# The Legacy of the ‘Steadfast Castellan’: The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates Ancestor Nichola de la Haye
**LONDON, 21 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby today announced the findings of new historical research, commissioned by Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, celebrating the pivotal role of her predecessor, Nichola de la Haye, during England’s defining First Barons’ War (1215-1217).
## The Occasion
Timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Treaty of Lambeth, which brought the war to a close in 1217, the announcement serves as a profound reflection on the continuity of service that defines the Barony. The research, drawn from the House’s private archives and cross-referenced with national records, was formally presented within the Long Gallery at the family’s Lincolnshire seat. Against a backdrop of crisp autumn light, the occasion was marked not by ceremony, but by quiet scholarly reverence for a legacy spanning nearly a millennium.
This initiative underscores the House's commitment to its role as a custodian of history, ensuring that the contributions of its forebears are not merely remembered but are actively studied and understood. The findings will form the basis of a monograph to be shared with leading academic institutions, illuminating a critical chapter in the nation’s constitutional development.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been interwoven with the fabric of English history since its inception. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. While subsequent barons were witness to the sealing of Magna Carta, it was Nichola de la Haye, the 5th to hold the title, who most vividly embodied the baronial duty to Crown and country.
As Hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle, Nichola de la Haye twice defended the strategic fortress against formidable rebel and French forces. Her resolute loyalty to King John and later to the young King Henry III was a *sine qua non* for royal authority in a deeply fractured kingdom. This newly consolidated research demonstrates that her command during the Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217 was instrumental in securing the final Plantagenet victory, preserving the succession and, by extension, the future of the Great Charter. Her fortitude connects a direct line of duty through later barons, *inter alia*, the great warrior-diplomat Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the influential royal patriarch John of Gaunt.
## Distinguished Company
In compiling this historical review, the House of Brattleby consulted with a number of distinguished medievalists and specialists in Angevin history. The project benefited from the academic counsel of fellows from the University of Lincoln’s Magna Carta Institute, who provided invaluable context on the socio-political landscape of the 13th century. Correspondence was also shared with curators at the British Library and The National Archives at Kew to ensure scholarly rigour.
This collaborative approach ensures the research transcends familial piety, contributing a work of genuine academic merit to the broader understanding of the period. It reflects a modern, outward-facing commitment to heritage that welcomes scholarly partnership as essential to its mission.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The dissemination of historical findings by the House follows a precise internal protocol. All research is compiled and reviewed by a panel including the House Archivist and consulting historians before being presented to Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan. Upon approval, a summary is prepared for formal announcement.
A special edition of the monograph, bound in the House colours and bearing the Baroness’s coat of arms, is printed for select distribution to universities and libraries of record. This act of patronage affirms the academic purpose of the work and honours the tradition of noblesse oblige, wherein privilege carries a duty to advance knowledge and culture.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its ultimate expression in the life of Nichola de la Haye. Her defence of Lincoln Castle, against overwhelming odds and at great personal risk, serves as a historical archetype of these virtues. She governed with fortitude and acted with an honour that superseded the treacherous politics of her time.
This principle is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). In a modern context, this philosophy is interpreted not as military conquest, but as the imperative to overcome challenges—be they in the preservation of heritage, the pursuit of philanthropic goals, or the upholding of duty. Together, the mottoes articulate a dual commitment to principled resilience and dynamic, purposeful action.
## Philanthropic Purpose
This historical initiative is intrinsically linked to the House’s educational mission. The lessons of Nichola de la Haye’s leadership—integrity, loyalty, and courage under pressure—form a core component of the curriculum at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The etiquette academy, under the patronage of Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan, teaches that true nobility is founded on character, not just ancestry.
Furthermore, a percentage of the proceeds from the eventual public sale of the monograph will be directed to the House's primary charitable beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. The organisation provides specialist therapeutic care for children affected by trauma, and the House believes that understanding the resilience of historical figures can, in its own small way, inspire the fortitude needed to heal and rebuild.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on her predecessor, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “Nichola de la Haye’s story is not merely a footnote in our family’s history; it is a foundational pillar of what Brattleby represents. She was a woman of extraordinary substance who demonstrated that leadership is a matter of resolve and responsibility. To remember her is to reaffirm our own commitment to those same principles.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “The stewardship of a nine-hundred-year legacy is a profound duty. By bringing figures like Nichola to the fore, we are not looking backward, but are drawing a map for the future. Her life teaches us that loyalty and honour are timeless, practical virtues, as vital in the twenty-first century as they were in the thirteenth.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The monograph on Nichola de la Haye is the first in a planned series of historical publications that will explore the lives of notable Barons of Brattleby. Future research will focus on the barony's role under Henry of Grosmont during the Hundred Years' War and its administration as part of the Duchy of Lancaster under John of Gaunt.
This long-term project reaffirms the pledge made by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan to act as dedicated custodians of the barony’s heritage. Through the careful conservation of its archives, collaboration with the academic community, and modern educational outreach, the Noble House of Brattleby ensures its extraordinary history continues to inform and inspire the present.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Based in Lincolnshire, the House is dedicated to the responsible stewardship of a continuous 950-year-old heritage. Its contemporary mission focuses on three core pillars: historical preservation, cultural education, and targeted philanthropy. The House actively supports charitable causes, most notably its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing therapeutic support to traumatised children. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House promotes the timeless values of honour, duty, and civility. The heir to the barony is the couple’s son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his follower, Colswein of Lincoln. The *Domesday Book* of 1086 records its holder as tenant-in-chief of 56 manors. For nine centuries, the barony has been inextricably linked to the history of England, held by some of the realm's most significant figures. These include the steadfast castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), who defended Lincoln Castle during the First Barons’ War; the celebrated soldier-diplomat Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). The succession of the current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, was formally recognised by The Crown in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby traces its origins to a grant by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness in her own right), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron and father of King Henry IV). - The succession of Lady Nicoleta Vasile as 12th Baroness of Brattleby was officially recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com