| “ | Being descendants from Hecate, The Witch-Queen, the Harman Family... Hearth-Woman or Hearth-Man... are known to be the most revered bloodline of powerful witches. Our family is considered to be royalty throughout all witch communities and covens. As such, the Head of the Harman Family and Leader of the Trinity Coven is thusly directly descended from the main, ruling branch of the Harman Family--from Hecate and Melynda Hearth-Woman herself--and is the Regent of All Witch Communities & Covens. That is the bloodline from which you come from, my daughter, as well as Adyelya, your very own daughter. In the end, that is why you shall never be safe. You or my granddaughter. You are Witch Royalty, and as such, enemies will be surrounding you at every given chance... That is why you must take up your mantle, Katerina, and grow into your power. So you can not only protect yourself, but also your family, your daughter... | ” |
The Harman family, originally known by the surname Hearth-Woman/Hearth-Man, is one of the main families in The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, and Legacies universe — arguably being one of the most important families after the Original Family — and is a revered, royal and mostly matriarchal bloodline of powerful witches. The family is directly descended from Hecate, the Witch-Queen, the first known witch and practitioner of what today is known as modern magic and her children: Melynda, Kehlani, Islwyn, Gershom, and Bronek.
The Harman family has unknown origins from the European continent, dating back to prehistoric times before the start of the Stone Age in or around 2.5 million B.C.; with the formation of the Trinity Coven by Hecate, the family has consistently moved throughout the developing lands of Europe — and even the North American continent — and as such, the family has ties to many areas around the world.
The Harman Family has been linked to both the Salvatore and Bennett families since 1st Century BCE, also known as the Biblical Times, and the Petrova Family since the 1400s. It is in 1471 that the bloodline of Doppelgängers, known as the Petrova Doppelgängers, became part of the Harman bloodline via the marriage/Unification Ceremony of Mariya Harman, a member of the main branch of Harmans and the Trinity Coven, and Anton Petrov, a member of the Traveler coven with no great love for magic. With the marriage of Mariya to Anton and the birth of their children, the main branch of the Harman Family has been ultimately succeeded by the Petrov/Petrova Family, though the side branches of the Harman Family remain active for time afterwards. The Harman Family has also been linked to the Original Family since 1492, though Katherine was unaware of her heritage and belonging to the Harman bloodline until 2013.
At some point in the late 1800s/ early 1900s, prior to World War I, Sybil Harman had three children with Livingston Fayne: Edgith, Elspeth, and Emmeth Harman. However, while travelling from the European continent to the North American continent — in order to avoid the rising tensions spreading throughout Europe — the three young children were separated from their children. As such, many of the side branches of the Harman Family were lost to the Sybil and the other members of the Trinity Coven, thus merging into other bloodlines.
This bloodline's known witches have all been powerful and noteworthy. The family's known oldest and currently most powerful known ancestor is Hecate. It is revealed by Mariya that the women (in rare cases the men), especially the first born, from this bloodline can inherit incredible power, which is so strong it can destroy both the witch and its surroundings. The family's many achievements include creating mystical, magical bloodlines of Salvatore/Petrova Doppelgängers via the Spell of Mirrors; creating The Werewolf Curse; and creating spells for resurrection.
Being direct descendants from Hecate, The Witch-Queen, the first known witch and practitioner of magic, the Harman family is thusly considered to be royalty amongst witches, thought of as the first family of witches. The head of the Harman Family is also usually the Leader and Regent of the Trinity Coven and All Witch Covens & Communities.
History[]
Early History[]
"Long ago, in the beginning, before the start of the Stone Age and in the prehistoric ages, there was no magic in this world. None at all. Not like it is today at least — with witches, werewolves, vampires, immortals, and doppelgängers. The world was ordinary, as far as anyone was concerned. However, all of that changed around 2.5 million B.C. with the birth of Hecate — there was a ripple effect that spread throughout the world, almost as though Hecate's birth brought magic alive in this world, on this Earth. From there, everything slowly began to change. As Hecate grew, so did her magical powers, and her curiosity in what she could do with these powers and abilities. Oh, what great things she could do, both good and terrible. Eventually, Hecate was forced to run from her village, and when she did, she knew what she had to do. Hecate knew that there would be others out there like her, so she set forth into the world to gather up talented individuals like her — witches — and thus the Harman bloodline, and Trinity Coven was formed."
- Mariya explaining the legacy of the Harman Family to Katherine.
The first member of this family and bloodline of witches was a woman named Hecate. She was born into a tiny village — one of the first beginnings of civilizations — in an unknown location in the European continent. She had many elder and younger brothers and sister, as well as aunts and uncles and cousins, having been born into a large family. Her parents named her Hecate, for the Greek Goddess, due to her strong will and unusual abilities as a baby, such as whenever flowers and vegetations would grow to life in her presence, or how that when she was born, all the sick and injured in the village were gradually healed.
As Hecate continued to grow, so did her magical abilities; when she was angry, bad things could happen like the weather turning bad or fires starting and when she was in good/pleasant moods, then the results of her unusual powers and abilities would also do good like healing others, bringing dead birds back to life, etc. Hecate's curiosity grew with her magic as to how she could do what she did and what exactly were the extent of her abilities. Hecate also quickly realized she was the only member of her family actively able to control her powers. Soon enough, Hecate began delving into her magical abilities; she discovered that she had the ability to augment her magical powers via channeling Nature, such as celestial events like Full Moons, or by using the elements. It was in no time, that Hecate discovered that she was prodigy in working with the magical abilities. Once she began developing and creating different forms of practicing magic, like spells and ritual and channeling — she created a special pendant for channeling using the four elements — then the rest of magic quickly came to her. In no time, she became capable of using her magical powers for whatever purpose she needed, and she used it in order to help her family prosper, remain healthy and live longer, gather food and hunt, and overall survive.
However, as Hecate and her family continued to prosper with every coming year, the other villagers slowly started to grow suspicious, wondering why no diseases ever impacted them, or why they were always successful in hunts. As such, the rest of the village convened in secret, deciding to keep a watchful eye upon Hecate and her family to detect why nothing ever bad happened to them.
When Hecate was fifteen years old, there was a village bonfire taking place in order to celebrate the start of the warmer weather, and that the next night there was not be a Full Moon. While attending the bonfire with her siblings and parents, as Hecate met a young boy around the same age as her by the name of Ari. Due to having strong magical powers, she was unused to interacting with the other young people in the village, in addition to the other young villagers being afraid and/or nervous of her because of her standoffish personality. Ari was sweet with Hecate, whispering compliments and nicknames in her ear, and dancing with her around the bonfire, even plucking a flower to place in her hair. Hecate was unaware of Ari's intentions as he lured her away from the bonfire to the shadow and darkness of the trees at the edge of the village. However, when Ari attempted to force himself upon Hecate, she lashed out with her magic in fear and anger; she blasted Ari away from her into a treat and used her magic to break the bones in both of his hands. In fear, Ari ran away from Hecate, and Hecate quickly returned to the bonfire, urging her parents to bring her home. The next morning, the villagers confronted Hecate's parents about her powers, and what she had done to Ari. The villagers demanded that Hecate be given to them so that she could face punishments for her crimes. Her parents had until sundown that day in order to hand Hecate over; if they did not, then her entire family would also face a punishment. And then the villagers left. Hecate's father wished to turn his daughter over to the villagers, seeing it as the only proper thing to do, while Hecate's mother only wanted to protect her daughter, as well as the rest of her family. Eventually, they decided to hand over Hecate to the villagers so that the lives of their family could be spared. Not long before sundown, when they went to collect Hecate from her bedroom to deliver her to the villagers, she was not there. Her siblings had helped her to sneak out once she realized that her parents intended to hand her over.
Just as the sun was going down and the Full Moon was becoming its strongest, Hecate entered the village. As she walked through the village, she began channelling her pendant — using it to augment her power, Hecate lit the many huts of the villagers on fire. As the villagers realized what was happening, the men of the village gathered together with their spears and other hunting weapons to come after Hecate. As the villagers approached Hecate, she simply snapped their necks with a wave of her hand and continued on her way through the village. Any villager she encountered, she snapped their neck or sent them blasting away, until eventually she came upon Ari. Once she had Ari before her, Hecate began to channel the power of the Full Moon, using its power to fill her with strong magic; she used a spell to slowly break the bones in his body, while simultaneously melting his internal internal organs. Just as Ari was about to die, Hecate used a nearby axe to behead him, then left his body — though the ripple effect of Hecate's magic that night, and the vengeful way in which he died, would later bring Ari back as the Headless Man.
Once Hecate calmed from her rage, she realized the damage she had done to her village; most of it had burned to the ground, and many of the villagers were dead. In her rage, Hecate did not realize that the fire had reached her family's household on the outskirts of town. Most of her family had managed to escape the fire and the wreck; however, Hecate's youngest sister had perished in the fire, as well as her grandparents. Quickly, the remaining villagers gathered together to decide what to do with Hecate, and concluded that killing her was the only way to not only spare their village from this pain again, but also from anyone else outside of the village. That very night, Hecate ran from her village, knowing that if she were to stay, then she would be killed in punishment for what she had done to everyone and that her parents would never be able to forgive her. It was also this very incident that convinced Hecate of the need to form a coven, so that she could travel the world searching for any other people who had an innate or untapped ability for magic like her.
Sometime in or before the start of the Stone Age, Hecate gave birth two five children, two daughters and three sons: Melynda, Kehlani, Iswlyn, Gershom, and Bronek. Hecate trained all of her children in the ways of witchcraft and magic, making sure that all her knowledge would continue to be passed down from generation to generation.
Before and In 500 A.D.[]
It would later be her youngest son, Bronek, who would murder his own mother, Hecate, before 500 A.D. in a plot to overthrow her, absorb her magic, and become the leaders of the Trinity Coven — as the mantle for being Leader/Regent was going to be passed onto Melynda, and not him. Therefore, Bronek's punishment was to have his magic sealed, then be Shunned from the coven — before this could happen, Bronek ran from the coven. Eventually, Melynda, Kehlani, Iswlyn, and Gershom, and the rest of the Trinity Coven, managed to track Bronek down to his location: in North American Golf Coast where he had integrated himself into Native America witch tribes.
It was discovered that Bronek had started a war amongst the two Native America witch tribes, then convinced them to join together through a Unification Ceremony, done by himself and another woman — this was so he could gain access to all the powers of the two witch tribes. From this marriage and Unification Ceremony, a child — named Inadu — was was conceived. Throughout the pregnancy, Inadu's mother was blessed with magical gifts from the Elders of the tribe. So, when Inadu was born, with all the power of Hecate in her blood and the magical gifts from the Elders, she could not control her magic, and much like her father, she also craved more power. As she was growing up, Inadu went on rampages, killing any nearby witches or covens to absorb their powers — due to this, Bronek wanted to sacrifice his daughter and absorb her powers, much like he had attempted to do to his own mother. Just as Bronek was performing the sacrificial ritual upon his daughter, with the aid of the Elders of the coven — as he had convinced them that they were merely taking her out for the greater good — the Trinity Coven arrived to stop what Bronek was doing. Melynda used her own magic, and the magic of Bronek's, and the Elders of the Trinity Coven and the Native American witch tribe in order to forge a weapon, tempered with her own blood, that could kill Inadu. Once Inadu was dead, Melynda used a spell to seal Bronek's magic, and thusly that of the tribe as they were all linked through the Unification Ceremony. Then, the Trinity Coven performed The Werewolf Curse, casting it upon Bronek and his tribe in punishment for their actions in starting a war, allowing for Inadu to destroy much of the surrounding land and population, and drawing attention to the Supernatural Community.
Bronek and Inadu's mother become the progenitors of the Labonair bloodline, and the Crescent Wolf Pack.
1456[]
In 1456, the Harman Family, and the Trinity Coven, settle down into one of the Harman Estates located in the area of Romania in order to prepare for the upcoming birth of the unborn daughter of the Leader. It was on January 10th that Mariya Harman is born to Malik Harman, the current head of the Harman Family and Leader/Regent of the Trinity Coven and All Witch Covens & Communities, and his wife and co-Leader via a marriage and the Unification Ceremony, Alaina Chamberlain.
Mariya was an only child — conceived as a result of fertility potions and spells — due to her mother's pregnancy with her being difficult, as well as the birthing process. As a baby, Mariya was very frail and sickly, having been born with a strange illness despite her strong innate magical abilities, and the witches in the Trinity Coven that specialized in medicine and healing magic informed her parents that she would not live long. Determined not to lose Mariya, her parents convened a meeting with the Elders of the Trinity Coven, asking for help in saving the life of their only daughter, the Princess of the Trinity Coven. The Elders of the coven each agreed to do so, and each gifted baby Mariya with a kernel of their magic, which helped to strengthen and heal her. As a result of the magic given to her by the Elders, Mariya was now a healthy young baby. She was also now considered to be a "gift" by her parents, especially since Alaina nearly miscarried several times before going on bedrest — and was also now unable to have anymore children — and Mariya nearly passed away shortly after being born. In addition, being the only child of the Leader of the Trinity Coven, as well as Regent of All Witches, Mariya was also considered to be the "Princess," not only to the Trinity Coven, but also to the entire magical community as well.
While growing up, Mariya's magic was out-of-control and unstable, due to a generous amount of magic having been transferred into her as a baby by the Elders, which her body was unable to contain as she had not been born with it and her innate magical ability was already strong on its own. It was soon discovered by the magical tutors that due to the kernels of magic Mariya had been given by the Elders as a baby, she'd been unwittingly transferred the powers of an Elder witch, and as such, she was hemorrhaging magic she could not control. In order to help her learn to control her magic, Mariya was given a magic-limiter bracelet, and she was constantly surrounded by magic tutors, as well as being watched over by her parents and the Trinity Coven Elders to ensure that she didn't lose control. In addition to this, Mariya was also being taught and prepared for her taking over the future leadership of the coven and role of Regent from her Father.
At some point in time, while still young, Mariya met and befriended Anton Petrov, who came from a Traveler family, a cursed sub-culture of witches, and was unknowingly the descendant of one of Amara's siblings and a Traveler man. Mariya and Anton became best friends in the short time they knew each other, revealing to one another that they were witches, though Anton explained he could not perform magic like Mariya could. However, their friendship came to an abrupt end when Anton had to leave with his family and the rest of the Travelers, unknown to Mariya. She was saddened by his disappearance, as Anton was her only friend, and she never forgot about him over the following years.
1471[]
While residing in a Harman Estate located in Bulgaria, Mariya's parents decide to host a huge celebration and gathering in order to bring together all the witches, covens, and nearby supernatural communities to hear any grievances or issues taking place in the surrounding area, as well as to familiarize themselves with the supernatural beings residing in this area.
It is at this gathering that Mariya is reunited with Anton Petrov. Before the night is over, Mariya makes the decision to run away from the Trinity Coven, the Harman Family, and her parents, so that she can be with Anton, as she had learned years ago what the Travelers were, and that it was forbidden for her to be with them — as it was Hecate and the Trinity Coven itself that had cursed them many, many years ago in punishment for allowing the creation of immortality, and throwing the cycle of nature out of balance. However, despite all of this, and this history and animosity surrounding the Trinity Coven and the Travelers — who could no longer perform magic properly or gather together as a coven to do it either, unless they were Passengers in someone else's body, a loophole they had discovered — Mariya was in love with Anton, and Anton was also in love with her; this was due to the fact that they had grown up living lonely childhoods, and their brief moment of friendship was a ray of happiness them both. As such, Mariya was able to knock-out one of the visiting party guests, and disguise the young girl in her own appearance and clothes; afterwards, Mariya emptied funds, and stole many jewelry, and priceless items, before running away with Anton.
As Mariya and Anton ran, they deposited rumours and false stories that they were travelling in a different direction, hoping to be able to throw off the trail of her parents, her family, and the Trinity Coven; in addition to this, Mariya also used a Cloaking Spell in order to hide the movements of herself and Anton as they travelled to get away from the Harman Estate. Eventually, Mariya and Anton found a secluded, and moderately well-off village to settle down in, where they would be able to temporarily disguise themselves and plants more fake stories as to where they were going. Mariya also made sure that there was no supernatural communities — vampires, werewolves, or witches — residing in the village before agreeing to settle down with Anton; she knew that if they were in a supernatural location, or in too close proximity to other witch covens, then she would possibly be discovered by the Trinity Coven. She had heard rumours of the Original Vampires — Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah Mikaelson — causing a disturbance outside of Bulgaria, closer to where the Trinity Coven was located, and as keepers of the balance of Nature and the supernatural secret, Mariya knew there was a possibility that the Trinity Coven would go to investigate. Even more so, Anton informed Mariya that with the Travelers leaving Bulgaria, word of that word soon reach the Trinity Coven as well, and Mariya — knowing that her parents knew of her history with Anton — that they might check in with them, instead of thinking to assume that Mariya had travelled further into Bulgaria, as opposed to leaving it as soon as she ran away.
Knowing they were safe for the time-being, Anton declared to Mariya that he wished to marry her and have a family with her. Overjoyed, Mariya told Anton that they could be joined together in more than just marriage. Knowing that she held the power of an Elder of the Trinity Coven, Mariya explained to Anton that not only could they join together in marriage, but also in a Unification Ritual, which would allow her magical powers and abilities to be shared in by Anton; he would no longer be bound by the Traveler curse, because his bloodline would be joining into her powerful Harman bloodline, thusly giving him access to the magic in her line, and brining along the unique magic from his bloodline, but not the curse. They could share in their powers as one. Anton, though hesitant, trusted Mariya and agreed to her plans. As such, that first night, Mariya and Anton began the first trial of The Unification Ceremony, which was the fasting, the purification rituals, and the sharing of all secrets between them; the second trial was then the wedding, as there were no other witch Leaders to submit to Mariya and Anton, and the lighting of the ceremonial candle to activate the sharing of powers. Once the there The Unification Ceremony was over, the the Traveler curse which Anton had been beholden to no longer applied to him, as he had joined the Harman Bloodline, the very bloodline which placed the curse upon him in the first place.
Following The Unification Ceremony, Mariya and Anton decided to move on to another region of Bulgaria, just in case their location had been discovered. Mariya and Anton went into hiding in another location in Bulgaria, purchasing a moderate family Estate which they could reside in. In addition the money, jewelry and gems she'd stolen from her family, Mariya also used small doses of her magic in order to confuse people, and earn money from them. It was here they settled down to live their peaceful life in hiding, knowing that if the Trinity Coven found them, then Mariya would be taken away, and if it was the Travelers, then they would wish to use them to figure out a way to break the curse (as it no longer applied to Anton, and therefore would also not impact any future children they had).
1472-1475[]
In this time period, Mariya becomes pregnant twice, first in 1473 and later in 1475. She gives birth to Katerina Petrova on June 5, 1473, and Nedyalka Petrova on October 31, 1475. Being the granddaughters to Malik Harman, the Head of the Harman Family and Leader/Regent of All Witch Covens & Communities, Mariya knows that her two daughters are witch royalty, and the the heirs to the Harman Family and Trinity Coven, especially being of the direct bloodline of Hecate, the Witch-Queen. Knowing that both Katerina and Nedyalka will always be sought out, especially as they were not beholden to the Traveler Curse due to the Unification Ceremony/marriage and the unique Harman bloodline, Mariya informs her husband that her family and coven will always be seeking them out, because the Trinity Coven can never truly be powerful without a direct descendant acting as the Head/Leader/Regent of the family, coven, and All Witch Covens & Communities.
Anton, knowing what would happen if either the Trinity Coven or the Travelers tracked them down, and greatly fearing and disliking magic, banned the use of all magic from the household, as well as informing Katerina and Nedyalka about their heritage, something to which Mariya was not happy about. Mariya knew that if her daughters were not aware of their heritage and family history, then it would be more dangerous for them. Therefore, Mariya would secretly teach Katerina and Nedyalka magic behind Anton's back, especially as both of her daughters had a fascination and fondness for magic.
Prior to WWI[]
At some point in the late 1800s/early 1900s, prior to World War I, Sybil Harman had three children with Livingston Fayne: Edgith, Elspeth, and Emmeth Harman. However, while travelling from the European continent to the North American continent — in order to avoid the rising tensions spreading throughout Europe — the the three young children were separated from their parents. As such, many of the side branches of the Harman Family were lost to the Sybil and the other members of the Trinity Coven, thus merging into other bloodlines.
Due to the loss of Edgith, Elspeth, and Emmeth Harman, the Harman Family, and thusly the Trinity Coven, is left with no children from the side branches to carry on the Harman bloodline, as well no one from the main, revered, royal bloodline to carry on the bloodline either as Mariya and Nedyalka, the remaining direct descendants of Hecate, the Witch-Queen can no longer have children.
It would not be until many years later that the Trinity Coven is finally able to track down the descendants of Melynda's siblings, through Edgith, Elspeth, and Emmeth.
Modern Times[]
As of 2011, the the direct bloodline of Hecate, or the majority of the Harman family (Katerina/Katherine, Mariya, Nedyalka, and Adyelya), now reside in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, where it was revealed that a newly-turned human/witch Katherine inadvertently started her own family with Klaus Mikaelson, her oldest enemy, after conceiving a child with him during a one-night stand, due to nature's loophole (being born a werewolf and turned into a vampire/hybrid by magic). As a result of this, Nedyalka Petrova — that Katherine didn't know was resurrected after her death, alongside her mother — runs away from the Trinity Coven and comes to the city, having heard of Katherine being in New Orleans, with intentions to take revenge upon her sister for the death of their family in 1492. However, when Katherine and Nedyalka reunite with one another, the two sisters eventually are able to reconcile with one another. The Trinity Coven follow Nedyalka to the city to bring her back, and as such, Mariya is once again reunited with her daughter, Katherine, and is finally able to meet her granddaughter. Soon enough, Mariya, Nedyalka, and Katherine all start to work with one another in order to protect the start of their new family: Adyelya Mikaelson.
Family Members[]
- Hecate, The Witch-Queen:
- Melynda, Hearth-Woman:
- Kehlani, Hearth-Woman:
- Iswlyn, Hearth-Man:
- Gershom, Hearth-Man:
- Bronek, Hearth-Man:
- Sybil Harman:
- Edgith Harman:
- Elspeth Harman:
- Emmeth Harman:
- Malik Harman:
- Mariya Petrova-Harman:
- Katerina Petrova/Katherine Pierce:
- Nedyalka Petrova:
- Nadia Petrova:
- Adyelya Mikaelson:
Relatives[]
Through Bronek Hearth-Man[]
- Inadu:
- Mr. Labonair:
- Hayley Marshall-Kenner:
Through Maeve Harman[]
Through Mariya Harman (Petrova)[]
- Isobel Flemming:
- Elena Gilbert:
- Stefanie Salvatore: