


Third Class: Awarded to individuals who "have made a contribution to our store of knowledge or entertainment." The colour of the ribbon for this class was white.Second Class: Awarded for "achievement or endeavour beyond the ordinary." The colour of the ribbon for this class was purple.The colour of the ribbon for this class was green, which was believed to represent Merlin's Hogwarts house, Slytherin. First Class: Awarded for "acts of outstanding bravery or distinction" in magic.There were three different classes of Order of Merlin that were awarded: The Order of Merlin consisted of a "handsome" golden medal which hung on a coloured ribbon indicating its class. Notable unworthy recipients were Cornelius Fudge, who gave it to himself despite his less-than-distinguishable career, the fraudulent Gilderoy Lockhart, the treacherous Peter Pettigrew, and Arcturus Black, who was widely believed to have bought it by loaning the Ministry a large amount of gold. It is unknown whether this award was connected to the earlier organisation of the same name.Īs often happens with such highly coveted awards, Ministry of Magic favourites seemed to receive the Order of Merlin, especially the higher classes, more often than one might expect.

The award known as the Order of Merlin was created in commemoration of Merlin and was first given out by the Wizengamot in the 15th century. Merlin believed that wizards and witches should help Muggles, and, thus, the Order of Merlin established rules against the use of magic on Muggles. Merlin, the most famous wizard of his era, for whom the Order of Merlin award was namedĪn organisation called the Order of Merlin was founded by Merlin in the Middle Ages.
