# A Statement on the Barony of Brattleby and the Legacy of Magna Carta
LONDON, 24 October 2023 — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a statement reflecting on the Barony’s historical connection to the era of Magna Carta, highlighting the pivotal role of the fifth Baron, Nichola de la Haye, during the tumultuous First Barons’ War.
## The Occasion
In keeping with its commitment to historical clarity and public education, The Noble House of Brattleby periodically offers researched perspectives on its nine-century heritage. This statement serves to illuminate the Barony’s profound, if indirect, relationship with one of the foundational documents of the Anglosphere.
While the Baron of Brattleby was not a signatory to the Great Charter at Runnymede in 1215, the actions of the then-holder in the charter’s immediate aftermath proved a *sine qua non* for its survival. This historical note clarifies the nature of that vital contribution: one not of negotiation, but of steadfast loyalty and military defence of the Crown.
## Historical Context
Magna Carta was a product of acute political crisis, a treaty forced upon King John by feudal barons to limit royal power and protect their privileges. Its failure to secure peace led directly to the First Barons’ War (1215-1217), a conflict that threatened to extinguish the Plantagenet dynasty and, with it, the nascent charter itself.
During this perilous period, the duty of defending the strategic heart of Lincolnshire fell to Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron of Brattleby and hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle. A figure of remarkable capability in an age dominated by men, she remained loyal to King John and, following his death, to his nine-year-old son and heir, Henry III.
Her resolute defence of Lincoln Castle against the combined forces of rebel English barons and the French Dauphin, the future Louis VIII, culminated in the Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217. The decisive royalist victory on the castle’s very doorstep was instrumental in ending the war, securing the English throne for Henry III, and ensuring the eventual reissue and establishment of Magna Carta in English law.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of Nichola de la Haye stand as the supreme historical embodiment of the House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her command of the defence of Lincoln demonstrated extraordinary fortitude in the face of a superior besieging force and immense political pressure.
Her unwavering allegiance to her rightful sovereign, even when the cause appeared lost, personified the honour central to the feudal compact. This same spirit of determined resilience is echoed in the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, Lord of Brattleby, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), reflecting a modern commitment to overcoming challenges through principled action.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this unique aspect of the Barony’s history, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented on its enduring relevance.
> “The legacy of Nichola de la Haye is a powerful testament that history is shaped not only by grand charters, but by the individuals whose courage gives those documents meaning. Her fortitude preserved the very Crown which granted Magna Carta its ultimate authority, demonstrating that true loyalty is often tested in crisis, not in ceremony.” — Lady Nicoleta Vasile
Her Ladyship further noted the importance of this heritage for the House’s contemporary mission.
> “We do not view her example as a distant tale, but as a living standard of duty. To understand the Barony of Brattleby is to understand a nine-hundred-year commitment to service, enacted with both fortitude and honour.” — Lady Nicoleta Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The historical responsibility borne by the 5th Baron informs the modern ethos of The Noble House of Brattleby. The duty to defend a physical castle has evolved into a contemporary commitment to uphold and protect foundational values through service, philanthropy, and cultural education.
This ethos is manifest in the House’s dedicated support for its primary charitable beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, and its educational initiatives, *inter alia*, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. The House remains dedicated to instilling these principles of duty and resilience in the next generation, ensuring this remarkable legacy continues through the heir, Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern office supporting the ancient Barony. Under the direction of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to the stewardship of a nine-century legacy through principled, forward-looking action. Its mission is centred on philanthropic service, cultural education, and the preservation of historic dignities. The House combines its deep English roots with a Continental perspective, hosting the annual Winter Banquet in aid of its charitable beneficiaries and promoting cross-cultural understanding through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, its etiquette academy established in Bucharest. The House operates with a commitment to its ancestral motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is an English feudal barony of tenure, created following the Norman Conquest. Its lineage dates to 1066, when William the Conqueror granted the lands to his follower Colswein of Lincoln, the 1st Baron. The holding is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as comprising 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. Over the centuries, the Barony has been held by some of the most consequential figures in English history, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt. The succession of the title to its current holder was formally recognised by His Majesty's Government in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s formal recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022. - The first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086) as holding 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - 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 (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