The Black family tree charts a wizarding dynasty in the Harry Potter series of books by J.K. Rowling.
The tree is described in the book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but it came more directly to public attention in January 2006 when the author donated a version she had hand-drawn to a Book Aid International charity auction. The tree shows the members of one of the oldest magical families, and their links by marriage to a number of other families whose members also appear in the books. The tree described in the books extends back some 700 years, but the version drawn by Rowling only covers approximately 150 years.
Exact details of the tree were kept secret during the charity auction by publishing only incomplete or partially blurred images of the item for sale. However, a number of people attending the auction made notes which were used to confirm the details upon it, and a compilation of the details was published. This was later amended by further information from another copy of the tree incorporated into the film set for Order of the Phoenix,[1] where the tree appears displayed in the Black family house, 12 Grimmauld Place. The tree caused a considerable stir amongst fans as it provided new information about elements of the plot of the series in between publication of volumes six and seven. It was eventually purchased for £30,000 on behalf of Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter in the films.[2]
Rowling made a similar donation before the book launch of Order of the Phoenix, when she gave a card with notes about the book to be auctioned for the same charity in 2002. [3]
The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
This is not a complete family tree — the Black family extends back to the Middle Ages. However this tree shows the last few generations before the line ended. It shows the oldest generations on the left and the younger ones on the right.
Disowned Blacks
The names in bold are members of the family who have been disowned for bringing disgrace to the family name, usually by marrying Muggles, Muggle-borns, or blood traitors. They were stricken from the tapestry chronicling their common blood.
- Isla Black of the first generation shown was disowned for marrying "Muggle Bob Hitchens".
- Phineas Black of the second generation shown was disowned for supporting Muggle rights.
- Marius Black, third generation son of Cygnus and Violetta Bulstrode Black, was disowned as he was a Squib.
- Cedrella Black, also third generation and cousin of Marius, was disowned for marrying blood traitor Septimus Weasley.
- Alphard Black of the fourth generation shown, was disowned for giving gold to his "runaway nephew", Sirius Black.
- Sirius Black of the fifth generation shown, ran away from home and was subsequently removed.
- Andromeda Black, cousin of Sirius Black, was disowned for marrying "muggle Ted Tonks" (who had in Order of the Phoenix been said by his daughter Nymphadora to have been a muggle-born wizard).
Analysis
J.K. Rowling included birth and death years on the family tree, but oddities amongst them has raised questions as to how carefully the tree was drawn up. For example, Pollux is listed as living from 1912 to 1990; however, his eldest child, Walburga is listed as living from 1925 to 1985, making Pollux a father at the tender age of 13. When questioned about aspects of dates within the series, Rowling has always freely admitted that mathematics is not her best subject. [4]
Four Blacks die within months of one another: Pollux (1912–1990), Arcturus (1901–1991), Cassiopeia (1915–1992), Lucretia (1925–1992). Three Blacks, Regulus (1961-1979), his father Orion (1929-1979), and Regulus' uncle Cygnus (1929-1979) die in the same year.
The Black family also appears to have something of a curse of short life, as many members, with a few exceptions, die in their 50s and 60s; Rowling has claimed that wizards have potential life-spans of around double that of muggles.
It is also noteworthy that, for all the reputation of the family, several members - regardless of affiliation - have proved harmful to Voldemort's schemes: Sirius, Bellatrix, Regulus, and the Malfoys, have all either in their behaviour or their handling of the Horcruxes caused serious harm to Voldemort and his strategies.[5]
Dorea Black
Dorea Black (1920–1977), daughter of Cygnus Black and Violetta Bulstrode, married Charlus Potter. They had one son, who is not named on the tree. The unnamed son is James Potter who was most likely disowned for marrying a muggle-born witch, Lily Evans. They only had one son Harry Potter, also not shown, who is the last living Potter.
Orion Black
Orion Black was born in 1929, to Arcturus Black and Melania Black née Macmillan as the younger of two children. His elder sister was Lucretia Prewett née Black, and he is, by blood, a member of the House of Black. His paternal aunt and uncle were Lycoris Black and Regulus Black (the elder). Later, he married Walburga Black, who was also his second cousin. He was the father of Sirius Black and Regulus Black (the younger), and brother-in-law of Ignatius Prewett, Alphard Black, and Cygnus Black. Walburga seems to have been the dominant personality in their marriage, as their house-elf Kreacher was always more devoted to her, and she was the one who blasted "blood traitors" off the family tapestry. Orion's name has not appeared in the actual text of the series but was revealed on J.K. Rowling's drawing of the Black family tapestry in 2006.
Name etymologies
The origins of the names Sirius, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Regulus, Andromeda, Phineas Nigellus and Walburga can be found in these characters' respective articles.
- Many members of the House of Black are named for stars and constellations, after what Rowling intended as "one of those family traditions".[6] For example, Sirius, Bellatrix, Regulus, Alphard, Arcturus and Pollux are stars, whilst Andromeda, Orion, Cygnus and Cassiopeia are constellations.
- Marius is also the name of a Roman populist general.
- Isla is Spanish for "island", and is also a girl's name in Scotland, derived from the name of the isle of Islay.
- Ursula is Latin for "small female bear". It may be a reference to the bear constellations Ursa Minor and Major which include the Big Dipper and Little Dipper.
- Belvina means "beautiful wine" or "beautiful vine" in Latin.
- Hesper may derive from the Hesperides, or from Hesperus (the Evening Star).
- Violetta Italian for "violet".
- Lycoris is Greek for "twilight", and also a genus of flowers in the Amaryllidaceae family. Lycoris is also Welsh for Licorice, a plant from which black licorice candy is derived.
- Callidora means "gift of beauty" in Greek, and was also the name of one of the three members of the Greek Tripod political party. It is also the name of a moth parasite.
- Charis is Greek for "kindness" (hence the word "charity") and the name of one of the mythological Graces.
- Melania is Greek for "darkness" or "blackness".
- Elladora is a mixture of the Germanic element "Ella" (Foreign), and the Greek element "Dora" (Gift). It could therefore mean "Foreign Gift".
References
- ^ Steve Vander Ark (24 November 2006). "filmset visit". HP-Lexicon. Retrieved 2007-05-31.
- ^ "Potter star buys Rowling document". BBC news 24. 22 February 2006. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
- ^ "Phoenix notes charity donation". The Daily Telegraph. 13 December 2002. Retrieved 2007-05-31.
- ^ J.K. Rowling. "F.A.Q." J.K. Rowling Official Site. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ^ Granger, John, Who Killed Albus Dumbledore?, p.47
- ^ J.K. Rowling (2004). (Interview) http://www.bloomsbury.com/harrypotter/content.asp?sec=4&sec2=4&unart=yes&artTitle=JK%20Rowling%20World%20Book%20Day%20Webchat,%20March%202004. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
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