Welsh influences/ "Voldemortist" (was: Lily Potter's name/ Evans is Welsh)

[eloiseherisson at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 44053

 Barb:
> 
> I've never thought of Arthur when I think of the Harry Potter/Welsh 
> connection.  I have, however, wondered whether JKR wants us to think of one 
> of the the first Princes of Wales, Henry IV or Henry V, both also known as 
> Prince Harry.  <>
> 
> In other words, if JKR is trying to evoke Wales, it could be for a number 
> of reasons....
> 
Eloise:
Evoking Wales, perhaps, but just to avoid any confusion for those unfamiliar 
with the term, 'Prince of Wales', I should point out that Henry IV and V 
weren't Welsh.
The title has been customarily conferred on the Heir Apparent (to the English 
throne in those days, now the British throne) since 1301, following Edward 
I's defeat of Llewelyn and his subsequent annexation of Wales as a 
principality. 

Whilst I'm sure there may be unconscious forces at work in JKR's choices of 
names, I prefer to believe her when she says that Harry is simply her 
favourite boy's name (maybe the historical resonances have something to do 
with it). Welsh influences are not unexpected, given her childhood on the 
borders of England and Wales. We know that Potter is a friend's name. It's 
highly likely that she knew some Evanses.

BTW, if we are to associate Harry with Henry IV, some might think it 
significant that, as well as having problems with rebellions in Wales, Henry 
had a lot of trouble with the Percy family in the north. He eventually 
defeated Sir Henry Percy ('Hotspur'), but the family continued to cause 
problems for the monarchy until the head of the family was killed a few years 
later.

Richard (Gul Plum):
>Incidentally (and changing the subject for a moment), one of the reasons 
>I've become interested (and a lot more knowledgeable) about Arthurian 
>legends lately is that I've been reading up to disprove a net-based rumour 
>which has recently resurfaced that "Voldemort" has a connection with an 
>Arthurian character purportedly called "Voldemortist". Of course, it's all 
>pure drivel - there is no such character. ;-) (there was someone in British 
>history, about 100 years before Arthur's time, called Vortimer, latinized 
>as Vortamorix, but he was a "goodie"; not to mention that he's only 
>peripherally connected to the legends and there's no indication that he and 
>Merlin ever met).

Eloise:
Ah....I'm glad someones been working on that one. I had a bit of a look into 
it too, but probably not as extensively as you. I agree. Pure drivel! ;-) 

But... sources, such as they are, say that Vortimer was the eldest son of 
Vortigern and there *is* a legend about Vortigern meeting the young Merlin, 
who fortells his defeat. 

And there's another Latin version of Vortimer, too, Vortimoricus.
Though apparently it's really a *Welsh* name, too (Gwrthefyr=Vortipor). Or so 
I read. There was a Welsh tyrant by this name.

While we're on the subject of Voldemort's name, there's Marvolo to contend 
with.
Has anyone ever come up with an etymology for this? Is it just a handy name 
for constructing Voldemort (I suspect so).
I confess that it amuses me, as it sounds just like a stage magician's name: 
Roll up, roll up for the Great Marvolo! I take great delight in imagining 
that Voldemort's grandfather wasn't a wizard at all, but merely a music hall 
entertainer!

Eloise


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