The Goblin Nation

The Goblin Nation is a highly intelligent and proud race of magical beings with a distinct culture, society, and system of magic. Goblins are known for their exceptional skills in metalworking and finance, managing the entire wizarding economy through their sole control of Gringotts Wizarding Bank. Their history is marked by centuries of bloody rebellions against Wizardkind, stemming from persecution and disputes over rights, most notably the wizard-enforced ban on goblins carrying wands. This long-standing conflict has created a deep and mutual mistrust that significantly influences their interactions with wizards throughout the Harry Potter series.

The history of the Goblin Nation is intrinsically linked to its strained relationship with wizards. This history is characterized by repeated uprisings, known as the Goblin Rebellions, which are a key topic in Professor Binns's History of Magic classes. These rebellions were often brutal and fought over issues of prejudice and the refusal of the Ministry of Magic to grant goblins the same rights as wizards, such as the right to carry a wand. The Ministry of Magic classifies goblins as “beings,” handled by the Goblin Liaison Office within the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, a status they deeply resent. The founding of Gringotts Wizarding Bank by the goblin Gringott in 1474 marked a pivotal moment, solidifying the goblins' control over the wizarding economy (Pottermore). Despite this economic power, they remained a subjugated people. During the Second Wizarding War, the goblins were largely neutral, though some, like Griphook, were forced into hiding. Griphook's eventual aid to Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger in breaking into the Lestrange Vault was transactional, ending in a betrayal driven by his belief that the Sword of Gryffindor rightfully belonged to the goblins, not to any wizard. This event epitomizes the profound and unresolved grievances between the two races.

Goblins are short, humanoid beings with swarthy, clever faces, long fingers, and long feet. They have dark, intelligent eyes and are often depicted with pointed ears and sharp teeth. Griphook, for instance, is described as having a domed head and a very serious demeanor. As a people, goblins are characterized by their immense intelligence, pride, and strict code of honor, which differs significantly from that of wizards. They are masters of finance and craftsmanship, but can be perceived by wizards as greedy, belligerent, and untrustworthy. This perception is fueled by their unique concept of ownership: goblins believe that payment for an object is merely a rental and that the item must be returned to its maker upon the purchaser's death. They are fiercely protective of their treasures, their secrets, and the institution of Gringotts.

Goblins possess a unique and powerful form of magic that does not require the use of a wand. The precise nature of this magic is not fully understood by wizards, but it allows them to perform complex enchantments, particularly in relation to metalwork and security.

• Master Craftsmanship: Goblins are the most skilled metalworkers in the magical world. Their creations, particularly those of goblin-made silver, are nearly indestructible and often imbued with powerful enchantments. The Sword of Gryffindor, crafted by Ragnuk the First, is a prime example; it has the ability to imbibe any substance that strengthens it, such as Basilisk venom.
• Banking and Security: Their magical and architectural prowess is fully displayed in the design of Gringotts. The bank's vaults are protected by a myriad of enchantments, curses, and magical creatures like dragons, making it one of the most secure locations in the wizarding world.
• Wandless Magic: Although they are fully capable of performing magic, goblins are forbidden by wizard law from owning or using wands, a major source of their historical resentment.

While a nation does not have personal possessions, the goblins' primary domains and creations function as their collective assets.

• Gringotts Wizarding Bank: The central institution of the goblin race and the cornerstone of the wizarding economy. Goblins control every aspect of its operation, from its tellers to its deepest security measures.
• Goblin-Made Artifacts: All items ever crafted by goblins are considered, by goblin law, to be their collective property. This includes legendary items like the Sword of Gryffindor and the helmet commissioned by the family of Hepzibah Smith. Their belief in rightful ownership by the maker, not the purchaser, is a fundamental tenet of their culture.

The primary relationship detailed in the series is the one between the Goblin Nation and Wizardkind, which is deeply fractured.

• Wizardkind: The relationship is defined by centuries of conflict, prejudice, and subjugation. Most wizards, including Ron Weasley, harbor ingrained prejudices against them. Even those who work with them, like Bill Weasley, acknowledge the difficulty in earning their trust. The goblins' resentment of the wand ban and their treatment as second-class citizens is the core of this conflict.
• Harry Potter: Harry's relationship with goblins is complex. He is a client of Gringotts and initially deals with them respectfully, but his alliance with Griphook ends in betrayal, reinforcing the deep divide between their peoples.
• House-Elves: Griphook expresses contempt for Dobby's loyalty to wizards and his lack of desire for payment, suggesting a goblin worldview that values self-interest and fair compensation above servitude.

The name “goblin” originates from European folklore and is a general term for various mischievous, and often grotesque, supernatural beings. While J.K. Rowling's goblins are not the simple monsters of fairy tales, they retain an element of being distinctly non-human and harbor a worldview that often puts them at odds with wizards.

• In the film adaptations of the Harry Potter series, many goblin characters, including Griphook in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and the Gringotts Head Goblin, were portrayed by actor Warwick Davis, who also played Professor Flitwick.
• The Pottermore website states that the Ministry of Magic has, at various times, re-classified goblins alongside creatures like centaurs as “Beings,” which grants them certain rights but falls short of full “Being” status alongside wizards, and that the term is a point of contention (Pottermore).
• J.K. Rowling has acknowledged that some people have seen parallels between the goblins' depiction and anti-Semitic tropes, but has stated this was not her intention (J.K. Rowling interview).