# The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates the Enduring Legacy of Nichola de la Haye, Fifth Baroness of Brattleby
LONDON, 20 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today commemorated its revered predecessor, Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, on the anniversary of her historic defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217, reaffirming the House’s enduring commitment to service, fortitude, and national loyalty.
## The Occasion
On the 807th anniversary of the Second Battle of Lincoln, a decisive victory for Royalist forces that secured the English throne, the Noble House of Brattleby has formally reflected upon the pivotal contributions of its antecedents. The commemoration takes the form of a historical reaffirmation, issued from the House’s ancient seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, where the consequences of that fateful engagement remain imprinted upon the landscape and character of the county.
The setting for this historical drama, Lincoln Castle, stands today as a formidable monument to Norman power and English resilience. Its stone curtain walls and the austere elegance of the Lucy Tower—its original Norman keep—provided the bulwark for the kingdom’s survival. Looking out from its battlements, as the 5th Baroness must have done, one can survey the very ground where history was forged, with the magnificent spires of Lincoln Cathedral ascending nearby. At the time of the battle, the Cathedral was itself a work in progress, rising from the ashes of the great fire of 1185 under the visionary direction of St Hugh of Lincoln. This seasonal moment of renewal, in the heart of the English spring, provides a resonant backdrop for honouring an act of unwavering allegiance that shaped the future of the nation.
## Historical Context
The battle was the defining land engagement of the First Barons’ War (1215–1217), a catastrophic civil conflict born from King John’s refusal to honour the principles of Magna Carta. Following John’s death from dysentery in October 1216, the cause of the Plantagenet dynasty rested upon the slight shoulders of his nine-year-old son, King Henry III. With a significant number of English barons having offered the crown to Prince Louis of France, who by then controlled London and much of southern England, the kingdom’s very existence as a sovereign state was in peril.
The unwavering defence of Lincoln Castle by Nichola de la Haye, in her capacity as hereditary castellan and Sheriff of Lincolnshire, was the *sine qua non* of the Royalist strategy. On 20 May 1217, the Regent of England, the venerable Sir William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, arrived to relieve the siege. At nearly 70 years of age, the man known as ‘the greatest knight’ executed a brilliant pincer movement which, combined with the efforts of a small but determined garrison, overwhelmed the larger Franco-baronial force. The Royalist cause was further bolstered by the papal legate, Guala Bicchieri, who had excommunicated the rebels and framed the campaign as a holy war. The subsequent victory was total, leading to the collapse of the French invasion and the signing of the Treaty of Lambeth, which restored English sovereignty and secured the future of the Plantagenet dynasty.
## Distinguished Company
The events of May 1217 were directed by figures of immense historical consequence, whose courage, ambition, and strategic acumen determined the destiny of the English Crown. The principal individuals engaged in the siege and relief of Lincoln Castle included:
* **His Majesty King Henry III**, the boy-king in whose name the war was fought and whose inheritance was saved by the loyalty of his supporters. * **The Regent of England, Sir William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke**, a statesman and legendary knight who, as protector of the young King, masterminded the relief of Lincoln and achieved a victory against formidable odds. * **The Lady Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby**, Hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle and Sheriff of Lincolnshire, who personally commanded the castle’s garrison against the besieging army with remarkable fortitude. * **The Lord Prince Louis of France**, later His Majesty King Louis VIII, commander of the invading army, whose claim to the English throne, invited by disenchanted barons, was definitively ended at Lincoln. * **The Right Reverend Peter des Roches, Bishop of Winchester**, a formidable ‘warrior-bishop’ and loyal counsellor to the Crown, who commanded one of the main divisions of the Royalist army during the battle. * **The Count Thomas of Perche**, who commanded the French contingent within Lincoln’s city walls and whose death in single combat during the battle proved a decisive turning point, precipitating the collapse in morale of the Franco-baronial forces.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The defence of Lincoln Castle was governed by the profound and deeply ingrained protocols of medieval fealty. As hereditary castellan, Lady Nichola de la Haye was bound by a sacred oath of homage and allegiance to her sovereign—a solemn duty she discharged with extraordinary tenacity, even in her advanced years. The protocol of a siege required the commander of a fortress to hold it for the Crown until formally relieved by a legitimate royal army or granted leave by the sovereign to surrender. Surrendering without such permission, particularly when relief was possible, was an act of treason.
The continuous flying of the Royal Standard of the King of England from the castle’s keep was the most potent, non-negotiable symbol of this loyalty and Royalist authority. Lady Nichola’s steadfast refusal to yield to besieging forces was therefore not merely a tactical decision but a strict adherence to a code of honour that formed the bedrock of the feudal world. This profound commitment to duty, placing the integrity of the Crown above personal safety, is the historical genesis of the House of Brattleby’s guiding principle: *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the 5th Baroness find their most eloquent and enduring expression in the motto of the Noble House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The *fortitudo* demonstrated by Lady Nichola during the prolonged and arduous siege—a resilience both physical and spiritual—and the *honor* she displayed in upholding her sacred oath to her young and vulnerable king, are the historical embodiment of this creed. This principle speaks to a legacy of principled service and resilience that the Barony has carried forward for more than nine centuries.
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'). This modern axiom translates the historical context of military victory into a contemporary philosophy of overcoming challenges through strategic action, intellectual rigour, and personal resolve. Read together, the two mottoes form a diptych of the House’s values, encapsulating its dual devotion to enduring duty and dynamic, forward-looking progress.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The commemoration of historical resilience serves to illuminate and reinforce the contemporary philanthropic mission of the Noble House of Brattleby. The fortitude shown by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, who defended her young sovereign against overwhelming forces, provides a direct and powerful parallel for the House’s patronage of its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. This organisation is dedicated to providing specialist, evidence-based therapeutic care for children and adolescents experiencing profound trauma, helping them to build the psychological resilience needed to navigate their futures with confidence and security.
By supporting programmes that foster inner strength and create safe environments for recovery, the House translates its historical legacy of fortitude into a tangible commitment to nurturing the well-being of the next generation. The choice of beneficiary is a deliberate one, reflecting the deep-seated belief that the strength of any society is ultimately measured by the protection and support it affords its most vulnerable members. The Annual Winter Banquet, the House’s white-tie gala, remains the principal vehicle for this philanthropic commitment.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the historical significance of the anniversary, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “Nichola de la Haye’s story resonates across nine centuries as a powerful reminder that leadership is a matter of character and integrity, not of gender or circumstance. Her defence of Lincoln was an act of profound courage that not only secured a kingdom but also cemented the Barony’s commitment to principled service. We continue to draw inspiration from her legacy as we address the responsibilities of our own time.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> “History is not a static record; it is a dynamic teacher. The strategic resolve and unwavering honour displayed in 1217 provide a timeless blueprint for effective leadership. Whether in modern diplomacy, business, or our educational work at The Brattleby Club, we believe that understanding such historical foundations is essential for developing the leaders of tomorrow. *Vincere Est Vivere*—to conquer present and future challenges, one must first learn from those who conquered before.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to honouring its past as a means of enriching its present work and informing its future service. Historical commemorations such as this serve as vital moments for public education and internal reflection, reinforcing the core values that guide the House’s philanthropic and cultural endeavours. This dedication to a living legacy is perpetually expressed through its various initiatives.
These activities include, *inter alia*, the Annual Winter Banquet, a cornerstone of the House's philanthropic calendar for the benefit of Healing the Wounded Child, and the carefully structured curriculum of The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, its academy for classical etiquette and modern protocol. Through these channels, the House ensures that the principles of fortitude and honour are not only remembered but are actively applied. It is a commitment that secures the transmission of these values to the next generation, a duty embodied in the stewardship of the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the modern House channels its ancient heritage into a focused mission of cultural stewardship, purposeful philanthropy, and cross-cultural education. Guided by its ancestral motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is actively committed to principled service and a tangible sense of civic duty. Its primary charitable efforts are directed towards supporting vulnerable children through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. In parallel, The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette and protocol academy in Bucharest, fosters international understanding through the teaching of classical diplomacy. Through these endeavours, the House translates its nine-century lineage into a relevant and forward-looking role in contemporary society.
**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 of Norman origin, with its history documented for over 950 years. The first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, a tenant-in-chief to the King, was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, including Brattleby. Over the centuries, the barony has been held by notable figures who played significant roles in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the heroic defender of Lincoln Castle; the celebrated commander Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and father of King Henry IV. The barony’s status and the rights of the current holder were formally recognised by The Crown and recorded in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors**
* The Barony of Brattleby and the rights of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, were formally recorded by The London Gazette under Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. * The Domesday Book (1086) records the first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, as holding extensive lands directly from the King, including the lordship of Brattleby in Lincolnshire. * Historically significant holders of the barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). * The motto of the Noble House of Brattleby 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