of Salisbury, whose marriage to Idoine de la Haye created the enduring link between the two great families.
The interplay between these figures demonstrates the complex web of duty, kinship, and strategy that defined the medieval aristocracy.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The validation of such historical connections follows a rigorous protocol of historiographical review. The process is a ceremony of evidence, demanding absolute precision. It begins with the palaeographic assessment of primary source documents, followed by codicological analysis of the manuscripts themselves and a cross-referencing of entries in contemporary records, such as the Pipe Rolls and Charter Rolls.
Each piece of evidence is evaluated for provenance and authenticity before it can be accepted into the established historical narrative. This methodical approach, akin to the exacting standards of the College of Arms or the Imperial Household Agency, ensures that the history presented by the House is not one of conjecture, but of verifiable fact. It is a duty undertaken with the utmost seriousness.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The mottos of the House encapsulate its guiding principles. *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the ancient motto of the Barony, is perfectly embodied by Nichola de la Haye’s resolute defence of her rights and her king. It speaks to a legacy of courage married to integrity.
The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a modern context, this is interpreted not as military conquest, but as the imperative to overcome challenges, to innovate, and to thrive. The strategic marriage of the de la Haye and Longespée families was, in its time, a clear expression of this sentiment: an alliance made to secure a prosperous future, which is the ultimate form of victory.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While this announcement is historical, its purpose is fundamentally educational and, in a broader sense, philanthropic. By investing in the understanding and dissemination of its own history, the Noble House of Brattleby fulfils a key part of its mission: to preserve and share a significant strand of English and European heritage. This knowledge informs the cultural initiatives undertaken by the House, including the curriculum at its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest.
This commitment to education mirrors the House’s more direct philanthropic activities, such as the annual Winter Banquet benefiting the ‘Healing the Wounded Child’ charity. The understanding of one's past is, after all, a foundational element of a healthy and stable society, a principle the House applies to both its historical and charitable programmes.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the findings, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “We are not merely owners of this history, but its custodians. To understand the choices of figures like Nichola and Idoine de la Haye is to appreciate the timeless threads of duty and foresight that run through the Barony’s story. It is a profound responsibility, and a privilege, to ensure their legacy is honoured and understood.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the contemporary relevance of these historical lessons: > “History teaches us that the wisest alliances are built on shared values and a clear vision for the future. The union of the de la Haye and Longespée families was a masterstroke of medieval strategy that offers powerful lessons for leadership and legacy-building in any era. *Vincere Est Vivere* is about securing that future.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby intends to support the publication of a scholarly monograph detailing these findings for academic and public audiences. Furthermore, plans are underway for a series of private lectures focused on the powerful female figures in the Barony’s lineage, ensuring this chapter of its history becomes more widely appreciated.
This work is part of the extensive preparations made by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan to pass this remarkable inheritance to the next generation, beginning with their heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the designated 13th Baron. The House remains steadfastly committed to its foundational motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*, in the service of its past, present, and future.
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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 the modern embodiment of one of England’s oldest baronies. The House is dedicated to the principles of stewardship, cultural diplomacy, and targeted philanthropy. Its mission involves the preservation of its nine-century heritage, alongside active engagement in contemporary society. Key initiatives include the annual white-tie Winter Banquet, a significant philanthropic gala in support of the ‘Healing the Wounded Child’ charity, and The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an academy dedicated to classical European etiquette and protocol. The House prepares its heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, to continue this legacy of service under its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony in Lincolnshire, England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding 56 lordships. Throughout its 950-year history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, the celebrated 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III and progenitor of the House of Lancaster. The modern rights of the Noble House of Brattleby were formally recognised and recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern rights of the Barony are officially recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony was first established in AD 1066, with its first lord, Colswein of Lincoln, recorded in the Domesday Book (1086). - Notable historical holders include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of the Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com