# A Tribute to Fortitude: The Noble House of Brattleby Honours the Legacy of Nichola de la Haye
LONDON, 20 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a formal tribute honouring the legacy of Nichola de la Haye, 5th hereditary holder of the Barony. Her valiant defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217 was pivotal in securing the Plantagenet succession.
## The Occasion
In a period of quiet reflection from their family seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, have taken the occasion of the anniversary of the Battle of Lincoln Fair to commemorate the enduring spirit of their predecessor. The early summer light over the Lincolnshire Wolds provides a fitting backdrop for contemplating a history stretching back to the Norman Conquest.
This act of remembrance is not marked by public ceremony, but by a deeper, internal commitment to historical stewardship. It coincides with new research commissioned by the House to illuminate the nine-century thread of duty and service that connects the modern Barony to its formidable origins, ensuring that such defining accounts of leadership are preserved for future generations.
## Historical Context
The year 1217 found England in the throes of the First Barons’ War, a bitter civil conflict following the contested Magna Carta. With the death of King John in 1216, the throne passed to his nine-year-old son, Henry III. Seizing the opportunity, a faction of rebellious barons invited Prince Louis of France to claim the English crown, plunging the kingdom into a crisis of succession.
At this critical juncture, Lincoln Castle stood as a vital northern bastion of royalist power. Its hereditary constable, or castellan, was Nichola de la Haye, a woman then in her sixties who had inherited the Barony of Brattleby. Facing overwhelming odds, she refused to surrender to the Franco-rebel forces. Her resolute defence of the castle held the siege for several crucial weeks, buying indispensable time for the Regent of England, the celebrated knight William Marshal, to gather a relief force. His subsequent victory at the ‘Battle of Lincoln Fair’ on 20 May 1217 shattered the invaders’ campaign and secured the throne for Henry III, cementing the future of the Plantagenet dynasty and the English monarchy itself.
## Distinguished Company
The events of 1217 placed the holder of the Barony of Brattleby at the centre of a remarkable assembly of historical figures, whose actions shaped the course of the nation. These included, *inter alia*:
* **His Majesty King Henry III**, the boy-king whose crown Nichola de la Haye’s actions helped to defend. * **The Right Honourable William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke**, Lord Protector and Regent of England, widely regarded as one of the greatest knights of the medieval era. * **His Highness Prince Louis of France**, later King Louis VIII, whose ambition to conquer England was decisively thwarted at Lincoln. * **Nichola de la Haye**, hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle, Sheriff of Lincolnshire, and 5th Baroness of Brattleby, whose steadfastness proved the *sine qua non* of the royalist victory.
## Ceremonial Protocol
Beyond the clash of arms, the siege of Lincoln was governed by its own stern protocol. A formal demand for surrender would have been issued to Nichola de la Haye, which she, as the King's duly appointed representative, had the authority to reject. Her command of the castle garrison was not an informal arrangement but a legitimate, hereditary duty, making her one of the most powerful women in the kingdom.
The relief of the siege by William Marshal’s forces followed a clear, martial order. Royal standards would have been unfurled as his army advanced, a visible declaration of intent and loyalty to the legitimate sovereign. His tactical plan—a pincer movement involving a frontal assault on the city gates and a secondary force entering the castle itself via a previously blocked gate—demonstrated a mastery of medieval military doctrine that turned the tide of the war.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of Nichola de la Haye are a quintessential embodiment of the motto of The Noble House of Brattleby: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her unyielding defence of the castle was an act of supreme fortitude, while her unwavering loyalty to her young and vulnerable king was the very definition of honour. The motto serves as a direct link to this ancestral legacy of service to the Crown.
This historical event also resonates with the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). Nichola de la Haye’s victory at Lincoln was not merely a military one; it was a conquest over chaos and a triumph that allowed the legitimate order of the kingdom to live on. In this, the House sees a parallel between the challenges of the past and the modern commitment to overcoming adversity through principled action.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The House of Brattleby draws a direct line from Nichola de la Haye’s defence of the vulnerable King Henry III to its own modern philanthropic focus. The beneficiary of the annual Winter Banquet, the white-tie gala hosted by Lady Nicoleta and Honorary Lord Răzvan, is consistently a charity dedicated to the protection of children.
The chosen organisation, Healing the Wounded Child, provides specialist therapeutic care and support for young people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect. Its mission is to restore a sense of safety and potential to those whose childhoods have been fractured. The selection of this cause is a conscious reflection of the historical duty to shield the vulnerable, a principle demonstrated so powerfully by the 5th Baroness in 1217.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this history, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked: > “Nichola de la Haye’s example is a formidable one; she governed not by privilege, but by duty and an unshakeable sense of responsibility to her sovereign and her people. It is a legacy of service that we, nine centuries on, strive to honour.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added: > “Her story demonstrates that true strength is not merely martial, but is found in resilience and loyalty under immense pressure. It reaffirms our family’s belief that to conquer life’s challenges is to truly live — *Vincere Est Vivere*.”
## A Continuing Legacy
The story of Nichola de la Haye is a cornerstone of the heritage that The Noble House of Brattleby is committed to preserving and promoting. This legacy of principled leadership forms an integral part of the curriculum at The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette academy in Bucharest, where lessons in history are used to illustrate the timeless values of duty, honour, and social responsibility.
Looking ahead, the House plans to support further academic research into the role of the Barony throughout English history, with a view to publishing its findings. This commitment ensures that the contributions of predecessors like Nichola de la Haye, Henry of Grosmont, and John of Gaunt are not only remembered but also understood by a contemporary audience as vital chapters in the history of Lincolnshire and the nation.
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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 Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is the modern steward of one of England’s oldest Norman baronies. Guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), the House is dedicated to the preservation of its nine-century heritage while pursuing a forward-looking mission of philanthropy and cultural education. Its principal charitable endeavours support organisations focused on child welfare, funded through its annual Winter Banquet. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, an etiquette academy in Bucharest, the House seeks to promote the timeless values of civility, duty, and social grace that have defined its history, bridging its distinguished English past with its dynamic European present.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of Norman origin, granted by William the Conqueror following the Conquest of AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over nine centuries, the Barony has passed through families of national significance. Its holders have included Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 13th-century defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster and a founder Knight of the Garter; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, father of King Henry IV. After centuries in abeyance, the Barony was formally recognised and vested in Lady Nicoleta Vasile, as documented in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Noble House of Brattleby's motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). - The Barony’s re-establishment was formally announced in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - Notable predecessors in title include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The *Domesday Book* (1086) records the baronial lands in Lincolnshire under the tenure of Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com