Why Grindelwald NEVER Broke out of Nurmengard Prison - Harry Potter Explained

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, and Nurmengard Prison.

In the year 1945, a duel of epic proportions went down between the elder-wand wielding Grindelwald, and the powerful Albus Dumbledore. British pure-blood wizard Elphias Doge described their duel as the greatest of all time, and that “no duel ever matched it”. Fortunately, with the Fantastic Beasts films progressing, it seems as though we’re getting nearer and nearer to actually witnessing this fated duel on screen.

Dumbledore eventually came out on top - successfully edging out Grindelwald during their duel, and becoming the new master of the elder wand. However, despite besting the dark wizard, no fatalities occurred as a result of their duel. Dumbledore spared his life, but something would still have to come of the dark wizard.

Provided that it was 1945, you may have expected Grindelwald to have been sent to Azkaban prison- a hot spot for most dark, evil and powerful wizards. However, this was not the case at all, in fact, surprisingly, Grindelwald was imprisoned in Nurmengard castle, the same fortress that he himself built to hold his own enemies. Nurmengard was the base-camp for all of his operations during his reign of power, so it’s interesting that he would be imprisoned in such familiar territory. Why would they put him in a building that he knew better than anyone else? Why was Gellert Grindelwald imprisoned in Nurmengard, and WHY did he never escape?

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[harrypottertheoryextra]

Thanks for watching folks! Leave your comments down below!

[chaitanyalahari]

Love. Dumbledore spared Grindelwald's life because he loved him and convinced the higher authorities not to keep him in some nasty place like azkaban that was full of dementors. In return, Grindelwald respected Dumbledore's decision and remained there

[bettygorman]

Having watched the three Fantastic Beasts movies, I think Grindelwald was everything you say, but I also think he realized he had lost. He was a very proud man and convinced that he was right. I don’t think that ever changed. But he also realized as I just said that he had lost. And that’s why I think he never broke out of prison.

[daniels]

Dumbledore seemed pretty confident that he could escape from Azkaban if the Ministry were to send him there. He just didn't have spare time at the moment. Grindelwald probably could have broken out of Nurmengard. But by that point he no longer saw why he should. In The Death Hallows novel (as opposed to the film), he was contemptuous of Voldemort and denied having any idea about the Elder Wand right to his face. It was a blatant lie, but what did he care? He knew that Voldemort was more broken (especially in soul) than he ever was. Being a dark wizard isn't worth the price. Grindelwald knew this. He sacrificed a life with Dumbledore for his ambitions and it ended up being a bad trade.

[heartofhearing]

Since he feared Dumbledore, I have a theory that he originally made the prison cell to hold Dumbledore. So he outfitted the cell with the most powerful, complex and effective spells. Woven together, these spells and enchantments, would make it impossible for any wizard to escape. Never had he thought one day he would be imprisoned there

[Pawsthecause]

I love how you are keeping my love for Harry Potter alive. I recently got into HP within the last few years and just finally read the books last year. Really love learning so much and I enjoy your theories. I think he just accepted defeat in my opinion. Grindelwald was very powerful like you mentioned and it would've been only too easy to escape and disappear. He was more clever than Dumbledore in his own ways and vice versa.

[eranshachar]

That is an interesting question Well done. No I agree with you it doesn't matter he didn't have wand, as wandless magic was proven possible among the most powerful Wizards and Witches. So why didn't he? I don't he was afraid of Dumbledore although the latter was the stronger among the two. No I think that despite doing awful things, he didn't enjoy of behaving this way he just thought that his way is the right one. I think that deep down inside he had some good in him, and his good side is what made him think "I don't want to leave even if I can. I have done horrible things and now it's my time to pay and I will take it like a man." Sounds fit because Gellert was a man of honor, unlike Voldemort who was proud in his actions and had 0 honor to anyone. These are the four major differences between Gellert and Tom for anyone who wants to know: 1.Pure Blood (Gellert) Half Blood (Tom). 2.Enjoy of his evil actions (Tom) Deep inside not really evil to the core (Gellert). 3.Has honor (Gellert) Never heard of honor (Tom). 4.More powerful and talented (Gellert) Tom was no match for him. Oh and there are two more I forgot: 5.Feared death (Tom) Accepted death (Gellert). 6.All of his followers went after him because of his charisma and leadership (Gellert) Most of his followers were serving him out of fear (Tom).

[SquiddyGod]

Loving this more organized form of content, with shorter videos here and longer ones on your main channel, keep up the amazing work mate!

[limiv]

Grindelwald not being sent to Azkaban was actually not surprising at all. Azkaban was the BRITISH magical prison. There's no indication any other country used it or was involved in running it. Grindelwald was European, though I'm not sure where exactly he was born, I don't think the books say.

We don't know that Grindelwald never tried to escape, only that he never did. It seems likely that at least some of the enchantments meant to keep him in Nurmengard were cast by Dumbledore, with his newly acquired Elder Wand, which as we know can do things other wands could never achieve. I don't see how a wandless Grindelwald could ever have beaten such powerful magic.

[danszymanski]

I think after the duel. Dumbledore said something like "We could have had a life together and you threw it all away" Grindelwald was broken by this and felt a a great amount of guilt

[gullinvarg]

An additional possible reason, he has an epic duel with Dumbledore, lost and Dumbledore spared him. If he escaped, they'd probably end up dueling again and this time it would have to be to the death. He may have had enough remaining respect and love for Dumbledore to not do that. He'd either have to kill Dumbledore, after having been spared, surrender or die. If he wasn't willing to kill Dumbledore, then there was no point in escaping.

[eugenebelford]

I think the answer lies in something mentioned here as a side note: he "wanted the best for wirzardkind". For that his campaign would have needed to quickly draw the majority of wizards and witches on his side. That didn't seem to happen so he was faced with the prospect of a prolonged outright civil war. And thus the potential that the muggle world at large would become aware of the witches and wizards in their midst. And they were no longer armed like in medieval times with bows and swords. So, my point is: He took himself out of any equation of power, because it had become impossible to persist with his vision/ campaign.

[chetanj]

Grindelwald has normal feelings like love, friendship and honor so on... he was felt so guilty for what he was done.. so he stayed in prison for his repentance... but voldemort was a product of love potion..

[greendayguitarfreak]

I personally thought nurmengard over Azkaban was rather meant as a kindness by Dumbledore seeing as Grindelwald wasn't surrounded by Dementors 24*7

[venkelos]

Im personally willing to agree that he chose to stay incarcerated. He knew the place better than anyone; probably DID have escape merhods, just in case, yet he remained there.

Not really related question, but why does Johnny Depp Grindlewald look the way he does? I get that they hired Depp to playvthe role, for sone reason, and maybe contracting Depp conrs wirh certain requirements, but did we ever hear anything about Grindlewald being heterochromic? Did he have facial hair? His subsequent portrayal by Mads Mickellson, after Depp's legal stint, looks "normal"; he's clean-shaven, his eyes are a single color. Did he simply change his appearance, to hide somewhat from his enemies? In the main Harry Potter films, he bears a more Mickellson-themed appearance, and even after decades alone in prison, he's not sporting a massive beard; it just feels like a Johnny Depp thing. Im probably complaining more than is necessary, but why did Grindlewald look like he snuck over to Alice in Wonderland, to Hdance the Fudderwaken, and forgot to get totally back into costume? Why does he look like a Tim Burton film character (a Depp staple, I guess), but then nowhere else? Is his appearance bizarre to his own world, or just to me, in the movie audience?

[rustydaboyrobot]

"He chose to stay " ...but, why?
I think there's several reasons.

One, he no longer had the Elder Wand. As close as they had been, that was a short, short time long ago. Gfs fade, best friends fade. And the only uniting element is nostalgia. And there would always be Dumbledore to thwart him.

Two. Dumbledore did not KNOW who killed Ariana. I think Grendelwald DID know. And he feared retribution

Three: His great dream was killed. He had no other purpose, no other pursuit. What was left for him to escape TO?

Bonus reason: Grendelwald would NOT have fit in with Voldemort's plans. So, he would have had powerful adversaries on two fronts.

And those reasons are also why he kept the secret of the Elder Wand. Unlike in the movie, Grendelwald never again betrayed Dumbledore.

[GrimRuler]

Could be possible that the prison was enchanted using the Elder Wand, making it extremely difficult, or near impossible, for a wandless Grindelwald to escape.

[JoseSilva-qfmy]

I have a couple more theories: One is that Azkaban is a prison in UK for British wizards and he didn’t commit any crime in the UK therefore he could not be sent there. And there was no other prison in Europe safe enough for someone as powerful as him except his own prison.

The other theory is way more simple: Love. Dumbledore loved him and knowing that if he was sent to Azkaban he would probably receive the Dementors Kiss. To spare him from this, Dumbledore probably manage to convince that it was better that he stayed in Nurmengard under guarded by Dumbledore’s own spells.

[captainmarvel]

I think he accepted defeat, but I also think that his magic was bound and he could no longer overcome the spells on his cell to escape.

[xAnescox]

Gellert to Albus: I want you to know where I am and where you can always find me.