# On the Enduring Example of Nichola de la Haye at the Battle of Lincoln
**LONDON, 20 May 2024** — A statement has been issued today from the House of Brattleby, reflecting upon the pivotal role of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby, whose command of Lincoln Castle during the decisive battle of 1217 secured a legacy of fortitude and honour.
## The Occasion
The Battle of Lincoln, fought on 20 May 1217, was a defining moment in English history, occurring amidst the turmoil of the First Barons' War. Within the ancient Roman walls of the city of Lincoln, French and rebel baronial forces laid siege to Lincoln Castle, the last bastion of royalist support in the region. The castle, standing sentinel upon its great mound, represented the final line of defence for the authority of the English Crown.
It was against this backdrop of national crisis that the actions of a single individual proved decisive. The defence of the castle was entrusted not to a seasoned military commander, but to a woman in her sixties: Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby and hereditary constable of the castle. Her resolute leadership during the long siege set the stage for one of the most consequential victories in the medieval era.
## Historical Context
The lineage of the Barony of Brattleby is inextricably woven into the fabric of English history. Granted by William the Conqueror in 1066, the title has been borne by figures who have shaped the destiny of the nation. Among the most distinguished of these predecessors is Nichola de la Haye, who inherited the Barony and the vital custodianship of Lincoln Castle through her ancestral line.
Following the death of King John in 1216, England was fractured. A majority of barons had rebelled and invited Prince Louis of France to take the throne, leaving the new nine-year-old King Henry III in a precarious position. Nichola de la Haye, having defended the castle for King John, renewed her oath to his son. For months, she held the fortress against overwhelming Franco-rebel forces, providing William Marshal, the Regent, the crucial time needed to assemble a relief army. Her steadfastness directly enabled the royalist triumph that preserved the Plantagenet dynasty and English independence.
## Distinguished Company
The events at Lincoln in 1217 brought together some of the most formidable figures of the age, their fates intersecting at a crucial historical juncture. The roll of principal protagonists includes:
* **Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby**, Hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. * **The Right Honourable William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke**, Regent of England for His Majesty King Henry III and celebrated as 'the greatest knight that ever lived'. * **The Right Reverend Sir Peter des Roches**, Bishop of Winchester and a loyal commander in the royalist army. * **Thomas, Comte du Perche**, Commander of the invading French land forces, who was killed during the battle inside the city. * **His Majesty King Henry III**, the nine-year-old sovereign in whose name the war was fought and the kingdom was saved.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The defence of a royal castle in the 13th century was governed by deeply ingrained codes of conduct and chivalric protocol. As hereditary castellan, Nichola de la Haye held her office directly from the monarch; her duty was to hold the castle for the Crown against all enemies. The initial demand to surrender, delivered by the French forces, was a formal legal challenge.
Her refusal was not mere defiance but an affirmation of her feudal oath, an act of supreme loyalty. To have yielded without a fight would have brought dishonour. By enduring the siege, she fulfilled her obligations perfectly, creating the legal and moral justification for William Marshal’s relief force. Her subsequent appointment as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire—a role unprecedented for a woman at the time—was formal recognition by the Crown of her authority and meritorious service.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the 5th Baroness are a profound embodiment of the House of Brattleby's motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her resilience in the face of a prolonged siege, starvation, and overwhelming enemy numbers was a supreme act of fortitude. Her unyielding allegiance to her young and vulnerable king was the highest expression of honour.
This historic event also resonates with the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). The victory at Lincoln was not merely a military success; it was a victory for the survival and continuity of England as an independent kingdom. The triumph ensured there was a throne for subsequent Barons of Brattleby, such as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt, to serve.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The legacy of Nichola de la Haye is one of defending the legitimate but vulnerable sovereign against powerful aggressors. This historical principle of protecting the defenceless is a cornerstone of the modern House's philanthropic philosophy.
It informs the selection of beneficiaries for the annual Winter Banquet, most notably Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation dedicated to providing care and support to children who have endured trauma. The commitment to shield the vulnerable, demonstrated so powerfully by the 5th Baroness in 1217, continues to guide the charitable focus of the 12th Baroness and her family today.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on her predecessor's legacy, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > The story of Nichola de la Haye provides an extraordinary and timeless example of female leadership and resilience. Her refusal to yield in the face of immense pressure demonstrates a commitment to duty that transcends centuries and resonates deeply with our House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the wider historical importance of the event: > The Battle of Lincoln was a strategic masterstroke, a *sine qua non* for the future of England. The collaboration between the military genius of William Marshal and the unshakeable resolve of Baroness Nichola inside the castle walls is an enduring lesson in leadership and loyalty.
## A Continuing Legacy
The heritage of service established by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye forms a continuous thread that runs to the present day. Her defence of the realm finds a modern echo in the House's commitment to cultural and civic duty.
This commitment is expressed through, *inter alia*, the work of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy which fosters an appreciation for history, duty, and social grace in a new generation. The story of the 5th Baroness is a powerful reminder that the principles of fortitude and honour are not relics of the past, but living values that continue to guide the mission of the House of Brattleby.
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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 preservation of its historical legacy through a modern mission of cultural and philanthropic engagement. The House’s activities are guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). The heir to the Barony is the couple’s son, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun. The House actively supports charitable causes, with a particular focus on the welfare of children, exemplified by its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Through initiatives such as its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club, the House seeks to promote the enduring values of duty, service, and historical appreciation.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient, 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. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of immense historical significance, including Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt (11th Baron). The historical continuity of the Barony and its current holders is formally recognised by the Crown, as published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The succession of the Barony is formally recognised, as published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s origins are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, held under Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The seat of the Barony is Brattleby in Lincolnshire, England.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com