One of the most prestigious awards in the wizarding world is the Merlin Medal.
The issuance of the first Merlin Medal can be traced back to the twelfth century A.D. The Great Wizard Council, during their conflict with the 'Whip of God,' commended the heroic efforts of those who banished the 'Plague Messenger.' They imprinted the legendary Guardian Spell onto the Hexagram Amulet to increase the heroes' chances of success.
With the end of the war, the Great Wizard Council did not halt the issuance of these amulets. Instead, they enhanced this form of recognition – by establishing the Merlin Medal in the name of the legendary figures Merlin the Mage, who was the highest-ranking wizard who sacrificed himself during the medieval war. The medal aimed to honor those who made substantial contributions to the improvement of magic and the development of the wizarding world.
At its inception, there were many stringent restrictions on the recipients of this medal.
