Timelines
100-1400 A.D. - Medieval Era
100 – 1400 AD
This is a time of uneasy coexistence between the Wizard and Muggle communities, although as the years go by, Muggles begin more and more to fear wizards. It is during this time that Hogwarts is founded in Scotland as a way for the wizarding community to educate its young people away from the Muggles. Quidditch is created during this era. A number of very famous witches and wizards live during the medieval era, including the four Founders of Hogwarts and Merlin.

The Dark Wizard Godelot advances the study of Dark Magic
Godelot studies Dark Magic and writes a book of dangerous spells called Magick Moste Evile. He possesses the Elder Wand, which he credits as helping him write his masterwork. Godelot dies when his son Hereward locks him in the cellar to languish and steals the Elder Wand. Read More
The Dark Wizard Godelot is murdered by his son
Godelot owned the Elder Wand, which he spoke of almost as a friend or mentor in the Dark Arts. His son, Hereward, coveted the wand and that jealousy eventually led him madness. He stole the wand and locked his father in the cellar, where Godelot died. Read More
Annual Swedish broom race begins
A broom race is run in Sweden from Kopparberg to Arjeplog, a distance of well over 300 miles. The race is so popular it is made an annual tradition – one which still continues today, over 1000 years later. Read MoreGerman illuminated manuscript created
Witches and wizards were using primitive broomsticks for transportation, but these broomsticks were far from perfect; this German illuminated manuscript shows wizards dismounting early flying broomsticks in pain. Read More
Hogwarts is founded
Growing distrust on the part of Muggles for wizards and witches compels the four greatest witches and wizards of the age – Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin – to found Hogwarts. Ravenclaw is said to have dreamed of a warty hog leading her to a particular cliff… Read More
The beginnings of Quidditch
Gertie Keddle, living near Queerditch Marsh, writes about some local witches and wizards playing a new game on broomsticks; over the next few centuries this game evolves into Quidditch (QA3). Read More
Sir Cadogan battles the Wyvern of Wye
In an epic battle of legend, Sir Cadogan rides into battle with the infamous Wyvern of Wye. He nearly loses the battle — his horse is eaten, his helmet melted, and his wand broken — but he finds a fat gray pony in a nearby field and rides back to what he could only have… Read More
The Bloody Baron murders Helena Ravenclaw and commits suicide
Rowena Ravenclaw’s daughter Helena stole her diadem and fled with it to Albania. A man who was in love with her was sent on a mission to find her, but she refused to return to Hogwarts, and in a fit of anger he killed both her and himself. Helena Ravenclaw… Read More
Helena Ravenclaw steals the diadem of Ravenclaw
Helena, the daughter of Hogwarts founder Rowena Ravenclaw, stole her mother’s diadem and ran off to Albania. Her mother became deathly ill soon after and sent Helena’s estranged fiance, a baron, to find her and bring her back (DH31). Read MoreTragic Gaelic poem written about the game of Creaothceann
The poem tells of twelve men playing a round of Creaothceann during which “…ten of their number were fated to die.”… Read More
Creation of the Sword of Gryffindor
The silver sword with large rubies (CS17, CS18) was fashioned by goblins, including their king, Ragnuk the First, and is enchanted. (DH25)… Read More
Battle of Hastings; the Norman Conquest of Britain
This famous battle actually took place near the town of Hastings on Selnac Hill. The defeat of Harold II by William the Conqueror marked the last time that England was conquered by foreign forces. Read More
Armand Malfoy arrives in Britain
Armand Malfoy accompanies William the Conqueror from France to Britain with the Norman Conquest in 1066. He provides assistance — possibly magical in nature — to William and is rewarded with land in Wiltshire. The Malfoy family will maintain a stately residence on that land for the next 900 years. Read MoreFulbert the Fearful dies
This wizard was so cowardly that he never went out of his house. He died when his roof collapsed as a result of a Defensive Charm that backfired (FW). Read MoreStichstock Painting Created
The famous painting Gunther der Gewalttätig ist der Gewinner (“Gunther the Violent is the Winner”) is drawn, depicting a game of Stichstock (QA2). Read MoreGuthrie Lochrin of Scotland writes of the discomfort of riding broomsticks
The Scottish wizard described the pain resulting from a short flight on an early broomstick (QA1). Read MoreWilfred Elphick born
He would go on to be the first wizard in the world gored by an African Erumpent. Read MoreA Kwidditch match against an Ilkley team uses barrels for goals
Goodwin Kneen of Yorkshire wrote a letter to his cousin Olaf in Norway describing their Kwidditch match against a team from Ilkley. His wife Gunhilda was to play Catcher but had to sit out the match due to her illness from Dragon Pox. Instead… Read MoreLinfred of Stinchcombe creates Skele-Gro and Pepper-Up potions
Linfred lives in a small village in Gloucestershire in the 12th century, where he potters around his extensive gardens and invents potions. His tonics and remedies are offered to both magical and non-magical folks, and he gains the nickname “The Potterer.” Two of the potions he invented are the precursors… Read More
Puddlemere United formed
The Puddlemere United Quidditch team is now the oldest team in the British and Irish Quidditch League, having been founded in 1163 (QA7). Read MoreElphick gored by erumpet
Elphick was the first wizard to be gored by the African creature (FW). Because erumpet horns contain an explosive fluid (FB), Elphick probably blew up after being impaled. Read More
Holyhead Harpies formed
The Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team would go on to keep an 800+ year tradition of hiring only witches starting from their formation in 1203 (QA7). Read MoreBarberus Bragge becomes Chief of the Wizards' Council
Bragge’s tenure is marked by boorish actions, including the introduction of cruel Snidget hunting into the sport of Quidditch (QA4). Read More
Snidget introduced into Quidditch
At a Quidditch match, Chief Barberus Bragge of the Wizards’ Council releases a Golden Snidget and offers 150 Galleons to whichever player catches it first; this eventually proves so popular that a new position is added to Quidditch teams, the “Hunter,” whose sole task is to catch a Golden Snidget… Read More
Bridget Wenlock dies
Despite her fears of having her ideas stolen, she is well remembered for her discovery of the magical properties of the number seven (JKR) and her eccentricity. Read MoreInternational Warlock Convention
This convention is part of the second-year History of Magic curriculum; Professor Binns is in the middle of a lecture on it when Hermione interrupts to ask about the Chamber of Secrets. Read More
The Pride of Portree Quidditch team is founded
One of the earliest teams to be established, they would not have been called The “Pride of Portree” when they were founded because Portree did not exist until hundreds of years later. The original name of the team is not known. The team comes from the Isle of Skye, where it was founded… Read MoreThe Triwizard Tournament is established
The tradition begins with the three European Wizarding schools: Beauxbatons Academy, Durmstrang Institute, and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It will continue off and on for many centuries. Read More
Famous Hag Cordelia Misericordia is born
Misericordia became famous as a representative for her race in Wizarding society and government (FW). Read MoreThe German broom game Stichstock dies out
Stichstock was a competitive sport played with brooms and a dragon bladder (QA2). Read More
Golden Snidget population begins to fall rapidly
The population of Snidgets drops due to hunting and its use in Quidditch. Read MoreWitch Burnings
As the magical world separates itself more and more from Muggle society, Muggles are particularly afraid of magic but not very good at recognizing it, leading to persecution of suspected witches. Wendelin the Weird is burned at the stake 47 times in various disguises (using a Flame-Freezing Charm to protect… Read More
Wimbourne Wasps Quidditch team formed
During 1312, the Quidditch team Wimbourne Wasps is founded in Dorset (QA7). Read MoreCyprian Youdle is born
Referee Youdle is the only Quidditch referee to be killed during a match. Read More
Burdock Muldoon is Chief of the Wizards' Council
Muldoon struggled to find a working legal definition for “beast” and “being” during a summit on the subject. His simplistic idea for calling anything that walked on two legs a “being” and therefore to be given full rights backfired spectacularly when goblins introduced trolls, hags, and a number of other… Read More
Ignatia Wildsmith dies
Wildsmith, one of many inventors from Ravenclaw House (Pm), dies at the age of 93 after revolutionizing wizarding travel (FW). Read More
Nicolas Flamel is born
He creates the Philosopher’s Stone and lives for over 600 years (PS17). Read MoreWizards' Council Summits on Classification of Beasts and Beings
In the 14th century, two ill-fated summits were called to determine which of the many types of magical creatures were actually to be considered as sentient and therefore worthy of representation on the Wizards’ Council. In each case, the summits appear to have been intentionally disrupted by goblins, who… Read More
Chauncey Oldridge is born
Oldridge became a victim of Dragon Pox during his lifetime, one of the earliest cases on record. Read More
Elfrida Clagg Chief of Wizards' Council
She succeeds Burdock Muldoon (FB) and declares the Golden Snidget to be a protected species, forbidding its use in Quidditch (QA4). Clagg also tries to establish a standard by which creatures will be given legal rights as “beings”, but her attempt fails (FB). Read More
Beedle the Bard writes fairy tales
Beedle, born in Yorkshire, is famous for his book of wizarding fairy tales collected as The Tales of Beedle the Bard (TBB, DH7, DH21). Read More
Snidget Reservation is established in Somerset
A century earlier, Barberus Bragge had instigated Snidget hunting into the game of Cuaditch, an early form of Quidditch. Now, in the mid-1300s, the small birds are nearing extinction. The head of the Wizards’ Council, Elfrida Clagg, bans Snidget-hunting altogether, as well as its use in… Read More
Referee Youdle killed during a match
A Referee from Norfolk, Cyprian Youdle, is killed by a curse from an angry spectator during a “friendly” match between two local sides (QA6, FW). Read More
Golden Snitch invented and introduced into Quidditch
It is invented as a substitute for the Golden Snidget in Quidditch, as the Snidget is now a protected species and can no longer legally be used in matches. The inventor of the Golden Snitch is said to be Bowman Wright (FW). Read MoreQuidditch matches banned within 50 miles of towns
The Wizard’s Council is concerned about anti-Muggle precautions and issues this decree to try to curtail the exuberance of fans and players. The rule proves ineffective and further rulings over the next decades demonstrate the Council’s frustration over the issue. Read MoreQuidditch matches banned within 100 miles of towns
The 50 mile Quidditch match limit of 1362 wasn’t big enough…. (QA5)… Read More
First record of Quidditch players from Ireland
Until this point in 1385, there was no record that the game of Quidditch had migrated over to Ireland. This match is played against a team from Lancashire but involves Irish players who had come over from Cork, which indicates that the game had been played there… Read More
Early description of Quidditch
The earliest known full description of the game appears in 1398, in a book by Zacharias Mumps. The game he describes already closely resembled modern Quidditch (QA5, QA6). Read More