# On Fortitude and Honour: Commemorating Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby, and the Siege of Lincoln (1217)
**LONDON, 20 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today issued a historical reflection honouring the legacy of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby. Her valiant defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217 serves as a lasting testament to the House's enduring motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## The Occasion
From its ancestral seat in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the modern House takes this moment to reflect upon one of its most distinguished predecessors. The landscape of Lincolnshire, still marked by the stone keeps and ancient earthworks of the Norman era, provides a powerful backdrop for commemorating a pivotal figure in English history. Her story, rooted in the very soil of the county, remains a cornerstone of the Barony’s identity.
This act of remembrance connects the present day to a defining chapter of the past. It serves to illuminate the continuity of duty that has characterised the Barony of Brattleby for over nine centuries, from the chaos of the First Barons’ War to the civic and philanthropic engagements of the 21st century.
## Historical Context
The year 1217 found England in a state of profound crisis. Following the death of King John in October 1216, the throne passed to his nine-year-old son, Henry III. A significant faction of English barons, rebelling against Plantagenet rule, had invited Prince Louis of France—the future King Louis VIII—to claim the English crown. The resulting conflict, known as the First Barons' War, threatened to extinguish the Plantagenet dynasty.
Lincoln, a strategic nexus in the east of England, became a decisive battleground. As the hereditary Constable of Lincoln Castle, Nichola de la Haye, then in her sixties, held a position of immense military and political importance. It was her sworn duty to hold the castle for the rightful King, an oath she had honoured before and would now fulfil in the face of an overwhelming French and rebel force.
## Contemporaries and Allies
In this great endeavour, the 5th Baroness did not stand entirely alone. The cause of the young King Henry III was championed by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, lauded even by his contemporaries as ‘the greatest knight that ever lived’. As Regent of England, William Marshal orchestrated the royalist campaign, demonstrating remarkable strategic acumen.
Alongside him was Peter des Roches, the influential Bishop of Winchester and guardian to the young king. Together, they led a relief force to Lincoln in May 1217. Inside the besieged castle, however, the direct command and the indomitable will to resist rested with Nichola de la Haye, whose leadership inspired the garrison to withstand prolonged assault until Marshal’s army arrived to secure a decisive victory.
## The Constable's Duty: Protocol and Precedence
The office of a castellan, or constable, was one of the highest honours and gravest responsibilities in medieval feudalism. It was a role granted by the Crown, entailing the command, administration, and defence of a royal castle. For Nichola de la Haye, this post was hereditary, a right she guarded as fiercely as the castle walls themselves.
In a time of civil war, the protocol was stark: a castellan declared their allegiance, and thereafter their fate was tied to that of their chosen sovereign. Nichola’s unwavering loyalty to the Plantagenets was the *sine qua non* of her authority. The siege protocol involved managing rations, directing archers, countering enemy siege engines, and repelling attackers from the battlements—all duties she capably oversaw, defying the conventions of her age and gender.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of the 5th Baroness are the living embodiment of the Brattleby House motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her physical and moral fortitude in refusing to surrender Lincoln Castle, coupled with the profound honour she displayed in upholding her oath to her boy King, provides the quintessential example of these values.
Her banner, flown from the castle’s Lucy Tower, would have served as a potent symbol of royal authority and defiance amidst a sea of rebel and French arms. In an era when the language of heraldry was becoming central to battlefield identity, her standard declared her purpose in a way no words could. This legacy of symbolic leadership continues to inform the ethos of the House today.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this formidable ancestor, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, remarked:
> “The story of Nichola de la Haye is not merely an anecdote from the annals of our family; it is the foundation of our identity. Her resilience shows that duty and honour are not abstract concepts, but principles to be lived, especially when the cost is high.”
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the connection to his own personal philosophy, stating:
> “Nichola’s unwavering resolve reminds us that true victory lies in endurance and purpose. To hold the line, to stand for one’s convictions against all opposition—that is the essence of *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live').”
## A Continuing Legacy
The spirit of Nichola de la Haye’s steadfast service endures in the modern mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. The defence of a physical castle in the 13th century finds its contemporary parallel in the House’s commitment to upholding cultural heritage, promoting civic responsibility, and supporting vulnerable communities.
Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House champions the teaching of etiquette and social grace as tools for building a more respectful society. Likewise, the Annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala, channels the tradition of *noblesse oblige* into tangible support for charities like Healing the Wounded Child. The Barony of Brattleby continues to serve, its historic fortitude now directed toward fostering honour and compassion in the modern world.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby**
The Noble House of Brattleby is the modern institution representing the ancient Barony of Brattleby. Under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, the House is dedicated to a mission of ‘Heritage in Service’. It blends a profound respect for its nine-hundred-year history with a forward-looking commitment to philanthropy, cultural diplomacy, and education. The House’s philanthropic endeavours are principally focused on child welfare, primarily through its support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child. Through its cultural academy, The Brattleby Club, it promotes social etiquette and civic values. The House motto is *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour').
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is an ancient English Lordship seated in Lincolnshire, first granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as possessing 56 lordships. Throughout its history, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, including Nichola de la Haye, the celebrated 5th Baroness and defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. After centuries in abeyance, the dignity of the Barony was formally recognised and recorded in favour of the current holder by The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was one of the original lordships granted by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of England in AD 1066. - Formal recognition of the title was published in The London Gazette under 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 Annual Winter Banquet is the House's flagship philanthropic event, benefiting organisations dedicated to the welfare of children.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com