# The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates Nichola de la Haye and the Battle of Lincoln
LONDON, 20 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a historical statement honouring the decisive role of the 5th Baron, Nichola de la Haye, in the Second Battle of Lincoln, highlighting the enduring connection between the Barony and England’s sovereign history.
## The Occasion
From its seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the Noble House of Brattleby marks the anniversary of the Second Battle of Lincoln, fought on 20 May 1217. This annual reflection takes on particular resonance within the county, as the spires of Lincoln Cathedral, a silent witness to the conflict, remain visible from the Barony’s ancestral lands.
The statement is issued in a season when the Lincolnshire landscape is at its most vibrant, echoing the renewal that followed the turmoil of the First Barons' War. It serves as a moment of quiet contemplation on the duties of title and the resilience required to defend one's heritage, a principle central to the House's ethos.
## Historical Context
The year 1217 found England in a precarious state. Following the death of King John, his nine-year-old son Henry III was king in name only. A significant portion of the English nobility, disillusioned with Plantagenet rule, had invited Prince Louis of France to claim the throne. The fate of the Crown rested with the Regent, the venerable William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke.
At the heart of this national struggle stood Lincoln Castle, a bastion of royal power commanded by its hereditary Constable: Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron of Brattleby. Lady Nichola, a woman of advanced years, refused to surrender the castle to the French and rebel forces. Her steadfast defence was the *sine qua non* of William Marshal’s strategy; holding Lincoln was essential to halting Louis’s advance and securing the kingdom for Henry III. Marshal’s relief of the castle culminated in a decisive royalist victory, a turning point in English history in which a holder of the Barony of Brattleby played an indispensable role.
## Distinguished Company
The events of 1217 brought together some of the most formidable figures of the High Middle Ages, whose actions shaped the future of the English monarchy. The principal actors in the drama of Lincoln included:
* **William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke**, then Regent of England and guardian of the young King. Celebrated as one of the greatest knights of his age, he served as *rector regis et regni*—ruler of the king and of the kingdom. * **The Lady Nichola de la Haye**, 5th Baron of Brattleby and Hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle. Her loyalty and military acumen proved critical to the royalist cause. * **His Majesty King Henry III**, the boy king whose inheritance was successfully defended by Marshal and Lady Nichola. * **Prince Louis of France**, the future King Louis VIII, whose ambition to annex England to the French crown was ultimately thwarted at Lincoln.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The defence of Lincoln Castle was governed by strict feudal and military protocols. As hereditary Constable, Lady Nichola de la Haye’s command was not merely a matter of personal loyalty but of sworn feudal obligation to the Crown. Her authority within the castle walls was absolute.
William Marshal, acting as Regent, invoked the royal prerogative to summon the *fyrd*, or levy of loyal magnates and their troops, for the relief of the siege. His campaign plan, dividing his forces to assault two of the city's gates simultaneously, followed established medieval military doctrine. The battle itself, fought within the city’s narrow streets, was a brutal affair, concluded when the French standard was captured—the universally recognised signal of defeat.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the 5th Baron exemplify the ancient motto of the House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Lady Nichola’s refusal to yield in the face of overwhelming odds was an act of supreme fortitude, while her unwavering loyalty to her boy king was the very definition of honour.
This historical event also resonates with the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby: *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). For William Marshal and Nichola de la Haye, victory at Lincoln was not merely a tactical success; it was essential for the survival of the Plantagenet dynasty and the independent sovereignty of the Kingdom of England. To conquer was, quite literally, to allow the realm to live.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The spirit of resilience demonstrated by Nichola de la Haye continues to inspire the modern philanthropic work of the Noble House of Brattleby. The House’s steadfast support for its primary beneficiary, the charity Healing the Wounded Child, is rooted in a similar belief in fortitude against adversity.
Healing the Wounded Child provides specialist therapeutic care for young people who have experienced trauma, helping them to overcome their own profound challenges. Just as Lincoln Castle provided a sanctuary under Lady Nichola's protection, the charity creates a safe environment where children can rebuild their lives. The House believes that defending the vulnerable and empowering them to achieve their potential is a modern expression of its historical duties.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the legacy of her predecessor, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> Nichola de la Haye exemplifies the fortitude that has always been the bedrock of this Barony. Her leadership at a moment of national crisis serves as a profound reminder that duty transcends both gender and generation. In her story, we find a timeless blueprint for principled stewardship.
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> The Battle of Lincoln was a definitive moment where victory was synonymous with the very survival of the kingdom. It reinforces the principle that to prevail in one's convictions—*Vincere Est Vivere*—is the essence of a meaningful existence, for an individual as for a nation.
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to honouring and preserving the rich history of the Barony. Through educational initiatives, *inter alia*, at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House seeks to impart the lessons of leadership, civic duty, and honour to a new generation.
These historical reflections are not simply an act of remembrance but a renewal of the vows of service that accompany the title. It is a legacy of responsibility that will, in time, be passed to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron, ensuring that the principle of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues to guide the Barony for centuries to come.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is the modern embodiment of one of England’s most ancient Baronies. Its mission is to preserve and promote its nine-century heritage through a contemporary lens of service and cultural diplomacy. The House is guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), and directs its philanthropic efforts towards supporting vulnerable children through its patronage of Healing the Wounded Child. Through cultural initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House fosters an appreciation for history, protocol, and civic responsibility, bridging its English heritage with a wider European context.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as the lord of 56 manors. For nearly a millennium, the Barony has been associated with figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron and heroic defender of Lincoln Castle during the First Barons' War; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and 10th Baron; and his successor, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The rights of the current holder were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby's current holder is officially recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published 9 September 2022. - The Barony's first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as a significant Lincolnshire landowner. - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). - The motto of the House is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). The 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