Goblin Rebellions

The Goblin Rebellions were a series of rebellions in which the goblin population of the Wizarding world revolted against discrimination and prejudice toward their kind by wizards and witches. They were most prevalent during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but even in modern times there are subversive goblin groups working in secret against the Ministry of Magic, according to the Daily Prophet. The historical rebellions have been described as "bloody and vicious."

One rebellion, in 1612, took place in the vicinity of Hogsmeade Village; the Three Broomsticks Inn was used as the wizard headquarters for the rebellion.

Another rebellion took place in the 18th century and was noted to be a popular one, as Urg the Unclean, a goblin, participated in that one and was featured on a Chocolate Frog Cards for doing so.

Today, the Goblin Rebellions are one of the most important topics Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry students study in History of Magic. For the final exams during their first year, they have to memorize the dates of the Goblin Rebellions. During his fourth year exams, Ron Weasley could not remember all the names of the goblin rebels and invented some; by luck, he guessed Urg the Unclean's name correctly. In his History of Magic Ordinary Wizarding Level in 1996, Harry Potter skipped question four, which asked whether wand legislation contributed to the goblin riots of the eighteenth century.

Given the anger expressed by some goblins, such as Griphook, about wizards denying goblins the right to use wands, it may indeed have been a contributing factor to past rebellions.

Behind the scenes

 * According to the WOMBAT, these rebellions may have occurred because of lack of goblin representation on the Wizengamot, attempts to enslave goblins as house-elves, stripping of wand privileges, wizard attempts to control Gringotts, or the brutal goblin slayings by Yardley Platt.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix