Famous Ancestor: Difference between revisions

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We've all known a guy like this, you know the guy who claims his great to the Nth grandfather did something famous which via [[Fridge Logic]] carries over to him? This is dedicated to any character who invokes a [[Famous Ancestor]] to help characterize himself, or ''is'' characterized by his famous ancestor despite his own traits. Expect this as the source of a [[Secret Legacy]] or [[Superpowerful Genetics]] in a family line and expect a poor kid being held up to the ancestors standard.

We've all known a guy like this, you know the guy who claims his great to the Nth grandfather did something famous which via [[Fridge Logic]] carries over to him? This is dedicated to any character who invokes a '''Famous Ancestor''' to help characterize himself, or ''is'' characterized by his famous ancestor despite his own traits. Expect this as the source of a [[Secret Legacy]] or [[Superpowerful Genetics]] in a family line and expect a poor kid being held up to the ancestors standard.

Commons subversions occur where the character has a Famous Ancestor, but the powers or prowess eludes them and their humiliation is [[Played for Laughs]].

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This is a common way for writers to grant characters powers or abilities of the famous ancestor. Bonus points if the character claims to be a direct descendant in a case that history clearly contradicts and causes [[Fridge Logic]].

Note that while it might seem impressive to claim certain historical figures as your ancestor, anyone who lived more than a few hundred years ago and had more than a few children could very well have millions of living descendants right now. See the entries from [[Real Life]] below. On the gripping hand though, while simple descendants of important historical figures may be common, "direct male line descendants" ~~-- presumably~~, from firstborn son to firstborn ~~son -- probably~~ actually would be unique.

Note that while it might seem impressive to claim certain historical figures as your ancestor, anyone who lived more than a few hundred years ago and had more than a few children could very well have millions of living descendants right now. See the entries from [[Real Life]] below. On the gripping hand though, while simple descendants of important historical figures may be common, "direct male line descendants"—presumably, from firstborn son to firstborn son—probably actually would be unique.

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== [[Live Action TV]] ==

* Octavian happily uses this on ''[[Rome]]''. Even though the father he speaks so highly of was actually his great-uncle, and Octavian found out he was adopted when he read Caesar's will.

** Brutus also has a [[Famous Ancestor]], being descendant from the man who rid Rome of its last king. His mother and the men who conspire to kill Caesar often bring it up.

** Brutus also has a Famous Ancestor, being descendant from the man who rid Rome of its last king. His mother and the men who conspire to kill Caesar often bring it up.

* Spock of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek the Original Series]]'' fame claims descent from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle through his human mother, Amanda Grayson.

** And [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Miles O'Brien]] claims descent from the legendary Irish king Brian Boru. This is at least justified, as Boru is traditionally believed to have founded the O'Brien clan.