Post by Albus Dumbledore on Sept 14, 2004 22:57:14 GMT -5
History of Magic
Hogwarts was founded over 1000 years ago by Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin the school houses are named after them. Together they built the castle far away from muggle eyes for it was an age when magic was feared by muggles and witches and wizards suffered much persecution. For a while the founders worked in harmony together seeking out youngsters who showed signs of magic and bringing them to the castle to be educated. After a while a fight broke out between Slytherin and the others, Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts keeping it in the magical families. He disliked children of muggle parentage thinking them to be untrustworthy. After a big argument between Slytherin and Gryffindor Slytherin left the school. Legend has it that Slytherin built a secret chamber and sealed it that so none but his own true heir may open it and release the horror inside and rid the school of all children of muggle parentage.
Centuries have shown that it is very difficult for species to co-exist peacefully. There were many rebellions dating from the ninth century onwards which attempted to get rid of witches and wizards as the most powerful in the land, and replace them with another species. This has happened with many species, most notably, the Hag Rebellion of 1120, the Banshee Uprising of 1542, and the Troll Rebellion, which took place as recently as 1842. However, the most persistent species to revolt have been the goblins. Led by Ognog the Warrior in 1374, they almost seized control, but narrowly lost in battle due to a well-placed charm, which enclosed them all in a bubble while the wizards had time to regroup. Ug the Merciless led the charge in 1634, when Nicolas Flamel, he of the eternal life, went among them and dispatched them. It is preferable, history has shown, not to actually kill enemies in battle, but to disable them to such an extent that they can no longer continue fighting, and must surrender. This ensures that the goblins will cooperate much more freely once they have been vanquished.
Perhaps the narrowest escape for wizard kind came in 1573, when the remaining fighting wizards were besieged in a castle in Kent, South England, and forced to fight their way out from there. Many casualties resulted, but victory over the goblin forces (led by Yurg the Impure) was eventually secured by transporting the castle elsewhere and coming back to fight them on more favourable terms.
However, it is sad to say that the greatest threat of all came not from goblins but from one of our own kind. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named terrorized many, many wizards and killed many of the brightest wizards of our day, and was neutralized mysteriously by the young Harry Potter, although he is not believed to be dead. He persuaded many witches and wizards over to his side, and they left the Dark Mark in the sky as they killed. Many of them were placed in Azkaban, although many were freed due to claims that they had been compelled to act, under the Imperius Curse. This shows that we have to fear threats from within, as well as from other species.
Hogwarts was founded over 1000 years ago by Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin the school houses are named after them. Together they built the castle far away from muggle eyes for it was an age when magic was feared by muggles and witches and wizards suffered much persecution. For a while the founders worked in harmony together seeking out youngsters who showed signs of magic and bringing them to the castle to be educated. After a while a fight broke out between Slytherin and the others, Slytherin wished to be more selective about the students admitted to Hogwarts keeping it in the magical families. He disliked children of muggle parentage thinking them to be untrustworthy. After a big argument between Slytherin and Gryffindor Slytherin left the school. Legend has it that Slytherin built a secret chamber and sealed it that so none but his own true heir may open it and release the horror inside and rid the school of all children of muggle parentage.
Centuries have shown that it is very difficult for species to co-exist peacefully. There were many rebellions dating from the ninth century onwards which attempted to get rid of witches and wizards as the most powerful in the land, and replace them with another species. This has happened with many species, most notably, the Hag Rebellion of 1120, the Banshee Uprising of 1542, and the Troll Rebellion, which took place as recently as 1842. However, the most persistent species to revolt have been the goblins. Led by Ognog the Warrior in 1374, they almost seized control, but narrowly lost in battle due to a well-placed charm, which enclosed them all in a bubble while the wizards had time to regroup. Ug the Merciless led the charge in 1634, when Nicolas Flamel, he of the eternal life, went among them and dispatched them. It is preferable, history has shown, not to actually kill enemies in battle, but to disable them to such an extent that they can no longer continue fighting, and must surrender. This ensures that the goblins will cooperate much more freely once they have been vanquished.
Perhaps the narrowest escape for wizard kind came in 1573, when the remaining fighting wizards were besieged in a castle in Kent, South England, and forced to fight their way out from there. Many casualties resulted, but victory over the goblin forces (led by Yurg the Impure) was eventually secured by transporting the castle elsewhere and coming back to fight them on more favourable terms.
However, it is sad to say that the greatest threat of all came not from goblins but from one of our own kind. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named terrorized many, many wizards and killed many of the brightest wizards of our day, and was neutralized mysteriously by the young Harry Potter, although he is not believed to be dead. He persuaded many witches and wizards over to his side, and they left the Dark Mark in the sky as they killed. Many of them were placed in Azkaban, although many were freed due to claims that they had been compelled to act, under the Imperius Curse. This shows that we have to fear threats from within, as well as from other species.