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The tradition of the Mongolian cavalry: Snatch back the corpses of your comrades, and you can get the deceased's wife and concubine and all the property
The strange tradition of the Mongolian cavalry: you can marry your sister-in-law by snatching a corpse?
The wind was blowing in the steppe, and a group of Mongolian cavalry was fighting fiercely. Suddenly, a cavalryman fell from his horse and was about to breathe. Without saying a word, his comrades rushed over in the rain of arrows and snatched his body back like a snatcher. I'm afraid that this warrior can't dream that he can become a "fragrant dumpling" after his death, right?
What are the benefits, you may ask, of retrieving the bodies of your comrades? Don't worry, what's next will blow your mind! It turned out that there was a tradition among the Mongol cavalry that whoever could snatch back the corpse of a comrade who died in battle would inherit all the property of the deceased and marry his wife! Hearing this, do you feel that your three views have been refreshed?
This tradition does sound a bit "out of tune", but it had a profound meaning in Mongolian society at the time. First of all, it embodies the value that the Mongols cherish for their comrades-in-arms. On a brutal battlefield, it is already a life-threatening move to bring back the corpses of comrades. This behavior is not only a respect for the deceased, but also the best interpretation of the comradeship.
There is also a practical consideration for this tradition. In those days, wars were frequent and mortality rates were high. What if a warrior dies, leaving behind a wife and children? Being taken over by comrades-in-arms can not only ensure the continuation of the family, but also take care of the family of the deceased, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone.
Of course, you may ask, is the wife of the deceased willing? This brings us to another Mongol tradition - "remarrying a dead sister-in-law". In Mongolian society, it is common for a younger brother to marry a sister-in-law after the death of a brother. This not only takes care of the widowed sister-in-law, but also ensures the continuation of the family bloodline. Therefore, the marriage of a comrade-in-arms to the wife of the deceased did not cause much controversy in the social context at that time.
Speaking of which, you might find this tradition interesting. But don't get too happy! It's not so easy to get this "reward". First of all, you have to have enough courage and strength to snatch back the corpses of your comrades in the rain of bullets. You still have to be a bachelor, don't think about it if you're married. If the deceased has brothers, then the brothers have priority over you, a comrade-in-arms.
Hearing this, do you think that this tradition is actually quite a doorway? It not only reflects the wisdom of the Mongols in warfare, but also reflects their unique social structure and values. In that era of frequent wars, such a tradition could not only inspire soldiers to fight bravely, but also ensure that the families of fallen soldiers had something to rely on, which can be said to be a very practical social system.
This tradition also has its controversies. It has been argued that this practice may lead some people to do whatever it takes to gain benefits. There are even rumors that some people will deliberately put their wealthy comrades-in-arms in dangerous situations in order to gain access to their property and wives. Of course, this statement has not been confirmed by history, and it is more likely that it is just the result of false rumors.
So, how exactly did this unique tradition influence the Mongol army? Let's dive in.
First of all, this tradition greatly strengthened the cohesion of the Mongol army. Just imagine, when you know that even if you die on the battlefield, there will be comrades who will take you home at all costs, how warm this feeling is! This strong sense of belonging and security allowed the Mongol cavalry to move forward fearlessly in the face of a strong enemy.
This tradition also greatly increased the will to fight of the Mongol cavalry. In order to obtain this special "reward", the cavalrymen will be more brave in battle, even risking their lives to protect the corpses of their comrades. This spirit of desperate fighting is undoubtedly one of the important reasons for the invincibility of the Mongol army.
There are many famous cases of this tradition in history. For example, in 1241, during the Mongol expedition to the west, a moving event occurred. One of the close associates of the Mongol general Batu was killed in a fierce battle, and without saying a word, Batu personally led the elite cavalry into the enemy line, and finally recaptured the general's body. This feat not only demonstrated the Mongols' adherence to tradition, but also greatly boosted the morale of the entire army.
Of course, this tradition has evolved over time. In modern society, although the specific practice of "retrieving the corpses of comrades-in-arms" is no longer applicable, the spirit of comradeship and loyalty contained in it is still inherited. Many modern militaries still emphasize "not abandon, not give up", which can be seen to some extent as a modern interpretation of this ancient tradition.
Interestingly, this tradition also influenced the daily life of the Mongols in some ways. For example, in some parts of Mongolia, there is still a custom of "continuing to marry a wife". When a man dies, his younger brother has the right to marry his widow. This practice not only takes care of the widowed sister-in-law, but also ensures the continuation of the family, which can be said to be an extension of the battlefield tradition in civilian life.
We also need to look at this tradition objectively. It certainly has its positive side, but it also inevitably has some problems. For example, it can lead to unnecessary risk-taking and unnecessary casualties. This practice may also spark some moral and ethical controversy.
However, we cannot judge the behavior of the ancients by modern moral standards. In that era of frequent wars and difficult survival, such a tradition undoubtedly had its special significance and value. It not only embodies the survival wisdom of the Mongols, but also reflects their unique values.
The tradition of "retrieving the corpses of comrades-in-arms" is a very interesting and meaningful part of Mongolian cavalry culture. It not only reflects the value that the Mongols cherish for their comrades-in-arms, but also shows their unique social structure and values. While this tradition may seem somewhat "incredible" to modern society, it did play an important role in the historical context of the time.
Today, when we look back on this history, we may be shocked or puzzled. However, if we can think outside of our own thinking and look at this tradition from the perspective of that era, we may be able to better understand the spiritual world of the Mongolian cavalry and the social reality of that special era.
History is always moving forward, and so are traditions. But no matter how times change, the beautiful things in human nature – such as the cherishing of comrades-in-arms and the importance of loyalty – have not changed. Perhaps, this is what we should realize most when we look back on this period of history today.
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