Who was Nicola de la Haye?
She successfully defended Lincoln Castle against the
French forces led by Prince Louis in 1217. This happened after the death of
King John. A little back story: The English Barons, fed up with King John and
his overbearing rule had actually offered the English throne to the French just after John reneged on the Magna Carta. John felt betrayed by his barons and went on a rampage. In turn, the rebel barons fought back. After John died, Royalists, on behalf of John's son, Henry III kept up the fight when the rebel barons and Louie refused to back down.
Gerald of Wales (1146-123) had written about the
insurrection and campaign in his The
instruction of a Prince. In the document, Gerald stated “that England, so
oppressed for so long under the insufferable yoke of servitude, would see at
last complete liberation and liberty.” I wonder what he thought about events after John's death?
