Summary

• The Death Eaters serve Lord Voldemort throughout the Second Wizarding War as well as the events of the Harry Potter franchise.
• Their history dates back to Voldemort's time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
• Because the Death Eaters' ideology, identity, and independence are dependent upon Voldemort, they quickly fall apart after he is defeated.

In many fictional franchises, the main protagonist faces opposition in the form of a sinister faction composed of various terrifying antagonists. This trope has been used in fictional franchises like The Lord of the Rings, which arms Sauron with his army of Uruk-Hai orcs, and Star Wars, which bolsters Emperor Palpatine's ranks with leagues of Stormtroopers. In the case of Harry Potter's Wizarding World, this faction is known as the Death Eaters, and throughout the series, they work to revive their malevolent leader: Lord Voldemort.

The history of the Death Eaters actually dates back to the time when Voldemort was still attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry under his original name, Tom Riddle. The group's very existence is a testament to Voldemort's charisma and the corrupting influence he had over the Wizarding World. With that in mind, fans of the Harry Potter franchise must understand the Death Eaters and their ultimate fate following the Second Wizarding War in order to truly appreciate their role throughout the series.

The Death Eaters' Origin Is Rooted in Voldemort's Rise to Power

• Voldemort began gathering followers when he was still a student at Hogwarts, and he would recreate this model years later when he made the Death Eaters.
• The Death Eaters are dependent upon Voldemort for leadership, and they falter whenever he isn't around to lead them.

The precursor to Voldemort's army was created during his time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Though Tom Riddle never desired true companionship, he found the collection of thugs that flocked to him to be useful, so he used them to test just how far his natural charisma could carry him through the Wizarding World. According to Dumbledore, Riddle's followers were a mix of weaklings seeking power, egotistical wizards hunting glory, and dedicated believers hoping Voldermort could introduce them to a new world of cruelty and brutality. This description would remain true decades later when the Death Eaters formed, with the added caveat that some members of the group were either blackmailed or compelled by way of the Imperius curse.

After Voldemort left Hogwarts, he formalized his followers into an organization that he named the Knights of Walpurgis, before eventually changing their name to the Death Eaters. Their initial numbers included Voldemort's old schoolmates from Hogwarts, many of whom Voldemort valued for their illustrious wizarding ancestry and wealth. From there, many dark witches or wizards, as well as various other magical creatures, began to join his cause in an attempt to overthrow the Ministry of Magic. By the time the First Wizarding War was underway, the Death Eaters outnumbered their foes, the Order of the Phoenix, by twenty to one.

Despite the affluent wizards and witches that comprised the Death Eaters, the entire organization was completely dependent on Lord Voldemort, who they believed was the one who would make their dreams a reality. While the evil wizard was a harsh taskmaster and often just as brutal with his subordinates as he was with his enemies, the Death Eaters followed him loyally, believing in his immortality and understanding that they did not have enough unity to pull off their grand plans without him.

As a result of the Death Eaters' dependence on Voldemort, it comes as no surprise when Voldemort's disappearance following his murder of James and Lily Potter sends the Death Eaters into disarray. Those with enough guile and influence managed to avoid prison entirely, faking remorse or convincing officials that they were coerced into joining; others held true to their fanatical beliefs and were sent to Azkaban. Overall, the threat the Death Eaters posed diminished almost instantly when their leader vanished. However, they never completely disappeared, and so long as the mark signifying their loyalty was still on their arms, the Death Eaters knew their time would come again.

The Ideology of the Death Eaters Is Rooted in Prejudice

• Like their leader, the Death Eaters believe in the idea of blood purity and the inferiority of non-magic humans.
• There is no actual basis for their beliefs, and Voldemort only uses their prejudice to further his plans of world domination.

The beliefs of the Death Eaters are based upon the idea of a long-suffering wizarding aristocracy — at least, that's what the group states publicly. In truth, their beliefs are connected to the centuries-old idea that there is an inherent difference between Muggleborns and what death eaters refer to as "pure-bloods." Of course, this idea is ridiculous, as many families have connections to Muggles, including some of the most talented wizards of all time.

Most Death Eaters hold on to the belief that Muggles are slowly tainting the purity and power that "true" wizards possess. With Lord Voldemort's powers at their disposal, they had the ability to weed Muggleborns from the Wizarding World, and after he returns to power, they quickly resume their efforts.

Ironically, there's some evidence to suggest that Lord Voldemort, the man who founded the Death Eaters, doesn't even care that much about blood purity. Like those persecuted by the Death Eaters, Voldemort is a half-blood and hails from a Muggle father — a fact that most of his followers are unaware of. However, more so than magical supremacy, Voldemort is interested in acquiring power for himself, especially after his defeat at the hands of Harry Potter. This is why he accepts the Death Eaters' prejudicial perspective and manipulates their ranks into bolstering his strength.

Voldemort's Downfall Spells The End Of The Death Eaters

• The Death Eater organization starts to fall apart during the Battle of Hogwarts, and after the conflict, many of its members are arrested.
• Only a handful of Death Eaters are able to escape arrest by turning on their former allies.

As Harry Potter fans know, Voldemort does indeed return after disappearing from the Wizarding World. With their leader back, the Death Eaters reorganize, seemingly regaining their former power overnight. Their leader's return revitalizes their ranks and enables them to seize absolute control; in fact, by the end of the Second Wizarding War, they are the acting government of the British Wizarding World.

During this time, the Death Eaters enacted hateful policies that endangered anyone of muggle descent, began forcing students at Hogwarts to learn dark magic, and tried to remold the world into their image, enforcing their twisted ideas upon the populace. Fortunately, the Battle of Hogwarts was a decisive loss for the death eaters, not only eliminating most of their senior leadership, but also resulting in the destruction of Voldemort, permanently cutting off the head of their organization.

In the aftermath of the war, the Death Eater organization was essentially obliterated. Having learned from their mistakes, the reestablished Ministry of Magic wasted no time permanently imprisoning those Death Eaters that had taken up arms for Voldemort a second time. Only a handful of the wizard's former subordinates managed to avoid being arrested, and this is only a result of them taking up arms against Voldemort in Harry Potter's final battle. In the end, the Death Eaters prove that they are a collection of ignorant bigots who use their flimsy logic to justify countless atrocities. Without their leader, they were just as aimless as ever.