Peverell history....and a bit on golden locket(s)

[carolynwhite2]

If you've not read it yet, then these won't mean a thing


Horcruces
Horlickses
Horsecrutches
Hoarcrumbles
Whorecrushers
Hoarsecrotchets
Hawkrocker
Horsepox
Horseheads
Horsecluxes
Horkusses
Horseradish
Horthingy


. But they cry out for cataloguing


Alas, I've not had time to respond to so many posts that I'd like to, 
and have only glanced at the main list, so apologies if this has 
already been picked over.

This line in Chapter 10 caught my eye as I was re-reading today:

(Marvolo Gaunt waves his ring at Ogden): `Centuries it's been in our 
family, that's how far we go, and pure-blood all the way! Know how 
much I've been offered for this, with the Peverell coat of arms 
engraved on the stone?'

I already knew Peverell was an old English surname, but was hazy as 
to its origins. Some digging this afternoon turned up the following 
fascinating nuggets:

The best-known Peverell was William Peverell, an illegitimate son of 
William the Conqueror (7th Duke of Normandy/King of England after 
1066) and one Maud Peverel. Ie, he was a Norman, not British born.

William Peverell fought with the king at the Battle of Hastings and 
for this loyalty he was granted more than 160 lordships in the 
counties of Nottingham and Derby, and vast estates in Cornwall and 
Devon, as recorded in the Doomsday Book in 1086. These properties 
included Chatsworth (although not the famous house, of course, which 
was not yet built), Nottingham Castle, and (Kneasy, please note) 
Whittington Castle.

The Peverells all took the title of Earl of Nottingham until Richard 
1 (Lionheart) gave their lands to his brother John before departing 
for his crusades. One of these Lords of Nottingham is even said to 
have poisoned one Hugh of Kevelioc de Meschines, a Welshman, in 1153, 
and then to have turned monk in order to avoid punishment. Shades of 
the Bloody Baron perhaps ??

I don't expect that JKR intended a close historical link, but it did 
strike me as interesting that the Peverells were originally Norman, 
as many have suspected the Malfoys and other pure-blood DE families 
might have been. This would support Marvolo's claim of a centuries-
old bloodline. 

Also that the Peverell estates included both the counties of Devon 
and Derbyshire, and areas on the Welsh borders, all of which would be 
suitable locations for the Hangleton villages.

`Gaunt' itself is a corruption of `Ghent', as in John of Gaunt (son 
of Edward III, the Black Prince), lending more European origins to 
the Slytherin line.

Far-fetched ? Maybe, but JKR did say in the recent Mugglenet 
interview:

`It amuses me to make allusions to things that were happening in the 
Muggle world, so my feeling would be that while there's a global 
Muggle war going on, there's also a global wizarding war going on.
MA: Do they feed each other, the Muggle and wizarding wars? 
JKR: Yeah, I think so. Yeah. Mm.

*******
On the locket, has anyone counted up just how many there are in this 
story? 

Both Ron and Mrs Weasley were given gold necklaces/lockets for 
Christmas by Lavender and Fred & George respectively. So –

-the one at 12 GP: DD probably put his brother Aberforth up to 
receiving stolen goods from Mundungus to make sure it was found
-Ron shoves the necklace out of sight as soon as he receives it and 
it isn't heard of again. As all their post is being checked, would be 
a good way of someone getting something hidden away safely.
-Similarly, Mrs W's gift – who would suspect it?

Carolyn
Pleased to see Carolina posting again after so long – never apologise 
for the wicked Spanglish!