zi Britannia, Charles

Seiyuu / Dub

Stritzel, Oliver· Japanese

Wakamoto, Norio· Japanese

Biondi, Pietro· Italian

McConnohie, Michael· English

Ordóñez Arrieta, Rafael· Spanish

Souterelle, Frédéric· French

Summary

Charles Zi Britannia, also referred to as Charles di Britannia in English dubs, serves as the 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire and acts as the primary antagonist across the series. He is the father of Lelouch vi Britannia and numerous other children, and the twin brother of V.V. In his youth, Charles possessed a Geass ability that enabled him to suppress and alter the memories of anyone he made eye contact with. He eventually traded this power to V.V. in exchange for her Code, which granted him immortality. A cold and highly intelligent ruler, Charles adheres strictly to social Darwinism, believing that only the strongest deserve to ascend in society. This philosophy extends to his personal relationships; he treated Lelouch harshly following the death of Marianne, offering no sympathy to his adolescent son. Deeply cynical, he lacks faith in human goodness, viewing struggle and conflict as humanity’s natural state. He exhibits no moral qualms regarding his enemies, having eliminated political rivals and their allies to seize power. As Emperor, he continues global conflicts with little regard for casualties, whether they are enemy combatants, innocent civilians, or Britannian soldiers. His ideology likely stems from a traumatic childhood where he frequently witnessed his family members killing one another for the throne, leading him to conclude that power is essential for survival. Despite his ruthless exterior, he desires a gentler world. During his final confrontation with Lelouch, he claims that the Ragnarok Connection will create the peaceful world Nunnally desires. Charles’ Geass manifested as sigils in both eyes, a rarity indicating his extensive experience with the power. It allowed him to freely alter memories, seal the Geass of others, and suppress physical senses like sight. While contact with an Immortal or sheer willpower could potentially break these seals, the latter may have only been possible due to his death. He could apply his power to a single individual multiple times.