Igor Karkaroff

Death Eaters

Lord Voldemort (centre) with Bellatrix Lestrange (left), Lucius Malfoy (right) and several masked Death Eaters (back) in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Universe	Harry Potter
Founded	Term first used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, members of organisation appeared in first three series entries.
Location	Riddle House [HP4] Malfoy Manor[HP7] Forbidden Forest [HP7]
Leader	Lord Voldemort
Key people	Bellatrix Lestrange Lucius Malfoy Severus Snape
Purpose	Preservation of blood purity, control of wizarding world, dominance of magical people over Muggles
Powers	Dark magic
Affiliations	Werewolves Inferi Giants Ministry of Magic [HP7]
Enemies	Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix Dumbledore's Army Ministry of Magic Auror Office

Death Eaters are fictional characters in the Harry Potter series of novels and films. They are a group of wizards and witches, led by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who seek to purify the Wizarding community by eliminating the Muggle-borns (wizards or witches born to non-magical parents). They also try to create a new order through the Ministry of Magic and spread fear throughout the Wizarding community by terrorising and killing important officials and other enemies of the Death Eaters, chiefly the members of the Order of the Phoenix. Although the reason why they are called "Death Eaters" has not been explained by J.K. Rowling, there is some evidence to suggest that it is a reference to their ultimate goal of preventing death and achieving immortality.

Death Eaters recognise one another by the Dark Mark on their left forearm, a sign created by Voldemort to summon him instantly to them or vice versa. Their typical attire includes black hooded robes and masks. The Death Eaters, as a group, first appeared in the novel Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, although individual members of the group, such as Lucius Malfoy, Peter Pettigrew, and Severus Snape, had appeared in earlier books in the series.

Death Eaters are wizards and witches led by Lord Voldemort. Some, like Bellatrix Lestrange, are the kind of Death Eaters that Voldemort is most close to. Death Eaters have a Dark Mark on their forearm, that Voldemort can use to summon all of the Death Eaters. When Voldemort failed to kill Harry Potter, he lost his powers and was upset when he returned because no Death Eater had come looking for him.

The Death Eaters first existed 11 years before the events of the books, torturing and murdering Muggles (non-magical humans) as well as anyone who opposed them or was believed to have information which could aid in or harm their rise to power. They also did this to people who were blood traitors (wizards and witches who favoured the Muggles and Muggle-born). Around 10 years after the Death Eaters first surfaced, a Seer named Sybill Trelawney made a prophecy about a boy who would have the power to defeat Voldemort forever. The prophecy could have referred to two different boys, Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom; however, Voldemort chose Harry as said in the prophecy, that "the Dark Lord would mark him as his equal". As Voldemort was a half-blood, he chose his "equal", Harry, whose mother was a Muggle-born witch, instead of Neville, who came from a long line of pure-blooded wizards. Acting on information from James and Lily Potter's Secret-Keeper Peter Pettigrew, Voldemort attempted to complete the prophecy and kill his infant rival. Due to Harry's mother's sacrifice to save her son, Voldemort's deadly curse rebounded off Harry and disembodied Voldemort.