Amherst Family
From Test234
The Amherst's are a family from Triton City. Often called "America's Royal Family" due to their wealth, power, and connections to multiple European Royal families (often through marriage), they have held positions of political power from local mayor to the President of the United States. Amassing their wealth through their multinational, multi-trillion dollar company Amherst International, the Amherst's are perhaps the most powerful family in the world with money and power on level with the Rothschild's, Rockefeller's, and Medici's.
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History and Current
The Family was founded by a German immigrant named Adolf, son of the reigning Barron von Amherst. Adolf fell in love with one of the maids in the palace, which the family did not approve of. He was given a choice: give up his love and stay with the family, or renounce his claim to the title of Barron and be ostracized from the family. He packed his belongings and moved from Bavaria to America, changing his name to Adolf Amherst. 5 years later he founded what was then known as Amherst Land and Trust, a contract company specializing in the construction of lavish mansions for the Barons of the Gilded Age.
In 1910 Adolf Amherst decided to move his company from New York to the bustling state of California. Amherst Land and Trust soon expanded to incorporate nearly every field imaginable- from Agriculture to, most recently, aerospace technology. 120 years after its founding, Amherst International is arguably the most powerful corporate body in the world, and has made the Amherst family very, very rich.
But the Amherst's didn't stop there. They dominated the face of American politics as well. As of 2010, 2 senators, 1 governor, and one president have stemmed from the Amherst family tree. Newly elected Senator George Amherst of California also stems from this tree.
Family Beliefs
The Amherst’s are one of the oldest families in Triton society. They belong to an extremely tight-knit community comprised of the other old families of Triton. The amount of wealth or political power one has is not as important to them as one’s background and pedigree. That is to say, they do not value fortune as much as they value fortunate birth.
In the eyes of the Amherst’s, a family is “nouveau riche” until the wealth has been passed down a minimum of three generations, with the family founder (the one who acquired the wealth) deceased and the fourth generation in their childhood. A member of a “nouveau riche” family is addressed as a “parvenu” because they have the money and power of the upper tier of society, but usually not the social refinement or clout. The word “newblood” is often used as a slang term for “parvenu” to emphasize their status as “new blue-bloods.” This title is used for every first- and second-generation wealth family, regardless of the amount of money or power they have.
When it comes to beliefs concerning mutants, the Amherst’s basic belief is “whatever keeps them in power.” In the beginning, they were staunch anti-mutants. However, with the passing of pro-mutant legislature, and the revelation that several of the family members were themselves mutants, the Amherst’s have gradually shifted towards pro-Mutant beliefs, often bordering on mutant supremacy (a fundamental belief of the Amherst’s close family friend, the Blair family).
Name Etymology
The name "Amherst" is derived from the title of Adolf, the Barron von Amherst, the founder of the family. Coming through Ellis Island in the 1880's, he shortened his name to distance himself from his family in Europe so that he could start over with his new wife.
Current Family Members
Benjamin Amherst III
- Spouse: HRH Princess Sonya of Norway.
- Children: George Amherst, Patrick Amherst, Debra Amherst-Rockwell.
- Occupation: Former Mayor of Triton City, Former Amherst International Chairman/CEO (retired due to health).
- Current residence: Sweden, where he is currently receiving medical aid.
George Amherst
- Spouse: Miranda Torchwood-Amherst (deceased).
- Children: Rodolphe Amherst, Raoul Amherst.
- Occupation: United States Senator, Republican-California.
- Current Residence: Washington, DC.
Patrick Amherst
- Spouse: Lady Catherine York (daughter of the Earl York).
- Children: Andrew Amherst, Andrea Amherst.
- Occupation: Amherst International Regional Director, Australia.
- Current Residence: Sydney, Australia.
Rodolphe Amherst
- Spouse: HRH Princess Sophia of Belgium.
- Children: None.
- Occupation: Amherst International Regional Director, Europe.
- Current Residence: Brussels, Belgium (Royal Palace).
Andrew Amherst
- Spouse: Jennifer Conrad.
- Children: None.
- Occupation: President, "Amherst International Oversight Committee" (oversees subsidiaries HQ'd in Dubai).
- Current Residence: Dubai, UAE (The World Archipelago).
Andrea Amherst
- Spouse: None.
- Children: None.
- Occupation: International Fashion and Commercial model.
- Current Residence: 740 Park Avenue.
Raoul Amherst
- Spouse: None.
- Children: Erik Amherst (former, Montgomery), adopted.
- Occupation: Chairman/CEO Amherst International.
- Current Residence: Kykuit.
Erik Amherst
- Spouse: None.
- Children: None.
- Occupation: Student/Freshman class president, Janus Academy.
- Current Residence: Kykuit.
Debra Amherst-Rockwell
- Spouse: Charles Rockwell.
- Children: Sophia Rockwell, Charles Rockwell JR.
- Occupation: Socialite
- Current Residence: Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego
Sophia Rockwell
- Spouse: None.
- Children: None.
- Occupation: Chief Style Consultant, Fashionista Magazine.
- Current Residence: Estate in a 92050 gated community.
Known acquaintances
Blair Family
The members of the Blair Family are long-time friends of the Amherst family, even though Amherst Land & Trust and the Triton Group are top rivals in business. Even though there has never been a marriage to unify the two families, there is a mutual support system for each of the families’ political candidates/officers, a shared basic belief system, and almost a century’s worth of friendship between them.
In today’s Triton, the Blair family is once again in power through Cameron Blair, the current Mayor of Triton. Erik Amherst, adopted scion of the Amherst family, has a small internship at the mayoral mansion and receives first-hand lessons in politics from Mayor Blair. Erik Amherst is also close friends with Serena Blair, the Mayor’s niece and heiress to the Blair family.
Dupuis Family
The relationship of the Amherst’s to the Dupuis’ is laced with love, friendship, un-grounded blame, and business competition.
The Dupuis’, according to Triton’s “old families,” were technically Newbloods- the family patriarch Eric Dupuis and his wife and children striking it rich and moving to a house in Triton. The Amherst’s youngest son, Raoul, develops a close friendship with the Dupuis’ son, Michael, as well as a crush on their daughter, Christine. Raoul, being the black sheep of the family due to his acceptance of the “parvenu,” becomes quite close with Michael Dupuis, to the point where the two were almost inseparable. Raoul’s parents, thinking that he would eventually drift away from the young Dupuis, let the friendship be. When Raoul’s mother, famed actress Miranda Torchwood, died in the fire which destroyed the Torchwood Estate, Michael was there to comfort him.
However, when Michael was killed in a rip current while out surfing, the Dupuis parents blamed his death on Raoul because he had been there that morning, yet had done nothing to help (in reality, there was much drinking and Raoul was too drunk to realize that Michael had even gone into the water). This destroyed the friendship between the Amherst’s and Dupuis’, Raoul leaving Triton for Columbia University a few years later.
A few weeks after Raoul’s return to Triton as Amherst International’s new COO, he ran into Christine Dupuis, younger sister of Michael and daughter of the now deceased Eric Dupuis.
They dated, but eventually broke up. (This will be edited and expanded later)
European Royal Families
Stemming originally from the blood of the Barron von Amherst, the family has a long history of marrying into the "power families" of Europe, mainly the royal families. The Amherst's have blood connections with almost every royal family in Europe (Monaco, Spain, France, Sweden, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Liechtenstein, several Italian families). Currently, 3 Amherst's have married into royalty/nobility- the patriarch Benjamin III married HRH Princess Sonya or Norway (putting his descendants in line for the Norwegian crown, and making his formal name HRH Prince Benjamin of Norway), his second son Patrick married Lady Catherin York, the daughter of the Earl York of England, and the eldest grandson Rodolphe married HRH Princess Sophia of Belgium, putting himself and his descendants in line for the Belgian crown (and making his formal name HRH Prince Rudolph [a name change]).
Homes
Members of the family have purchased and sold homes throughout history, but there are several homes which have been acquired by family members and passed down from generation to generation. The oldest of these is the family's ancestral home in Triton-Kykuit. The most recent are the group of islands recently purchased in Dubai. Each home is equipped with bulletproof/bombproof windows/walls, a detachment of Amherst Security guards, and a staff of at least 10 servants at all times (more if a family member is actually in residence there, as is the case with "The World" and the complex at 740 Park Avenue.)
Kykuit
The Ancestral home in Triton. A 22,000 square foot main house with multiple outbuildings, surrounded by Baroque gardens and high security walls. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The World Archipelago
A group of islands in Dubai. The family owns the islands that make up Alaska and a portion of Canada. Features include an airfield that can accommodate an Airbus A380, an underwater network of tunnels from one island to another, and docks for yachts and a Phoenix 1000 submarine.
Westwood House
A large palatial estate in London's Kensington Palace Gardens street, often referred to by many as "the most expensive street in the world."
Fiori
The Amherst's thousand-acre villa just outside the Italian city of Milan. Rolling green hills, a small vineyard, and dozens of horses. There is a large main house, a winery, stables, and several smaller cottages.
Chateau d'Allemande
A grand estate just outside of Paris. Situated on 500 acres, there is the palatial main chateau, servants quarters, fountains, stables, a small lake, and acres of baroque gardens.
740 Park Avenue
The Amherst family owns a massive, 3-floor complex at 740 Park Avenue, said to be the world's wealthiest apartment building. There are 10 bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, entrances from the lobby and the street, and views of the Manhattan skyline.
