Goldsmith Amshel



The first of Diva's Chevaliers. Amshel(Anshel in the manga and novels) was the brother of the first Joel, who discovered the mummified body of Saya and Diva's mother. Strangely enough it was Amshel who inadvertently re-awaked the two Queens. Once the two eggs had been removed from her body he tried unsuccessfully to cut them open. In doing so his blade slipped and cut his finger, and the blood dripping onto the two cuccoons caused a reaction which eventually resulted in Saya and Diva hatching.

After the death of the first Joel, Amshel naturally took charge of creating subsequent Chevaliers and chiropterans - the first being Solomon, a distant relative and member of the Goldsmith family.

How Amshel became a chevalier is unknown, but his chiropteran form is not seen until the penultimate episode. Like Hagi he is the only one of Diva's chevaliers with six limbs - two arms, two legs and two wings.

Reception
Amshel is considered the only truly evil character in Blood+. Unlike all the other characters (including Diva herself) we are never given a reason to pity or sympathise with him. It would seem the only motivation for his actions is his own twisted scientific curiosity, performing whatever actions necessary to further his own goals. He creates the Schiff, seemingly without the knowledge of his brother chevalier although James did not seemed surprised about their appearance, indicating that maybe it was only Solomon who did not know about their creation. Once Solomon pledged himself to Saya, Amshel attacked him and seemed to have the upper hand in the battle until Nathan stopped them.

Amshel also appears to be somewhat perverted. He repeatedly allows Diva to refer to him as "Father" and later partly confesses to having sex with her to determine whether or not she could have children. His desires also extend to humans - whilst in the form of Liza, he asks Riku (prior to becoming Saya's chevalier) to have a bath with him, then later tells Haji he was jealous of him as he was to be Saya's and Diva's 'bridegroom'. Towards the end of the series, he removes his ring, to which he had claimed was a family heirloom and that he never takes off, and places it between a mannequin's breasts. This possibly is symbolizing that this is the final showdown between to two chevalier or simply that whilst he changes forms the ring might break.

Amshel is Diva's first and most powerful chevalier.He is faster and stronger than the average chevalier, having easily caught Saya's arm when she attacked and crushed it and again when he saved Diva frm being stabbed when Solomon threw a dagger at her. Amshel is the only chiropteran besides Diva to display the ability to transform into another person, impersonating Liza numerous times and Diva in the last episode. It is implied that the more powerful chevalier, like a chiroptera queen's first chevalier, are capable of telekinesis to a certain degree. It is seen in only three characters throughout the show, Amshel, Nathan and also Diva. Saya's chevalier Haji, however, does not seem to have this capability and it could be a trait passed down through a specific queen. It is more than likely that Saya and Haji simply do not drink enough blood or rely on their chiropteran instincts enough to sustian the ability.

Relationships



 * Diva Even before becoming her chevalier, Amshel had a deep obsession with Diva, later confessing to Saya that he wished she hadn't released her, because then she would still be his and his alone. This relationship however does not last, and by the end of the series he has lost interest in her completely, now turning his attention to her two children.


 * Saya Like all of Diva's chevaliers (with the exception of James) Amshel initially tried to persuade her to join their side. Once it became apparent she never would he then decides to kill her.

With Other Chevaliers
Solomon

Solomon is Amshel's closest blood relative, whom he trusts the most and uses him as an assassin. Even after switching to Red Shields, one of the few moments of softness we see from Amshel is the moment of Solomon's death.

Karl

Like James, Amshel has no true interest in Karl, often leaving him out of important matters or provoking him. Amshel does not seem to do this for fun - he gives Karl his new arm after a long absence - but out of indifference.

James

Amshel appears to have complete trust in James and orders him to carry out his most important missions

Nathan

Initially Amshel seems one of the few chevaliers who is not irritated by Nathan's flamboyancy, but the tables soon turn. Nathan openly threatens Amshel, who remains strangely quiet.