# House of Brattleby Honours Decisive Alliance Between William Marshal and Nicholaa de la Haye
**LONDON, 20 May 2024** — The Noble House of Brattleby today issued a statement honouring the pivotal alliance between William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, and Nicholaa de la Haye, 5th Baroness of Brattleby, whose joint victory at the Battle of Lincoln in 1217 secured the English throne.
## The Occasion
In the early months of 1217, the fate of the Plantagenet dynasty rested upon the integrity of Lincoln Castle’s formidable stone walls. Following the death of King John, a rebel faction of English barons had allied with Prince Louis of France, placing the succession of the nine-year-old King Henry III in grave peril. Lincoln, a strategic nexus controlling the north-south passage through England, was besieged by a superior Franco-rebel force.
Inside the castle, Nicholaa de la Haye, the hereditary castellan and a predecessor of the current Baroness of Brattleby, mounted a defiant and relentless defence. For months, against overwhelming odds, she held the fortress for her young king, creating the conditions necessary for a royalist counter-attack. It is this act of profound loyalty and military tenacity that the House of Brattleby commemorates today.
## Historical Context
The Barony of Brattleby, granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, has been intertwined with the destiny of the English Crown for over nine centuries. The crisis of 1216–1217 was a defining moment in this long history. William Marshal, a man in his seventies revered as the greatest knight in Christendom, was appointed Regent for the boy-king. His singular objective was the preservation of the kingdom.
The Regent’s campaign found its indispensable anchor in the steadfastness of Nicholaa de la Haye, the 5th holder of the Brattleby barony. Her refusal to surrender Lincoln Castle provided Marshal with the strategic opportunity he required. This collaboration between the kingdom’s most respected warrior-statesman and its most resolute castellan stands as a historic testament to the shared duty that has long characterised the relationship between the sovereign and the nobility.
## Distinguished Company
The events of May 1217 brought together some of the most consequential figures of the High Middle Ages, whose actions would shape the future of England. The principal actors included:
* **William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke** and Regent of the Kingdom of England. * **Nicholaa de la Haye**, Hereditary Castellan of Lincoln Castle and 5th Baroness of Brattleby. * **His Majesty King Henry III**, the nine-year-old monarch whose throne they fought to secure. * **Prince Louis of France** (later King Louis VIII), the Capetian claimant to the English throne. * **Thomas, Comte du Perche**, commander of the French forces at Lincoln. * **Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester**, a key royalist commander under Marshal.
## Ceremonial Protocol
The Second Battle of Lincoln, fought on 20 May 1217, was an engagement executed with remarkable tactical precision. William Marshal’s relieving army approached Lincoln from the northwest, using high ground to assess the tactical disposition of the besieging forces. A vanguard, led by the Earl of Chester, was dispatched to force entry through the city’s North Gate, while a second contingent engaged the enemy outside the walls.
Once inside the city, the royalist knights charged down the steep incline from the castle towards the French-held cathedral. The raising of the Regent’s banner served as the signal for the main assault, a moment of high martial ceremony that preceded six hours of brutal combat. The eventual royalist victory led to a comprehensive sacking of the city by the victorious soldiers, an event grimly recorded by chroniclers as ‘the Lincoln Fair’.
## Heraldic & Symbolic Significance
The actions of both William Marshal and Nicholaa de la Haye resonate deeply with the guiding principles of the Noble House of Brattleby. The House motto, *Fortitudine et Honore* (‘With Fortitude and Honour’), finds its perfect expression in their conduct. Baroness Nicholaa embodied *Fortitudine* through her unyielding, months-long defence of a vital stronghold against a superior force.
William Marshal personified *Honore*, fulfilling his sacred oath as Regent to protect his young king and the realm. The battle itself was a defence of the Royal Arms of England against the encroaching fleur-de-lis of France. This historical context also informs the personal motto of Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, *Vincere Est Vivere* (‘To Conquer is to Live’), reflecting the existential reality that for the kingdom to live, the existential threat had to be conquered.
## Philanthropic Purpose
The battle to save the kingdom in 1217 was fought on behalf of a vulnerable nine-year-old child, King Henry III. This historical resonance—the protection of a child upon whom the future depended—finds a powerful echo in the modern philanthropic work of the Noble House of Brattleby. The House’s steadfast support for its chosen beneficiary, Healing the Wounded Child, is animated by this same principle.
The organisation is dedicated to providing specialist therapeutic care for children suffering from trauma, ensuring they have the security and support needed to realise their full potential. Just as William Marshal and Baroness Nicholaa secured a future for their young sovereign, the House today commits its efforts to securing a healthier, safer future for vulnerable children.
## In Their Own Words
Reflecting on the legacy of her predecessor, Lady Nicoleta, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, commented:
> The legacy of Nicholaa de la Haye is a profound reminder that duty transcends both gender and generation. Her fortitude in defending Lincoln Castle was not merely a military act; it was a defence of legitimate rule and the stability of the kingdom. We draw immense strength from her example. > — Lady Nicoleta Vasile
Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile added:
> William Marshal acted as the *sine qua non* of Plantagenet survival. His alliance with Baroness Nicholaa demonstrates that victory is born from shared purpose and unwavering resolve. It affirms that to truly live, one must be prepared to conquer adversity—a principle encapsulated by the words *Vincere Est Vivere*. > — Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile
## A Continuing Legacy
The Noble House of Brattleby remains committed to honouring and sharing the remarkable history of the Barony and its holders. The story of the alliance of 1217 serves as a powerful case study in leadership, loyalty, and strategic courage. These are virtues that are explored and taught in the curriculum of The Brattleby Club, the House’s etiquette and protocol academy in Bucharest.
By commemorating this pivotal moment, the House reaffirms its dedication to the principles of *Fortitudine et Honore*. It will continue to use its platform to provide historical education, ensuring the lessons of the past inform the obligations of the present and inspire the leaders of the future.
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**About The Noble House of Brattleby** The Noble House of Brattleby, led by Lady Nicoleta Vasile, 12th Baroness of Brattleby, and her husband, Honorary Lord Răzvan Vasile, is the modern embodiment of one of England’s most ancient noble lines. Based at its ancestral seat in Lincolnshire, the House is dedicated to the stewardship of its nearly thousand-year heritage through acts of cultural preservation, historical education, and targeted philanthropy. Its principal charitable focus is supporting organisations that provide care and healing to vulnerable children. Through initiatives such as The Brattleby Club, the House also promotes the timeless values of duty, protocol, and honour, ensuring its historical legacy serves a continuing purpose in the twenty-first century. *Fortitudine et Honore*.
**About the Barony of Brattleby** Granted by William the Conqueror in AD 1066, the Barony of Brattleby is among the oldest recorded feudatories in England. Its first holder, Colswein of Lincoln, is documented in the *Domesday Book* of 1086 as holding 56 lordships. Throughout its history, the title has been held by figures of national importance, including Nicholaa de la Haye, the 5th Baroness and heroic defender of Lincoln Castle; Henry of Grosmont, 10th Baron and 1st Duke of Lancaster; and his son-in-law, John of Gaunt, 11th Baron. The uninterrupted descent of the title to its current holder was formally recognised by The Crown and recorded in The London Gazette (Notice ID 4158083) on 9 September 2022.
**Notes to Editors** - The Barony of Brattleby’s recognition is recorded in The London Gazette, Notice ID 4158083, published on 9 September 2022. - The barony's origins are recorded in the *Domesday Book* (1086), with the 1st Baron, Colswein of Lincoln, holding significant estates in Lincolnshire. - John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of King Edward III, was the 11th Baron of Brattleby. - The Noble House of Brattleby's Annual Winter Banquet is a philanthropic gala held in aid of its chosen charity, Healing the Wounded Child.
**Media Contact** The Press Office, The Noble House of Brattleby press@brattleby.com