"We've both been cursed by immortality, Klaus. But it's not the years that weigh on us. It's the endless memories of everything we've lost. And the ones we've failed to protect."—Madeleine, to Klaus
Brief Overview[]
Madeleine Judith Whitmore is a thousand year old tribrid who has endured centuries of tragedy, survival and self-discovery. Born to a powerful witch lineage with ties to Ayana in London, England, she was turned a vampire at the age of 20 by Margaret, who was hired by her parents to protect her after the supernatural world began targeting her family. Her sister Clara's disappearance at age 14 and the murder of her family by Klaus Mikaelson's allies set Maddie on a path of vengeance and fear.
Despite her supernatural resilience, Maddie spent nearly a millennium running from Klaus, while learning to embrace her true nature. In 2017 during the events of The Vampire Diaries, Season 7, her dormant werewolf gene that her father carried was activated after she accidentally killed a man in self-defense, fully solidifying her as a tribrid.
Madeleine's long life is marked by heartbreak, complicated relationships, and a constant struggle between her humanity and her darker instincts. She forms close bonds with the Mystic Falls gang, though her history with the Mikaelsons remains fraught with tension.
Early History[]
Childhood (988-1002)[]
Madeleine Judith Whitmore was born on October 31st, 988 A.D. in London, England into an affluential family deeply entrenched in the supernatural world. Her father, David, was a man of extraordinary willpower and discipline who comes from a long line of werewolves. He carried a dormant werewolf gene, a secret he kept even from most of his family. Determined not to succumb to the violent curse that plagued his bloodline, David devoted his life to suppressing his nature and ensuring that it would not pass down to his children.
Maddie's mother, Althea, was a highly skilled witch who came from a long line of elemental magic practitioners, who is also an ancestor of Ayana. She dedicated herself to raising Madeleine and Clara, in a home steeped in tradition and magical discipline. The Whitmore household was a harmonious balance of love and rigor, with Althea teaching Maddie the fundamentals of witchcraft and David instilling in his daughters a deep appreciation for loyalty, resilience and self-control.
Madeleine's childhood was largely idyllic, filled with magical lessons, family rituals and moments of playful mischief with Clara. The two were inseparable, often found sneaking out to explore the bustling streets of medieval London. Clara, with her carefree and adventurous spirit, was the perfect counterbalance to Maddie's serious and determined nature.
However, the Whitmore's family peaceful existence was not without its shadows. David was constantly wary of the supernatural threats looming over them, particularly from werewolves and vampires. He feared that his dormant werewolf gene, combined with the Whitmores' magical lineage, would make his family a target. His fears proved well-founded as whispers of a powerful family of vampires-- the Originals-- began to circulate, striking fear into the hearts of the supernatural community.
Clara's Disappearance (1002)[]
In 1002, when Maddie was just 14, on the night of a full moon, Clara disappeared while gathering herbs for a spell. The family's frantic search ended in devastation when they discovered Clara had been killed by a werewolf pack that had infiltrated the outskirts of London. This event marked the first time that Maddie fully grasped the dangers of the supernatural world and the precariousness of her family's position within it.
Clara's death had a huge effect on the Whitmore family. Maddie became consumed with guilt, blaming herself for not being strong enough to protect her sister. Althea withdrew into her grief, focusing on protecting Maddie, while David's fear of his own dormant werewolf nature intensified. David's solution to suppress his gene became an obsession, as he was terrified of becoming the very creature that had killed his daughter. Through sheer forces of will, self-imposed rituals, and the support of Althea's magic, David managed to avoid ever triggering his curse-- a feat almost unheard of among his kind.
The Whitmores' grief soon turned into paranoia as rumours of The Originals' growing power reached London. The family became aware that Klaus Mikaelson, in particular, had taken an interest in their bloodline due to their unique blend of magical and werewolf heritage. Determined to protect Maddie from Klaus and other supernatural threats, David and Althea made a fateful decision.
Margaret and Madeleine's Turning (1008)[]
Realizing that Maddie's abilities as a witch were not yet strong enough to protect her, David and Althea sought out Margaret, a cunning and resourceful vampire known for her survival skills. Margaret, impressed by the Whitmore family's reputation and desperate to gain allies, offered a controversial solution: turning Maddie into a vampire.
Her father was deeply conflicted. On one hand, he wanted nothing more than to keep Maddie safe; on the other, the idea of his daughter becoming a creature of the night was abhorrent to him. Althea, pragmatic and fiercely protective, ultimately convinced David that vampirism was the only way to ensure Maddie's safety and survival.
Just a week after Madeleine's 20th birthday, Margaret turned her. The transition was excruciating, both physically and emotionally. Maddie felt an overwhelming sense of betrayal, particularly toward her father who had always taught her to cherish her humanity and resist the pull of supernatural forces. David, wracked with guilt, could barely look his daughter in the eye from this day on, knowing that if he activates his curse and loses control and bites his daughter that it's all over.
The Death of Madeleine's Parents (1008)[]
In 1008, shortly after Maddie's transformation, Klaus Mikaelson orchestrated the massacre of the Whitmore family. Determined to eliminate any potential threats to his dominance, Klaus targeted David and Althea, viewing their unique bloodline as both a threat and a potential asset. David, though still a mortal man, fought valiantly to protect his wife and daughter, but Klaus' allies overwhelmed them.
David's final moments were spent shielding Althea and cursing his inability to fully protect his family. He died a mortal, never having triggered his werewolf gene, a testament to his unwavering willpower. Althea was killed shortly after, leaving Maddie as the sole survivor of the Whitmore bloodline.
Maddie managed to escape, though the loss of her parents and the betrayal of Klaus left her deeply scarred. Alone and grieving, she fled London, beginning a century long journey of survival and self-discovery.
Meeting Zachariah/Mary Triste[]
In the early 1200's, Madeleine married a mortal, Zachariah Cadell, someone she deeply loved and trusted. Desperate to spend eternity together, Madeleine sought a powerful spell to grant him immortality. However, Mary Triste, a cunning, manipulative and new witch, intercepted the ritual and stole the immortality for herself. Horrified by the unintended consequences and wracked with guilt, Madeleine vowed to track Mary down and reclaim what was meant for Zachariah. Tearfully, she told him she would return soon, but her departure marked the beginning of a long quest, leaving Zachariah heartbroken and their relationship unresolved.
In the late 1300's, Madeleine finally tracked Mary to France, where she had joined a powerful coven that shared her stolen immortality. Determined to undo the damage, Madeleine performed a complex spell to reclaim the power Mary had taken and took all their powers in their process. The ritual also included a cure for immortality, stripping Mary and her coven of their stolen power and rendering them mortal. As the years instantly caught up to them, Madeleine stood silently, watching Mary and her coven decompose before her eyes.
The Salvatores[]
In the 1800's, Maddie arrived in Mystic Falls with hopes of finding some peace and avoiding the chaos that had been following her for centuries. But fate had other plans. She found herself entangled in a conflict with the Salvatore brothers, Stefan and Damon. There was an incident where Maddie was forced to defend herself against the Salvatores, which resulyed in a destructive event that shook the town. The tension between her and the Salvatores escalated, leaving her feel like an outsider in a town that didn't welcome her. After that, Maddie vowed to never return to Mystic Falls, leaving behind the brothers and the troubled town in her past. Though during this, she developed a very close and romantic relationship to Stefan, he hated to see her go and tried to convince her to stay but she insisted to her word.
Arrival in Mystic Falls[]
Maddie eventually found herself back in Mystic Falls, where she had a run in with the Salvatore brothers many decades prior. She promised herself she would never go back but she was so drawn by the town's concentration of supernatural activity. Here, she reunited with Salvatore brothers and met the Mystic Falls gang, forming a close connection with them and a trusting bond she picked up with the Salvatores, something she was unable to do years before, despite the romantic relationship she shared with Stefan. She rekindled her particularly close bond with him again, their connection rooted in their shared struggle with guilt and redemption, putting their bad past behind them. Though, their relationship remained complicated by Madeleine's lingering feelings for Kol.
In New Orleans[]
Maddie's relationship with Kol began with an intense and whirlwind romance. The two moved quickly, and Maddie followed him to New Orleans where Maddie became pregnant with their child where their daughter was born. However, their relationship began to unravel shortly after Annie's birth. Just a month after welcoming their daughter, Maddie called off the engagement to Kol, realizing that the dark legacy of the Mikaelsons was not the environment she wanted for her daughter, she fled to Mystic Falls.
Here she found support in the Gilbert household as they helped raise Annie along with the Salvatores. Determined to give daughter a normal upbringing, Maddie kept Annie's supernatural lineage a secret, raising her a human and witholding the truth about her truth until she turned thirteen. Despite the challenges, Maddie worked tirelessly to ensure Annie had the stable and protected life she never had.