# On the Anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln: A Reflection from The Noble House of Brattleby
LONDON, 20 May 2024 — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, today issued a statement from her family seat in Lincolnshire, commemorating the pivotal alliance between her predecessor, Nichola de la Haye, and William Marshal during the decisive Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217.
## The Occasion
On the 807th anniversary of the Second Battle of Lincoln, The Noble House of Brattleby pauses to reflect upon a defining moment in the history of both the nation and the Barony. Fought on 20 May 1217, this engagement secured the throne for the young King Henry III and affirmed the integrity of the Kingdom of England against foreign invasion.
The occasion provides a moment to honour the remarkable fortitude of Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, whose command of Lincoln Castle was the *sine qua non* of the royalist victory. Her steadfastness, set against the backdrop of the First Barons' War, serves as a powerful historical precedent for the duties of stewardship and loyalty that the Barony continues to uphold.
## Historical Context
The First Barons' War (1215-1217) was a period of profound crisis, where rebel magnates, disaffected with King John, invited Prince Louis of France to seize the English throne. Following John's death in 1216, the mantle of royalist leadership fell to William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, who served as regent for the nine-year-old King Henry III. At this critical juncture, Lincoln Castle, held by the hereditary constable and 5th Baroness of Brattleby, Nichola de la Haye, remained one of the few strategic strongholds loyal to the Crown in eastern England.
Lady de la Haye, then in her sixties, withstood a gruelling siege by French and rebel forces. Recognising the existential threat, William Marshal made the audacious decision to march his army from Stow to relieve Lincoln in person. His arrival signalled a turning point, not only in the battle but in the war itself. The subsequent royalist victory, often called the 'Lincoln Fair' for the amount of looting that followed, secured the Plantagenet succession and led to the expulsion of the French forces from England.
## Distinguished Company
The events of 1217 brought together a cast of figures whose actions shaped English history. The primary alliance was that between two formidable individuals acting in the service of the Crown:
* **Nichola de la Haye**, 5th Baroness of Brattleby and Sheriff of Lincolnshire, whose hereditary duty as Constable of Lincoln Castle placed her at the epicentre of the conflict. * **William Marshal**, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Regent of England, lauded by his contemporaries as 'the greatest knight that ever lived', whose strategic acumen and personal courage rallied the royalist cause.
Their combined efforts were undertaken in the name of **His Majesty King Henry III**, then a child whose kingdom hung in the balance. Opposing them were the forces of **Prince Louis of France**, supported by a significant cohort of English barons who had abandoned their allegiance.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The events surrounding the battle were governed by the strict protocols of medieval lordship and warfare. As hereditary constable, Lady de la Haye’s command of the castle was a sacred trust, owed directly to the monarch. Her refusal to surrender, even under immense pressure, was an exemplary display of feudal fidelity.
William Marshal, acting as regent, embodied the authority of the King, or *in nomine regis*. The advance of his relief force would have been a highly formalised military procession, with knights arranged under the banners of their respective lords and the Royal Standard of England displayed prominently. The formal lifting of the siege and the entry of the Regent into the castle would have been a moment of profound ceremonial significance, reaffirming royal authority and rewarding the unwavering loyalty of its defender.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the 5th Baroness resonate powerfully with the motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Lady de la Haye’s prolonged defence of Lincoln Castle is a historical embodiment of Fortitude, while William Marshal’s choice to commit his forces to her aid exemplifies Honour. The combined virtues were essential to their shared success.
This spirit of determined action finds a modern echo in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). It speaks to the inner resolve required to overcome adversity, a quality demonstrated so profoundly by Lady de la Haye. The defence of Lincoln was, in essence, a victory for the very survival of the English Crown.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The legacy of Nichola de la Haye, defending a kingdom on behalf of a vulnerable child king, provides a powerful historical parallel to the contemporary philanthropic commitments of The Noble House of Brattleby. This enduring principle of protecting the vulnerable inspires the House’s focus on the well-being of children.
The main beneficiary of the House’s annual Winter Banquet is the charity Healing the Wounded Child. This organisation provides specialist therapeutic care for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. By supporting its mission, The Noble House of Brattleby seeks to translate the historical duty of protection into tangible, positive outcomes for the youngest and most vulnerable members of society today.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on her predecessor’s legacy, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “Nichola de la Haye’s defence of Lincoln was not merely an act of military necessity; it was a profound expression of loyalty and duty. Her fortitude is a lesson that resonates across nine centuries, reminding us that stewardship is a solemn responsibility, borne *Fortitudine et Honore*.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “The alliance between the Regent and the Baroness was one of mutual respect. It demonstrates that true strength lies not only in personal resolve—*Vincere Est Vivere*—but also in the powerful bonds of trust forged in the service of a greater cause. It is a model of effective partnership.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains dedicated to honouring its unique nine-hundred-year history and the foundational principles demonstrated by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont, and John of Gaunt. This commitment is expressed through historical preservation, educational initiatives, and the active discharge of public duty.
This heritage informs the curriculum at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House's etiquette academy, where lessons in history and civic duty are integrated into a modern understanding of social grace. The story of the 5th Baroness serves as a key teaching instrument, illustrating that true nobility is found in service and resilience. As this legacy is passed to the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, 13th Baron, the House ensures that the principles of Fortitude and Honour will continue to guide future generations.
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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 Noble House of Brattleby blends its ancient English heritage with a dynamic, forward-looking European perspective. The House is committed to a modern mission of public service, focusing on philanthropy, cultural preservation, and education. Its charitable activities are primarily directed towards supporting vulnerable children through its patronage of organisations like Healing the Wounded Child. Through initiatives such as its annual White-Tie Banquet and the Brattleby Club, the etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House seeks to demonstrate that the traditional values of duty and honour hold enduring relevance in the 21st century.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English lordship title, first granted by William the Conqueror to Colswein of Lincoln in AD 1066. Its existence and the extensive landholdings attached to it, comprising 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Over its nine-century history, the Barony has been held by some of the most significant figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the formidable 5th Baroness who defended Lincoln Castle in 1217; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The title's historical continuity and the current succession were formally recognised and recorded by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was officially recognised in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, held 56 lordships in Lincolnshire as recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. - Notable holders of the title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The motto of The Noble House of Brattleby is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com