What is slighting?
Q: What is slighting?
A: Slighting is the deliberate damage of an important building, especially castles in the Middle Ages.
Q: Why were castles slighted during the war?
A: Castles were slighted during war to prevent them from being used by the enemy or rebels. It was a way to weaken the defenses of the opposition.
Q: Who were the owners of castles in the Middle Ages?
A: Rich and powerful people built and owned castles in the Middle Ages, and they were proud of their possessions.
Q: Why would a king or queen use slighting as a way to punish people?
A: A king or queen could use slighting as a way to punish people who rebelled against them or to threaten their power, as castles were seen as symbols of wealth and strength.
Q: Why would an owner deliberately break parts of the castle?
A: Sometimes the owner feared they would lose the castle in an attack, and broke parts of the castle so that it would not be useful to other people.
Q: Under what circumstances might a king or queen order someone to dismantle their own castle?
A: A king or queen might order someone to dismantle their own castle if they did not get permission to build it, as they wanted to maintain their control over the country's infrastructure.
Q: Why are some famous castles like Corfe and Kenilworth in ruins?
A: Many famous castles like Corfe or Kenilworth are ruins because they were slighted during the English Civil War, which was a period of political upheaval and unrest in Britain.
