Mombi
Wicked witch who enchanted Princess Ozma and enslaved the royal family.
Mombi is a fictional antagonist from L. Frank Baum's Oz series, serving as the primary villain in the second book, *The Marvelous Land of Oz* (1904), and referenced elsewhere. She holds a key position in Oz's backstory. Originally depicted as a lowly hag, she enchanted Princess Ozma to block her from taking the throne. (Baum never stated that Mombi conquered the Gillikin Country as the Wicked Witch of the North, nor that she was deposed by the Good Witch of the North; the Wicked Witch of the North is not a canonical figure, and the Good Witch of the North is Locasta or Tattypoo.) She also enslaved King Pastoria and his father, removing the royal family, but the land was not split among the Wicked Witches of the East, West, and South—the Wicked Witch of the South is not canonical. After forcing her to reverse Ozma's enchantment, Glinda the Good Witch of the South made Mombi drink a potion that stripped her of all magical abilities. Mombi does not reappear in Baum's own books. In Ruth Plumly Thompson's *The Lost King of Oz* (1925), she causes fresh trouble and is ultimately executed by being doused with water, melting away like the Wicked Witch of the West (the detail of 'buckled shoes' is not present in Thompson's book). Baum never stated that all witches in Oz die from water, but Thompson and later writers like Rachel Payes adopted that idea. Jack Pumpkinhead apparently resurrects Mombi in *Lucky Bucky in Oz* (1942).
Quick Facts
- Series
- Oz
- First
- The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904)
- Creator
- L. Frank Baum
- Portrayer
- Mai Wells (His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz) / Agnes Moorehead (Shirley Temple's Storybook) / Jean Marsh (Return to Oz) / Fiona Shaw (Emerald City)
- Voice
- Ethel Merman (Journey Back to Oz)
- Alias
- The Wicked Witch of the North
- Species
- Human (witch)
- Gender
- Female
- Title
- Ruler of the Gillikin Country (until the Good Witch of the North overthrew her)
- Children
- Tip (foster-child)
- Nationality
- Gillikin
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Mombi was originally presented as a lowly hag who had enchanted Princess Ozma to prevent her from ascending to the throne. (Baum never specified that she had once conquered and ruled the Gillikin Country as the Wicked Witch of the North, nor that she was deposed by the Good Witch of the North; the Wicked Witch of the North is not a canonical figure, and the Good Witch of the North is Locasta or Tattypoo.) She had enslaved Ozma's father (King Pastoria) and grandfather, removing the Royal Family of Oz, but the land was not split among the Wicked Witches of the East, West, and South—the Wicked Witch of the South is not canonical. After the Wizard of Oz took the baby Princess Ozma, he handed her over to Mombi, who transformed the princess into a boy named Tip and kept him as a slave. Mombi purchased the Powder of Life from Dr. Nikidik and used it to bring Jack Pumpkinhead to life. When Tip ran away, Mombi later allied with General Jinjur. Glinda the Good Witch of the South captured Mombi, forced her to disenchant Ozma, and made her drink a draught that stripped her of all magic powers. Tip promised to provide for Mombi in her old age.
Reader's Guide
Mombi is a key figure in the fictional history of Oz, serving as the primary antagonist in The Marvelous Land of Oz and a catalyst for the restoration of Princess Ozma. Her actions—enslaving the royal family, transforming Ozma into Tip, and colluding with the Wizard—explain the political vacuum that allowed the Wizard to rule. Baum's portrayal of Mombi as a survivor who adapts after defeat (posing as a lowly wizardess) contrasts with later treatments. In Ruth Plumly Thompson's The Lost King of Oz (1925), Mombi is executed by being doused with water, a fate Baum never specified for all witches. This contradicts Baum's original ending where Ozma promised to provide for Mombi. Subsequent writers like Rachel Payes and John R. Neill continued the water-death trope, while others like March Laumer and David Tai reversed or reconciled her death. Gregory Maguire's Out of Oz reimagines Mombi as a powerful ruler of Munchkinland. The character appears in several film adaptations, including the 1914 film His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz, the 1969 film The Wonderful Land of Oz, and the 1972 animated film Journey Back to Oz. Mombi's legacy lies in her role as a shape-shifting, persistent antagonist whose fate became a point of contention among Oz authors.
Did You Know?
- Mombi was never the Wicked Witch of the North in Baum's canon; the Wicked Witch of the North is not mentioned, and the Good Witch of the North is Locasta or Tattypoo.
- She transformed Princess Ozma into a boy named Tip to hide her identity.
- Mombi is apparently resurrected by Jack Pumpkinhead in Lucky Bucky in Oz (1942).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mombi?
Mombi is a lowly, magic-wielding hag and the main antagonist of L. Frank Baum's second Oz novel, The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904). She oppresses the people of Oz through her enchantments and holds the royal family in bondage.
What does Mombi do in the story?
Her defining act is casting a spell over Princess Ozma that strips the girl of her rightful claim to the throne. She also enslaves the royal family, keeping them captive under her magical control throughout the book.
Why is Mombi important to the Oz canon?
She anchors Oz's backstory around the question of who rightfully rules the land and serves as the primary villain of Baum's second book. Her conflict with Ozma sets up the political tensions that drive the plot forward.
Is Mombi the Wicked Witch of the North?
No—Baum never wrote that Mombi conquered the Gillikin Country or held that title. The Wicked Witch of the North is not a figure in the original Oz canon; the northern good witch is named Locasta (later called Tattypoo).
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