The DARK History of Witch Hunts - Harry Potter Explained

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the rather dark topic of WITCH HUNTS- diving deep in to how witch hunts and witch trials have shaped the course of the wizarding world’s (and our own) history.

While the world of Harry Potter may be filled with wonder and awe, it is not immune to the shadows that lurk in the human heart. Just like in our own MUGGLE history, the wizarding world has faced its fair share of witch hunts and unjust persecution, where fear and prejudice have cast a sinister veil over the lives of magical beings.

But before we get started on the fictional witch hunts that unfold within the pages of Harry Potter, I want to first take a look at the extensive history of witch hunts in our own world- a phenomenon spanning multiple centuries that claimed the lives of a staggering 35000 to 50000 victims. Once we’re done covering the real atrocities that occurred, we’ll segue in to the Wizarding World’s version of witch hunts and see how they differ.

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[hungariangiraffe]

Here's an example of witch hunts, from my homeland Hungary that describes most witch hunts quite well (I looked up Wikipedia for some details): it happened in Szeged, one of the most important Hungarian cities, also where my mother was born. It was the last witch hunt in Hungary, and it happened on 23 July, 1728. That year the area was suffering of a huge drought, and people believed that the witches have sold the rain of the next 7 years for the Turkish. The first victim was called Kökényné Nagy Anna, a midwife who was hated by everyone due to her grumpy and unpleasant personality. She was tortured to confess, and in the end she named 18 different people (both men and women) who were "guilty". One of them was Rózsa Dániel, an old man who used to be the judge of the city. He was the wealthiest person of Szeged at the time and many people were jealous of him. Also, he became the most influential person of the city very quickly, even though he used to be a sheperd. As the video said too, this was suspicious. Later he was tortured as well, and he said what the hunters wanted to hear. There were many signs that showed who is a witch/warlock: hairless armpits, weird birthmarks, etc. Also, some were stabbed with long needles by their torturers, who were searching for a Devil's Mark: a point of the body where the person doesn't feel pain. There was also another way of checking who is a normal person and who isn't: the suspect was tied to a rock and thrown in the Tisza, a river that flowes through Szeged, it's the second biggest river that goes through Hungary (the first is the Danube). If the person stays on the surface of the water, then they are guilty (not many were able to swim back then) because a) Satan helps them, b) the water doesn't accept them since they are supernatural beings. If the person drowned (which happened to three eldery women) they were "innocents who died a tragic death". This custom was adopted from Germany and Austria. Most suspects were midwives, or had some connection to herbs used in healing/harming others. In the end, the witch hunt had 21 victims, including the three drowned women, and three other people who died in prison before their execution.6 men and 6 women were burned at the stakes, including Kökényné Nagy Anna, Rózsa Dániel, his wife, and others. It's most likely that they were killed on the Boszorkánysziget, a place that was later named after them (boszorkány=witch, sziget=island, although it's actually a peninsula next to the city). Three other women were executed later. (One of them was pregnant so they waited until the child was born.) Their heads were cut off, and then their bodies were burned. I know this sounds more brutal, but I'd rather die this way, being decapitated is faster and less painfull. After the executions, urban legends and rumours were spread about the Boszorkánysziget being cursed: eldery people used them to scare children. It's said that the sound of leaves when moved by wind was like human speach, and faces were seen in the ashes that were blown away by the wind. Also, the "gravediggers" have found twelve amulettes after the execution, even though all the victims were almost completely undressed and weared no jewelry. They were so scared they didn't even touch them, just ran back to the city to tell what they saw. But when they came back with more people they didn't find the amulettes. Nor the ashes.

Rhis has happened after the witch hunts of Europe almost died out, so the incident had a huge echoe. Now there's a small museum in Szeged to keep their memory.

[BleachFan]

This is without a doubt the darkest period in Wizarding World history

[Dionysus]

The witch hunts in Europe where also horrific and probably fits for the Harry Potter stories more then Salam

[okamireader]

You forgot to mention another crucial detail regarding the Wizarding World's version of the Salem Witch Trials - The Scourers

The Scourers were immoral and greedy wizards and witches who took to becoming bounty hunters during the times surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. These blackhearted individuals were so vile that they hunted their fellow wizards and witches and turned them in to the muggle (or no-maj) witch-hunters in exchange for money. They were even so despicable as to do the same to no-majes who'd been accused of witchcraft and tried to go on the run or into hiding

The Scourers got away with their crimes becuz at the time there were no Aurors in the New World to protect and serve or a wizarding government to maintain law and order. When at last the forerunners of MACUSA had gotten onto their feet, with only Twelve Aurors, they set out to establish safety and security as well as to capture the Scourers and bring them to justice for their crimes.

Only a few Scourers escaped and were forced to hide by living among No-Majes, marrying them and raising their children to seek out and persecute magic, such as the Barebone family's members, like Bartholemew Barebone tricking Dorcus Twelvetrees, leading to a severe breach of the International Statute of Secrecy, or Mary Lou Barebone leading the Second Salemers, trying to convince and sway the No-Majes of New York of the existence of "witches" up until her death in 1926

The monstrous and vile crimes of the Scourers served as a dark and horrific example of why it was deemed necessary to divide the Magical and the Non-Magical, showcasing how even the common witch or wizard was capable of such evil, not just dark wizards and witches or pureblood fanatics

[oldman]

A little history lesson: Salem, Ma.wasn’t the only place such persecution took place in the US. Virginia Beach, Va. has a street named Witch Duck Rd. where this also took place during the colonial period.

[macwelch]

I can imagine Ilvermorny barricading its walls to protect its staff and students

[grec.]

I agree that missinformation and prejudice insisted the witch hunts, but let's not forget that not all wizards and warlocks are good and innocent. There are dark wizards out there, wanting to eliminate muggles if possible. So the punishment to those is justifiable, imo.

[revvingnoodle]

Having gone to Salem, once you know more about the historical events and the lore of the HP world, you really can't help but feel profound fascination, yet at the same time it feels we hadn't learned from our mistakes of the past and may be repeating the same mistakes

[Loganberry]

Enjoyed this muggle studies lesson, thanks professor! :D

[kylekirkparick]

I expected the typical closing statement. This one is very well suited to the topic. I love it.

[markcahill]

And people wonder why Slytherin hated muggles 😂

[gontigames]

Salem trials: 40 victims
German Inquisition: *Hold my bier* 60k in the space of a hundred years

[LycaonsMemories]

saw a very good documentary awhile back. a huge part of the salem witch trials was money/land based. i wish i could remember what it was called, but after about the second person being accused, the later individuals all either owed money or one another family was trying to grab their land. i think it was the judge? one of the individuals who was pressed to death, held onto his innocence so his family would not lose their land.

it would be interesting to know how the lore treats king james vi

[fireflame]

what is the flame freezing charm and why would i hide myself from a mudblood when i can bury their body in my garden or feed their bodies to a hippogrif.

[LyleFrancisDelp]

“She turned me into a newt!………..

I got better.” - Nearly Headless Nick

[RealCarringtonInstitute]

Thank you for explaining both the real and Wizarding World witch hunts. It added much-needed context.

[DidymusX]

Why didn't they just weigh them and see if they were equal to ducks? That would have saved a lot of trouble. And why throw them in water? If you just splash them with a bucket, they'll melt.

[scottrawicz]

Concealed? MACUSA is in the old Woolworth Building, now The Hotel Alexandra.

[Larka]

I have an idea on another theory. What is more powerful, magic or technology?

[ANGELROB_YTC]

But which is a wizard are children of Michael sometimes muggles are the people with the magical jeans and you can't get that children secret from the parents