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Zero: "The only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed! Wherever oppressors abuse their power by attacking those who are powerless, we shall appear again, no matter how mighty or formidable our foe may be! Those of you with power, fear us! Those of you without it, rally behind us! We, the Black Knights, shall be the ones who stand in judgment of this world!"

The character sheet for the Black Knights of Code Geass.


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    Tropes that apply to them as a whole 
  • The Alliance: The Black Knights is made up of former Japanese factions (Resistance, Japan Liberation Front, Kyoto House), as well as various members who were unaffiliated. During the Kowa Era, the Britannian Military is largely consolidated into the group, with Cornelia, Guilford, and Gino all becoming official members.
  • Anti-Hero Team: They are usually not as extreme as Lelouch, but continue to use terrorism. You could argue that they were, originally at least, more unscrupulous heroes, given that it's implied that, like other resistance groups, they weren't too picky about endangering civilians (at least, not Britannian civilians) originally. Ironically, it was only when Lelouch came along that they softened.
  • Arch-Enemy: To Britannia - the Black Knights are implied to be the greatest threat the Empire has ever faced, and their absolute refusal to die is a source of humiliation for Britannia. The feeling is definitely mutual, as the Black Knights membership includes many people who have seen Britannia try to erase their cultures.
  • Decapitated Army: The Black Knights are able to handily defeat forces that are better armed, equipped, and trained than them, but only through the direction of Lelouch-as-Zero. Should Lelouch be unavailable for any reason, be it due to injuries or being elsewhere at a given time, they fold like a house of cards. When Lelouch becomes Emperor of Britannia, they hardly stand a chance against him.
  • Dark Is Not Evil: The Black Knights are among the heroes of the story, hence "knight".
  • Demoted to Extra: Most of the pre-existing members before the Kowa Era are absent or left with a reduced role during Lelouch of the Re;surrection, with only Ohgi and Tamaki present. Instead, the only notable members of the Black Knights are the relative newcomers Cornelia and Guilford. Minami gets The Cameo acting as a bodyguard to Kaguya, Jiang Lihua, and Margaret Walpole, while Rakshata is shown overseeing her apprentices and alongside Schneizel and Kanon, and the representatives negotiating with Zilkistan consist of Tohdoh, Chiba, Xianglin, Hong Gu, and Gino.
  • Face–Heel Turn: With the betrayal in Turn 19.
  • Enemy Mine:With Schneizel twice. First there is the mutiny at Turn 19 and then later working with him and the Democles. Both times it is to defeat Lelouch but after Schneizel is geassed to 'serve Zero', it sticks.
  • Good Is Not Nice: While they might not be as evil as Britannia they aren't completely innocent rebels.
  • Heroes With Bad Publicity: Heroes to the Japanese and all other non-Britannia nations, terrorists to Britannia.
  • Idiot Ball: All of them grab it when it comes to Schneizel convincing them Lelouch as Zero is actually The Sociopath with mind control powers who does everything For the Evulz. Only Tamaki and Diethard protest this. Even considering the SAZ Massacre, it's rather dumb for them to believe the enemy over the guy who lead them to such successes. The Compilation Movies reduce the idiocy, pushing it so they ended up with no choice but to be with Schneizel after he drives off Lelouch. It still is pretty stupid that Schneizel and his forces would be on the ship when they went to talk to Lelouch or that they would even agree to talk to him after he dropped a atomic bomb on top of a city.
  • Meaningful Name: Though tend to be seen in a villainous light in modern popular culture, historically speaking a Black Knight was a Vigilante Man that wandered around bound by no lord or master and slaying unjust rulers and fighting against tyranny. The black armour was often so that it was easier for them to care for their own armour themselves as they often didn't have a squire to do it for them. This fits perfectly with what Lelouch wanted them to be and how they end up being seen by the public. As a bonus, they were often censored by records as being evil people by the people in charge such as the church, though some texts still remain stating otherwise.
  • Multinational Team: While intially primarily comprised of Japanese members due to being formed by various Japanese resistance groups, over time more ethnicities began to join the group, ranging from Indians like Rakshata, Chinese like Xingke, and even Britannian's like Diethard. By the midpoint of R2, the group is effectively comprised of anyone willing to fight against the tyranny of Britannia regardless of their nationality, making them the perfect choice to be the United Federation of Nations armed forces. By the Kowa era, most of the Britannian military was absorbed into the Black Knights, with Cornelia, Guilford, and Gino now being members. The only reason the entire military hasn't joined is due to Zero fearing too much power in one group left unchecked, so groups like the Glinda Knights remain independent as a means of Checks and Balances.
  • Occupiers Out of Our Country: One of their goals is to push the Britannian military out of Japan. This goal is so important to the inner cabinet of the group that they perform a backroom deal with Schneizel and betray Zero for the sake of regaining it, only to backfire once Lelouch becomes Emperor and reconquers it after defeating them and Schneizel.
  • Popularity Power: Suzaku's popularity as Zero has reached its peak when he assassinated Lelouch as part of their Thanatos Gambit. The Black Knights would later have two branches of "Cafe Zero" as result.
  • Rebellious Rebels: They are formed in part out of a belief that the Japanese Liberation Front and other anti-Britannian groups in Japan are Terrorists Without a Cause who are doing more harm than good with aimless violence.
  • La Résistance: They provide the opposing force to Britannia and it's armies. At the end of the series they free Japan, and cripple Britannia leaving the Black Knights the main source of military power left in the world.
  • Those Two Guys: Kento and Minami. Yoshida was the third but he died during the Black Rebellion.
  • Turn Coat: Most of the members when they turn on Zero in hopes of getting Japan back as of Turn 19. They aren't joining Britannia full-stop, mind, but they are siding with Schneizel over Lelouch, and without consent of the UFN, which includes Kaguya.
    • In the third Compilation Movie, they don't have as much of a choice when they offer Zero a chance to tell the truth, only for Schneizel's men to intervene and have Rolo rescue Lelouch and run away with him, which leaves them stuck with Schneizel.
  • Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: The purpose of their group is rebellion against Britannia's oppression. Although Britannia doesn't see them any differently from the other resistance groups that do indeed engage in terrorism, Zero denounces such tactics ("Britannia will not fall to terrorism; it's just childish nonsense!"). Instead, they are more like vigilantes with an army.

    Rakshata Chawla 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Rakshata_Chawla.png
Voiced by: Masayo Kurata (Japanese), Laura Bailey (English)

"I'm its mother." — Referring to the Guren.

A mild-mannered engineer from India, Rakshata Chawla leads the research team of the Black Knights.Lloyd Asplund and Cécile Croomy.


  • Bollywood Nerd: She's a Mad Scientist from India and her appearance and other characteristics contrast her rivals, who appear quite British.
  • Brilliant, but Lazy: The audience will be hard pressed to find a time when she is NOT laying down on a sofa, even on the bridge of a ship in the middle of battle.
  • Smoking Is Cool: Loves to tease people while smoking her pipe.
  • Gadgeteer Genius: Rakshata can design state-of-the-art weaponry, such as Kallen's Guren. She is the creator of its Radiant Wave Surger and the Gefjun Disturber, a force field generator to disable all sakuradite-powered technology within its area of effect. In R2, she developed the Air Glide System for the Black Knights' Knightmares.
  • Lack of Empathy: Rakshata possesess a calm and easy-going attitude, no matter what the situation. Despite the horror of the SAZ Massacre, she came off as entirely unconcerned. Given how she still helps to win the war against the Britannian Empire, however, this might be an example of emotional detachment, given she (correctly) thought that worse battles would happen.
  • Mad Scientist: Like her rival Lloyd, Rakshata is a mostly benign version. Not evil enough to be 100% Mad Scientist, but too quirky and young to be The Professor. She becomes enraged when others carelessly mishandle or tamper with her gadgets without her permission.
  • Motherly Scientist: Thinks of her assistants and knightmare frames as her children. In her first scene, she tells some black knights that she "gave birth" to one such frame.
  • The Nicknamer: She gives Earl Lloyd Asplund his nickname "the Earl of Pudding," after his Trademark Favorite Food.
  • Rebel Relaxation: She's almost always seen lounging on something, whether it be leaning against a wall or spread out on a couch. The only times she's seen standing up straight are when things are really serious.
  • Spell My Name With An S: Rakshata vs. Lakshata vs. Laksharta....
  • Statuesque Stunner: She towers over most of the other women in the series — officially she's 6 ft even — and is gorgeous.
  • We Used to Be Friends: Back during their days at the Imperial Colchester Institute, Rakshata used to be friendly rivals with Earl Lloyd Asplund and Cécile Croomy. Because of their predicament during the series, however, Rakshata isn't fond of speaking of their shared past.

    Kaguya Sumeragi 
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Voiced by: Mika Kanai (Japanese), Stephanie Sheh (English)

"It's a matter of love!"

Kaguya Sumeragi (皇 神楽耶, Sumeragi Kaguya), fourteen years old (fifteen in R2), is the young head mistress of the Kyōto House and a supporter of the Black Knights. She is also a close friend of Empress Tianzi of China. Despite her age and physique, she possesses a strong will and is highly influential amongst the Houses. Kaguya has admired Zero since his debut, and wishes to have his hand in marriage.


  • All There in the Manual: Her Forgotten First Meeting with Lelouch only appears in the Audio Play "Kaguya Sumeragi, Deceived by a Demon" (Sumeragi Kaguya Oni Au).
  • Arranged Marriage: Was to be engaged to her cousin Suzaku.
  • Ascended Extra: Despite appearing by herself in the very first opening even, Kaguya doesn't actually do much of anything in the entire first season. She gains a fair amount more prominence in season 2 as the Sole Survivor of her house.
  • Big Eyes, Little Eyes: Just look at those enormous peepers. In this regard, she almost rivals Wide Eyed Idealists Princess Euphemia and Shirley Fenette.
  • Blue Blood: Played with. She's one of the highest ranking members of the nobility of the Japanese remnant, but this is due to being the head of the most powerful industrial groups in pre-Britannian Japan. However, even before this, she has unspecified ranking among the traditional Japanese aristocracy.
  • The Chessmaster: Despite her unassuming appearance, Kaguya is a political mastermind. Despite being ostensibly allied with Britannia in exchange for their high status, the Six Houses have been behind the Japanese resistance practically since the beginning.
  • Covert Pervert: Hinted as such. Besides having absolutely no problem with the (fake) rumors of Zero sleeping around and even going as far as to suggest a Marry Them All scenario for him involving Kallen, C.C. and herself, there's that eyebrow-raising line from the scrapped script of first episode of R2:
    Zero: Gentlepeople of the Six Houses, I beseech you to bring inspiration to the Japanese people.
    Kaguya: Well, that was awfully formal! As your future wife, I wouldn't mind if you were a little more commanding~♪
  • Everything's Sparkly with Jewelry: Her diadem.
  • The Face: Invoked in her bid to convince Zero to marry her: "You'll need a public face, right?"
  • Fangirl: She is Zero's number one fan and not the least bit shy about it. She insists upon having him in marriage, despite not knowing who is behind the mask.
  • Forgotten First Meeting: Played With. Kaguya remembers her first meeting with Lelouch when they were kids, which is an important moment of her past, but she never realized it was him and instead mistook him for an "oni." See Reformed Bully below for details.
  • Hime Cut: As the young headmistress of the Kyōto House, her hair is styled in the traditional Japanese manner.
  • Improbable Age: She's the chairwoman of the United Federation of Nations at 15.
  • Kissing Cousins: Was to be engaged to her cousin Suzaku.
  • Marry Them All: Not only is she comfortable sharing Zero with Kallen and C.C., she suggested it. "We are Zero's Three Court Ladies."
  • Meaningful Name: Kaguya is the name of the eponymous character from an old Japanese folk tale "Princess Kaguya," also known as "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter."
  • The Ojou: The most traditionally Japanese example of a classy young lady in the series.
  • Older Than They Look: She's a teenager, but in many shots she could easily pass for a small child. It's ironic since she's as smart and savvy as any of the adults around her.
  • Plucky Girl: Even at her tender age, she takes the subjugation of Japan and all of the tragedies descended from it in great stride. Even as things get increasingly dicey with Japan's relations with Britannia and the rest of the world, she never loses her spirit.
  • Politeness Judo: The cuteness helps, and she shrewdly works it like a politician.
  • Precocious Crush: Mostly subverted. Zero's rank and charisma make him seem much older than Kaguya, but they are fairly close in age.
  • Reformed Bully: Kaguya used to be a mean-spirited Spoiled Brat that picked on her cousin Suzaku because he didn't fight back. That changed one day when she was seven and got lost in the forest neighboring the Kururugi Shrine where she ran into a figure that she mistook for the "oni" the grown-ups warned her about (ostensibly to prevent exactly that from happening). The "demon" turned out to be a 10-year-old Lelouch who played along with her misconception and guided her back home, but not without calmly and systematically picking apart her princess-like self-centeredness on their way there, prompting a Heel Realization on her.
  • The Smart Guy: Clearly the most intelligent of the representatives of the Six Houses. Kirihara is ostensibly their leader, but Kaguya is the true brains behind the operation.
  • Sole Survivor: By R2, she's the only one left of Kyōto House as everyone else were captured and executed.
  • Spoiled Brat: Used to be one prior to the start of the series, but grew out of it. See Reformed Bully above.
  • Teen Genius: Zero rates her intelligence as one of the highest among his allies, second only to Rakshata. Quite an accomplishment for a 14-year-old.
  • Token Mini-Moe: The youngest (looking) and cutest in the Black Knights. Slightly old for the part, but then she's one of those Older Than They Look.
  • Undying Loyalty:
    • Lelouch's chart shows that her loyalty is among the highest in his organization. It's because of this she's kept in the dark about the betrayal, and only truly sees Lelouch as the enemy when he takes her and the UFN hostage at gunpoint, shedding tears as she's forced to acknowledge the man she loved is a heartless monster.
    • Oddly enough this is inverted in Lelouch of the Rebellion manga, where she takes control of the organization after Suzaku's nuking of Tokyo and ends up playing the roles of both Ohgi and Diethard in the Black Knights' betrayal of Lelouch, contrary to her wiser and more loyal anime self.
  • Wise Beyond Their Years: On Lelouch's chart ranking the overall value of the top members of the Black Knights, she was second only to Toudoh despite having no combat ability. (Granted, most of it comes from full Charisma and very high Loyalty, but she still ties for second in Intelligence.)

    Shinichirō Tamaki 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shinichir_tamaki.png
Voiced by: Kazunari Tanaka (Japanese), Nobuyuki Hiyama (Movie Trilogy & Re;surrection, Japanese), Michael Lindsay (English), Christopher Bevins (Re;surrection, English)

"I'm Zero's best buddy!"

Shinichirō Tamaki (玉城 真一郎, Tamaki Shin'ichirō), twenty-four years old (twenty-five in R2), and is the leader of the second special squadron of the Black Knights. He is a hot-headed and carefree person, quick to cheer others on when not doing the fighting but rash and impulsive when he's on the front lines. His rashness is shown to border on recklessness, as he orders the execution of the Ashford Academy student council against Zero's wishes, though extenuating circumstances prevent his orders from being carried out. He pilots a standard Knightmare Frame during battles, though he rarely lasts long before being forced to eject.


  • Ascended Extra: He's playable in Super Robot Wars Z2, where his Burai can resupply allied units.
  • Brick Joke: Remember when Tamaki was harassing Zero about giving him an official position in the Black Knights during R2? Well, it takes a few episodes of waiting and a sharp eye during the UNF ratification ceremony, but we finally find out what position he got: Internal Cleaning Supporter. Yup, he's a glorified janitor.
  • Butt-Monkey: In Lelouch's personal stats for the Black Knights, Tamaki comes out with the lowest rankings at 40, ten in each category (Intelligence, Combat Ability, Charisma, and Loyalty). Note that, with the exception of non-combatants, who have no Combat Ability score, and Nagisa Chiba, who ties for Loyalty, his scores are worse than any other member. Moreover, every other member ranks at least past 150, if just barely in some cases. While at first this might seem a joke at his expense, it fits if you take a look at his track record over the course of the show.
    • Consider also that C. C., who has loved grilling him from time to time, composed that list.
  • Chew Toy: It's a Running Gag that his mech will be destroyed before he can do anything meaningful in a fight.
  • The Complainer Is Always Wrong: Argues that the recording Schneizel has presented could have been faked. Naturally, no one listens.
  • Delinquent Hair: Not a delinquent per se, but fits the archetype somewhat and has the red hair typical to it.
  • The Everyman: Played straighter in his case than in Ohgi's. Tamaki mirrors the voice of the people while Ohgi is more levelheaded and reasonable.
  • Fearless Fool: Lapses into this. His competence doesn't quite match his ego, but he's always eager to be in the line of fire.
  • Fiery Redhead: He's the most passionate of the initial Black Knights and is a redhead.
  • Flanderization: Back in R1, though still quite The Fool, he was much more thoughtful. He even made several excellent points in Zero's defense whenever the original Knights discussed their leader's motivations. Come R2, he's gotten considerably more ridiculous and incompetent, to the point of flip-flopping his stance on Zero at the drop of a hat.
  • The Fool: Oddly, this has made him an Ensemble Dark Horse and one of the few Black Knights who retain their popularity. He even manages to survive his direct, face-to-face encounter with Suzaku's Lancelot Albion in his grunt mech, even getting in a good line ("Even I have my pride, you know!") before he had to eject from his exploding Knightmare.
  • Heel–Face Revolving Door: Played for Laughs, with his level of support of Lelouch in later stages of R2.
  • Hidden Depths: Several of his ex-BK comrades mention that they never knew that Tamaki had the entrepreneurial spirit to open up a restaurant in the Resurrection movie.
  • Hot-Blooded: At the very least you have to admit he has spirit if nothing else.
  • Idiot Hero: He's none too smart which shows especially well in a series populated by very smart people calling the shots.
  • Idiot Houdini: Tamaki is constantly avoiding the consequences of his own stupidity through sheer dumb luck. Without it, he wouldn't have survived past the second episode.
  • Japanese Delinquents: Tamaki is later seen wearing Banchō clothes during a trip to Zilkhstan in Re;surrection.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He can be a self-absorbed ass who thinks too highly of himself, but he is fighting for Japan's liberation and he does show a great deal of care for his fellow Black Knights.
  • Leeroy Jenkins: When actually deployed in battle, he's reckless to the point of outright stupidity. When faced with an opponent like Suzaku — who clearly out matches him — he decides to just blunder into the superior unit and get effortlessly knocked on his ass.
  • Perma-Stubble: He's never clean-shaven, but also never grows an actual beard. It makes him come off as unkempt even compared to other rebels.
  • Sarcastic Devotee: He's bitter and sardonic about it, but he's still one of Zero's most steadfast employees
  • Undying Loyalty: Like him or hate him, Tamaki eventually came to be one of Zero's greatest supporters. Even after the Black Knights turn on Zero after figuring out his identity as Lelouch, Tamaki had some guilt about participating in the betrayal. When the time comes for the Black Knights and Schneizel's forces to go against Emperor Lelouch, Tamaki seems depressed by the fact that they have to kill Lelouch.
    • In fact, it should be noted that getting him to betray Zero took nothing less than undeniable evidence (albeit warped and taken COMPLETELY out of context - Tamaki had no way of knowing about Lelouch's guilt complex or that the Euphinator incident was an accident) that Zero personally orchestrated the massacre of countless innocent Japanese in order to prevent a program that might have successfully brought peace and freedom to the Japanese people.

    Kaname Ohgi 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/2zdrg2f.jpg
Voiced by: Mitsuaki Madono (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)

"Someone who feels hate must also feel sadness."

Twenty-six years old (twenty-seven in R2), Ohgi used to be a school teacher before he became the leader of a Japanese resistance cell, having taken over after the death of Kallen Kozuki's older brother Naoto. Or at least, Ohgi was the leader, until Zero butts in.


  • Adaptational Nice Guy: In the R2 anime, Ohgi makes a deal with Schneizel in backstabbing Lelouch without a second thought. In the third film, he begs Lelouch to tell the truth first before Rolo (in the Shinkiro) interfered. Re;surrection confirms that he did regret his decisions, but Lelouch still snaps him out of committing suicide, showing him there are no hard feelings.
  • Ambiguously Jewish: He has curly hair and his casual clothes have a Star of David on them.
  • Anti-Hero: Knight in Sour Armor -> Unscrupulous Hero (with the betrayal). That is, unless you consider the third Compilation Movie and Re;surrection, where he remains in the former category.
  • The Complainer Is Always Wrong: In the third recap movie, he and the Black Knights refuse to open fire on Lelouch until he truthfully answers them, objecting to Schneizel's men preparing to do so anyway. They of course don't listen, but Rolo once again comes to the rescue.
  • Does This Remind You of Anything?: A man wearing a yellow Star of David on his jacket lives in a rundown ghetto in a city conquered by a fascistic government that considers his people subhuman. When did that ever happen before?
  • The Dulcinea Effect: He falls hard for Villetta when he finds her sans memory.
  • Elephant in the Living Room: Neither his affair with Villetta, nor his nearly allowing Kallen to be gunned down on account of the attempt to execute Lelouch, or that he might have been too rash about jumping to conclusions on Lelouch, are put into question. In the third recap movie's case, even he seemed worried about being too rash and wanted to give Lelouch a chance first.
  • The Everyman: He could be seen as a deconstruction of this, as it leads him to make a series of increasingly poor decisions. In the recompilation and Re;surrection movie, his first season self is reconstructed to his simple yet circumspect characterization to the point where at the end he remarks to Tamaki asking if what they did was right that they can only do what they feel is right the best they can.
  • Happily Married: To Villetta Nu, at the end of the series. They even had a kid named Naoto in Re;surrection.
  • Horrible Judge of Character: He quickly trusts Schneizel when he shows up. Not as much in the third Compilation Movie when he still wants to hear Zero tell the truth, but he goes along with the mutiny afterwards.
  • Hypocrite: Despite him quickly saying that Zero has the right to his Secret Identity, he's also the first one to jump at a chance to unmask him, to the point of bringing in the wounded Villetta to find out who he is.
  • Idiot Houdini: In the original series at least, he makes a number of mistakes, but ends up Happily Married and Prime Minister of Japan. He shows a degree of awareness and guilt in Re;surrection (only regarding the mutiny) but faces no repercussions.
  • Inspector Javert: When he chases Lelouch all the way up to the latter's disappearance into the Sword of Akasha following the betrayal. Subverted in the Compilation Movie when even when Lelouch claims he was in fact using them as pawns, he isn't convinced and insists that he tells the truth.
  • Interrupted Suicide: In Re;surrection, after thanking Lelouch for liberating Japan, he attempted to kill himself as an apology for betraying him. Lelouch quickly snapped him out of it, stating that it's all in the past.
  • It's All My Fault: In the third Compilation Movie and Re;surrection, where he is remorseful over the betrayal despite Diethard being the more directly responsible instead.
  • Karma Houdini: He was Happily Married by the end of Code Geass — and was even elected Prime Minister, despite the numerous questionable decisions he made throughout the show. Parts of this have been changed so he didn't do as much wrong with the Compilation Movie in regards to the betrayal but nothing else.
  • Lima Syndrome: At first he intends to interrogate Villetta after she recovers from her amnesia, but he ends up falling for her.
  • Living with the Villain: Lives with Villetta Nu for quite some time while she's lost her memory after being shot by Shirley.
  • Love Makes You Crazy: One could argue that he gets so obsessed with Villetta, that when she provides evidence that Zero has a supernatural mind control power that he may or may not be using on them, it possibly caused him to snap over Zero apparently using them for his own selfish desires and should pay for it. Wouldn't be the first time someone in this show went nuts.
  • Love Makes You Dumb: Started out as the Only Sane Man, only to go south after he met Villetta, even taking her word over that of Zero.
  • Love Martyr: For Viletta. Despite the obvious signs that she'll kill him without a second thought, he's still intent on putting his life on the line out of love for her. And somehow, it pays off.
  • The Medic: His Burai can repair allies in Super Robot Wars Z2. Tamaki's version has the resupply module instead.
  • Never My Fault: Not entirely at fault, but still never does take any appropriate responsibility for his foibles. Subverted later in Re;surrection though, since he attempted to commit suicide for his actions back in R2 until Lelouch stopped him. Implying a similar case by the end of the original series.
  • Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: One can blame Ohgi for hiding Villetta, since when she recovered her memories, she went straight for Ohgi and tried to kill him. This caused chaos in the Black Knights command center, and pulled the guards outside the student council away, which in turn let them try to escape, leaving Nunally open to capture by VV, which made Zero abandon his army. Though unintentional, Ohgi's little act of treason on the docks set in motion the ultimate failure of the Black Rebellion.
  • Romantic Love Is More Important: Goes AWOL to meet Villetta, even though she is planning on killing him.
  • Star-Crossed Lovers: With Villetta, up until Turn 19.
  • Status Quo Is God: After a year worth of being Japan's Prime minister, he stepped down from his position in Re;surrection. As a drunk Tamaki puts it, being a Prime Minister doesn't suit him due to being a "small fry" as well as his timidness.
  • The Stool Pigeon: He walks into the meeting with Schneizel to denounce Zero, having heard about his Geass from Villetta. This causes things to snowball until everyone present decides to turn on Lelouch.
  • Sucksessor: Is one for Diethard, who grudgingly thinks that he's only concerned about saving his own ass and not as effective as Lelouch was. And although the others don't show much reaction, it's implied that they don't like the way he works either.
  • Taking the Bullet: He saved Villetta from Sayoko by taking the daggers which were meant for her.
  • Treachery Cover-Up: Attempts to cover up the betrayal against Lelouch. The third recap movie changes it to being mostly Deithard's idea.
  • Unexplained Recovery: He got stabbed by Sayoko's daggers and fell off a cliff in R2 15. He comes back with no sign of injuries later. The incident is never mentioned again.
  • Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Hoo boy. Let's just say for starters that we may have been looking at a very different ending, and one that would have been preferable for many, if not for the betrayal. Though if we're to believe the third Compilation Movie, maybe not.

    Diethard Ried 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-diethard_reid1_2189.png
Voiced by: Joji Nakata (Japanese), Jamieson Price (English)

"Zero's arrival was like the arrival of a new age unfolding before my eyes!"

Britannian TV producer who joined the Black Knights not because he believed in their cause but because he worshiped Zero. He was in charge of the Black Knights information, espionage, and public relations.


  • Amoral Attorney: He's a law school graduate (as seen in his in-series profile), but ended up working in Britannia's Propaganda Machine.
  • Ascended Fanboy: His reaction to Zero was virtually the opposite of how most Britannians view him, having admired him on an obsessive level. Naturally, he joined the Black Knights as soon as he was able.
  • Asshole Victim: No one mourned his death. Even Lelouch found him too pathetic and loathsome to honor his last request of having a Geass cast on him.
  • Ax-Crazy: He may not be stark raving mad like say Luciano but all he cares about is cares about causing as much death and destruction to entertain himself.
  • Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Switching to whichever side entertains him the most, apparently.
  • The Complainer Is Always Wrong: Is against listening to Schneizel's testimonies and demands towards turning over Zero. The Black Knights end up agreeing with Schneizel anyway, and Diethard has a few bruises to show for his attempt to coax loyalty out of a temporary AWOL Ohgi, who he considers miscast as the role of leader. Predictably, he seizes the opportunity to jump on board with Schneizel, who he finds himself impressed by.
  • Dropped a Bridge on Him: His death is ultimately unceremonious. He was expecting to die in a climactic moment with him being Geassed by Lelouch, only for the latter to reject his request out of disgust for what he did, and after his death is promptly forgotten by everyone else. Then again, he's a slimy and weaselly excuse of a man, so it's actually quite fitting.
  • Et Tu, Brute?: When the Black Knights betray Lelouch, he is especially hard-hit that Diethard takes their side.
  • Evil Genius: Is stated to be one of the most intelligent members of the Black Knights.
  • The Face: Serves as The Black Knights' PR guy.
  • For the Evulz: His modus operandi basically boils down to causing as much death and destruction to entertain himself because he's bored.
  • The Friend Nobody Likes: You'd be hard-pressed to find someone in the series who genuinely likes and/or trusts Diethard (he does however seem to have a civil relationship with Rakshata, given that they work together during the SAZ massacre). Most of the other Black Knights are wary of him because he's Britannian and Lelouch sees him as a means to an end, nothing more. It certainly doesn't help that he jumps ship once things start to look bad.
  • Hate Sink: Ultimately, Diethard is a disgusting and reprehensible man who cares for nothing more than causing as much destruction, carnage, warfare and death as possible to entertain himself, and is always willing to go for the option that maximizes those. It's quite telling that he dies a pathetic but nonetheless appropriate death.
  • Heel–Face Revolving Door: When he gets bored of serving a particular side, he switches over to the other one at the drop of a hat.
  • Jerkass: He is not a pleasant person. No one really likes him; he's just useful.
  • Jerkass Has a Point: In Stage 19 he's the one to raise the concern that without Zero, the Black Knights would fall apart. He's entirely right and the Black Rebellion ends up proving it as when Lelouch leaves to try to rescue Nunnally, the entire group collapses and is easily defeated by Britannia.
  • Karmic Death: Shot by a Geass-controlled Schneizel (who he'd turned to), and despite requesting it as a Last Request, denied the chance to be ever Geassed by Lelouch, who simply tells Diethard he is "not even worth it".
  • Last Request: Upon being mortally wounded by the Geassed Schneizel, he begs Lelouch to finish him off with the power of Geass. Lelouch declines to oblige him, seeing him as not worth the effort.
  • Manipulative Bastard: Manipulates Kallen into trying to kill Suzaku in Turn 18.
  • Mask of Sanity: He has a poker face but in reality he's a violent, genocidal maniac.
  • The Mole: He began feeding the Black Knights information on Britannian movements before he joined them officially.
  • More Hateable Minor Villain: Diethard is the Token Evil Teammate of Lelouch's Black Knights who only wants bloodshed. He uses his media connections to stoke the flames of war, urges Lelouch to wage global war, and even has the gall to betray Lelouch in favor of Schneizel and his super weapon apocalypse plot, showing that while Lelouch wants to free the world from Britannian tyranny, Diethard only wants to see people die.
  • Nominal Hero: The only member with little to no regard for righteousness.
  • Psycho Supporter: He didn't join the Black Knights because he truly believed in their cause, but because they were epic. And he was bored.
  • Sadist: All cares about is seeing people die.
  • Secret-Keeper: He suspected Zero's true identity, and that he had the power to control people, and kept it quiet from the other Black Knights.
  • Smug Snake: For all his unpleasantness, he is genuinely very clever and capable. And frequently loves touting those traits around.
  • The Stoic: He's non-expressive except when Zero is concerned. That is the only time he gets excited, or whenever there's bloodshed and carnage.
  • Straw Fan: Like Kallen, he pledged undying loyalty to Zero and viewed him as a source of admiration and inspiration. Yet...
  • Token Enemy Minority: He's Britannian and is a high-ranking member of The Black Knights, the rebellion that's trying to defeat Britannia.
  • Token Evil Teammate: Only the Emperor and he rejoiced when the Special Administrative Zone Massacre began. And Diethard thought that Zero had wanted it.
  • Undignified Death: After being fatally shot by Schneizel, he begs Lelouch to at least Geass him to die before he succumbs to the wound. Lelouch spitefully says he isn't worth wasting his power on.
  • You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: In the Compilation Movie, he's the one who shoots Villetta and causes her amnesia in order to get rid of whatever evidence she may have against Zero. In the series, he himself is the victim of this from both Lelouch and Schneizel.

    Kyoshiro Tohdoh 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/KyoshiroTohdohCodeGeass_4102.jpg
Voiced by: Yuji Takada (Japanese), Steve Blum (English)

"Win or lose you must give it your all. It is the same for men and nations!"

A 37-year old colonel from the Japan Liberation Front, he is renowned as "Tohdoh of Miracles" because of his famous miracle at Itsukushima where he caused the invading Britannian army their only defeat, without the use of any knightmares. In addition to his skill at strategic planning, he's a supreme knightmare pilot. Joins the Black Knights along with the Four Holy Swords after being rescued from prison(Having been captured after the death of his superior, General Katase), becoming field commander of the Black Knights' military forces.


  • The Ace: Though not to Xingke's extent, he's still a great strategist and a very talented pilot. In Lelouch's stats for the Black Knights, he has the highest total stats of all of them, with 345. In comparison, the second-highest score is Kaguya, with 270.
  • Badass Longcoat: His default appearance is wearing an Imperial-style military coat, one that he shares with the equally badass Four Swords.
  • Badass Normal: One of the best strategists in the world and a major threat on the battlefield due to his immense skill as a Knightmare pilot despite having a mid-tier Frame (The most powerful Knightmare he gets to use is the Zangetsu which, while powerful, does not match up to the Rounds Customs or the Lancelot), despite having no special traits besides having more combat experience than 90% of the show's combatants.
  • Badass Teacher: This is the guy who made Suzaku into the warrior he is today.
  • Big Ol' Eyebrows: Notably thicker and longer than just about any other character in the main cast, which has the effect of sharpening his features significantly.
  • Chainsaw Good: Like the Four Holy Swords, he too used a chainsaw katana as his knightmare's weapon. He later upgrades to a chain sword equipped with rocket thrusters.
  • Colonel Badass: Held the rank of colonel in the JLF, and was the only leader in the Japanese military to win a battle in the initial invasion without the aid of Knightmares.
  • Combat Pragmatist: Tohdoh tends to aim for the enemy's flight systems and cockpits instead of the Knightmares themselves whenever he is piloting one himself. He's also not above using cheap or dirty tactics - like taking the fight to an active civilian population and using them as pseudo-hostages against the enemy.
  • Dark Is Not Evil: His Zangetsu is a jet-black Knightmare with almost no other coloration save for the red hair things. Tohdoh himself is one of the most moral and honorable characters in the series.
  • Flaming Sword: Variation once he gets his own custom knightmare, in that the knightmare's weapon is a katana equipped with rocket thrusters.
  • I Can Still Fight!: After being heavily injured during the finale, he tries to return to the battle, but Chiba attempts to stop him. She eventually lets him go, but he immediately collapses.
  • Informed Ability: He's supposedly this great strategist and leader of men, having managed to beat back Knightmares once without any of his own, but he never shows it. The few times he's in command, he utterly fails, the most egregious being in the season 1 finale where he gets most of his men captured or killed by the time R2 rolls around. According to Diethard this not because of a lack competence, but because Tohdoh does not have Zero's charisma.
  • Katanas Are Just Better: Always carries around a sheathed katana, though he never uses it.
  • Noodle Incident: The Miracle of Itsukushima.
  • Oblivious to Love: Seemingly unaware of Chiba's crush on him. Finally averted when they hooked up and started a family at the end credits of Re;surrection.
  • Reasonable Authority Figure: For a time in R2, he tries to rein in Asahina and Chiba when they doubt Zero, saying they need him to free Japan. Until Turn 19, where he is one of the most willing participants in the betrayal.
  • Red Baron: Tohdoh the Miracle Worker.
  • Samurai: As with the rest of the JLF, he follows the Bushido code. Tohdoh himself taught Suzaku in this manner when the latter was young.
  • Spell My Name With An S: Tohdoh/Toudou.
  • Stern Teacher: He was Suzaku's sensei when he was a child, and if the flashback with him is any indication, he was not a soft one.
  • The Stoic: He's pretty calm and controlled. If he freaks out, it's serious.
  • Took a Level in Jerkass: When first introduced, he maintains a calm demeanor and has a high sense of honor, willing to Face Death with Dignity, follow Zero's orders to the letter, and even encourage Suzaku to follow his ideals to the bitter end even if it puts them on opposite sides of the war. By the end of R2, he's completely abandoned his calm demeanor and more openly expresses rage, partakes in the betrayal of Lelouch and allying with Schneizel, commands the Black Knights to execute Lelouch, screams at Suzaku that his ideals are worthless while attempting to kill him, and nearly strikes Chiba when she tries to stop him from rejoining the battle due to his severe injuries, only stopping when she visibly recoils out of fright. It's likely a combination of the Black Rebellion failing, him being imprisoned by Britannia and nearly executed again, losing all but one of the Four Holy Swords, and learning that Zero was responsible for the SAZ massacre along with possibly the death of General Katase took a massive toll on him.
  • Training from Hell: He appears to be a very strict teacher and subjected Suzaku to this as a child. It worked though.

    The Four Holy Swords 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TheFourHolySwordsJLFCodeGeass_7034.jpg
From left to right: Ryoga Senba, Kosetsu Urabe, Nagisa Chiba and Shogo Asahina.
Voiced by:
Nagisa Chiba: Saeko Chiba (Japanese), Laura Bailey (English)
Shogo Asahina: Atsushi Kisaichi (Japanese), Steve Staley (English)
Ryoga Senba: Yu Shimaka (Japanese), Joe Romersa (English)
Kosetsu Urabe: Issei Futamata (Japanese), Jason C. Miller (English)

The Japan Liberation Front's most powerful soldiers led by Tohdoh. After Tohdoh is captured by the Britannians, they seek out the Black Knights for aid in rescuing him. They subsequently join fully with the Black Knights after Tohdoh does.


  • Cannot Spit It Out: Chiba's crush on Tohdoh. Not exactly a secret among the Black Knights, though.
  • Chainsaw Good: Their knightmares' signature weapons are chainsaw katanas.
  • Dwindling Party: Beginning in R2 they begin to drop. First Urabe (see heroic sacrifice below), then Senba is killed by Gino and finally Asahina dies when the first FLEIJA is detonated. This leaves just Chiba out of the four alive by the end.
  • Elite Four: The Four Holy Swords are essentially Tohdoh's equivalent of the Four Heavenly Kings.
  • Heroic Sacrifice: Urabe saving Lelouch from Rolo.
  • Incompatible Orientation: Certain interactions between Asahina and Chiba imply that the two of them have a thing for Tohdoh, but they also know that only she actually has a chance because of this trope.
  • In the Back: Senba is stabbed in the back through his knightmare by Gino.
  • I Resemble That Remark!: Asahina is displeased that Rolo, a new recruit, was allowed to join up at a higher rank than himself. Rolo says it's because personal loyalty is most important to Zero, and Asahina gets angry at the implied insult. Asahina is the first Black Knight who betrays Zero (a full episode before the rest of them do), and Rolo is one of the only characters who stays loyal.
  • Lady Of War: Chiba, the only female member of the Four Swords and one of the very few in the elite tier of the Japanese forces.
  • Mugging the Monster: When Asahina decides Zero can't be trusted, he goes rogue mid-battle in an attempt to capture or kill Rolo. This would likely have ended badly for him had the FLEIJA not gotten him first.
  • Obi-Wan Moment: Urabe has one of these, bidding farewell to his comrades before his Heroic Sacrifice.
  • Old Soldier: Senba is older than his fellows which means he has more experience.
  • Samurai: As with the rest of the JLF, they tend to follow the Bushido code.
  • The Smurfette Principle: Chiba.
  • Sole Survivor: Nagisa Chiba is the only member of the Four Holy Swords to survive the entire series.
  • Sour Supporter:
    • Both Asahina and Chiba become highly critical of Zero following the Black Rebellion. They have the lowest loyalty scores among the knights according to the ratings from Turn 13.
    • Ironically Urabe went in the opposite direction, praising Lelouch, even as for just being a high school student, for what he did as Zero before his Heroic Sacrifice.
  • Super Prototype: Somewhat - the nature of the Gekka (both how it was proceded by the Guren and had its own Pre-Production Model) implies that it is supposed to be the mass production model for the Gekka. For unknown reasons, though (most likely a lack of time, given how late they are introduced in R1), the only known Gekka in existence belong to Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords. Their successor, the Akatsuki, is mass produced, though.
  • Straight Gay: Strongly hinted to be the case with Asahina, at least according C.C. in Turn 12.59 Picture Drama.
  • Taking You with Me: Urabe attempts to kill off Rolo with a grapple-suicide attack. Rolo escapes with his Geass.

    Kento Sugiyama 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/3550503_orig1_5364.jpg
Voiced by: Noriaki Sugiyama (Japanese), Grant George (English)

A member of Naoto Kazuki's resistance team before joining The Black Knights. He serves as a Special Division Captain.


  • Ace Pilot: One of the top pilots among the Black Knights, Zero rates him as (a distant) second to Kallen among the former members of Naoto's group.
  • Chivalrous Pervert: According to Chiba in Turn 12.59 Picture Drama, Sugiyama is a "total skirt-chaser."
  • The Captain: Of the Special Division once the Knights join the UFN.

    Yoshitaka Minami 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-yoshitaka_minami1_3486.png
Voiced by: Yasuyuki Kase (Japanese), Keith Silverstein (English)

A member of Naoto Kazuki's resistance team before joining The Black Knights. He became the commander of The Black Knight's First Secret Corps.


  • Covert Pervert: According to Rakshata in Turn 12.59 Picture Drama, Minami is a lolicon.
    • In Re;surrection, the only scenes where he shows up has him standing in the background watching a group of young girls.

    Naomi Inoue 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/inoues_death_7.jpg
Voiced by: Kikuko Inoue (Japanese), Cindy Robinson (English)

A member of Naoto Kazuki's resistance team before joining The Black Knights. She served as a commander providing logistical support.


  • Action Girl: Downplayed, as she spend most of her time in logistics role. Her frontline actions are mostly as ground reconnaisance support, and she almost never seen piloting a Knightmare unlike Kallen.
  • Armored Coffins: Got blown up in her mech during the Black Rebellion, which exploded before she can even properly react.
  • Mauve Shirt: Despite being one of the original Black Knights, her name was not even mentioned by anyone, except by Sugiyama after her explosive demise.
  • Mysterious Past: In-Universe. The Red Tracks novels notice that no one knows a thing about her past. Ohgi suspect that even her name is likely a fake one.
  • Sacrificial Lamb: As soon as the tide was turning against the Black Knights, her Knightmare Frame got struck by enemy's fire then exploded, killing her.

    Toru Yoshida 
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/250px-yoshida1_2055.png
Voiced by: Ryuzo Hasuike (Japanese), Doug Erholtz (English)

A member of Naoto Kazuki's resistance team before joining The Black Knights. He served as a soldier under the command of Ohgi.


  • Armored Coffins: Much like Naomi above, he's killed while piloting his mecha, courtesy of Suzaku during the Black Rebellion.
  • Mauve Shirt: He is one of the original Black Knights, but he doesn't really have much characterization beyond that before he dies.
  • Sacrificial Lamb: A longer lived example than most. Killed off by Suzaku to display how severe Euphie's death has broken the former, to the point where he now breaks his Thou Shalt Not Kill principle.


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