TV-Series
Description
Andreas Darlton is a supporting character in Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, recognized as a senior officer of the Holy Britannian Empire and the most trusted military aide to the Second Princess, Cornelia li Britannia. He is a tall and powerfully built man, his most distinctive physical trait being a prominent diagonal scar running from his forehead down his left cheek, which gives him a fierce and intimidating appearance. Despite this fearsome exterior, his reputation is that of a highly capable and pragmatic commander.
In terms of personality, Darlton stands apart from many of his Britannian peers due to his notable lack of prejudice against the Empire's subject peoples, known as Numbers. While the Britannian military is rife with racism and a rigid adherence to aristocratic bloodlines, Darlton subscribes to a merit-based philosophy. He believes that an individual's effectiveness and ability to serve a purpose are the true measures of their worth. This is most clearly demonstrated by his treatment of Suzaku Kururugi, a Japanese Elevens pilot. Unlike many who resent or distrust Suzaku, Darlton openly supports him, even being one of the first to applaud when Suzaku is appointed a Knight of Princess Euphemia. He is a man of action who is more focused on achieving results than on upholding the discriminatory ideologies of his nation.
Darlton's role in the story is primarily as a pillar of support for Cornelia. He serves not only as her military strategist and battlefield commander but also as an advisor in political and administrative affairs. When Cornelia is recalled from Area 11, he remains behind to serve as a senior advisor and guardian to her younger sister, Princess Euphemia. His loyalty to the royal family is absolute and unwavering, but it is an intelligent loyalty born of respect for their capabilities rather than blind devotion. He also acts as a foster father to the Glaston Knights, a group of five elite Knightmare Frame pilots whom he adopted as orphans and raised to be formidable soldiers.
His motivations are straightforward: to serve the empire effectively and to ensure the success and safety of the princesses he is charged with protecting. As a military leader, he is highly competent. He fought in the invasion of Japan and is acknowledged as a rival to the renowned Japanese military leader Kyoshiro Tohdoh. Beyond his tactical skills, Darlton demonstrates sharp political instincts. He is one of the first characters to deduce that Zero is a person with a personal grudge against the imperial family, showing a keen analytical mind that makes him a more formidable opponent than his gruff demeanor suggests. He also plays a key role in cornering the Kyoto House, cutting off funding and support to the Black Knights through political maneuvering.
Throughout the first season, Darlton serves as an effective antagonist, using his administrative and military skills to counter Zero's plans. His character arc ends in tragedy, a victim of the very conflict he is embroiled in. During the establishment ceremony of the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, he is shot while trying to stop a Geass-controlled Euphemia from ordering a massacre. Wounded, he confronts Zero, who then uses his Geass to implant a new command: to offer up Cornelia to Zero. Under this forced compulsion, Darlton disables and severely injures his own beloved princess. In the aftermath of this act, while confused and horrified, he is killed by the Gawain's Hadron Cannons. His final act is to cry out for Cornelia, a testament to his enduring loyalty even as he is used as an unwilling pawn. While his potential as a strategist and commander is never realized in a fair fight, his abilities are respected by both allies and enemies. He is a skilled Knightmare pilot, typically operating a custom Gloucester, and his legacy continues through his adoptive sons, the Glaston Knights, who seek revenge for his death.
In terms of personality, Darlton stands apart from many of his Britannian peers due to his notable lack of prejudice against the Empire's subject peoples, known as Numbers. While the Britannian military is rife with racism and a rigid adherence to aristocratic bloodlines, Darlton subscribes to a merit-based philosophy. He believes that an individual's effectiveness and ability to serve a purpose are the true measures of their worth. This is most clearly demonstrated by his treatment of Suzaku Kururugi, a Japanese Elevens pilot. Unlike many who resent or distrust Suzaku, Darlton openly supports him, even being one of the first to applaud when Suzaku is appointed a Knight of Princess Euphemia. He is a man of action who is more focused on achieving results than on upholding the discriminatory ideologies of his nation.
Darlton's role in the story is primarily as a pillar of support for Cornelia. He serves not only as her military strategist and battlefield commander but also as an advisor in political and administrative affairs. When Cornelia is recalled from Area 11, he remains behind to serve as a senior advisor and guardian to her younger sister, Princess Euphemia. His loyalty to the royal family is absolute and unwavering, but it is an intelligent loyalty born of respect for their capabilities rather than blind devotion. He also acts as a foster father to the Glaston Knights, a group of five elite Knightmare Frame pilots whom he adopted as orphans and raised to be formidable soldiers.
His motivations are straightforward: to serve the empire effectively and to ensure the success and safety of the princesses he is charged with protecting. As a military leader, he is highly competent. He fought in the invasion of Japan and is acknowledged as a rival to the renowned Japanese military leader Kyoshiro Tohdoh. Beyond his tactical skills, Darlton demonstrates sharp political instincts. He is one of the first characters to deduce that Zero is a person with a personal grudge against the imperial family, showing a keen analytical mind that makes him a more formidable opponent than his gruff demeanor suggests. He also plays a key role in cornering the Kyoto House, cutting off funding and support to the Black Knights through political maneuvering.
Throughout the first season, Darlton serves as an effective antagonist, using his administrative and military skills to counter Zero's plans. His character arc ends in tragedy, a victim of the very conflict he is embroiled in. During the establishment ceremony of the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, he is shot while trying to stop a Geass-controlled Euphemia from ordering a massacre. Wounded, he confronts Zero, who then uses his Geass to implant a new command: to offer up Cornelia to Zero. Under this forced compulsion, Darlton disables and severely injures his own beloved princess. In the aftermath of this act, while confused and horrified, he is killed by the Gawain's Hadron Cannons. His final act is to cry out for Cornelia, a testament to his enduring loyalty even as he is used as an unwilling pawn. While his potential as a strategist and commander is never realized in a fair fight, his abilities are respected by both allies and enemies. He is a skilled Knightmare pilot, typically operating a custom Gloucester, and his legacy continues through his adoptive sons, the Glaston Knights, who seek revenge for his death.