OVA
Description
Norland von Lunebelg is the main antagonist of Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture. He is the de facto ruler of the Neo-Britannian Empire, wielding true power behind the figurehead Emperor Callis al Britannia. He founded the empire after invading the Hokkaido Block of Japan in Kowa 3, and he created and leads the Einberg, the emperor’s direct knightly order, holding the title of Weiss King.
Norland was originally created as an enhanced clone of the former Holy Britannian Emperor Charles zi Britannia. Charles secretly commissioned the geneticist William Bisch to produce a vessel for his own consciousness in case his body failed, but Charles never transferred his mind. Instead, Norland was granted the rank of Knight of Five and served among the Knights of the Round, the strongest knights of the empire. Following Charles’s death and the collapse of the Britannian Empire, Norland no longer served any purpose as a vessel. He developed a profound hatred for humanity, came to view people as pests to be exterminated, and became the king of Lunebelg, a former Britannian territory that refused to join the new Republic of Britannia. In Kowa 4, he staged a false capitulation to the United Federation of Nations before launching a surprise attack on Hokkaido, conquering it and establishing Neo-Britannia.
Norland’s personality is cold, calculating, and domineering. He speaks very little yet exudes an oppressive presence that terrifies even his own subordinates. Emperor Callis felt that merely speaking with Norland crushed his spirit, and one of the Einberg members, Heath, was driven to the brink of suicide simply by being told to leave. Norland has no tolerance for excuses or failure, and he disposes of people without hesitation once they become unnecessary. His catchphrase, “Your presence is no longer required,” reflects his absolute dismissal of anyone who outlives their usefulness. He is also completely indifferent to human suffering, ignoring the brutal acts of his subordinates while occasionally approving seemingly conciliatory measures for his own ends. His ultimate goal, conceived in secrecy, is the complete extermination of humanity, which he attempts to carry out through the mass deployment of the autonomous weapons known as Lokis.
Norland physically stands as a tall, well-built man with fair skin and long sandy-blonde hair usually tied in a thin ponytail. He always wears a distinctive black-and-gold mask that covers the upper half of his face, hiding features that are identical to a young Charles zi Britannia, including purple eyes. His uniform as leader of the Einberg is predominantly black with gold trim, a crimson lining, a burgundy vest, white trousers, and tall black boots. During his time as a Knight of the Round, he wore the order’s standard white costume or an alternative red coat.
Key relationships shape his role in the story. Norland adopted the orphaned brothers Ash Phoenix and Nichol Phoenix, but he deemed Nichol useless and intended to abandon him. To keep his brother, Ash offered unconditional service, and Norland exploited this desperation, training Ash as a child assassin under the brutal tutelage of Christoph Scissorman. He later sent Ash to eliminate inconvenient people. When Nichol later interfered in a failed mission, Norland killed him, which prompted Ash to attempt an assassination; Ash was captured and imprisoned. Norland also inspired fierce loyalty in several Einberg members: Catherine Sabathra, whom he saved from a kidnapper as a child, and Arnold Renck, who admired him from a young age. Others, like Christoph Scissorman and Stanley, served him for years until he disposed of them when they were no longer needed. Despite being the public face of Neo-Britannia, Norland holds no real loyalty to Emperor Callis and ultimately has him assassinated.
Throughout the story, Norland remains a largely enigmatic figure. His motivations are never fully explained to the other characters; his plan to annihilate humanity is only hinted at through his actions and his dismissive remarks about the “cleansing” of the earth. He pilots the advanced knightmare frame Foulbout, which is equipped with powerful weapons including large cannons, blades, and a self-destruct mechanism. In the final confrontation, Norland is defeated by Sakuya Sumeragi and Ash Phoenix piloting the Zi-Ortygia. Realizing his loss, he smiles and triggers the Foulbout’s self-destruction, leaving no trace of his body. His death marks the end of the Neo-Britannian regime, and the empire is subsequently dismantled.
Norland was originally created as an enhanced clone of the former Holy Britannian Emperor Charles zi Britannia. Charles secretly commissioned the geneticist William Bisch to produce a vessel for his own consciousness in case his body failed, but Charles never transferred his mind. Instead, Norland was granted the rank of Knight of Five and served among the Knights of the Round, the strongest knights of the empire. Following Charles’s death and the collapse of the Britannian Empire, Norland no longer served any purpose as a vessel. He developed a profound hatred for humanity, came to view people as pests to be exterminated, and became the king of Lunebelg, a former Britannian territory that refused to join the new Republic of Britannia. In Kowa 4, he staged a false capitulation to the United Federation of Nations before launching a surprise attack on Hokkaido, conquering it and establishing Neo-Britannia.
Norland’s personality is cold, calculating, and domineering. He speaks very little yet exudes an oppressive presence that terrifies even his own subordinates. Emperor Callis felt that merely speaking with Norland crushed his spirit, and one of the Einberg members, Heath, was driven to the brink of suicide simply by being told to leave. Norland has no tolerance for excuses or failure, and he disposes of people without hesitation once they become unnecessary. His catchphrase, “Your presence is no longer required,” reflects his absolute dismissal of anyone who outlives their usefulness. He is also completely indifferent to human suffering, ignoring the brutal acts of his subordinates while occasionally approving seemingly conciliatory measures for his own ends. His ultimate goal, conceived in secrecy, is the complete extermination of humanity, which he attempts to carry out through the mass deployment of the autonomous weapons known as Lokis.
Norland physically stands as a tall, well-built man with fair skin and long sandy-blonde hair usually tied in a thin ponytail. He always wears a distinctive black-and-gold mask that covers the upper half of his face, hiding features that are identical to a young Charles zi Britannia, including purple eyes. His uniform as leader of the Einberg is predominantly black with gold trim, a crimson lining, a burgundy vest, white trousers, and tall black boots. During his time as a Knight of the Round, he wore the order’s standard white costume or an alternative red coat.
Key relationships shape his role in the story. Norland adopted the orphaned brothers Ash Phoenix and Nichol Phoenix, but he deemed Nichol useless and intended to abandon him. To keep his brother, Ash offered unconditional service, and Norland exploited this desperation, training Ash as a child assassin under the brutal tutelage of Christoph Scissorman. He later sent Ash to eliminate inconvenient people. When Nichol later interfered in a failed mission, Norland killed him, which prompted Ash to attempt an assassination; Ash was captured and imprisoned. Norland also inspired fierce loyalty in several Einberg members: Catherine Sabathra, whom he saved from a kidnapper as a child, and Arnold Renck, who admired him from a young age. Others, like Christoph Scissorman and Stanley, served him for years until he disposed of them when they were no longer needed. Despite being the public face of Neo-Britannia, Norland holds no real loyalty to Emperor Callis and ultimately has him assassinated.
Throughout the story, Norland remains a largely enigmatic figure. His motivations are never fully explained to the other characters; his plan to annihilate humanity is only hinted at through his actions and his dismissive remarks about the “cleansing” of the earth. He pilots the advanced knightmare frame Foulbout, which is equipped with powerful weapons including large cannons, blades, and a self-destruct mechanism. In the final confrontation, Norland is defeated by Sakuya Sumeragi and Ash Phoenix piloting the Zi-Ortygia. Realizing his loss, he smiles and triggers the Foulbout’s self-destruction, leaving no trace of his body. His death marks the end of the Neo-Britannian regime, and the empire is subsequently dismantled.