The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black | |
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Notable family members |
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The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, commonly referred to as House of Black, was founded by Talus Black. The House of Black was one of the largest, oldest, and wealthiest pure-blooded wizarding families in Great Britain, and one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Many wizarding families in Britain were distantly related to the House of Black. Like the Malfoy and Lestrange families, the House of Black was synonymous with elevated status and wealth.
The Black family tree was displayed in the drawing room of the family home at 12 Grimmauld Place in London, England on an intricate tapestry, as an ornate mural. The tapestry started in the Middle Ages and showed the dominant line of the family up to the death of its last members.
By the late twentieth century, the House of Black had become extinct in the male line with the deaths of Sirius and Regulus Black, neither of whom had children. The female line continued through the Malfoy family, Teddy Lupin, various families descended from Blacks (including the Potter, Longbottom and Weasleys) and through Delphini who was Bellatrix's illegitimate daughter.
Family history[]
Early history[]
- "...my parents, with their pure-blood mania, convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal..."
- —Sirius Black to Harry Potter on his family's values
The Black family traces its origin back to the Middle Ages. They claim to have entirely magical ancestry, but as Sirius Black informed his godson Harry Potter, no true pure-blood families existed by the twentieth century. The pure-blood families like the Blacks simply removed Muggles and Squibs from their family trees.
The Blacks place a great importance on blood purity, considering themselves akin to royalty in the wizarding world and disdaining Muggles, Squibs, blood traitors, and Muggle-borns. The family motto, which can be found on the family crest, is Toujours Pur, which means "Always Pure" in French. Many members took this phrase very seriously.
Recent history[]
Because of their views, a large number of the Black family members practised the Dark Arts and supported Lord Voldemort during the First and Second Wizarding Wars. A few Blacks even became Death Eaters, while many others never took the Dark Mark but believed in the "purification" of the wizarding world nevertheless.
A few members of the family, however, disagreed with the traditional views of their family; Sirius Black, for example, joined the Order of the Phoenix, as did Andromeda Tonks, who married a Muggle-born and Nymphadora Tonks, a distant member of the Black family. Both were murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black), Sirius's cousin and Tonks's aunt, in battle.
Supportive of Voldemort at first, the family loyalists who did not become Death Eaters got cold feet when they saw the levels he would go to achieve his goals. Their hatred towards Muggles is such that some members who are not outright Death Eaters would go to lengths to persecute them, such as Araminta Meliflua trying to pass a Ministry Bill to make Muggle-hunting legal. However, even those who originally supported Voldemort's actions to purge the Muggles got cold feet when they saw what he was willing to do for power and were shocked by some of the most bloodthirsty Death Eaters thoughts on the treatment that the non-magical community deserved.
With Sirius's death, the male line of the Black family ended, but the female line continued through the descendants of his cousins Bellatrix Lestrange, Andromeda Tonks and Narcissa Malfoy, his second cousin, once removed, Arthur Weasley, the Burke family, the Crouches (although it's male line had died out a year before with the death of Bartemius Crouch Snr and his son, Bartemius Crouch Jr, had been a victim of the Dementor's Kiss, although it continued through Bartemius Crouch Sr. cousin and Charis Black's daughter Augusta Longbottom (née Crouch) and her in-law's and descendants, the Longbottoms, the Longbottoms, the Potter family and many others.
Family Traits[]
The Blacks were commonly described as having "great good looks" and a certain aristocratic elegance that reflected upon their personalities, for they considered themselves "practically royal".
The traditional look for the majority of the Black family is dark hair and dark eyes, though there were some exceptions: Sirius Black III and all of his siblings were grey-eyed, Andromeda Tonks née Black had light brown hair, and Narcissa Malfoy née Black was blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Despite these differences, each and every one of these cousins were still noted to be a beauty in their own right, being of tall and elegant stature, with attractive features. Besides this, even after Sirius and Bellatrix's incarceration in Azkaban and subsequent escape, both Bellatrix Lestrange and Sirius were described to have retained vestiges of these "great good looks", despite losing much of it in the depression of the prison.
Wealth[]
The Black family, as with many other pure-blood wizarding families like the Malfoy family, is considered to be very wealthy. This may be one of the reasons why the members of this family acted somewhat arrogantly.
The Blacks owned several vaults deep within Gringotts Bank, including one extremely large family vault, on the bank's deepest level, where they kept their paintings, fine jewellery, and other luxury items. They were one of the richest family in Wizarding Britain, with millions of galleons to their name, as well as properties all over Europe.
Sirius Black III was by no means a poor man by himself. In 1993, Sirius Black III used money from Vault 711 to pay for Harry Potter's Firebolt. This vault was made up of a separate trust vault given to Alphard Black, who bequeathed the money to his nephew after his death, as well as all the money Alphard made in his lifetime. Alphard Black himself was a rich man, having accrued monetary wealth in the muggle world.
Family members[]
Main family[]
Relative | Bloodline and Notable Attempts, Accomplishments or Professions |
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Adeliza Vulpecula Nott (née Black) | Daughter of Betelgeuse Black and Adeliza Rosier, older sister of Corvus Black and Cetus Black IV, wife of Theobald Nott, and mother of Caecilius Nott, Benjamine Nott, and Balbina Nott. Founded several orphanages and, in 1809, became the patron (providing new funding) of the General Lying-in Hospital, a hospital for expectant mothers that was subsequently renamed as Adelize Centre, and is today combined with St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, as the St. Adelize wing. |
Adrian Cepheus Black | Son of Aries Black and Cordelia Lowe, older brother of Nigellus Black, husband of Malinda Meliflua and the father of Musée Black. Adrian's line of the Black family was an artistic one, with Adrian and Malinda as sculptor and painter while their son Musee would eventually become a muse. |
Alexia Walkin Black | Illegitimate daughter of Nigellus Black and Dalassena Walken and half-sister of Licorus Black, Phoebe Black, Hesper Black and Eduardus Black. Home-schooled by her mother before moving to America 1833 to begin a teaching career at Ilvermorny and quickly became a legendary teacher. |
Alphard Rigel Black | Son of Pollux Black and Irma Black Crabbe, brother of Walburga Black and Cygnus Black III. Disowned by his sister for financing his nephew, Sirius, and niece, Andromeda after their separate disownments. |
Altair Altair Regulus Black] | Son of Orion and Walburga Black and brother of Sirius Black lll, Atria Black, Altair Black and twin brother of Aquila Black. A Squib. |
Amaryllis Walburga Mort (née Black) | Daughter of Cygnus Black III and Druella Rosier, younger sister of Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black), Andromeda Tonks (née Black) and Narcissa Malfoy (née Black), wife of Alois Mort and mother of Vourius Mort and Belvina Mort. Like her oldest sister, she and her husband were Death Eaters, but, after seeing what the Death Eaters were prepared to do to take power, they both defected. |
Amorette Vulpecula Abbott (née Black) | Eldest daughter of Cepheus and Vulpecula Black, older sister of Aries and Allegra Black, wife of Jonas Abbott and father of Elizabeth Brown (née Abbott), Odillia Dodge (née Abbott), Sophiana Bell (née Abbott) and Lorena Potter (née Abbott). |
Andromeda Olga Tonks (née Black) | Daughter of Cygnus Black III and Druella Rosier, younger sister of Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black) and older sister of Narcissa Malfoy (née Black) and Amaryllis Mort (née Black), widowed wife of Ted Tonks and mother of Nymphadora Tonks. Disowned for marrying a Muggle-born, who's kind her family viewed as second-class. |
Aquila Walburga Black | Daughter of Orion Black and Walburga Black, younger sister of Sirius Black lll, Atria Black and Regulus Black ll and magical twin sister of Altair Black. Similar to her oldest brother, she broke the family history of being sorted into Slytherin and was instead sorted into Gryffindor. A member of Dumbledore's Army, she fought bravely in the Second Wizarding War and survived |
Arcturus Eduardus Black I | Youngest son of Licorus Black and Magenta Tripe, brother of Misapinoa Black and Cygnus Black I. He was so proud of his own noble birth in the House of Black that he refused to marry anyone of the other Sacred 28 Families and never married. |
Arcturus Phineas Black II | Third son of Phineas Nigellus Black and Ursula Flint, younger brother of Sirius Black II and Phineas Black ll, older brother of Belvina Black and Cygnus Black II, husband of Lysandra Yaxley and father of Callidora Longbottom, Cedrella Weasley and Charis Crouch. He became an Auror for the Ministry and did this until his retirement in 1945, after World War II and became famous for aiding in the capture of various members of The Alliance and Gellert Grindelwald's Acolytes. Despite her disownment by Arcturus's father, Arcturus, like all his direct, retained contact with Cedrella. |
Arcturus Orion Black III | Eldest son of Sirius Black II and Hesper Gamp, brother of Lycoris Black and Regulus Black I, husband of Melania Macmillan and father of Lucretia Black and Orion Black. He was rather mischievous and was the only one of Sirius and Hesper's children to marry. |
Aries Cepheus Black | Son of Cepheus Black and Vulpecula Black, younger brother of Amorette Abbott (née Black), older brother of Allegra Black, husband of Cordelia Lowe and father of Adrian Black and Nigellus Black. Aries became a courtier and advisor to King George III of England, who, under his guidance, lost America. |
Atria Cassiopeia Black | Daughter to Walburga and Orion Black and sister to Sirius Black lll, Altair Black, Aquila Black and Regulus Black II. |
Bellatrix Druella Lestrange (née Black) | Daughter of Cygnus Black III and Druella Rosier, older sister of Andromeda Tonks (née Black), Narcissa Malfoy (née Black) and Amaryllis Mort (née Black), wife of Rodolphus Lestrange and mother of Amber Lestrange and Dephini Riddle. A Death Eater who fought in the First and Second Wizarding War. Perished at the hands of Molly Weasley. |
Belvina Ursula Burke (née Black) | Only daughter of Phineas Nigellus Black and Ursula Flint, sister of Sirius Black II, Phineas Black, Arcturus Black II and Cygnus Black II, wife of Herbert Burke and mother of Nigellus Burke, Leopold Burke, Grace Burke, Ulyssa Lestrange (née Burke) and Bartholomew Burke. Unlike a good number of her family, Belvina was sorted into Hufflepuff rather than Slytherin. Becoming a healer, Belvina married her boyfriend Herbert three years after graduation. |
Betelguese Cygnus Black | Son of Ophiuchus Black and Priscilla Parkinson, older brother of Cetus Black III, husband of Adeliza Rosier and father of Adeliza Nott (née Black), Corvus Black and Cetus Black IV |
Callidora Lysandra Longbottom (née Black) | Eldest daughter of Arcturus Black II and Lysandra Yaxley, older sister of Cedrella Black (née Black) and Charis Crouch (née Black), wife of Harfang Longbottom and mother of Anthony Longbottom and Aurora Longbottom. Though she was not disowned, Callidora still believed her in-laws pro-Muggle beliefs and retained contact with her disowned sister, Cedrella. |
Canopus Black | First child of Ophiuchus Black and Alpheca Black, older brother of Centaurus Black, husband of Vega Reyne and father of Doradus, Altair and Polaris Black. Build the roots of the House of Black's wealth and prestige, ensuring that the marriages of his children gained powerful allies for the Blacks. |
Cassiopeia Violetta Burke (née Black) | Second child of Cygnus Black II and Violetta Bulstrode, younger sister of Pollux Black, older sister of Marius Black and Dorea Potter (née Black), wife of Oberon Burke and mother of Adria Burke and Astrix Burke. |
Castor Black | Son of Theseus Black and Meliboa Selwyn, twin brother of Nilus Black, husband of Lucinda Vane and father of Vulpecula Black. |
Cedrella Ursula Weasley (née Black) | Middle daughter of Arcturus Black II and Lysandra Yaxley, younger sister of Callidora Longbottom (née Black), older sister of Charis Crouch (née Black), wife of Septimus Weasley and mother of Crispin, Bilius, and Arthur Weasley |
Cepheus Castor Black l | Son of Nilus Black and Clothilda Burke, husband and first cousin of Vulpecula Black and father of Amorette Abbott (née Black), Aries Black and Allegra Black. |
Cepheus Black II | Son of Aquilinius Black and Viola of France, older brother of Regulus Black I and Cyneburga Travers (née Black), husband of Lavinia Malfoy and father of Viola Black. |
Cepheus Perseus Black III | Son of Prince William, Duke of Gloucester (also known as William Stuart, "the Mudblood King") and Viola Black, twin brother of Cassiopeia Black I and the older brother of Lyra Cedrella and Ophiuchus Black. Cepheus III passed away at the age of six due to dragon pox. After his death, the heirship passed to his younger brother, Ophiuchus. |
Cetus Black IV | Son of Betelgeuse Black and Adeliza Rosier, younger brother of Adeliza Nott (née Black) and Corvus Black, husband of Alodia Prewett, father of Vulpecula Evermonde (née Black) and Hesperla Rowle (née Black) |
Charis Calandrina Crouch (née Black) | Youngest daughter of Arcturus Black ll and Lysandra Yaxley, younger sister of Callidora Longbottom (née Black) and Cedrella Weasley (née Black), wife of Casper Crouch and mother of Bartemius Caspar Crouch I, Camillia Charis Crouch and Araminta Maliflua Crouch. |
Corvus Delphinus Black | Second child and first son of Betelgeuse Black and Adeliza Rosier, younger brother of Adeliza Nott (née Black), and the older brother of Cetus Black IV. |
Cygnus Betelgeuse Black I | Son and of Licorus Black and Magenta Tripe, younger brother of Misapinoa Blishwick (née Black), older brother of Arcturus Black I, husband of Ella Max and the father of Sirius Black I, Phineas Nigellus Black, Elladora Black and Iola Hitchens (née Black). |
Cygnus Black II | Son of Phineas Nigellus Black and Ursula Flint, younger brother of Sirius Black II, Phineas Black, Arcturus Black II and Belvina Burke (née Black), husband of Violetta Bulstrode and father of Pollux Black, Cassiopeia Black, Marius Black and Dorea Potter (née Black) |
Cygnus Black III | Son of Pollux Black and Irma Black Crabbe, brother of Alphard Black and Walburga Black, husband of Druella Rosier and father of Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black), Andromeda Tonks (née Black), Narcissa Malfoy (née Black) and Amaryllis Mort (née Black). |
Cyneburga Travers (née Black) | Daughter of Aquilinus Black II and Viola of France, younger sister of Cepheus Black II and Regulus Black I, wife of Antonius Travers, 3rd Baron of Yarmouth and mother of Solomon, who became 4th Baron of Yarmouth. |
Dorea Urusula Potter (née Black) | Daughter of Cygnus Black II and Violetta Bulstrode and younger sister of Pollux Black, Cassiopeia Burke (née Black) and Marius Black, husband of Charlus Potter and mother of Hugho Potter |
Eduardus Limette Black | Youngest child of Nigellus Black and Eudokia Carlock, younger brother of Licorus Black, Phoebe Black and Hesper Black and half-brother of Alexia Walken Black |
Elladora Misapinoa Black ll | Daughter of Cygnus Black I and Ella Max, younger sister of Sirius Black I and Phineas Nigellus Black, older sister of Iola Hitchens (née Black) . |
Elladora Nott (née Black) ll | Daughter of Lucion Black and Inlora Gibbon, wife of Samuel Nott and mother of Euphemia Potter (née Nott), Demetrius Nott and Cantankerus Nott |
Hesper Black | Fourth child of Nigellus Black and the third child of Eudokia Carlock, younger sister of Licorus Black and Phoebe Black, elder sister of Eduardus Black and younger half-sister of Alexia Walken Black. |
Iola Ella Hitchens (née Black) | Daughter of Cygnus Black I and Ella Max, younger sister of Sirius Black I, Phineas Nigellus Black and Elladora Black, wife of Robert Hitchens |
Licorus Black l | Only child of Cetus Black IV and Alodia Prewett, husband of Sophronia Rowle and father of Merope Black and Mirabelle Black. |
Licorus Nigellus Black ll | Second child of Nigellus Black and first child of Eudokia Carlock, older brother of Phoebe Black, Hesper Black and Eduardus Black, older half-brother of Alexia Walken Black, husband of Magenta Tripe and father of Misapinoa Blishwick (née Black), Cygnus Black I and Arcturus Black I. |
Lucion Black | Son of Neperon Black and Mortea Selwyn, husband of Inlora Gibbon and father of Elladora Nott (née Black) ll. |
Lucretia Misapinoa Prewett (née Black) | Daughter of Arcturus Black III and Melania E. Macmillan, older sister of Orion Black and wife of Ignatius Prewett |
Lycoris Hesper Black | Daughter of Sirius Black II and Hesper Gamp, younger sister of Arcturus Black III and older sister of Regulus Black I |
Lyra Cedrella Black I | Daughter of Prince William, Duke of Gloucester (also known as William Stuart, "the Mudblood King") and Viola Black, younger sister of Cepheus Black III and Cassiopeia Black I and the older sister of Ophiuchus Black. |
Marius Phineas Black | Second son of Cygnus Black II and Violetta Bulstrode, younger brother of Pollux Black and Cassiopeia Burke (née Black), elder brother of Dorea Potter (née Black), husband of Bertha Smith and father of Carly Black and Nathan Black |
Merope Black | Daughter of Licorus Black and Sophronia Rowle and older sister of Mirabelle Black. She tragically died at the age of nine, although the cause of her death is unknown. |
Mirabelle Black | Daughter of Licorus Black and Sophronia Rowle and younger sister of Merope Black. She was raised on one of the Black family estates in Ilminster, Somerset, England, but passed away at Black Manor in Tisbury, Wiltshire, of dragon pox at nineteen. |
Misapinoa Magenta Blishwick (née Black) | Eldest daughter of Licorus Black and Magenta Tripe, older sister of Cygnus Black I and Arcturus Black I and wife of Jimbo Blishwick. |
Mizar Salazar Black | Son of Perseus Black and Ingetha Flint, husband of Soarzera Blishwisk and father of Livius Noctis Black. |
Musée Adrianus Black | Only son of Adrian Black and Malinda Meliflua, husband of Carmella Kwistle and father of Norna Blishwick (née Black) and Nellicent Black. |
Narcissa Cassiopeia Malfoy (née Black) | Daughter of Cygnus Black III and Druella Rosier, younger sister of sister of Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black), Andromeda Tonks (née Black) and Amaryllis Mort (née Black), wife of Lucius Malfoy and mother of Draco Malfoy. |
Nellicent Malinda Black | Daughter of Musée Black and Carmella Kwistle, younger sister of Norna Blishwick (née Black). She died in 1882 at the age of 52 during a bombing attack on her neighbourhood. |
Nigellus Black | Son of Aries Black and Cordelia Lowe, younger brother of Adrian Black, husband of Eudokia Carlock, with whom he fathered Licorus Black, Phoebe Black, Hesper Black and Eduardus Black. Nigellus also had an affair with the half-blood Greek witch, Dalassena Walken, resulting in their illegitimate daughter Alexia Walken Black. |
Nilus Theseus Black | Son of Theseus Black and Meliboa Selwyn, twin brother of Castor Black, husband of Clothilda Burke and father of Cepheus Black |
Orion Regulus Black | Son of Arcturus Black III and Melania E. Macmillan, younger brother of Lucretia Prewett (née Black), husband of Walburga Black and the father of Sirius Black III, Regulus Black II, Altair Black and Aquila Black. |
Perseus Black | Son of Marius Black and Bertha Smith, husband of Ingetha Flint and father of Mizar Salazar Black. Despite being part-squib (having a squib father and muggle mother), he was born with his father's magical blood actively running through his veins. |
Phineas Nigellus Black l | Son of Cygnus Black I and Ella Max, younger brother of Sirius Black I and older sibling of Elladora Black and Iola Hitchens (née Black), husband of Ursula Flint and father of Sirius Black II, Phineas Black, Arcturus Black II, Belvina Burke (née Black) and Cygnus Black II |
Phineas Arcturus Black ll | Second son of Phineas Nigellus Black and Ursula Flint, younger brother of Sirius Black II, older brother of Arcturus Black II, Belvina Burke (née Black) and Cygnus Black II, husband of Cléo Duval and father of Édouard Black. |
Pollux Cygnus Black | Eldest son of Cygnus Black II and Violetta Bulstrode, older brother of Cassiopeia Black, Marius Black and Dorea Potter (née Black), husband of Irma Crabbe and father of Walburga Black, Alphard Black, Cygnus Black III |
Phoebe Eudokia Black | Third child of Nigellus Black and Eudokia Carlock, younger sister of Licorus Black, older sister of Hesper Black and Eduardus Black, younger half-sister of Alexia Walken Black. |
Regulus Phineas Black Il | Son of Sirius Black II and Hesper Gamp and younger brother of Arcturus Black III and Lycoris Black |
Regulus Arcturus Black IIl | Son of Orion and Walburga Black and brother of Sirius Black lll, Altair Black, Atria Black and Aquila Black. |
Sirius Cygnus Black I | Eldest child of Cygnus Black I and Ella Max and the older brother of Phineas Nigellus Black, Elladora Black and Iola Hitchens (née Black). |
Sirius Black II | Eldest child of Phineas Nigellus Black and Ursula Flint, older brother of Phineas Black, Arcturus Black II, Belvina Burke (née Black) and Cygnus Black II, husband of Hesper Gamp and father of Arcturus Black III, Lycoris Black and Regulus Black I. |
Sirius Orion Black III | Son of of Orion and Walburga Black, husband of Ethel Redwood and brother of Regulus Black II, Altair Black, Atria Black and Aquila Black. Disowned for his blood traitor ideas, Sirius was a member of both Orders of the Phoenix, yet, after the First Wizarding War, was framed by Peter Pettigrew as a Death Eater, making it seem as though Sirius had in fact reflected his family's beliefs. Imprisoned in but escaped Azkaban, Sirius participated in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, where he was killed by Bellatrix. |
Theseus Castus Black | Son of the infamous dark wizards, Castus Black and Galoria Gaunt, husband of Meliboa Selwyn and father of Nilus Black and Castor Black |
Viola Black | Daughter of Cepheus Black II and Lavinia Malfoy, wife of Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and mother of Cepheus Black III, Cassiopeia Black I, Lyra Black I and Ophiuchus Black. Viola fell in love with and married the muggle duke, Prince William, which would have been considered by the Blacks a great scandal if it had been in a time after the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy was out into place. She kept her birth name and passed it on to her children. |
Vulpecula Meliboa Black | Daughter of Castor Black and Lucinda Vane, wife and first cousin of Cepheus Black and mother of Amorette Abbott (née Black), Aries Black and Allegra Black. |
Walburga Irma Black | Daughter of Pollux Black and Irma Crabbe, sister of Alphard Black and Cygnus Black III and mother of Sirius Black III, Regulus Black II, Altair Black and Aquila Black. |
Distant relatives[]
Distant Relatives | Relation to the House of Black | ||||
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Arthur Weasley | Son of Cedrella Weasley (née Black). | ||||
Molly Weasley
(née Prewett) |
Wife of Arthur Weasley, niece of Lucretia Prewett (née Black) and Cedrella Black's daughter-in-law. | ||||
Gideon Prewett | Nephew of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). | ||||
Fabian Prewett | |||||
Bill Weasley | Paternal grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Grand-nephew of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). | ||||
Charlie Weasley | |||||
Percy Weasley | |||||
Fred Weasley | |||||
George Weasley | |||||
Ron Weasley | |||||
Ginny Weasley | |||||
Victoire Weasley | Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Great-grand-niece of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). | ||||
Dominique Weasley | |||||
Molly Weasley II | |||||
Lucy Weasley | |||||
Roxanne Weasley | |||||
Rose Weasley | |||||
Lily Potter II | Maternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Great-grand-niece of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). Also, possibly relatives to Dorea Potter (neé Black). | ||||
Louis Weasley | Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Great-grand-nephew of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). | ||||
Fred Weasley II | |||||
Hugo Weasley | |||||
James Potter II | Maternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Great-grand-nephew of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). Also, possibly relatives to Dorea Potter (neé Black). | ||||
Albus Potter | Maternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Great-grand-nephew of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). Also, possibly relatives to Dorea Potter (neé Black). | ||||
Nymphadora Tonks | Daughter of Andromeda Tonks (née Black). | ||||
Remus Lupin | Husband of Nymphadora Tonks, son-in-law of Andromeda Tonks (née Black). | ||||
Teddy Lupin | Maternal grandmother is Andromeda Tonks (née Black). | ||||
Draco Malfoy | Son of Narcissa Malfoy (née Black). | Scorpius Malfoy | Paternal grandmother is Narcissa Malfoy (née Black). | James Potter I | Distantly related through his son's marriage to Ginny Weasley. Also, possibly relatives to Dorea Potter (neé Black). |
Harry Potter | Related through wife Ginny Weasley. Also, he is possibly related to Dorea Potter (née Black). | ||||
Araminta Meliflua Crouch | Daughter of Charis Black and Casper Crouch | ||||
Hermione Granger | Wife of Ron Weasley | ||||
Fleur Delacour | Wife of Bill Weasley | ||||
Audrey Weasley | Wife of Percy Weasley | ||||
Angelina Johnson | Wife of George Weasley | ||||
Frank Longbottom | Relation of Callidora Longbottom (née Black). | ||||
Alice Longbottom | Wife of Frank Longbottom. | ||||
Neville Longbottom | Relation of Callidora Longbottom (née Black). | ||||
Barty Crouch Snr | Son of Casper Crouch and Charis Black | ||||
Barty Crouch Jnr | Paternal grandmother is Charis Crouch (née Black). | ||||
Delphini | Mother is Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black). | ||||
Tom Marvolo Riddle | Father of Delphini with Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black). | ||||
Lucius Malfoy | The husband/third cousin of Narcissa Malfoy (née Black) and maternal nephew of Elennora Nott (née Black) | ||||
Draco Malfoy | The son of Narcissa Malfoy (née Black) and maternal grand-nephew of Elennora Nott (née Black) | ||||
Scorpius Malfoy | The grandson of Narcissa Malfoy (née Black) and maternal great-grandson of Elennora Nott (née Black) | ||||
Ethel Redwood | Wife of Sirius Orion Black | ||||
Amber Lestrange | Daughter of Bellatrix Black and Rodolphus Lestrange | ||||
Spoiler warning! This article contains plot details about an upcoming episode. |
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The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black |
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- "Toujours Pur."
- —The family motto, translating to "Always Pure"[src]
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black was one of the largest, oldest, and wealthiest pure-blooded wizarding families in Great Britain, and one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Many wizarding families in Britain were distantly related to the House of Black. Like the Malfoy and Lestrange families (both of whom are related to the Black family), the House of Black was synonymous with elevated status and wealth. The Blacks were traditionally sorted into Slytherin at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The Black family tree was displayed in the drawing room of the family home at 12 Grimmauld Place in London, England on an intricate tapestry, as an ornate mural. The tapestry started in the Middle Ages and showed the dominant line of the family up to the death of its last members.[1]
By the late twentieth century, the House of Black had become extinct in the male line with the deaths of Sirius and Regulus Black, neither of whom had children. The female line continued through members of the Malfoy, Potter and Weasley families, as well as through the individuals Teddy Lupin, Brody, Rupert, Graham Summers and Delphini, the latter of which was Bellatrix's illegitimate daughter with Lord Voldemort.
History[]
Early history[]
- "...my parents, with their pure-blood mania, convinced that to be a Black made you practically royal..."
- —Sirius Black to Harry Potter on his family's values[src]
The Black family traced its origin back to the Middle Ages. They claimed to have entirely magical ancestry, but as Sirius Black informed his godson Harry Potter, no true pure-blood families existed by the twentieth century, and the pure-blood families like the Blacks simply removed Muggles and Squibs from their family trees.
The Blacks placed a great importance on blood purity, considering themselves akin to royalty in the wizarding world and disdaining Muggles, Squibs, blood traitors, and Muggle-borns. The family motto, which could be found on the family crest, was Toujours Pur, meaning "Always Pure" in French. Many members took this phrase very seriously,[2] and were willing to even marry and have children with their own cousins to keep the bloodline pure.
Recent history[]
Bellatrix Lestrange and other Black relatives are tried before the Council of Magical Law
Because of their views, a large number of the Black family members practised the Dark Arts and supported Lord Voldemort during the First and Second Wizarding Wars. A few Blacks even became Death Eaters, while many others never took the Dark Mark but believed in the "purification" of the wizarding world nevertheless.[2] Walburga and Orion Black, two members of the family who were alive during the rise of the Death Eaters, were known for being cousins.
A few members of the family, however, disagreed with the traditional views of their family; Sirius Black, for example, joined the Order of the Phoenix, as did Andromeda Tonks, who married a Muggle-born, and Nymphadora Tonks, a distant member of the Black family. Both were murdered by Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black), Sirius's cousin and Tonks's aunt, in battle.
Supportive of Voldemort at first, the family loyalists who did not become Death Eaters got cold feet when they saw the levels he would go to achieve his goals. Their hatred towards Muggles is such that some members who are not outright Death Eaters would go to lengths to persecute them, such as Araminta Meliflua trying to pass a Ministry Bill to make Muggle-hunting legal. However, even those who originally supported Voldemort's actions to purge the Muggles got cold feet when they saw what he was willing to do for power.
Sirius Black being pushed into the Veil to his death by a curse of his cousin's, ending the male line of the House of Black
With Sirius's death, the male line of the Black family died out, but the female line continued through the descendants of his cousins Bellatrix Lestrange, Andromeda Tonks and Narcissa Malfoy, his second cousin, once removed, Arthur Weasley, as well as members of the Burke family, the Crouches, the Longbottoms and the Potter family who were related to the Blacks.[3]
Family members[]
Main family[]
- Apollonia Black
- Araminta Meliflua Black
- Artemisia Blackwood
- Artemisia Blackwood's mother
- Black family ancestor
Relatives by marriage[]
|
|
Distant relatives[]
Distant Relative | Relation to the House of Black |
---|---|
Lysandra Blackwood | Daughter and only child of Artemisia Blackwood (née Black). She was born a Squib. |
Arthur Weasley | Son of Cedrella Weasley (née Black). |
Molly Weasley
(née Prewett) |
Wife of Arthur Weasley and niece of Lucretia Prewett (née Black).[5] |
Gideon Prewett | Nephew of Lucretia Prewett (née Black).[5] |
Fabian Prewett | |
Bill Weasley |
Paternal grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Grand-nephew of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). |
Charlie Weasley | |
Percy Weasley | |
Fred Weasley | |
George Weasley | |
Ron Weasley | |
Ginny Weasley | |
Victoire Weasley | Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Great-grand-niece of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). |
Dominique Weasley | |
Molly Weasley II | |
Lucy Weasley | |
Roxanne Weasley | |
Rose Weasley | |
Lily Potter II | Maternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Great-grand-niece of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). On her mother's side, she is a first cousin thrice removed to Dorea Potter (née Black); she is also related to her in some way on her father's side. |
Louis Weasley | Paternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Great-grand-nephew of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). |
Fred Weasley II | |
Hugo Weasley | |
James Potter II | Maternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley (née Black). Great-grand-nephews of Lucretia Prewett (née Black). On their mother's side, they are first cousins thrice removed to Dorea Potter (née Black); they are also related to her in some way on their father's side. |
Albus Potter | |
Nymphadora Tonks | Daughter of Andromeda Tonks (née Black). |
Remus Lupin | Husband of Nymphadora Tonks, son-in-law of Andromeda Tonks (née Black). |
Teddy Lupin | Maternal grandmother is Andromeda Tonks (née Black). |
Draco Malfoy | Son of Narcissa Malfoy (née Black). |
Scorpius Malfoy | Paternal grandmother is Narcissa Malfoy (née Black). |
Charlus Potter's son | Son of Dorea Potter (née Black). |
James Potter I | Distantly related through his son's marriage to Ginny Weasley. Also, related in some way to Dorea Potter (née Black). |
Harry Potter | Related through wife Ginny Weasley. Also, he is related in some way to Dorea Potter (née Black). |
Araminta Meliflua | Cousin of Walburga Black, probably niece of Pollux Black and Irma Crabbe. |
Hermione Granger | Wife of Ron Weasley |
Fleur Delacour | Wife of Bill Weasley |
Audrey Weasley | Wife of Percy Weasley |
Angelina Johnson | Wife of George Weasley |
Frank Longbottom | Relation of Callidora Longbottom (née Black). |
Alice Longbottom | Wife of Frank Longbottom. |
Neville Longbottom | Relation of Callidora Longbottom (née Black). |
Barty Crouch Snr | Mother is most likely Charis Crouch (née Black). |
Barty Crouch Jnr | Paternal grandmother is most likely Charis Crouch (née Black). |
Delphini | Mother is Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black). |
Tom Marvolo Riddle | Father of Delphini with Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black). |
Behind the scenes[]
J. K. Rowling's hand drawn copy of the Black family tree
- Most of the Blacks are named after constellations.
- A hand drawn copy of the most recent section of the family tree was donated to a charity auction for Book Aid by J. K. Rowling, in February 2006. The drawing was purchased on behalf of Daniel Radcliffe for £30,000.
- According to Sirius Black, if all of the pure-blood families stick with only pure-blood marriages, almost all of them will be relatives because there are only a few pure-blood families. Therefore Sirius relates to the Crabbe family, the Potter family, the Weasley family, the Malfoy family, the Crouch family, the Longbottom family, the Lestrange family, the Lupin family, the Gaunt family, the Macmillan family, the Prewett family, the Riddle family, the Peverell family, the Bulstrode family and the Slytherin family.
- Walburga and Orion Black were second cousins, though they married, a common occurrence historically for aristocratic, wealthy families.
- Another version of the family tree tapestry appeared in the Template:OOTP. When film makers told Rowling that they needed to "visualise Sirius Black's family tree", she faxed them the complete Black family tree, going back eight generations. On that tree the name Phineas is misspelt Phineus.[6]
- According to a statement by Horace Slughorn, all the members of this family except Sirius were all sorted into Slytherin. But some members of this family were in Hogwarts before Slughorn was Head of Slytherin, however it could be that Slughorn was in class with some of them. This statement is backed up with the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black wearing Slytherin coloured robes in the headmasters office and his claim that "We Slytherins are brave, yes, but not stupid".
- Many members of the House of Black have died at considerably younger ages than is normal for wizards and witches, and even Muggles for that matter. Of those whose dates of birth and death are shown on the family tree, none lived to be older than one hundred, and most died between the ages of fifty and eighty, with an average life expectancy of only 59.5 years (based on the family tree), though this is possibly the result of major inbreeding (see above) as well as emotional instability and war (as seen[1]).
- Many members of the family are said to have great good looks, with a touch of aristocratic arrogance to it.
- After Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the only pure-blood members who weren't dead or imprisoned are: Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, Scorpius Malfoy, Astoria Greengrass, Andromeda Tonks, Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Percy, George, Ron, Ginny Weasley, Anya Glover, Nathan Glover, Venus Glover, Valencia Bletchley, Miles Bletchley, Astridge Bruke, Caroline Burke, Brianna Burke, Orian Burke, Cassiopeia Burke, Angelica Merryweather, Adrian Merriweather, Eudora Barding, Elladora Knight, Savanah Knight, Brandon Groves, Nestory Groves, Jeremy Knight, Jessica Warrington, Katherine Davis, Eurithia Davis, Bradley Davis, Brain Davis, Tracy Davis, Lola Bryson, Gwenda Malkin, Savannah Carrow, Yandar Carrow, Taylor Carrow, Jordan Warrington, Cassius Warrington, Bridgette Borgen, Alfie Borgen, Drussela Borgen, Sage Warrington,Damien Warrington, Jezzibelle Urquhart, Harriette Boardingwood, Lewes Bruke, Ashap Burke, Gonglorian Bruke, Halledin Burke, Alpha Zall, Pyrenees Zall.
- The female lines continue through Bellatrix (through her descendant with Lord Voldemort, ironically), Narcissa (with Lucius Malfoy), Andromeda (with Ted Tonks), Callidora (with Harfang Longbottom), Cedrella (with Septimus Weasley), Dorea (with Charlus Potter), Iola (with Bob Hitchens), Belvina (with Herbert Burke), Charis (with Casper Crouch, Through their daughters Zara Runcorn and Lyla Vanderbilt), Denise (with Hugo Summers), Elliana (with Astro Lupin), Vesper (with Ewan Longbottom), Zelophia (with Vaustino Threepwood), Eloise (With Miles Dunderton) Juliana (with Scott Hildegard), Zella (with Lewis Greening), June (with Ian Fields), Drusella (with Morgan Fredericks), Vera (with Dino Warrington).
- Out of 36 members, most are descendants of Phineas Nigellus and Ursula Flint (25), Seven were of known generations preceding him and three were his siblings. The remaining one was Phineas himself.
- There is at least one disowned Black in each generation (except the generation consisting of Cygnus Black I, Arcturus Black I and Misapinoa Black.)
- All of the males that have been blasted off the family tree were not disowned due to marriage (except for possibly Eduardus Limette Black, who was blasted off for an unknown reason). Phineas was disowned for supporting Muggle rights, Marius was disowned for being a Squib, Alphard for leaving gold to his disowned nephew, and Sirius for running away from his home and not believing in the importance of blood-purity. The three females to have been disowned after marriage are Andromeda, Cedrella and Iola Black (all for marriage to a Muggle-born, a blood traitor, and a Muggle, respectively) .
- It is possible that some of the disowned male members of the family have male-line descendants that are not recognised by the greater Black family due to their ancestors' actions. Their descendants, if any, had however to have gone extinct (fully or just in the male line) by late 1995, when Sirius stated that he was the last of the Blacks. However, as they are not recorded on the family tree, it is unknown if they are deceased or not. So there is a possibility that the Black Family in the male line is still extant.
- Though many members of the Black family were supporters of either Voldemort directly or his principles of blood purity, the family did not become related to him until the birth of Delphini, daughter of Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange (née Black) as well as the marriage of Ginny Weasley, a member of the Weasley family and the House of Black, and Harry Potter, who is related to Voldemort through the Peverell brothers, distant ancestors of both of them.
- It was once speculated that Dorea Black and her husband Charlus Potter were in fact James Potter's parents, since they had an only child; however, the actual names of James's parents, Fleamont and Euphemia Potter, were later revealed via Pottermore, proving this to be untrue. In addition, if a parent of James Potter was a Black, they would have almost certainly been blasted from the tapestry for supporting Sirius. However, it is more than likely that Dorea was an aunt or cousin by marriage of James. Also, the female line of the House of Black continues through Harry's children, James Sirius Potter, Albus Severus Potter and Lily Luna Potter, whose maternal great-grandmother is Cedrella Weasley née Black, also making Harry related to the House of Black via marriage.
- On the copy of the family tree hand-drawn by J.K. Rowling, Cygnus Black III was born in 1938, while his first child, Bellatrix, was born in 1951, and his last, Narcissa, was born in 1955, meaning that he was between 13 and 17 years old when all his children were born. Considering that Cygnus III was born late compared to his sister Walburga (born 1925), it is probably a mistake, though their brother Alphard was born between Walburga and Cygnus, and his date of birth is unknown, suggesting that Cygnus's date of birth could indeed be correct. Interestingly enough according to the Black Family Tree, his father Pollux Black had his first child and Cygnus Black IIIs older sister Walburga Black at the age of 13. Again this could be a mathematical mistake.
- If the birth years are indeed correct, then the Black Family would have all at some point been in school at the same time (albeit in different years).
- In the fully illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix by Jim Kay and Neil Packer, the family crest seen at the header of chapter six matches the illustration in J.K. Rowling's original sketch, albeit cleaned up and more symmetrical. The sketch is credited "NP," attributing it to Packer. A variation of the crest appears on the book's dedication page.
- According to European rules of Heraldry, the Blackwood family would be considered a cadet branch of the House of Black.
Appearances[]
- Template:PS Template:1st Mention
- Template:POA Template:1st
- Template:POA
- Template:POA
- Template:GOF
- Template:GOF
- Template:OOTP
- Template:OOTP
- Template:OOTP
- Template:HBP
- Template:HBP
- Template:HBP
- Template:DH
- Template:DH
- Template:DH
- Template:DH
- Template:DH
- Template:CC Template:Mention
- Template:CC Template:Mention
- Template:PM
- Template:WW
- Template:LEGO
- Template:LEGO
- Template:LEGO
- Template:LEGO
- Template:LEGO
- Template:LEGO
- Harry Potter Prequel
- Template:HPK
- Template:HPV
- Template:HPV
- Template:DH
- Template:HPPS
- Template:HPFW
- Template:WWHP
- Template:AM
- Template:HM
- Template:WU
- Template:MA Template:BNN
- Template:HL
- The Art of Harry Potter Mini Book of Graphic Design
Notes and references[]
Template:Imagecat
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Black Family Tapestry
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:OOTP
- ↑ Template:DH
- ↑ Although it has never been confirmed that Septimus and Cedrella are Arthur's parents, this can be inferred based on Sirius Black's statement in Template:OOTP that Arthur was "something like [his] second cousin once removed." The Black family tree establishes Cedrella as a first cousin once removed of both Orion and Walburga Black, Sirius's parents. Thus, any children she had would be their second cousins, and second cousins once removed of their sons Sirius and Regulus. Also, almost all of Sirius's relatives can be seen on the Black family tree because both his parents were born into the House of Black, making it unlikely that he could be related to Arthur in a way not shown. See also this talk page and an HPL essay for more information.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sirius Black stated in Template:OOTP that Molly Weasley was his "cousin by marriage". This means that Ignatius Prewett, Lucretia's husband, could not have been Molly, Fabian, and Gideon's father, as this would have made them first cousins by blood of Sirius. Ignatius was Sirius's uncle by marriage, and if Molly was his niece, this could explain Sirius's comment. See this talk page for more information.
- ↑ Empire Magazine: Feature on OotP from The Leaky Cauldron
Template:Death Eaters
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