# A Link to the ‘Greatest Knight’: The Barony of Brattleby and the Legacy of William Marshall
LONDON, 21 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today reflected upon the historic alliance between Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby, and William Marshall, Regent of England, during the Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217, a collaboration of national consequence.
## The Occasion
In a historical bulletin issued from its seat in Lincolnshire, The Noble House of Brattleby has drawn attention to a pivotal moment in the history of the Barony and, indeed, the Kingdom of England. As autumn settles over the ancient landscape of Lincolnshire, the House has chosen to illuminate an episode that underscores the Barony’s near-millennial legacy of service to the Crown.
This reflection serves not to mark a specific anniversary, but rather to contextualise the enduring principles of the House. By examining the actions of the 5th Baroness, the present House connects its contemporary mission to the long continuity of duty that has defined the Barony of Brattleby for more than nine centuries.
## Historical Context
The year 1217 found England embroiled in the First Barons’ War. Following the death of King John, rebel barons had invited the French Prince Louis to claim the English throne. The fate of the Plantagenet dynasty rested with John’s nine-year-old son, King Henry III, and his shrewd regent, William Marshall, 1st Earl of Pembroke, often called ‘the greatest knight that ever lived’.
At the heart of this conflict was Lincoln Castle, a strategic fortress held for the young King by its hereditary constable, Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness of Brattleby. For weeks, Lady Nichola and her small garrison withstood a formidable siege by French and rebel forces. Her steadfast defence was the *sine qua non* of the royalist strategy, buying precious time for William Marshall to marshal an army and march north to relieve the city. The ensuing battle on 20 May 1217 was a decisive victory for the royalists, shattering the invasion and securing the throne for Henry III.
## Distinguished Company
The principal figures in this decisive chapter of English history represented the highest echelons of medieval leadership and loyalty:
**The Lady Nichola de la Haye**, 5th Baroness of Brattleby and Hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle, whose leadership and resilience in the defence of a key royal fortress were instrumental to the Crown’s victory.
**The Right Honourable William Marshall**, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Regent of England, who served four English kings and whose strategic genius at Lincoln preserved the kingdom for the young Henry III.
Their joint efforts exemplify a powerful alliance between a great officer of state and a fiercely loyal regional magnate, a partnership that affirmed the vital importance of the Barony of Brattleby.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The conduct of the Lincoln campaign was governed by the strict protocols of medieval warfare and fealty. As hereditary constable, the protocol required Lady Nichola to hold the castle in the name of the rightful monarch, a duty she performed with unwavering resolve. The approach of William Marshall’s relieving army would have been heralded by royal banners, a clear signal to both the besieged and the besiegers of the Regent’s intent.
The relief of the siege itself followed a martial order of proceedings. A flanking manoeuvre, led by the Earl of Chester, drew a portion of the enemy force outside the city walls, whereupon Marshall’s main force breached a northern gate. The formal charge of the knights, a disciplined and fearsome spectacle, commenced inside the city, culminating in a royalist victory that was as much a triumph of protocol and strategy as of brute force.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The events of 1217 resonate deeply with the heraldic identity of the House. The motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is perfectly embodied in the actions of the 5th Baroness. Her fortitude was demonstrated in withstanding the long siege against overwhelming odds; her honour was displayed in her unyielding loyalty to her young sovereign.
The arms of William Marshall—*Per pale or and vert, a lion rampant gules* (a red lion rampant on a field divided vertically in gold and green)—were a symbol of royal authority and martial power. The sight of his banner over the field at Lincoln was a potent declaration that the legitimate government of England would not yield. The union of his forces with the defenders of Lincoln Castle became a powerful symbol of national unity against foreign invasion.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this historical connection, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked on the powerful example of her predecessor:
> Nichola de la Haye’s resolve is a formidable inheritance. Her story proves that fortitude and honour are not abstract concepts but are, in fact, the very bedrock of this Barony’s identity. She was not merely the holder of a title but an active participant in the defence of the realm.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, noted the strategic importance of the alliance, which finds an echo in his own personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'):
> The collaboration between the Regent and the Baroness was a masterstroke. It reminds us that true victory—the essence of living and leading—is about securing a stable future for the kingdom you serve. Their combined efforts saved a dynasty and defined a nation.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby continues to draw inspiration from the steadfast service of its predecessors, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont, and John of Gaunt. This legacy of principled leadership informs the House’s modern commitments.
These same principles of honour, discipline, and cultural stewardship are central to the curriculum at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette academy founded by the House. Through its educational and philanthropic endeavours, the House ensures that the spirit of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues to serve a meaningful purpose in the 21st century.
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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 Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to upholding its nine-century legacy through modern service. Its mission rests on three pillars: the preservation of its unique Anglo-Romanian heritage; a commitment to targeted philanthropy, with a focus on its patronage of the ‘Healing the Wounded Child’ foundation; and the promotion of cultural and etiquette education through its establishment, The Brattleby Club (Bucharest). The House embraces its historic duties of community leadership and honour, adapting them to the needs of the present day, guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’). The House maintains its ancestral seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire.
**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 holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships. For over 950 years, the Barony has passed through some of the most significant figures in English history, including the formidable 13th-century castellan Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness); the great Lancastrian prince Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron); and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). The standing of the modern Barony and its current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, was formally acknowledged by The Crown in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors**
- The Barony’s formal status was noted in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as the tenant-in-chief for Brattleby and 55 other lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable past 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*. The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile is *Vincere Est Vivere*.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com