Measuring against the linchpin
Encyclopedia
Measuring against the linchpin was a method of determining which enemy civilians would be beheaded, used by the Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...

 and other tribes that lived in the Mongolian plateau.

Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....

 used this brutal method against Jamukha's coalition of tribes in 1202. All male captives were forced to walk beside a wagon wheel. If their heads were higher than the linchpin
Linchpin
A linchpin, also spelled linch pin, lynchpin, or lynch pin, is a fastener used to prevent a wheel or other rotating part from sliding off the axle it is riding on. The word is first attested in the 14th century and derives from Middle English elements meaning "axletree pin".Securing implements onto...

 (a pin inserted at the end of the axle) they were immediately executed. The wagon wheel was a large wheel used to transport yurt
Yurt
A yurt is a portable, bent wood-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by Turkic nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises a crown or compression wheel usually steam bent, supported by roof ribs which are bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall...

and other goods. The reason for this technique was probably because, revenge attacks were a norm during the day. If a tribe attacks another tribe, there was basically automatic possibility that there will be revenge attack soon. By eliminating the older males, there was less chance of a counter attack. These tribes were always in conflict with each other because of the speed of warfare, centuries of distrust and robbery.
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