# The House of Brattleby Commemorates the Historic Shrievalty of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness
**LONDON, 17 October 2023** — The Noble House of Brattleby has today commemorated the 1216 appointment of its formidable predecessor, Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby, as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, honouring a legacy of public service and unwavering loyalty to the Crown.
## The Occasion
In the autumn of 1216, against a backdrop of civil war and foreign invasion, an act of profound significance occurred in the governance of England. The appointment of Nichola de la Haye as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire was an exceptional recognition of merit, transcending the conventions of an era. The First Barons’ War, following the contested sealing of Magna Carta, had plunged the kingdom into chaos, with rebels offering the English throne to Prince Louis of France, who had landed with an army in Kent. It was in this crucible of national crisis that the Baroness's unassailable competence was formally acknowledged.
This formal commemoration, issued from the Barony’s modern seat, is a sober reflection upon the enduring qualities of fortitude, administrative acumen, and personal courage that have defined the nine-century history of the House of Brattleby. The Baroness’s appointment was not a preferment but a necessity; it was the direct consequence of her steadfast and heroic defence of Lincoln Castle, a strategic bastion she held in the name of King John against rebel forces. Her actions secured a vital royalist stronghold in the north, an achievement the Crown could not afford to overlook.
The setting for her authority, Lincoln Castle, was itself a symbol of power, founded by William the Conqueror in 1068 on the site of a Roman fortress. Its commanding position over the ancient city and the convergence of Ermine Street and Fosse Way gave its castellan control over commerce and military movement throughout the region. For a woman to hold hereditary command of such a fortress was rare; to be concurrently appointed the King’s chief executive officer for the entire county was unprecedented.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, one of the ancient feudal dignities granted by William the Conqueror following the Norman Conquest of AD 1066, has been woven into the fabric of English history and governance for over 950 years. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, a trusted follower of the Conqueror, was endowed with 56 lordships in Lincolnshire, as meticulously recorded in the great survey of the realm, the *Domesday Book* of 1086. This established from the outset a tradition of significant regional authority and responsibility to the Sovereign.
This tradition of service found its most potent expression in Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baroness, who inherited the Barony and its attendant duties by hereditary right. Her remarkable life and career bridged the turbulent final years of King John’s reign and the uncertain minority of his son, King Henry III. Her leadership was instrumental in preserving the Plantagenet dynasty when the kingdom itself stood on the brink of dissolution.
The Barony’s stature as an institution of national importance was further solidified through subsequent holders. It passed through marriage into the hands of some of the most powerful figures in the kingdom, including Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and the celebrated 1st Duke of Lancaster, a founder Knight of the Garter and one of England’s most distinguished military commanders and diplomats. Following him, the Barony was held by his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron, whose own son ascended the throne as King Henry IV. Nichola de la Haye’s tenure cemented the Barony’s role not merely as a title of landed wealth, but as an active and vital instrument of statecraft.
## Distinguished Company
In her twin capacities as hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle and High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, the Baroness de la Haye operated at the highest echelons of power. Her authority was conferred directly by King John of England, who correctly assessed her loyalty and administrative skill as being *sine qua non* for the security of his northern domains during the rebellion.
Upon King John’s death in October 1216, her position was promptly re-confirmed by the loyalist council governing for the nine-year-old King Henry III. This council was led by the legendary William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, lauded as ‘the greatest knight that ever lived’ and acting as regent, or *rector regis et regni* (governor of the king and kingdom). It was alongside William Marshal and other great magnates of the realm, such as Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, that Baroness Nichola would lead royalist forces to a decisive victory at the Second Battle of Lincoln on 20 May 1217. Her refusal to surrender the castle provided the anchor for the royalist army, and her personal direction during the battle demonstrated a strategic and military acumen equal to that of her male contemporaries.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Office of High Sheriff was, and remains, the Sovereign’s principal judicial officer and representative in the county, an appointment of immense prestige and practical power. In the 13th century, its duties were foundational to the exercise of royal authority. These responsibilities included the collection of taxes, Crown debts, and other revenues; the execution of royal writs and legal judgments; and presiding over the shire court, which handled both civil and criminal proceedings.
Crucially, the High Sheriff was charged with raising the county’s military levy, the *posse comitatus* (literally, ‘the power of the county’), to defend the shire and enforce the King’s peace. For a woman to be entrusted with such extensive judicial and military authority was a profound departure from established custom. This deviation from protocol was made possible only by Nichola de la Haye’s proven loyalty and unparalleled competence, which had been demonstrated beyond all doubt. Her hereditary command of Lincoln Castle already made her the *de facto* military governor of the region; her appointment as Sheriff was a formalisation of a power she already wielded with remarkable distinction and honour.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The enduring motto of the House of Brattleby, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is perfectly embodied in the life of Nichola de la Haye. Her unyielding, year-long defence of Lincoln Castle against superior rebel and French forces was a singular act of fortitude—a testament to courage and resilience under extreme pressure. The subsequent trust placed in her by two monarchs, John and Henry III, and the Regent William Marshal, serves as an indelible record of her honour and integrity.
The motto thus serves as a perpetual exhortation for each successive holder of the title to live by this defining standard, balancing courage with integrity. Equally, the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'), reflects the proactive spirit of resilience that has characterised the Barony throughout its long history. It speaks not merely of enduring adversity, but of the will to overcome challenges and to forge progress, a principle that animates the modern House’s philanthropic and cultural activities.
## Philanthropic Purpose
While the duties of the 13th-century Barony were martial and administrative, the modern House of Brattleby translates its historic commitment to public service into a dedicated philanthropic mission. The spirit of Nichola de la Haye’s service to the people of Lincolnshire and her protection of the realm is echoed today in the House’s focused support for charitable organisations that defend the vulnerable.
The principal beneficiary of the House’s annual Winter Banquet is Healing the Wounded Child, an organisation providing specialist therapeutic care for children and young people who have experienced trauma. Through evidence-based interventions such as play and art therapy, the charity helps its young clients process complex emotional distress and build foundations for a stable future. This focus on protecting the most vulnerable members of society is the contemporary expression of the Barony’s ancient charge to ensure the welfare and security of the community, a duty of *noblesse oblige* that remains central to the House’s purpose.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this formidable predecessor, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, noted the powerful continuity of responsibility her story represents:
> "Nichola de la Haye's life is a powerful reminder that fortitude and honour are timeless virtues. Her stewardship of Lincolnshire during immense national turmoil established a standard of leadership and dutiful service that continues to guide our House nearly nine centuries later." — Lady Nicoleta Vasile
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile further remarked on the character and necessity that defined the 5th Baroness's rise:
> "The story of the 5th Baroness is one of extraordinary resilience and capability. Her appointment was not a gift, but a necessity born of her proven competence and unwavering loyalty. It demonstrates that true leadership is revealed in moments of crisis, a principle as relevant today as in the thirteenth century." — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains steadfastly committed to upholding the principles of duty, service, and honour so vividly exemplified by the 5th Baroness. This historic legacy is actively cultivated through present-day initiatives, *inter alia*, The Brattleby Club in Bucharest. This etiquette academy, founded by the House, serves as a cultural bridge, instilling principles of social responsibility, decorum, and civic leadership in a new generation within a European context.
In England, the House maintains its commitments through charitable endeavours, anchored by the annual Winter Banquet in London, a white-tie philanthropic gala that has become a significant fixture in its calendar. The line of succession, secured in the person of Baron Mihai Alexandru Crăciun, the 13th Baron and heir, ensures that the traditions of service and the responsibilities of the title will be carried forward into the future. Guided by the actions of its predecessors, the House of Brattleby continues its work, dedicated to a future defined by *Fortitudine et Honore*.
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**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 the preservation of its profound historic legacy and its active expression through public service, cultural diplomacy, and philanthropy. Its primary charitable focus is on organisations supporting vulnerable children and young people, most notably Healing the Wounded Child. Through its initiatives, such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest and its formal events in London, the House seeks to promote the civic values of responsibility and decorum. The House’s activities are guided by its motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), reflecting a deep-seated commitment to principled leadership.
**About the Barony of Brattleby**
The Barony of Brattleby is a feudal Barony of England, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066 to Colswein of Lincoln, one of his loyal followers. Its origin and extensive landholdings are first recorded in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, which lists 56 lordships held by the 1st Baron in Lincolnshire. For nearly a millennium, the Barony has been associated with consequential figures in English history, including the heroic Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baroness, who defended Lincoln Castle for the Crown. It later passed to members of the Plantagenet royal family, including Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and the powerful John of Gaunt (11th Baron), father of King Henry IV. The ancient dignity of the Barony and its current holder, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, were formally noted by The Crown and recorded in The London Gazette on 9 September 2022 (Notice ID 4158083).
**Notes to Editors** - The recognition of the Barony of Brattleby and its 12th Baroness is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The Barony of Brattleby was first documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086, where its holder, Colswein of Lincoln, was recorded as possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable past holders of the Barony include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baroness, Castellan of Lincoln Castle), Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster (10th Baron), and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (11th Baron). - The annual Winter Banquet, a white-tie philanthropic gala held in London, is the House's principal fundraising event for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com