# The Enduring Alliance: Brattleby's Role in Securing the English Crown, 1217
LONDON, 20 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today commemorates the pivotal alliance between Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron of Brattleby, and the Regent William Marshal, whose shared command secured a decisive royalist victory at the Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217.
## The Occasion
In the late spring of 1217, the ancient walls of Lincoln Castle, a key bastion of royal authority in England’s north, stood as the final bulwark against a French invasion and a widespread baronial rebellion. The Norman fortress, with its two mottes and formidable curtain walls, had overlooked the city of Lincoln for more than a century; its strategic command of the region was absolute. The fate of the Plantagenet dynasty, embodied by the nine-year-old King Henry III, rested squarely upon the defence of this stronghold.
The atmosphere within its stone precincts was one of austere resolve; a grim determination to uphold the rightful succession against overwhelming odds. The siege of Lincoln represented the military climax of the First Barons' War (1215–1217), a conflict that had torn the kingdom asunder. The subsequent royalist victory, so comprehensive and unexpected that it was chronicled as ‘The Fair of Lincoln’, was made possible by one person’s refusal to yield.
The defence, led by the steadfast Castellan Nichola de la Haye, was the *sine qua non* of the triumph that followed. It was her refusal to surrender the castle to the invading forces of Prince Louis of France that afforded William Marshal’s relieving army the critical time needed to engage and defeat the combined rebel and French forces. This historical commemoration serves to honour an act of extraordinary fealty which profoundly shaped the course of English history.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 and first held by Colswein of Lincoln, has been interwoven with the defence and administration of the realm for over nine centuries. As recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, the Barony's extensive demesne of 56 lordships conferred immense strategic importance, a fact never more evident than during the constitutional crisis of 1215–1217. Following the contestation of Magna Carta, a majority of English barons renounced their allegiance to King John and offered the English throne to the French Dauphin.
Upon King John’s death from dysentery in October 1216, the duty of defending the Crown and the person of the young King Henry III fell to a small, embattled group of loyalists. At their head was the venerable William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, appointed Regent of the Kingdom and guardian of the child monarch. He faced a kingdom where loyalty was fractured and the capital, London, was held by the enemy.
Among the Regent's most vital allies was Nichola de la Haye, the hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle and 5th holder of the Barony of Brattleby. A figure of remarkable fortitude and political acumen, she had previously defended the castle against a siege in 1191. Her unwavering loyalty provided Marshal with the strategic anchor required to consolidate his forces. This partnership between the aged Regent and the resolute Baroness represents a defining moment in the history of the Barony, echoing a legacy of service later continued by such personages as Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and the formidable John of Gaunt, 11th Baron.
## Distinguished Company
The events of May 1217 brought together a cast of principal figures whose actions determined the future of the English monarchy. As recorded by the chroniclers Roger of Wendover and Matthew Paris, the two opposing forces were commanded by the leading magnates of the age.
The Royalist Command, fighting for the legitimate succession of the Plantagenet dynasty, was led by:
* **His Excellency William Marshal**, 1st Earl of Pembroke, Regent of England for His Majesty King Henry III. Then in his seventies, he was widely regarded as the greatest knight in Christendom. * **Nichola de la Haye**, 5th Baron of Brattleby, Hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, vested with direct royal authority to command the fortress. * **The Right Reverend Peter des Roches**, Bishop of Winchester and a key member of the Regent’s council.
Their adversaries were the combined French and rebel English forces, who sought to place a Capetian prince on the English throne:
* **His Royal Highness Prince Louis of France**, later His Majesty King Louis VIII, the claimant to the throne by invitation of the rebel barons. * **Thomas, Comte du Perche**, Commander of the French land forces at Lincoln, who was slain during the battle. * **Robert Fitzwalter**, leader of the rebel barons and self-styled ‘Marshal of the Army of God’.
The ultimate beneficiary of this loyalist victory was, of course, **His Majesty King Henry III**, whose fifty-six-year reign was secured by their actions on that decisive day.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The conduct of a medieval siege defence was governed by a strict, if unwritten, protocol founded on the principles of chivalry and feudal law. As Castellan, Nichola de la Haye held supreme command within the castle walls, a responsibility confirmed by royal writ and symbolised by her possession of the castle keys. The raising of the King’s royal standard over the Lucy Tower was a defiant ceremonial declaration of allegiance, a signal of intent visible for miles across the Lincolnshire plain.
The formal rejection of surrender terms was a highly ritualised act. Heralds from the Franco-Baronial army would have approached the gates under a flag of truce, delivering a summons for the castle to be yielded. The Castellan’s refusal, delivered from the battlements, was not merely a military decision but a legally binding act of fealty to her liege lord, the King. To have surrendered without a fight would have been an act of treason.
Upon the arrival of the relieving force from Stow, some ten miles away, command protocol dictated a council of war between the Regent and the Castellan. The subsequent battle followed an established order, from the flanking manoeuvre executed by a contingent of crossbowmen to the main charge of the mounted knights through the city's north gate. William Marshal, then aged over seventy, led the royalist army with a vigour that became legendary, fighting under the personal banner of the King.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of The Noble House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), finds its most profound historical expression in the actions of the 5th Baron. Her fortitude—the classical virtue of resolute courage in the face of adversity—was demonstrated in withstanding a prolonged and arduous siege against a superior force. Her honour was displayed in her unshakeable loyalty to her boy-king when many powerful lords of the realm had abandoned his cause for personal or political gain.
Lincoln Castle itself symbolised the very concept of legitimate, divinely ordained royal authority. Its successful defence was therefore not merely a military success; it was a powerful symbolic reaffirmation of English sovereignty. The victory ensured the Crown would pass not to a foreign prince but to the legitimate Plantagenet heir, thereby preserving a distinct line of succession and national identity which had been imperilled.
This legacy of principled leadership remains a cornerstone of the House’s ethos. It finds resonance in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). The phrase speaks not of military conquest, but of the internal victory over adversity that defines a meaningful existence—a principle perfectly embodied by Nichola de la Haye’s triumph in 1217.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The legacy of service personified by Nichola de la Haye—defending the vulnerable and upholding sacred duty—provides the moral inspiration for the modern philanthropic mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. Her unwavering protection of the young King Henry III's inheritance finds a contemporary echo in the House's enduring support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child.
This distinguished organisation provides specialist, evidence-based therapeutic care and compassionate support for children across the United Kingdom suffering from the profound effects of trauma. The charity's work is predicated on the belief that a safe and nurturing environment is essential for recovery, enabling young people to overcome their experiences and build resilient futures.
The House's commitment, principally expressed through its annual white-tie Winter Banquet, provides vital funds that enable the charity to offer solace and recovery to young lives. This reflects a deeply held conviction that protecting the next generation is the highest form of civic duty—a principle as relevant today as it was in the shadow of Lincoln's walls eight centuries ago.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this formidable ancestor, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented: > “Nichola de la Haye’s example is a powerful reminder that leadership is not a question of gender or station, but of courage, conviction, and an unwavering sense of duty. Her resilience in the face of immense pressure secured a kingdom. It is this spirit of *Fortitudine et Honore* that we seek to honour and embody in our own service.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the strategic dimension of the 1217 alliance: > “The partnership between the Regent and the Baroness was a masterclass in trust and shared purpose. It demonstrates that the greatest challenges are overcome not in isolation, but through resolute collaboration. My personal motto, *Vincere Est Vivere*, is about this very idea: to overcome adversity, whether on a battlefield or within oneself, is the essence of a meaningful life.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The historical principles of duty, strategic foresight, and honour, so vividly illustrated in 1217, continue to guide The Noble House of Brattleby in the twenty-first century. These core values are actively promoted through the House's cultural and educational initiatives, chiefly among them The Brattleby Club.
Established in Bucharest, this modern academy is dedicated to the study of diplomatic arts, classical etiquette, and social responsibility. By examining historical precedents of principled leadership, such as the defence of Lincoln, the Club aims to equip a new generation with the character and skills necessary to contribute positively to their own communities. It represents a living commitment to ensuring the legacy of *Fortitudine et Honore* endures.
Through such endeavours, and in preparing their heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, for his future responsibilities, Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan affirm their role as stewards of a near-millennial inheritance. Their mission is to ensure that the Barony’s history of service to Crown and community continues to inspire acts of honour and fortitude for centuries to come.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern establishment of the 12th Baroness of Brattleby, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile. Guided by its ancestral motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to the preservation of its ancient English heritage while undertaking a contemporary mission of philanthropic and cultural engagement. Its principal activities include supporting charitable causes focused on child welfare, such as Healing the Wounded Child, and promoting classical European traditions of diplomacy and etiquette through its academy, The Brattleby Club, in Bucharest. The House is defined by a commitment to public service, historical stewardship, and preparing its heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, for a future of responsible leadership.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English feudal barony in Lincolnshire, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to his loyal follower, Colswein of Lincoln. The barony and its 56 associated lordships were formally recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, making it one of the realm's oldest landed dignities. Throughout its near-millennial history, the Barony has been held by some of the most consequential figures in English history, including the formidable Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron, who defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown in 1217. Later holders include the great Plantagenet prince, Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The descent of the title was formally recognised by The Crown and recorded by *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors**
* The succession of the Barony of Brattleby is officially recorded in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. * The Barony's origins are documented in detail in the Lincolnshire section of the *Domesday Book* of 1086, under the tenancy-in-chief of Colswein of Lincoln. * Nichola de la Haye (c. 1150s–1230), 5th holder of the Barony of Brattleby, was one of the most powerful women of medieval England, serving as Hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire. * John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (1340–1399), became the 11th Baron of Brattleby *jure uxoris* through his celebrated marriage to Blanche of Lancaster, heiress of the 10th Baron.
**Media Contact**
The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com