The Enigmatic Journey of the Elder Wand: Unveiling its Mysterious Timeline

Since the late 1990s, the Harry Potter series has captivated audiences with its enchanting tales of fantasy and mesmerizing spells. To master these spells, wizards must receive a top-notch education at renowned schools like Hogwarts. However, even before that, every wizard requires a wand.

Not all wands are alike, and although they do select their owners, it does not necessarily mean that they are the wizard's first magical instrument. The expansive universe of Harry Potter is replete with numerous captivating artifacts and weapons, but perhaps none are as captivating as the Elder Wand.

What Is The Elder Wand?

The Elder Wand, a wand of immense power, grants its wielder an unbeatable advantage in a duel. With a multitude of names and a history of various wielders, some corrupt and others less so, it was even once known as the Deathstick. This coveted wand is sought after by the most formidable and wicked witches and wizards in the wizarding world. Its exceptional strength is such that it seemingly possesses a will of its own, often aligning itself with the most potent wizard in existence.

Who Created The Elder Wand?

The origin of the Elder Wand is shrouded in ambiguity, as it is unclear whether it was created by its first possessor, Antioch Peverell, or if it was fashioned by Death itself. This confusion arises from the well-known and significant "Tale of the Three Brothers" in the Harry Potter series. According to the tale, Death presents the Elder Wand to Antioch as a treacherous gift, alongside equally perilous magical objects bestowed upon Antioch's younger brothers, Ignotus and Cadmius.

If the story is indeed true, rather than a mere folklore within the wizarding world, it would imply that Death is the actual originator of the Elder Wand, intensifying the darkness and frightfulness associated with this immensely powerful artifact. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the "Tale of Three Brothers" is nothing more than a fictional narrative, suggesting that Antioch Peverell somehow managed to fashion one of the most coveted and dangerous items in the wizarding realm.

Who Has Held The Elder Wand?

The history of the Elder Wand remains obscure and enigmatic due to its violent and mysterious nature. The first known possessor of this mighty artifact was Antioch Peverell, although his ownership was short-lived. In the renowned "Tale Of The Three Brothers," Antioch brandished the wand against a fellow wizard, only to boast about its incredible power, thus leading to his demise and the inaugural theft of the Elder Wand. Following Antioch's demise, the wand's history appeared veiled in secrecy for a time, with little information regarding the exploits of Antioch's murderers and their utilization of the wand.

At a certain juncture, a wicked dark wizard named Emeric the Evil managed to acquire the Elder Wand during the Middle Ages. While his name suggests a sinister nature, he ultimately met his end at the hands of Egbert the Egregious, a renowned wizard. Following these two wielders, the wand's history once again became shrouded, only to resurface approximately a century later.

In the realm of the Elder Wand, Godelot emerged as its next renowned owner, although his intentions were no less sinister than those of the previous wielders. During his endeavor of writing a depraved book of dark magic called "Magick Moste Evile," Godelot held the wand firmly in his grip. Unfortunately, his own son Hereward took matters into his own hands, imprisoning the wizard in his cellar, ultimately leading to Godelot's demise and passing the mantle of mastery to Hereward.

Fast forward to approximately the eighteenth century, the Elder Wand resurfaced under the ownership of Barnabas Deverill, remaining steadfastly loyal to him. Despite Deverill's reputation as a formidable wizard, he met his end at the hands of Loxias, the malevolent wizard who dubbed the Elder Wand as the Deathstick. So wicked was Loxias that it remains uncertain who was responsible for striking him down. It is believed that either the wizard Arcus or the wizard Livius emerged victorious over Loxias. From that point onward, the history of the wand descends into obscurity until the advent of the twentieth century.

When the wand resurfaced, it fell into the hands of Mykew Gregorovitch, a humble wandmaker. Despite having possession of the artifact, Gregorovitch did not engage in any notably evil actions, except for attempting to create another wand. However, rumors began to circulate about its presence with him. Fortunately for Gregorovitch, he managed to avoid being killed for the wand. Instead, it was stolen by Gellert Grindelwald, who temporarily incapacitated Gregorovitch, thereby transferring the wand's mastery to the upcoming notorious dark wizard.

Under Grindelwald's control, the Elder Wand proved to be immensely powerful, enabling him to cause havoc throughout Europe. He assembled a formidable army to carry out his bidding. The details of Grindelwald's possession of the Elder Wand are well-documented in The Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them series. Despite the extensive misdeeds committed with the wand's power, Grindelwald was eventually defeated in 1945 by the legendary wizard Albus Dumbledore, leaving an indelible mark in wizarding history.

Similar to the situation with Grindelwald, Dumbledore's possession of the wand is widely known thanks to the original Harry Potter series. He wielded the wand as the headmaster of Hogwarts for many years until Draco Malfoy eventually disarmed him in the astronomy tower. Unaware that he had become the true master of the Elder Wand, Malfoy mistakenly believed it belonged to Snape, as he had killed Dumbledore. Nevertheless, this was irrelevant since Voldemort would later take possession of the wand.

Voldemort mistakenly believed that Snape possessed the wand. However, Harry Potter proved to be the actual master of the wand after disarming Malfoy at Malfoy Manor. Using this advantage, Harry defeated Voldemort, repaired his own wand, and returned to Dumbledore’s resting place.

The unveiling of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child introduced a complication to the wand's lineage. It is possible that Delphini, Voldemort's daughter, became the true master of the Elder Wand by disarming Harry in a duel. Although Harry and the other wizards eventually defeated Delphini, the manner in which wand loyalty shifted remains mysterious, adding further complexity to the Elder Wand.

Both Delphini and Harry Potter are believed to be the most recent possessors of the Elder Wand, which is highly regarded as one of the most powerful wands in the wizarding realm.

You can access the Harry Potter movies for streaming on HBO Max.