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The Supreme Mugwump was the elected chairman and leader of the International Confederation of Wizards, making the position the highest office in the Wizarding world.[1][2]

In earlier times, the occupant of this position was decided through an ancient tradition known as the walk of the Qilin, where a Qilin (which was widely held to be the purest of all magical creatures in the world, capable of seeing the future and seeing the purity in a person's soul) would weigh the merits of the respective candidates and those in close proximity to the ceremony with a mere glance and bow to the worthy winner whom they found to be pure of heart.[1]

By the 20th century, however, the Supreme Mugwump was instead determined by a majority vote from the member countries of the Confederation. The occupant of this office could also be removed if they were voted out of their membership in the confederation by the governing body in their home country, like what was done during the campaign to discredit Albus Dumbledore.[2]

The position of Supreme Mugwump was not an exclusive one and occupiers of the office could hold other titles and duties in addition to this one; for example, Anton Vogel served as the German Minister for Magic, Vicência Santos served as the Brazilian Minister for Magic and Albus Dumbledore maintained roles as Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot concurrently whilst holding the office of Supreme Mugwump.[1][3]

History[]

The first appointed Supreme Mugwump was Pierre Bonaccord. However, his appointment was contested by the wizarding community in Liechtenstein, due to his opinions on stopping Troll-hunting and rights for Trolls. Liechtenstein, who had been dealing with several nasty Troll communities at the time, refused to attend the first conference, creating difficulties for the new institution.[4] Cottismore Croyne and Sidley Smirk Platter also served as Supreme Mugwumps of the International Confederation of Wizards.[5]

The candidates

The walk of the Qilin, an old form of Supreme Mugwump election

Anton Vogel was the Supreme Mugwump until 1932.[6] When his term ended, the election for the new Supreme Mugwump was contested by Vicência Santos, Gellert Grindelwald, and Liu Tao. Anton Vogel, however, was a secret supporter of Gellert Grindelwald, and even witnessed Grindelwald reanimating a Qilin he had killed so that he could cheat the election. With the help of Dumbledore's first army, Grindelwald's plan to cheat were exposed. They subsequently provided a living Qilin: the twin of the one Grindelwald had previously killed, which first bowed to and chose Albus Dumbledore, who declined the position. It then chose Vicência Santos, who accepted the position.[1]

Albus Dumbledore did later become Supreme Mugwump, despite refusing the position once in 1932, at some point before 31 July 1991,[3] but his position was dismissed by the British Ministry of Magic to denunciation he announced a statement about Lord Voldemort's return in 1995.[2] He was restored as a member of the Confederation after the Ministry's acceptance of Voldemort's return in 1996, but not as Supreme Mugwump.[7]

Dumbledore was succeeded by Uagadou graduate Babajide Akingbade.[8]

Known Supreme Mugwumps[]

Etymology[]

The term "mugwump" may be derived from the Mugwumps, a group of nineteenth-century American politicians who were against political corruption. That term comes from the Algonquin word mugguomp, meaning "person of importance" or "war leader".[9] There was also a group of British pacifists who joined the Labour Party after World War I who were called Mugwumps.[10]

There is an Old English word spelled the same "mugwump", which "is a derogatory word for somebody in charge who affects to be above petty squabbles and factions. So when your boss tries to make peace at the meeting table like an impartial angel, he is being a mugwump."[11]

Appearances[]

Notes and references[]

International Confederation of Wizards
ICW
International Confederation of Wizards' Conference
Supreme Mugwump
Pierre Bonaccord · Cottismore Croyne · Sidley Smirk Platter · Anton Vogel · Vicência Santos · Albus Dumbledore · Babajide Akingbade
Delegates
Momolu Wotorson · Ya Zhou · Heinrich Eberstadt (Switzerland) · Albus Dumbledore (Great Britain)
Other employees
Hector Podmore (Great Britain) · Rudolph Spielman · Arnold Guzman (USA) · Ida Webb (Great Britain) · Royston Idlewind · Mentor Metaxas · Constance Pickering (Great Britain) · Mathilda Grimblehawk (Great Britain)
Divisions and posts
Calamity World Centre · Department of Aurors · Educational Office · Head of Incarceration · High Council · Quidditch Committee · International Director · International Task Force · Security Advisor · Statute of Secrecy Task Force
Possessions
Thestral-drawn carriage
Events
Candidates' Dinner · Selection Ceremony · The walk of the Qilin
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