LESSON 1: THE ORIGINS OF QUIDDITCH
The earliest documented game of Quidditch took place in Queerditch Marsh. A witch named Gertie Keddle witnessed the game, which was played with a single ball and flying rocks – the first Quaffle and Bludgers respectively. The players attempted to score goals by throwing the ball through trees at the end of the marsh while the bewitched rocks attempted to dislodge them from their brooms.
A hundred years later, Goodwin Kneen wrote about “Kwidditch” in a letter to his cousin. The letter describes Chasers as “Catchers” and the flying rocks were now called “Blooders.” Instead of trees, three barrels – which would later be replaced by baskets – mounted on poles were used as goals. By the 13th century, the terms “Quaffle,” “Bludger,” “Chaser,” and “Keeper” were well established in the Quidditch community. Organized teams had started to form with players migrating from other broom sports such as Aingingein, Creaothceann, and Stichstock. But there was still one thing missing from the game.
A hundred years later, Goodwin Kneen wrote about “Kwidditch” in a letter to his cousin. The letter describes Chasers as “Catchers” and the flying rocks were now called “Blooders.” Instead of trees, three barrels – which would later be replaced by baskets – mounted on poles were used as goals. By the 13th century, the terms “Quaffle,” “Bludger,” “Chaser,” and “Keeper” were well established in the Quidditch community. Organized teams had started to form with players migrating from other broom sports such as Aingingein, Creaothceann, and Stichstock. But there was still one thing missing from the game.
THE GOLDEN SNITCH
In 1269, Barberus Bragge introduced the Snidget to the game. Bragge, who was Chief of the Wizards' Council at the time, announced that the player who caught the speedy bird would be awarded with one hundred fifty galleons. A spectator by the name of Modesty Rabnott rescued the Snidget and Bragge promptly fined her ten galleons for disrupting the match.
Following the match, Snidgets became a part of every game of Quidditch and a new position was born: the Hunter. The Hunter's goal was to capture the Snidget and earn one hundred fifty points for their team. Unfortunately, the Snidget was usually crushed to death during the process and in the 14th century, with the Snidget population dwindling, they were made a protected species. For several years, hummingbirds were used as a replacement for the Snidget, but it was clear that Quidditch was not the same as games would regularly end within minutes.
Following the match, Snidgets became a part of every game of Quidditch and a new position was born: the Hunter. The Hunter's goal was to capture the Snidget and earn one hundred fifty points for their team. Unfortunately, the Snidget was usually crushed to death during the process and in the 14th century, with the Snidget population dwindling, they were made a protected species. For several years, hummingbirds were used as a replacement for the Snidget, but it was clear that Quidditch was not the same as games would regularly end within minutes.
A metal charmer named Bowman Wright invented the Golden Snitch: a golden ball with silver wings that was enchanted to emulate the Snidget. The Snitch was a huge success and its use in Quidditch matches spread quickly. Now that a long term solution to the Snidget problem had been developed, the game would spread throughout Europe, and eventually, the world.
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THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP
In the 12th century, England, Scotland, and Wales each created their own Quidditch leagues. Puddlemere United made their debut in the English League while the Montrose Magpies played the Banchory Bangers in the Scottish League and the rivalry between the Holyhead Harpies and Caerphilly Catapults was born in Wales. Quidditch made its way to Ireland in the late 13th century and in 1292, the recently founded Kenmare Kestrels of Ireland extended a challenge to the winners of each league: the Swindon Sweepers, the Helmsfield Hatters, and Newport United. The teams traveled to Kenmare and one by one, they were defeated handily by the Kestrels. Humiliated that they had lost to such an inexperienced team, many of the British players retired. The remaining players joined together to form a new team called Pride of Portree, which would go on to defeat the Kestrels the following year.
The British and Irish teams would continue to face each other until the 15th century, when the top players from England and Scotland decided they wanted a new challenge. Rumors had spread that the French and Bohemian teams could give them a run for their money, and in 1473, the first Quidditch World Tournament was held in the birthplace of the game: Queerditch Marsh.
Despite the belief that any team outside of the top four would just embarrass themselves, an unheralded team from Flanders entered the tournament as well as teams from Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia. England and Scotland were humiliated once again, suffering defeats in the first round from Transylvania and Flanders respectively, who would go on to play each other in the finals. After a brutal match in which all seven hundred fouls were committed, Transylvania emerged as the victors of the first Quidditch World Tournament.
The first century of the tournament's existence was mostly dominated by Transylvania and Scotland. A golden trophy with a Snitch on top was created in 1537 by Wilfred Wright, a descendant of the renowned metal charmer, to celebrate England's first victory, and the tournament was renamed the Quidditch World Cup. Wright enchanted the trophy so that the names of all the players that won the World Cup would automatically be engraved into it.
In 1549, a French Keeper named Jean-Pierre Cremieux led his team to the finals of the Quidditch World Cup. In the match, Cremieux scored all forty-seven of his team's goals and defeated a very talented English squad. After France's victory, it was decided that Keepers should not be able to single-handedly control games the way Cremieux had, and from that point on, Keepers were no longer allowed to score goals.
The British and Irish teams would continue to face each other until the 15th century, when the top players from England and Scotland decided they wanted a new challenge. Rumors had spread that the French and Bohemian teams could give them a run for their money, and in 1473, the first Quidditch World Tournament was held in the birthplace of the game: Queerditch Marsh.
Despite the belief that any team outside of the top four would just embarrass themselves, an unheralded team from Flanders entered the tournament as well as teams from Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia. England and Scotland were humiliated once again, suffering defeats in the first round from Transylvania and Flanders respectively, who would go on to play each other in the finals. After a brutal match in which all seven hundred fouls were committed, Transylvania emerged as the victors of the first Quidditch World Tournament.
The first century of the tournament's existence was mostly dominated by Transylvania and Scotland. A golden trophy with a Snitch on top was created in 1537 by Wilfred Wright, a descendant of the renowned metal charmer, to celebrate England's first victory, and the tournament was renamed the Quidditch World Cup. Wright enchanted the trophy so that the names of all the players that won the World Cup would automatically be engraved into it.
In 1549, a French Keeper named Jean-Pierre Cremieux led his team to the finals of the Quidditch World Cup. In the match, Cremieux scored all forty-seven of his team's goals and defeated a very talented English squad. After France's victory, it was decided that Keepers should not be able to single-handedly control games the way Cremieux had, and from that point on, Keepers were no longer allowed to score goals.
MICHAEL THE MUGGLE
In the final years of the 1500s, the countries of Transylvania, Moldavia, and Wallachia – the three principalities that would later become Romania – were the foremost pipelines of Quidditch talent in the world. At the turn of the century, Transylvania had won the last seven World Cups. In 1600, the principalities were united under the rule of the Prince of Wallachia, Michael the Muggle – or Michael the Brave as he became known in the non-magical world. The Transylvanian Quidditch team refused to combine with the other teams, and the following summer, they were defeated by the combined powers of Wallachia and Moldavia.
Magical historians suggest that the Transylvanian side, furious that their twenty-eight year win streak had come to an end, conspired to put an end to the union of the principalities. Michael was assassinated by his ally, Giorgio Basta, on August 9, 1601 – the day after the finals – but Transylvanian involvement in the execution has never been proven. |