Merlin, founder of the Order of Merlin, which was originally an organisation, not an award.
The Order of Merlin is an award bestowed upon wizards and witches who have achieved great deeds. It has three different levels: First Class, Second Class, and Third Class.
History
The Order of Merlin was founded by Merlin in the Middle Ages as an organisation with the goal of promoting laws to protect and benefit Muggles.[1] It is unknown when the Order changed from an organisation to an award or when its focus shifted from advocating Muggle rights to honouring great wizarding accomplishments in general.
Known recipients
Order of Merlin, First Class
- Sirius Black's grandfather
- This was either Arcturus Black III or Pollux Black. Awarded for his "services to the Ministry," which, according to Sirius, was another way of saying that he had given them a lot of gold. Sirius threw the medal into the rubbish when he was cleaning 12 Grimmauld Place.
- During the campaign to discredit Dumbledore, it was suggested by Remus Lupin that the Ministry would consider taking away the Order of Merlin from Dumbledore.
- Awarded posthumously, for his "heroic confrontation," or so it was believed at the time, with Sirius Black. The medal was given to Pettigrew's mother. Pettigrew, not Black, was later revealed to have been the one who betrayed the Potters, and it is possible his Order of Merlin was retracted as a result.
- Awarded for saving the lives of several Muggles during the Ilfracombe Incident in 1932.
Order of Merlin, Second Class
Order of Merlin, Third Class
- He received this award for his encounter with many dark creatures and instructing people on how to repel them. In 1993, it was revealed that he had only taken credit for these deeds and had not really done any of them. This might have led to his Order's retraction.
Recipients of unknown class
- May have been awarded for his invention of the lycanthropy-treating Wolfsbane Potion.[2]
Possible recipients
Cornelius Fudge promised to give Severus Snape the Order of Merlin, First Class, for capturing Sirius Black, then assumed to be a fugitive murderer, but Black escaped before Fudge could follow through on his word.
It can also be assumed that Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger were given the Order of Merlin, First Class, for finding and destroying all of Voldemort's horcruxes, therefore destroying Voldemort himself.
Behind the scenes
- It could be said to be comparable to the Muggle Order of the British Empire, Victoria Cross, Congressional Medal of Honor, Presidential Medal of Freedom, or the Nobel Prize.
- Since 1966, the International Brotherhood of Magicians has been awarding the Order of Merlin to long-standing members.
- Since Dumbledore was on the verge of losing his Order of Merlin during Fudge's campaign, it means that a certain level of disgrace is capable of causing a recipient to lose the Order. Pettigrew indeed lost his when his treason became public.
- As Fudge was heavily disgraced for his lack of actions against Lord Voldemort's return, it is possible that his Order has been retracted.
- Due to Lockhart being a fraudulent crook who stole credits from other wizards and witches to boost his own fame, it is most likely he earned his Order with deceit and trickery. It is unknown if it was retracted when his true colours were revealed.
Notes and references
- ↑ Famous Wizard Card (Merlin)
- ↑ Horace Slughorn states in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 7, "I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his Uncle Damocles. Outstanding wizard, outstanding, and his Order of Merlin most well-deserved."