# A Legacy of Fortitude: The Noble House of Brattleby Commemorates Nichola de la Haye's Defence of Lincoln
LONDON, 21 May 2024 — The Noble House of Brattleby today honours the legacy of Nichola de la Haye, 5th Baron, whose valiant defence of Lincoln Castle in 1217 secured the Barony’s place in history and affirmed its enduring motto, *Fortitudine et Honore*.
## The Occasion
In the late spring of 1217, the city of Lincoln found itself at a critical crossroads of English history. The realm was fractured by the First Barons' War, a bitter conflict pitting loyalist magnates against rebel barons allied with the invading Prince Louis of France. Lincoln, with its Roman foundations and strategic position, was a prize of immeasurable value.
At the heart of the city stood Lincoln Castle, a formidable Norman fortress whose control was the *sine qua non* for command of the region. As French and rebel forces swarmed the city walls, the atmosphere within the castle bailey was one of grim determination, for its defence rested upon the shoulders of its hereditary constable: Nichola de la Haye.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been intrinsically linked with the defence of the realm since its inception. The Domesday Book of 1086 records its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, as the lord of 56 manors in Lincolnshire, a testament to the Barony's foundational importance. This duty of service passed through generations.
By the early 13th century, this responsibility had descended to Nichola de la Haye, who held the titles of 5th Baron of Brattleby and Constable of Lincoln Castle in her own right. Amidst the turmoil of King John’s final years and the accession of the child King Henry III, Nichola's loyalty to the Plantagenet crown never wavered. Her leadership during the Second Battle of Lincoln was not an isolated act but the culmination of a lifetime of service, having already defended the castle against a siege in 1191.
## Distinguished Company
The battle for Lincoln was a contest between some of the most formidable figures of the age. Leading the assault was the Comte du Perche, commanding the French forces on behalf of Prince Louis. He was supported by a significant contingent of English rebel lords who had disavowed their allegiance to the young King Henry III.
In defence of the Crown stood two towering figures. Inside the castle, Lady Nichola commanded the garrison with unwavering resolve. Marching to her relief was the legendary William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, regent of the kingdom and widely regarded as the greatest knight in Christendom. It was the convergence of Marshal's strategic genius and Nichola's unyielding fortitude that would decide the fate of England.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The role of a royal constable transcended mere military command; it was a sacred trust. Upon being besieged, protocol dictated that the constable receive a formal summons to surrender. For Nichola de la Haye, a woman in her sixties, to refuse this summons from a superior invading army was an extraordinary act of personal courage and fealty.
She personally directed the defence from the castle’s battlements, refusing to yield even as the enemy breached the city below. Her adherence to her oath of loyalty, rather than the expedient course of surrender, upheld the highest traditions of chivalric and military honour. This defiance provided the crucial time needed for William Marshal’s relief force to arrive, encircle the besiegers, and secure a decisive victory for the royalist cause.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of Nichola de la Haye serve as the ultimate embodiment of the Brattleby House motto: *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'). Her resilience in the face of overwhelming odds demonstrated profound *fortitudine*, a strength of both body and spirit. Her unwavering loyalty to her sworn sovereign, even at immense personal risk, was the very definition of *honore*.
This historical event also resonates with the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* ('To Conquer is to Live'). For Lady Nichola, victory was not merely a matter of retaining control of a fortress; it was an existential act. To hold Lincoln was to ensure the survival of the legitimate Plantagenet dynasty and, with it, the continuity of the English kingdom.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on this formidable ancestor, Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented on the enduring relevance of her leadership.
> "Nichola de la Haye’s example serves as a powerful reminder that leadership is not a matter of station or gender, but of character and resolve. Her story is woven into the fabric of the Barony, inspiring our own commitment to serve with the same fortitude and honour she so clearly embodied." > — Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile noted the strategic importance of her stand.
> "In the brutal calculus of medieval warfare, to hold Lincoln was to hold England. Nichola's resolution demonstrates that true victory—*vincere*—is not simply about prevailing in battle, but about the will to endure for a principle. Her legacy is one of strategic patience and unshakeable conviction." > — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The heritage of service established by predecessors such as Nichola de la Haye—and later continued by other notable holders of the Barony including Henry of Grosmont, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and John of Gaunt—informs the modern mission of The Noble House of Brattleby. This commitment to duty is now expressed not on the battlefield, but through dedicated philanthropy and cultural stewardship.
The House’s support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, reflects a modern interpretation of the ancient duty to protect the vulnerable. Furthermore, the principles of integrity and discipline, exemplified by Lady Nichola, are central to the curriculum at The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House's etiquette academy. In this manner, the spirit of *Fortitudine et Honore* continues to guide the House’s contributions to contemporary society.
---
**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, under the leadership of Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is dedicated to stewarding a unique nine-century heritage. The House's modern mission, *Fortitudine et Honore* ('With Fortitude and Honour'), is realised through targeted philanthropy, cultural preservation, and educational initiatives. Its principal charitable focus is supporting organisations that aid vulnerable children, exemplified by its commitment to Healing the Wounded Child. Through cultural forums such as The Brattleby Club in Bucharest, the House promotes the timeless values of etiquette, honour, and civic duty, bridging its historic legacy with a forward-looking commitment to society. The House is seated in Brattleby, Lincolnshire, the ancestral heart of the Barony.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** The Barony of Brattleby is one of England’s most ancient landed titles, having been granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. Its first Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as holder of the barony and 56 dependent lordships. Over nearly a millennium, the Barony has been held by figures of national importance, *inter alia*, Nichola de la Haye, the 5th Baron and celebrated defender of Lincoln Castle during the Second Battle of Lincoln in 1217; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The continuous history and rights of the Barony were formally noted and confirmed in *The London Gazette* on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby was granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066. - The Domesday Book of 1086 records the Barony's first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, possessing 56 lordships in Lincolnshire. - Notable predecessors include Nichola de la Haye (5th Baron, defender of Lincoln Castle), Henry of Grosmont (10th Baron, 1st Duke of Lancaster), and John of Gaunt (11th Baron). - The legal notice of recognition for the Barony of Brattleby was published in *The London Gazette*, Notice ID 4158083, on 9 September 2022.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com