TV-Series
Description
Jeremiah Gottwald is a prominent character whose journey is defined by a deep, unwavering sense of duty, disgrace, and eventual redemption. A native of the Holy Britannian Empire, he holds the rank of a noble, specifically a margrave, and serves as an elite pilot of Knightmare Frames, the mechanized combat units that dominate warfare in his world. Standing at an imposing 205 centimeters tall, his physical presence matches his often dramatic and passionate personality.
Gottwald is initially presented as an overconfident and impulsive officer, driven by a fervent belief in Britannian supremacy. As the leader of the Purist Faction in the conquered territory of Area 11, he holds deep disdain for the native population known as Elevens and is hostile to the system of Honorary Britannians. However, buried beneath this zealous exterior is a man haunted by a singular failure. In the past, he was a guard at the Aries Palace when Empress Marianne was assassinated, an event he considers his life's greatest failure, and he carries a profound guilt over his inability to protect her and her children, Lelouch and Nunnally. This guilt is the core motivation for his actions, fueling his desire to regain his honor, possibly by attaining the prestigious rank of Knight of One.
His role in the story begins as an antagonist. Following the murder of his superior, Prince Clovis, Gottwald attempts to scapegoat the Honorary Britannian Suzaku Kururugi to strengthen the Purist faction's power. The masked revolutionary Zero, however, thwarts this plan with a devastatingly simple insult. During a public execution, Zero calls out the code word "Orange," an accusation implying Gottwald is a traitor in league with the rebels. This slander, combined with a Geass command from Zero, forces Gottwald to assist his enemies, leading to his complete public disgrace. Reduced in rank and mocked by his peers, he becomes obsessively fixated on capturing Zero to restore his name, a quest that leads him to a near-fatal defeat in the Battle of Narita.
Presumed dead, Gottwald is secretly recovered by scientists working under Prince Schneizel. They subject him to extensive cybernetic experimentation, transforming him into a formidable human weapon. His body is enhanced with implants running up his spine, retractable blades in his wrists, bulletproof armor, and a powerful cybernetic left eye capable of seeing beyond the normal visual spectrum. The most significant enhancement, granted by the mysterious V.V., is the Geass Canceler. This unique ability, housed in his left eye, allows him to nullify the effects of any Geass within a certain range, effectively making him immune to mind-control powers and allowing him to restore suppressed memories to others.
After his resurrection, Gottwald confronts Zero directly. Learning that Zero is in fact Lelouch vi Britannia, Empress Marianne's son, and that his rebellion is to avenge their mother, Gottwald experiences a profound change of heart. His obsession with vengeance is replaced by his original, purer motivation: loyalty. He renounces his past hatred and pledges his life to Lelouch, reclaiming the insult "Orange" as a symbol of his newfound, unshakeable devotion. Key relationships solidify this transformation. He shares a complex connection with Suzaku Kururugi, a former enemy who once saved his life, and he finds a kindred spirit in Lelouch's ninja maid, Sayoko Shinozaki, respecting her code of chivalry. His loyalty is ultimately proven when he uses his Geass Canceler to free the Knight of Rounds, Anya Alstreim, from a Geass that had altered her memories.
Throughout the series, Jeremiah Gottwald pilots several unique Knightmare Frames, including the standard Sutherland, the massive and powerful Siegfried, and the Sutherland Sieg, a hybrid of the two. His development is a complete arc from a fanatical, self-serving noble to a paragon of chivalrous loyalty, willing to sacrifice everything for the master he believes in. In the end, he is one of the few entrusted with the truth of the Zero Requiem, the final plan to bring peace to the world. Following these events, he retires from military life, finding peace as a farmer cultivating an orchard of orange trees.
Gottwald is initially presented as an overconfident and impulsive officer, driven by a fervent belief in Britannian supremacy. As the leader of the Purist Faction in the conquered territory of Area 11, he holds deep disdain for the native population known as Elevens and is hostile to the system of Honorary Britannians. However, buried beneath this zealous exterior is a man haunted by a singular failure. In the past, he was a guard at the Aries Palace when Empress Marianne was assassinated, an event he considers his life's greatest failure, and he carries a profound guilt over his inability to protect her and her children, Lelouch and Nunnally. This guilt is the core motivation for his actions, fueling his desire to regain his honor, possibly by attaining the prestigious rank of Knight of One.
His role in the story begins as an antagonist. Following the murder of his superior, Prince Clovis, Gottwald attempts to scapegoat the Honorary Britannian Suzaku Kururugi to strengthen the Purist faction's power. The masked revolutionary Zero, however, thwarts this plan with a devastatingly simple insult. During a public execution, Zero calls out the code word "Orange," an accusation implying Gottwald is a traitor in league with the rebels. This slander, combined with a Geass command from Zero, forces Gottwald to assist his enemies, leading to his complete public disgrace. Reduced in rank and mocked by his peers, he becomes obsessively fixated on capturing Zero to restore his name, a quest that leads him to a near-fatal defeat in the Battle of Narita.
Presumed dead, Gottwald is secretly recovered by scientists working under Prince Schneizel. They subject him to extensive cybernetic experimentation, transforming him into a formidable human weapon. His body is enhanced with implants running up his spine, retractable blades in his wrists, bulletproof armor, and a powerful cybernetic left eye capable of seeing beyond the normal visual spectrum. The most significant enhancement, granted by the mysterious V.V., is the Geass Canceler. This unique ability, housed in his left eye, allows him to nullify the effects of any Geass within a certain range, effectively making him immune to mind-control powers and allowing him to restore suppressed memories to others.
After his resurrection, Gottwald confronts Zero directly. Learning that Zero is in fact Lelouch vi Britannia, Empress Marianne's son, and that his rebellion is to avenge their mother, Gottwald experiences a profound change of heart. His obsession with vengeance is replaced by his original, purer motivation: loyalty. He renounces his past hatred and pledges his life to Lelouch, reclaiming the insult "Orange" as a symbol of his newfound, unshakeable devotion. Key relationships solidify this transformation. He shares a complex connection with Suzaku Kururugi, a former enemy who once saved his life, and he finds a kindred spirit in Lelouch's ninja maid, Sayoko Shinozaki, respecting her code of chivalry. His loyalty is ultimately proven when he uses his Geass Canceler to free the Knight of Rounds, Anya Alstreim, from a Geass that had altered her memories.
Throughout the series, Jeremiah Gottwald pilots several unique Knightmare Frames, including the standard Sutherland, the massive and powerful Siegfried, and the Sutherland Sieg, a hybrid of the two. His development is a complete arc from a fanatical, self-serving noble to a paragon of chivalrous loyalty, willing to sacrifice everything for the master he believes in. In the end, he is one of the few entrusted with the truth of the Zero Requiem, the final plan to bring peace to the world. Following these events, he retires from military life, finding peace as a farmer cultivating an orchard of orange trees.