Licorus Black

Licorus Nigellus Black (29 August, 1808 - 26 November, 1872) was a English pureblood wizard, as well as one of the earliest known member of the pureblood House of Black. He married a pureblood witch, Magenta Tripe, and is one of the earliest known ancestor of the Black family, being depicted on the Black family tree tapestry that hangs in the ancestral home of 12 Grimmauld Place. He is the brother of Hesper, Alexia Walkin, Phoebe and Eduardus Limette Black.

He attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from 1819 to 1826 and was sorted into Slytherin.

Biography
Licorus was born to the House of Black in 1808, to Nigellus Black and Minette Malfoy. He had four younger siblings: Alexia Walkin, Phoebe, Hesper and Eduardus Limette Black.

Licorus Black was raised in a household that strongly believed in the importance of blood purity, and as such likely carried a grudge against Muggleborns, whom most of the family called Mudbloods. His brother Eduardus was disowned for unknown reasons, which likely had an effect on him.

At the age of eleven, in 1819, Licorus began his schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he was sorted into Slytherin House.

Sometime after completing his schooling, Licorus married Magenta Tripe, with whom he had several children: a daughter, Misapinoa (1826), who was born not long after their graduation and married into the Blishwick family by being wed to Jimbo Blishwick; and two sons, Arcturus (1835) and Cygnus Black (1829). It is likely, after Cygnus's death, that Licorus and Magenta helped Ella Max raise Cygnus's children: Sirius, Phineas Nigellus, Iola and Elladora.

Licorus died in 1872.

Etymology

 * Licorus is a form of the name Lycorus. In Greek mythology, Lycorus was a son of the god Apollo. After him a city was named Lycoreia.
 * Nigellus is a Latin baby name. In Latin the meaning of the name Nigellus is: Champion. Latinized from the Scandinavian Njal: (Niall) in Normandy.
 * Black can be considered a colour, and is the result of the absence of, or complete absorption of, light. In Western culture, the colour black has typically been associated with evil, darkness, and witchcraft, but also with prestige and sophistication — appropriate for the rich and House of Black. Black has also been associated with life and prosperity by other cultures. In ancient China, black was the symbol of the element of water, which also corresponds to Slytherin, the Hogwarts house of almost all members of the Black family. In English heraldry, black represents darkness and ignorance; a possible allusion to the prejudice common to members of the House of Black.