rphan</em> branch, named <code>&lt;new_branch&gt;</code>, started from
<code>&lt;start_point&gt;</code> and switch to it.  The first commit made on this
new branch will have no parents and it will be the root of a new
history totally disconnected from all the other branches and
commits.</p>
<div class="paragraph">
<p>The index and the working tree are adjusted as if you had previously run
<code>git checkout &lt;start_point&gt;</code>.  This allows you to start a new history
that records a set of paths simil