what is a death eater

In the Harry Potter series, Death Eaters are a radical group of wizards and witches led by the dark wizard Lord Voldemort. They seek to purify the wizarding community by eliminating wizards and witches born to non-magical parents and create a new order within the Ministry of Magic by spreading fear through the wizarding community and murdering those who speak out against them. Death Eaters recognize each other by the Dark Mark, a sigil branded on each of their left forearms that allows Voldemort to summon any of them instantly. Their typical attire includes black hooded robes and masks. The group first appeared in the novel Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, although individual members of the group, such as Severus Snape, Lucius Malfoy, and Peter Pettigrew had appeared in earlier books in the series. Some Death Eaters were largely ineffective, while others posed an almost insurmountable threat whenever they appeared on the scene. The most powerful Death Eaters include Bellatrix Lestrange, Severus Snape, and Barty Crouch Jr..