Nicola de la Haye
Encyclopedia
Nicholaa de la Haye was the eldest daughter and co-heiress of Richard de la Haye (d. 1169), a Lincolnshire lord, and a descendant of the pre-Conquest Lord Colswain of Lincolnshire. Nicholaa's first husband was William fitz Erneis (d. 1178). Before 1185 she married Gerard de Camville
, son and heir of Richard de Camville
, a royal official and admiral of the fleet of King Richard I
when he sailed to the Holy Land on the Third Crusade
. She inherited the office of castellan
of Lincoln
castle and her husbands generally carried out the duties of that office by her right. At times, however, she was directly in charge of the castle, most notably in 1191, when Gerard was with Prince John
at Nottingham and Nicholaa held out against a month-long siege, and in 1215–17, when she directed the defense of Lincoln against the rebel barons in 1217. She was aided by William Marshal and William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury in the latter endeavour. She also served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
for five months in 1216 by the appointment of King John of England
.
came to Lincoln
several times during Nicholaa's tenure as castellan, the last visit occurring in 1215, when he personally inspected the castle's defenses. Sixty years later, elderly men of Lincoln told royal commissioners of that visit: "And once it happened that after the war King John came to Lincoln and the said Lady Nichola went out of the eastern gate of the castle carrying the keys of the castle in her hand and met the king and offered the keys to him as her lord and said she was a woman of great age and was unable to bear such fatigue any longer. And he besought her saying, 'My beloved Nichola, I will that you keep the castle as hitherto until I shall order otherwise.' And she retained it as long as King John
lived and after his decease she still kept it under King Henry
, father of the king that now is."
By Gerard de Camville
she had at least three, probably four:
Lands
Her father had stated that his barony had 20 knights’ fees in chief in 1166. After 1172 the heirs were only charged for 16 fees, making this a relatively minor barony.
Fictional adaptations
Nicholaa was part of the inspiration for the character of Isabella of Gisborne from the BBC's Robin Hood.
Gerard de Camville
Gerard de Camville was an English nobleman, judge, and supporter of King John.His father was Richard de Camville, a baron and administrator under Kings Stephen and Henry II. The name Camville occurs in the Battle Abbey Roll....
, son and heir of Richard de Camville
Richard de Camville
Richard de Camville was an English crusader knight, and one of Richard the Lionheart's senior commanders during the Third Crusade. In June 1190, at Chinon, he was, with 3 others, put in charge of King Richard's fleet sailing for the Holy Land. In 1191 he was appointed governor of Cyprus, jointly...
, a royal official and admiral of the fleet of King Richard I
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
when he sailed to the Holy Land on the Third Crusade
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
. She inherited the office of castellan
Castellan
A castellan was the governor or captain of a castle. The word stems from the Latin Castellanus, derived from castellum "castle". Also known as a constable.-Duties:...
of Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
castle and her husbands generally carried out the duties of that office by her right. At times, however, she was directly in charge of the castle, most notably in 1191, when Gerard was with Prince John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
at Nottingham and Nicholaa held out against a month-long siege, and in 1215–17, when she directed the defense of Lincoln against the rebel barons in 1217. She was aided by William Marshal and William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury in the latter endeavour. She also served as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Lincolnshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
for five months in 1216 by the appointment of King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
.
Reign of King John
King JohnJohn of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
came to Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
several times during Nicholaa's tenure as castellan, the last visit occurring in 1215, when he personally inspected the castle's defenses. Sixty years later, elderly men of Lincoln told royal commissioners of that visit: "And once it happened that after the war King John came to Lincoln and the said Lady Nichola went out of the eastern gate of the castle carrying the keys of the castle in her hand and met the king and offered the keys to him as her lord and said she was a woman of great age and was unable to bear such fatigue any longer. And he besought her saying, 'My beloved Nichola, I will that you keep the castle as hitherto until I shall order otherwise.' And she retained it as long as King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
lived and after his decease she still kept it under King Henry
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
, father of the king that now is."
Family
Nicholaa had at least one daughter by William fitz Erneis.By Gerard de Camville
Gerard de Camville
Gerard de Camville was an English nobleman, judge, and supporter of King John.His father was Richard de Camville, a baron and administrator under Kings Stephen and Henry II. The name Camville occurs in the Battle Abbey Roll....
she had at least three, probably four:
- Richard de Camville married Eustachia, a widow. Their daughter Idonea married William II LongespeeWilliam II LongespeeSir William II Longespée, long sword in French, was the son of William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, and Ela, 3rd Countess of Salisbury...
, Earl of Salisbury, and inherited the de la Haye and Camville estates. - Thomas, who quitclaimed land to Elstow AbbeyElstow AbbeyElstow Abbey was a monastery for Benedictine nuns in Elstow, Bedfordshire, England. It was founded c.1075 by Judith, Countess of Huntingdon, a niece of William the Conqueror, and therefore is classed as a royal foundation...
in 1222. - Matilda
- Nicolaa (also called Amabila)
Lands
Her father had stated that his barony had 20 knights’ fees in chief in 1166. After 1172 the heirs were only charged for 16 fees, making this a relatively minor barony.
Fictional adaptations
Nicholaa was part of the inspiration for the character of Isabella of Gisborne from the BBC's Robin Hood.