OT Geneology - and I'm Part Celestial!

[Dragongirl]

and folks, do be careful about where you hear about tracing your genealogy back to gods... after all, hitler and his SS elite claimed that they could trace their genealogy back to the norse gods... right.

Awww don't ruin an interesting thread with politics. I think most people don't take godly descent seriously.

As for going back 1000 years, it is not hard for many of European descent, especially english. Once you get back to royalty away you go. Depending on what you concider reliable records, I can trace my genealogy back to the Frankish kings of the 8th century or the Egyptian pharaohs of 3000 BC. Though not sure if I believe the latter.

 

[johnsemlak]

I may not be correct as it has been a while since I immersed myself in Roman history and mythology, but I believe the legend that the Julian family, including Julius Caesar, was decended from Venus was created by Virgil. I believe this myth was based on a similarity between the name Julius and a character from the Trojan War (a Trojan, I presume) whom I can't recall now. Anyway, this connection was completely ficticious, as the names in question were not the same or related in any case.

Just looked this up on the internet.

Aeneas's son's same was Iulus. Vergil drew a connection between Iulus and Julius Ceasar.

Again, the connection was completely invented, even if you accept that there was some sort of historical Aeneas.

 

[Sammael99]

Well, I don't go back that far, but I have a few interesting stories : my great-great -grandfather on my father's side was part of Napoleon's Russian campaign. He made it to Mosc0w, but more importantly, he made it back (only a few thousand men of the more than 100000 made it).

He was offered a watch by Napoleon himself rewarding his bravery. We still have the watch in the family.

 

[Alzrius]

According to a popular geneology I did of my family name, I'm the direct descendant of the last family of kings from Ireland. That always makes a great adventure/campaign idea - restore the descendant of the old king to the throne of the country (*cough* Return of the King *cough*).

My father also used to tell me that I had a great-great uncle (also back in Ireland) who was exceptionally strong, and was noted across the land for having once wrestled a charging bull to the ground with his bare hands. While that's not much for a campaign idea, it could make an interesting PC or NPC background for a character with great strength. It could also be a legend to investigate (maybe the PCs have found out he had a magical item that boosted his strength, and they are searching for his tomb to look for the item for a quest).

 

[kingpaul]

I inherited my family's genealogy upon my paternal grandfather's death. I have our stuff up at: http://www.gencircles.com/users/kingpaul/2 . The only really intersting thing that I have in my background is that my mother's immigrant ancestor, who came over in the 1600s, kept changing his name and moving to avoid paying taxes.

 

[Taren Nighteyes]

Well...my family tree is not very easily traced (primarily due to my mother's adoption and location - Korea and my non-existent relationship with my father.)

But, my wife's side can trace her ancestory back to Bruce (the guy from the movie Braveheart that betrayed Mel Gibson)


Taren Nighteyes

 

[Ysgarran]

The only interesting thing is that my grandfathers family came from the Isle of Jersey (which is a small channel island between England and France just below the English channel). The family tree can be traced back a long ways on island.

The family name on the Isle of Jersey appears a bit after 1066 so the supposition is that he was somehow associated with the Norman invasion of England.

Ysgarran.

 

[Bjorn Doneerson]

Uncle Joe

Alzrius reminded me of what my grandfather told me about his uncle Joe. Joe was about 5' 11" and really, really big; like muscular. I'm told his fists were like hams in size. Joe fought people in bars for money. My grandfather never saw a fight, but he said people said Joe would punch someone in the face and they'd bleed out of their ears. Joe also won several beer-barrel throwing competitions (If my memmory serves, the competitions were to throw the barrel the highest). Anyway (here comes the fun part), there was this sneaky, weasely police officer (I wanna say his name was Willy, so that's what we'll call him, but it may not be his name). I'm a little fuzzy on the details, but Willy tried to get my grandfather in trouble for something or other when my granfather was a kid. Anyway, Joe found Willy and punched him and knocked him over. Willy thought that if he stayed on the ground Joe would leave him alone. Joe laid down next to Willy (to make things even) and proceeded to beat Willy up!

Thats all.

 

[Agback]

G'day

My family is fairly easy to trace, having a spectacularly conspicuous surname, and having been aristocratic until the Civil War (1637, not 1861).

I am descended (male line, no less) from a 13th-Century English baron named (variously: spelling was rather dodgy in the 13th Century) Sire John de Ewill or Munsire Johannes de Eyvile, but known to history as Sir John Deiville. (Arms: or, a fess gules, semée of fleurs-de-lys counterchanged.)

Sir John was a supporter of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester (the Father of Parliament), and was summoned as a baron to the Mad Parliament. After the barons were defeated in 1265 Sir John refused a pardon, arguing that he had done nothing to be pardoned for--but that the King had broken his oath. He fled with Sir Nicholas de Segrave and some supporters to the Isle of Ely, and became one of the historical figures on whom Robin Hood is based. In April 1267, in association with the treacherous Earl of Gloucester, he captured London, and held it against the King (and the future Edward I) until June 18, when he was betrayed, captured, and forced to accept a pardon.

Sir John led his banner in the Royal army against the Welsh in 1277, 1282, and 1283. And after his death in 1292 his son led his banner in the English army at the Battle of Falkirk. But we never got our seat in the Lords back.

Regards,


Agback

 

[Wolf72]

2 of my ancestors came over on the mayflower! ... well according the family tree my mom has.

1 was the aide-de-camp to General Washington and accepted the surrender of the british in the Revolutionary War from General Corwalis' aide-de-camp. ... he also did something not so bright, but I can't remember what that was.