TV-Series
Description
Count Cruhteo is a character from the anime Aldnoah.Zero who serves as a high-ranking Martian knight. He is 37 years old and holds the title of Count within the Vers Empire, commanding significant authority as a member of the Orbital Knights, the noble military elite of Mars.
At his core, Cruhteo is defined by an immense sense of pride and a deep-seated belief in the superiority of the Martian people over those born on Earth, a prejudice instilled by the late Emperor Gilzeria. He openly refers to Earthlings as an inferior race and treats them with contempt, a prejudice that colors his initial interactions with key characters. Despite this arrogance, his character is also marked by an unwavering loyalty to the Royal Family of Vers, particularly to Princess Asseylum Vers Allusia, to whom he is fiercely devoted. While he is rigid and harsh, he is not needlessly cruel; he genuinely respects individuals who demonstrate steadfast loyalty and commitment to their convictions, even if they are from a background he despises.
Cruhteo’s role in the story is that of a complex antagonist. Initially, he is one of the primary Martian forces leading the invasion of Earth following the attempted assassination of the Princess, having landed his massive flying castle in Tokyo. Unbeknownst to him, the assassination plot was orchestrated by his fellow count and friend, Saazbaum, who is using the resulting war for his own vengeful purposes. Cruhteo is not involved in this conspiracy and is genuinely unaware of the true treachery within the Martian ranks.
One of his most significant relationships is with Slaine Troyard, a Terran-born servant in his employ who is loyal to the Princess. Cruhteo treats Slaine with profound disdain for most of the story, referring to him as a dog and subjecting him to harsh torture to extract information about the Princess's fate. However, when Slaine endures the torture and reveals not only that the Princess is alive but also that he has remained loyal to her, Cruhteo’s perspective undergoes a dramatic shift. He recognizes Slaine’s unwavering loyalty as a virtue he values above all else, declaring the young man's faithfulness proven a thousand times over. This realization leads him to swear to root out the traitors who attempted to kill the Princess, and he orders a ceasefire with the Earth forces to aid in her rescue.
Cruhteo's personal development is cut short tragically. Just as he changes his course to expose the conspiracy, his erstwhile friend, Count Saazbaum, attacks his castle to prevent him from learning the truth. Realizing Saazbaum is the mastermind behind the assassination attempt, Cruhteo is unable to retaliate and is killed instantly, vaporized by Saazbaum's kataphrakt. His legacy, however, lives on through his son, Klancain, who appears in the second season of the anime.
As a knight, Cruhteo is a skilled military commander and pilot. He is the owner of a unique and powerful kataphrakt, a Martian combat armor, named Tharsis, which is known for its exceptional speed and precision, equipped with a precognitive capabilities that allow it to predict enemy trajectories. This machine is a testament to his status and power before being claimed by his enemies after his death. His abilities also extend to leadership, as he commands his own landing castle and a contingent of troops.
At his core, Cruhteo is defined by an immense sense of pride and a deep-seated belief in the superiority of the Martian people over those born on Earth, a prejudice instilled by the late Emperor Gilzeria. He openly refers to Earthlings as an inferior race and treats them with contempt, a prejudice that colors his initial interactions with key characters. Despite this arrogance, his character is also marked by an unwavering loyalty to the Royal Family of Vers, particularly to Princess Asseylum Vers Allusia, to whom he is fiercely devoted. While he is rigid and harsh, he is not needlessly cruel; he genuinely respects individuals who demonstrate steadfast loyalty and commitment to their convictions, even if they are from a background he despises.
Cruhteo’s role in the story is that of a complex antagonist. Initially, he is one of the primary Martian forces leading the invasion of Earth following the attempted assassination of the Princess, having landed his massive flying castle in Tokyo. Unbeknownst to him, the assassination plot was orchestrated by his fellow count and friend, Saazbaum, who is using the resulting war for his own vengeful purposes. Cruhteo is not involved in this conspiracy and is genuinely unaware of the true treachery within the Martian ranks.
One of his most significant relationships is with Slaine Troyard, a Terran-born servant in his employ who is loyal to the Princess. Cruhteo treats Slaine with profound disdain for most of the story, referring to him as a dog and subjecting him to harsh torture to extract information about the Princess's fate. However, when Slaine endures the torture and reveals not only that the Princess is alive but also that he has remained loyal to her, Cruhteo’s perspective undergoes a dramatic shift. He recognizes Slaine’s unwavering loyalty as a virtue he values above all else, declaring the young man's faithfulness proven a thousand times over. This realization leads him to swear to root out the traitors who attempted to kill the Princess, and he orders a ceasefire with the Earth forces to aid in her rescue.
Cruhteo's personal development is cut short tragically. Just as he changes his course to expose the conspiracy, his erstwhile friend, Count Saazbaum, attacks his castle to prevent him from learning the truth. Realizing Saazbaum is the mastermind behind the assassination attempt, Cruhteo is unable to retaliate and is killed instantly, vaporized by Saazbaum's kataphrakt. His legacy, however, lives on through his son, Klancain, who appears in the second season of the anime.
As a knight, Cruhteo is a skilled military commander and pilot. He is the owner of a unique and powerful kataphrakt, a Martian combat armor, named Tharsis, which is known for its exceptional speed and precision, equipped with a precognitive capabilities that allow it to predict enemy trajectories. This machine is a testament to his status and power before being claimed by his enemies after his death. His abilities also extend to leadership, as he commands his own landing castle and a contingent of troops.