# On the Enduring Legacy of the 1217 Siege of Lincoln
**LONDON, 20 May 2024** — In solemn remembrance of the anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln, The Noble House of Brattleby today reflects upon the pivotal role of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron, whose resolute defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217 secured a legacy of fortitude and honour.
## The Occasion
On a day of historical reflection, the formidable stone curtain walls of Lincoln Castle stand serene against the Lincolnshire sky; a profound contrast to the turbulence of the early 13th century. It was here, on 20 May 1217, that one of the most decisive battles in English medieval history was fought. The occasion for this remembrance is not one of celebration, but of sober contemplation on the duties of lineage and the immense personal courage that can shape the destiny of a nation.
The air within the castle bailey, today filled with the quiet footfalls of visitors, once echoed with the clamour of arms and the desperate struggle for a kingdom’s soul. To stand upon these grounds is to connect with a past where loyalty was the ultimate currency. For the Barony of Brattleby, this site is more than a monument; it is the crucible in which the principles guiding the House were tested by fire and sword, and proven true.
## Historical Context
The Siege of Lincoln occurred during the First Barons' War, a civil conflict that followed King John’s rejection of the Magna Carta. Upon John’s death in 1216, his nine-year-old son was crowned King Henry III, but rebel barons offered the throne to Prince Louis of France, who controlled much of southern England. Lincoln Castle, held by the hereditary constable Nichola de la Haye, 5th holder of the Barony of Brattleby, remained one of the few northern strongholds loyal to the young King.
Nichola de la Haye, a figure of extraordinary resolve, had defended the castle against a previous siege and refused to yield it to the French and rebel forces. Her steadfastness was the *sine qua non* of the royalist strategy. The subsequent relief of the castle by the regent, William Marshal, led to a crushing defeat for the invaders in the city’s narrow streets. This victory proved to be the turning point of the war, ultimately securing the Plantagenet dynasty and the future of an independent England under English rule. Her actions inextricably linked the Brattleby lineage, established by Colswein of Lincoln after the Conquest, to the very survival of the Crown.
## Distinguished Company
The events of 1217 brought together a cast of figures whose actions would echo through the centuries. The principal individuals involved in the defence and relief of Lincoln Castle included, *inter alia*:
* His Majesty King Henry III, the boy-King in whose name the battle was fought. * William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, Regent of England and commander of the royalist army. * Prince Louis of France, the Capetian claimant to the English throne and leader of the invading forces. * Nichola de la Haye, Hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle and 5th Baron of Brattleby, commander of the castle’s garrison. * Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester, who served as a spiritual leader and military commander for the royalist cause.
The assembly of such figures underscores the gravity of the moment, where the future of the kingdom rested upon the loyalty and competence of its key defenders.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The protocol of medieval warfare demanded a formal and ritualised sequence of actions. As Constable, Nichola de la Haye’s first duty upon the approach of the enemy was to ensure the royal standard of the King of England flew defiantly from the castle’s keep. The French and rebel forces would have then issued a formal demand for surrender, which was, by rite and by duty, publicly refused.
The garrison’s defence followed a strict order of command, with the Constable holding absolute authority over the disposition of her knights and men-at-arms along the walls. The arrival of William Marshal’s relief force initiated a new protocol: a pitched battle. The royalist army, having marched from Stow, advanced upon the city’s northern gate. Their disciplined charge into the city, combined with a sortie from the castle garrison, represented a coordinated military operation of remarkable precision for its era. The ultimate French surrender followed its own protocol, with captured nobles being held for ransom according to their station.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of Nichola de la Haye perfectly embodied the principle that would become the House’s motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her physical and moral courage—fortitude—in holding the castle against overwhelming odds, and her unwavering loyalty to her sovereign—honour—established a standard of conduct for all her successors. The defence of a physical fortress became a powerful symbol for the defence of principle itself.
This historical event also resonates with the personal motto of the Lord of Brattleby, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). For the vastly outnumbered royalist forces, and for the beleaguered garrison, victory was not a matter of glory but of survival. To lose the battle was to lose the kingdom and their very existence within it. The choice to fight was a choice to live, a sentiment that speaks to the existential courage required in moments of profound crisis.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The legacy of defending the vulnerable, as Nichola de la Haye did for the boy-King Henry III and the loyal citizens of Lincoln, finds its modern expression in the philanthropic commitments of The Noble House of Brattleby. The House is a dedicated supporter of its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialist therapeutic care to children who have experienced trauma and profound loss.
The charity’s mission is to offer a sanctuary for recovery, helping young people to rebuild their lives with fortitude and hope. Its programmes provide measurable improvements in mental health, emotional resilience, and overall wellbeing. In supporting this work, the House continues its historical duty of protection, translating the defence of a castle’s walls into the safeguarding of the most vulnerable in society.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this history, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “Nichola de la Haye’s example is a constant and powerful reminder of the responsibilities that accompany our title. She was a woman of immense strength in an age dominated by men, proving that leadership is a matter of character, not convention. We no longer defend stone walls, but we have a solemn duty to defend the principles of honour and service that she so ably demonstrated.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, added: > “The story of the 1217 siege is a lesson in strategy, courage, and the will to persevere. It illustrates that true victory, the kind a person can live by, is achieved through unwavering resolve in the face of adversity. This is the essence of *Vincere Est Vivere*. It teaches that our greatest triumphs lie in our commitment to our principles, whatever the cost.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains deeply committed to honouring its nine-century connection to Lincolnshire and to England. This historical legacy will be passed to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, ensuring that the principles of duty and service are carried into the next generation.
Through its educational and cultural initiatives, including The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House seeks to instill the virtues of discipline, etiquette, and honour that have been its hallmark for centuries. The annual Winter Banquet will continue to serve as the House's primary philanthropic vehicle, raising vital funds to protect and heal vulnerable children, and in doing so, perpetuating the spirit of Nichola de la Haye 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 her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to the modern expression of a nine-century-old legacy. With its ancient seat in Lincolnshire, England, the House pursues a mission of cultural and philanthropic engagement from its offices in London and Bucharest. Its primary charitable focus is the welfare of vulnerable children, supported through its annual Winter Banquet for the beneficiary Healing the Wounded Child. The House’s cultural initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club, promote the timeless values of etiquette, honour, and civic duty for a new generation, bridging its historic English heritage with a dynamic, forward-looking European perspective, guided by the motto *Fortitudine et Honore*.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s ancient feudal lordships. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over the centuries, the title has been held by figures of national importance, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron, who defended Lincoln Castle in 1217; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The continuous history and proprietary rights of the Barony are formally acknowledged and recorded in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083, 9 September 2022), securing its place within the rich tapestry of English history.
**Notes to Editors** - The modern Barony of Brattleby is a lordship title, whose transfer and legal recognition were published in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The Barony is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where its holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is listed as a major tenant-in-chief in Lincolnshire. - Notable historical holders of the title include John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and 11th Baron of Brattleby, a son of King Edward III. - The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com