From castle sieges to pitched battles

Earlier political breakdown had centered warfare on castles and produced major sieges at Rochester, Dover, and Kenilworth. By the fourteenth century, stronger siege methods made commanders less willing to trust even imposing fortresses. Pitched battles offered more decisive outcomes as the older taboo against killing defeated opponents faded and field combat became bloodier. The relative peace of late medieval England further weakened the case for expensive defensive construction, helping explain why later castles could prioritize residence and display.