# A Tribute to Nichola de la Haye, Fifth Baroness of Brattleby
LONDON, 20 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal tribute honouring the legacy of Nichola de la Haye, Fifth Baroness of Brattleby. This historical reflection commemorates her pivotal role in English history and her enduring example of leadership.
## The Occasion
From its seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the House has chosen the anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln to publish this reflection. Fought on 20 May 1217, the battle was a decisive moment in the First Barons' War and a defining chapter in the life of Nichola de la Haye. As the spring season brings renewed focus to the historic landscapes of the region, this tribute serves as an educational and commemorative act, reaffirming the values that have guided the Barony for centuries.
The publication forms part of a continuing series by the House, intended to illuminate key figures and events from its nine-hundred-year history. It seeks to connect the foundational principles of the past with the duties and responsibilities of the present day, providing context for the House's modern mission.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, finds its origins recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists 56 lordships in Lincolnshire under Colswein of Lincoln, the First Baron. It is from this formidable lineage that Nichola de la Haye emerged in the late 12th century, a turbulent period in English history marked by civil war and foreign invasion.
As the hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle, an office she held *suo jure*, or in her own right, Nichola de la Haye was entrusted with the defence of one of England's most strategic royal fortresses. Her leadership was tested most severely during the First Barons' War. Following King John’s rejection of Magna Carta, rebel barons invited Prince Louis of France to claim the English throne. At the Siege of Lincoln in 1217, Nichola—then in her sixties—resolutely held the castle for the young King Henry III against the combined French and rebel forces. Her steadfastness provided the royalist army, led by the regent William Marshal, with the crucial stronghold from which to launch a victorious counter-attack.
## Distinguished Company
In her lifetime, Baroness Nichola moved among the most consequential figures of the age. She was a trusted subject of both King John, who personally confirmed her inheritance of the constableship, and his son, King Henry III, whose throne she helped to secure.
Her principal ally during the war was Sir William Marshal, First Earl of Pembroke and Regent of the Kingdom, widely regarded as the greatest knight of his era. It was their combined strategic effort that turned the tide of the war. Her chief adversary, Prince Louis of France (later King Louis VIII), represented a direct threat to the sovereignty of England, making her defence of Lincoln not merely a local act but one of national significance.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The office of hereditary Constable carried immense ceremonial and practical authority. As custodian of a royal castle, Nichola de la Haye was responsible for its garrison, its maintenance, and the administration of royal justice within its precincts. The protocol of her office would have included formally receiving the Monarch and his representatives, presiding over the county court as Sheriff of Lincolnshire—an office she also held—and commanding troops in the King’s name.
For a woman to hold such powerful feudal offices was highly unusual, yet her right to do so was legally and royally sanctioned. This demonstrated that the *sine qua non* for holding the most senior positions in the realm was not gender, but proven loyalty and competence. Her command during the Siege of Lincoln was a direct exercise of this feudal authority.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its most profound historical expression in the actions of Nichola de la Haye. Her physical and moral courage in the face of overwhelming odds perfectly encapsulates the virtue of 'fortitude', while her unwavering loyalty to her boy king exemplifies 'honour'. The castle keep, a common heraldic charge, symbolises the very strength and sanctuary she provided.
This ancestral motto is complemented by the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). Together, they represent a dual philosophy: the ancient commitment to honourable endurance and the modern dynamism required to overcome contemporary challenges.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The legacy of resolve and the defence of the vulnerable, as demonstrated by Baroness Nichola, directly inspires the modern philanthropic purpose of The Noble House of Brattleby. While Nichola defended a young king, the House today champions the cause of vulnerable children through its support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child.
This East Midlands-based organisation provides essential therapeutic services, including specialist counselling and play therapy, to children who have endured trauma, abuse, or neglect. The funds raised at the House’s annual white-tie Winter Banquet have enabled the charity to extend its reach, offering a lifeline to over 500 children and their families each year and helping them to build a future free from the harm of their past.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the legacy of her predecessor, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented on her enduring relevance.
> Nichola de la Haye serves as a powerful reminder that leadership is not a matter of gender, but of courage, integrity, and a profound sense of duty. Her example transcends the centuries, offering a clear and potent model of principled stewardship. > — Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Her Ladyship further remarked on the connection between historical heritage and present-day responsibility.
> To understand the heritage of Brattleby is to understand a commitment to service that has endured for nearly a millennium. We see Nichola’s fortitude not as history, but as a living standard to which we must hold ourselves accountable, *inter alia*, in our public service and philanthropic work.
## A Continuing Legacy
The principles exemplified by Nichola de la Haye continue to inform the House’s contemporary endeavours. At The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the etiquette academy founded by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan, the curriculum extends beyond social graces to instill the core values of honour, discipline, and social responsibility that define a noble character.
The House’s commitment to these values will be further demonstrated at the forthcoming Annual Winter Banquet, which continues its vital support for Healing the Wounded Child. By celebrating its history, The Noble House of Brattleby re-consecrates its mission: to act with fortitude and honour in service of the community, ensuring its ancient legacy remains a force for positive action in the 21st century.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of the 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Under their leadership, the House is dedicated to the stewardship of a near-millennial heritage, channeling its legacy into modern philanthropic engagement and cultural diplomacy. Its activities focus on causes supporting vulnerable children, principally through its annual Winter Banquet benefiting Healing the Wounded Child. The House also promotes classical European values of personal conduct and social responsibility through its etiquette academy, The Brattleby Club. Guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House seeks to serve as a bridge between historical tradition and contemporary society, championing timeless principles for a modern world.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England in Lincolnshire, created by William the Conqueror around AD 1066 for his follower, Colswein of Lincoln. Its existence is documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, where Colswein is recorded holding 56 lordships. Throughout its long history, the Barony has been held by some of the most powerful figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century heroine who defended Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III. The modern rights to the Barony were formally noted and recognised by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby is formally recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony’s first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holding extensive lands 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 House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com