The First major Wizarding War in the Harry Potter universe was a catastrophic period in wizarding history that lasted a whopping 11 years. The war started when Voldemort, obsessed with pure-blood supremacy, sought to overthrow the existing magical order and establish himself as the ruler of both the wizarding and non-magical worlds. The war officially ended on October 31, 1981, when Voldemort's curse to kill the infant Harry Potter rebounded upon him, destroying his physical form and rendering him powerless. And the aftermath of this decade long conflict left deep scars on the wizarding world. Families were torn apart, and many prominent witches and wizards lost their lives. The wizarding world was in shambles. But as far as the 7 books are concerned, the primary focus is on the SECOND Wizarding War, a conflict that only lasted 3 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices