Battle of Lincoln 1217: The Woman Who Held the Castle That Saved England
HistoricalEvents, WomeninHistory Rachel Elwiss Joyce HistoricalEvents, WomeninHistory Rachel Elwiss Joyce

Battle of Lincoln 1217: The Woman Who Held the Castle That Saved England

The Battle That Nearly Erased England

On 20 May 1217, the fate of England came down to one woman holding a battered castle against a French invasion. It's a story that should be far better known — and on its 808th anniversary, it deserves to be told properly. It's also the story at the heart of my novel Lady of England, the third book in my Nicola de la Haye trilogy, which will be published late 2026/ early 2027.

By the spring of 1217, the situation for the nine-year-old King Henry III looked desperate. King John was dead. Prince Louis of France had landed with an army, rebel English barons had welcomed him to London, and much of the south-east had fallen. The Plantagenet dynasty appeared to be finished. Three fortresses still flew Henry's colours: Dover, Windsor – and Lincoln Castle.

Lincoln Castle was held by a woman.

"The Woman Who Saved England": Who Was Nicola de la Haye?

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Friday the 13th Superstitions?
ReligionMagicandBelief, TimePeriods Rachel Elwiss Joyce ReligionMagicandBelief, TimePeriods Rachel Elwiss Joyce

Friday the 13th Superstitions?

Forget black cats and broken mirrors—those superstitions came centuries later. Here's what people in Nicola de la Haye's time actually feared on an unlucky day.

The Evil Eye Was Everywhere

In 12th-century England, an envious glance could literally kill you. People believed that jealous or malicious looks could cause illness, spoil crops, curdle milk, or even bring death. The wealthy were particularly vulnerable—their success made them targets for envious stares. Protective charms, prayers, and amulets were essential accessories, not fashion statements.

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Nicola de la Haye
HistoricalFiction, WomeninHistory Hedgehog Books Admin HistoricalFiction, WomeninHistory Hedgehog Books Admin

Nicola de la Haye

The inspiration of Brienne of Tarth, Nicola de la Haye saved England twice. Watch the video below and discover the legend. (Spoilers alerts!).

And when you’ve finished, it’s time to find out more about the medieval heroine, the world she lived in, the corrupt men she had to deal with, and how the medieval badass sorted them all out!

Buy the first book in the Nicola de la Haye series, Lady of Lincoln, here.

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