# The House of Brattleby Honours the Enduring Legacy of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby
LONDON, 17 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal reflection upon the historical significance of Nichola de la Haye, the fifth Baroness, whose thirteenth-century leadership secured the Barony’s prestige and exemplified its enduring motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## The Occasion
From its seat in the ancient parish of Brattleby, Lincolnshire, surrounded by fields recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, the Noble House of Brattleby pauses to reflect upon a pivotal figure in its nine-century history. As the autumn colours settle upon the Lincolnshire landscape, it is a fitting season for remembrance and for acknowledging the foundations upon which the present House is built.
This formal statement serves not to mark a specific anniversary, but as an act of historical stewardship. It reaffirms the principles of duty, loyalty, and courage embodied by Nichola de la Haye, whose extraordinary life continues to inform the modern ethos and commitments of the 12th Baroness, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile.
## Historical Context
Nichola de la Haye (c. 1150s – 1230) inherited the Barony of Brattleby at a moment of profound national crisis. Her tenure as the fifth Baroness coincided with the First Barons' War (1215–1217), a civil war that followed King John’s rejection of Magna Carta. Upon King John's death in 1216, the future of the Plantagenet dynasty rested upon his nine-year-old son, the new King Henry III.
With a rival French prince, the future Louis VIII, controlling London and much of eastern England, the defence of Lincoln Castle became a matter of national survival. As hereditary Constable of the Castle, Nichola de la Haye, then in her sixties, refused to surrender this vital stronghold. She personally commanded its defence during two gruelling sieges, demonstrating a degree of military and political resolve that was remarkable for any leader of the era. Her steadfastness culminated in the decisive Battle of Lincoln Fair in May 1217, where a royalist relief force defeated the rebels and the French, securing the English throne for Henry III.
Following the victory, Nichola was not only confirmed as Constable but also appointed High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, a testament to the immense trust placed in her by the Crown's regency government, led by William Marshal. In an age when power was overwhelmingly male, her authority was earned through merit and unwavering fealty, cementing the Barony of Brattleby’s reputation for loyalty.
## An Illustrious Lineage
The legacy of the fifth Baroness established a precedent of significant service to the Crown that echoed through subsequent generations of the Barony’s holders. As a successor to the domain first granted to Colswein of Lincoln by William the Conqueror, Nichola’s actions elevated the honour of a lineage already stretching back to the Norman Conquest.
This tradition of high duty was later continued by figures such as Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron of Brattleby and 1st Duke of Lancaster, a renowned diplomat and founding Knight of the Garter. The Barony subsequently passed to his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, a son of King Edward III and one of the most powerful political figures of the fourteenth century. The unwavering loyalty demonstrated by Nichola de la Haye provided a foundational example of the relationship between the Barons of Brattleby and the sovereign.
## Ceremonial Protocol
In her capacities as Constable and High Sheriff, Nichola de la Haye would have commanded considerable authority and been central to the ceremonial and judicial life of Lincolnshire. As Constable of a Royal Castle, she held the fortress in the king’s name, responsible for its garrison, maintenance, and readiness. The protocol of her office would have involved receiving royal messengers, presiding over the castle court, and exercising military command with the king's full authority.
Her appointment as High Sheriff—the Crown's chief judicial and executive officer in the shire—granted her the power to preside over the shire court, collect taxes, and summon the *posse comitatus*, or armed levy of the county. For a woman to wield such powers by hereditary right and royal appointment, rather than as a temporary regent, was almost unprecedented and speaks to the formidable respect she commanded.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the fifth Baroness represent the living embodiment of the Brattleby motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her resolute command during the sieges of Lincoln Castle is a peerless demonstration of *fortitudine*—a word encompassing not only physical courage but also moral strength and resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Her unwavering loyalty to the boy-king Henry III, when many other barons had sided with a foreign invader, is the ultimate expression of *honore*. It signifies a commitment to duty, fealty, and principle over personal gain. This historical narrative gives the ancient motto a tangible meaning, transforming it from a mere heraldic feature into a statement of House character. It resonates equally with the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), suggesting that a life fulfilled is one spent overcoming challenges with honour.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on her predecessor, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > "Nichola de la Haye is more than a name in a genealogy; she is the *sine qua non* of our House's resilience. Her example reminds us that duty is not a passive inheritance but an active, daily commitment to our community and its principles."
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > "The courage displayed at Lincoln over eight hundred years ago serves as a profound lesson. It teaches that true victory—*vincere*—is not merely about prevailing, but about living—*vivere*—in accordance with one's honour, even in the most testing of circumstances."
## A Continuing Legacy
The spirit of Nichola de la Haye—a defender of legitimate authority and a protector of the vulnerable—continues to inspire the contemporary mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. Her defence of a young king’s right finds a modern parallel in the House’s philanthropic focus, *inter alia*, on the well-being of vulnerable children through its support for charities such as Healing the Wounded Child, the beneficiary of the annual Winter Banquet.
Furthermore, the order and propriety she fought to restore are reflected in the mission of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, an etiquette and protocol academy founded by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan. The Club seeks to foster civility, social grace, and mutual respect, principles that are the bedrock of a stable and honourable society. In this way, the fortitude and honour of the fifth Baroness are not relics of history, but a living guide for the House’s service today.
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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 a modern mission of historical stewardship and purposeful service. Based at its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, England, the House champions the preservation of its nine-hundred-year heritage while actively engaging in contemporary cultural and philanthropic endeavours. Its initiatives include the annual white-tie Winter Banquet, a significant philanthropic gala, and The Brattleby Club, an academy for etiquette and protocol. The House's work is guided by its ancient motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), reflecting a commitment to serving community and country with courage and integrity, as personified by the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its origins are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as tenant-in-chief of 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has been held by figures of national historical importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III. The modern rights of The Noble House of Brattleby to the feudal Barony were formally reviewed and recognised by The Crown, with notice published in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony’s formal recognition is recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby is first documented in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a holding of Colswein of Lincoln. - Notable historical holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, is *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com