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"Gellert — Your point about Wizard dominance FOR THE MUGGLES' OWN GOOD — this, I think, is the crucial point. Yes, we have been given power and yes, that power gives us the right to rule, but it also gives us responsibilities over the ruled."
— Young Albus Dumbledore's support of wizarding superiority[src]
Gellert Grindelwald just before he is copied from Bhutan

Gellert Grindelwald, supporter of wizarding supremacy

Wizarding supremacy referred to the ideology held by many witches and wizards, even those who opposed discrimination based on blood status, who regarded themselves as superior to Muggles. While many were content with simply remaining separate from Muggle society, some believed that the world would have been a better place with wizards in charge, ruling over Muggles.

History[]

"Can you smell it, the stench? Do you really intend to turn your back on your own kind. For these animals? With or without you, I will burn down their world, Albus. There's nothing you can do to stop me."
— Gellert Grindelwald to Albus Dumbledore, insulting Muggles[src]

In The Tales of Beedle the Bard, there was a tale named The Wizard and the Hopping Pot. The original tale portrayed Muggles favourably, but when relations with them worsened in a later century, the tale was changed to contain anti-Muggle propaganda.[1]

In the 18th century, Gideon Flatworthy was the leader of the Accionites. They thought they were finer and more noble than people without magic, mainly because they were capable of using magic for everything. They would refuse to lift, carry or move anything without using magic. They were famous for their use of the Summoning Charm and were heavily mocked by the wizarding world at the time.[2]

Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald

Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald both supported wizarding supremacy

The most famous and perhaps dangerous proponent of this ideology was the Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. Along with his friend, Albus Dumbledore, he wanted to end the Statute of Secrecy and rule the Muggles "for the greater good". Albus himself added that it was also best "for the Muggles' own good". They believed their inherent magical abilities gave them the right to rule.[3][4]

However, Albus later drastically changed his views following the tragic death of his sister, Ariana Dumbledore, in a duel started by himself, his brother Aberforth and Grindelwald, the latter who fled afterwards.[5] Grindelwald started a wizarding war and evaded capture for many years,[6] until Dumbledore stopped and defeated him for good in a second legendary duel in 1945.[4]

The ideology was often mistaken for being the same as pure-blood supremacy. However, while they shared a similar view of Muggles, wizarding supremacy did not appear to have a problem with blood status. They had their own motivations and ideas for the world they would rule, which were shared by many people who did not agree with the ideology that pure-bloods were superior to all others.[6]

Known supporters[]

“Wizarding supremacists” Reason(s)
Albus Dumbledore As a young man, Dumbledore resented the damage a group of Muggle boys had done to his sister Ariana, as well as the impact it had on his family. With his friend Grindelwald, he dreamed of establishing wizard dominance in the world for the Muggles' own good. After Ariana's death, he came to regret his views, as well as spent the rest of his life as a fierce advocate of equality and tolerance.
Gellert Grindelwald With his friend Albus, Grindelwald planned to bring the wizarding world out of hiding, bringing Muggles under wizarding control and guidance "for the greater good". He later began a global wizarding war with the intent of ending the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.
Vinda Rosier A member of Grindelwald's army and his personal lieutenant. She proudly stated that when the Alliance was victorious and wizards were free to live openly, they would be given the freedom to annihilate non-wizards.
Gideon Flatworthy
GideonFlatworthy

Gideon Flatworthy

Leader of the Accionites, an anti-Muggle extremist group active in the 1740s, who advocated that "wizards are not, like lowly Muggles, beings of burden, but nobler, finer and higher beings" and that, by extention, wizards ought never to fetch, lift, or carry, instead using their magic to do every kind of physical labour. Flatworthy was greatly criticised by the wizarding press at the time.[2]
  • Percival Dumbledore gained a reputation for despising Muggles for his attack on three Muggle boys. What was not widely known however, was that his attack was an act of retribution for their assault on his daughter Ariana, which left her severely traumatised. He never revealed the true motives for his attack to prevent his daughter from being confined to St Mungo's for the rest of her life.[5]
  • The wizard in The Wizard and the Hopping Pot believed that Muggles were worthless, in contrast with his father's attitude. However, after the Hopping Pot began relentlessly tormenting him for not helping his Muggle neighbours, he changed his opinion and started helping the Muggles.[1]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Tales of Beedle the Bard, "The Wizard and the Hopping Pot"
  2. 2.0 2.1 Wonderbook: Book of Spells
  3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 2 (In Memoriam)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 18 (The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 28 (The Missing Mirror)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay
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