World of Code Geass

The fictional setting and themes of the anime series Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion are parts of an alternate universe where the Holy Empire of Britannia, an international superpower, has expanded its influence over a large portion of the planet.

Setting
The world of Code Geass is mainly divided amongst three international superpowers: the Holy Empire of Britannia (shown in red), the Chinese Federation (shown in light green), and the Euro Universe (shown in yellow). Australia (shown in light blue) has remained independent, and is not a major player in international politics, instead becoming a neutral state akin to real-world Switzerland. The Middle Eastern Federation (shown in darker green) is not a supernation, however, it is believed to have warm relationships with the E.U. and also being fairly democratic. The MEF is conquered quite quickly by Britannia and they soon afterwords become an imperial colony area and is likely restored to international status with the removal of the area system by Emperor Lelouch.

Much of the series is set in Japan. On August 10, 2010 a.t.b., the Holy Empire of Britannia overpowered Japanese forces and conquered the country with their newly-developed robotic weapons, the Knightmare Frames, in less than a month. Japan lost its freedom, its rights, and even its name, becoming "Area 11" and its people "Elevens". The Elevens are forced to survive in ghettos while Britannians live in first-class settlements. Rebel elements persist, however, as pockets of Japanese resistance struggle against the Empire for the independence of Japan, partly due to Japan surrendering before all of its human resources would have been depleted in the struggle against the Britannian invasion. The Japanese resistance movement is supposedly unrivaled amongst such movements in other Areas, as hinted by Lelouch in episode 17 of Season 1.

After his father, Emperor Charles zi Britannia, did nothing to pursue the terrorists who murdered his mother and crippled his sister, Lelouch vi Britannia vowed to destroy Britannia after being banished from his home. Seven years later in Area 11, he encounters a mysterious girl who gives him the power of Geass. With it, he finally has the power he needs to defeat Britannia and fulfill his two wishes: to seek revenge for his mother and to create a world where his beloved sister can live happily.

The Holy Empire of Britannia


The Holy Empire of Britannia is an imperial monarchy built from the ruins of the former British Empire and is the most prominent superpower within the world of Code Geass. Its homeland is based in North America, with additional territories spanning the western hemisphere, including the rest of the Americas, Greenland and Iceland. Britannia initially controls over one third of the world, and eventually conquered most of the world, with the rest joining UFN.

Britannian Territories
The Britannian Empire is concentrated in the Americas, holding both North and South America as its mainland.

Through various conquests, Britannia also controls New Zealand (Area 9), Japan (Area 11), the Philippines (Area 12), Saudia Arabia (Area 18), and in the novels a portion of the Indochina Peninsula (Area 10), Cambodia (Area 13''). ''Notably, contrary to its name and origin, it does not control the British Isles, having lost them to Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars.

Japan
Japan is the source of over 70% of the world's total supply of sakuradite. Under the former administration of Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi and with the shadow support of the sakuradite mining industries, Japan oppressed and dominated other countries through economic control. Tensions between the Britannian Empire and Japan eventually developed into a diplomatic conflict and later open war. Following Japan's defeat, it was occupied by Britannian forces, and its name was changed to Area 11. As a means of cultural suppression, Britannia has eliminated the use of kanji in proper names.

Chinese Federation
Shown in teal on the map, the Chinese Federation is an imperial monarchy that spans the Asian and Pacific regions, including Central Asia, South Asia, continental Eastern Asia, and Southeast Asia which include Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand (except the Philippines and Cambodia) with Sakhalin and the Korean Peninsula. Its population is the largest of the three major powers, but most live in poverty. Its political structure and organization appears to resemble the real-world Empire of China, probably that of China under the Han dynasty as its capital is located in Luo Yang the same as where the Han dynasty capital was. The Emperor of the Federation was formerly an office that held absolute political power, but it has since been reduced to an effectively symbolic figurehead posting, "a symbol of the state and the unity of the people." As with the real-world Emperor of Japan, the individual who holds the title is regarded as a living divinity whose sovereignty is entirely ceremonial. Prior to a civilian uprising, true control of the nation lies with the brutal governmental organization known as the High Eunuchs. Following the group's liquidation, the territories of the Federation become politically fragmented.

Under the High Eunuchs, the Federation sought to take control of Area 11 for its own purposes. In the first season, General Cao attempts unsuccessfully to set up a puppet government in Kyūshū, using the remnants of the Japanese cabinet in exile. In the second season, a Chinese consulate is established with the agreement of the local Britannian authorities, and negotiations are held by Eunuch Gao Hai to the end of obtaining a solid Chinese foothold within the colony. The Federation has long-standing hostilities with the Euro Universe, but this is resolved when half of the EU was conquered by Britannia while the other half joined United Federation of Nations. After joining the UFN, it changed its name to United States of China.

Euro Universe
Shown in yellow on the map, the Euro Universe (ユーロ・ユニバース, Yūro Yunibāsu), or E.U., is a democratic union formed during the time of revolution (1800s). It has been to be overseen by a council that meets in a location known as the Central Hemicycle (中央会議場). It is implied that when before Napoleon died, he set down the foundations for the creation of the E.U., so its capital is most likely Paris or (like the real world E.U.) Strasbourg. It has long been in conflict with Britannia, with a legendary commander stationed at the El Alamein Front(エル・アラメイン戦線, Eru Aramein Sensen) to check the Britannian advance into North Africa. It encompasses all of Europe (including the British Isles), Africa, and Russia. In the second season, Schneizel leads the Britannian forces against the E.U., successfully conquering almost half of their territory. The remaining EU territory either joined the UFN, or decided to remain unaligned. It is unknown whether the E.U. still exists or it has dissolved into independent states.

The E.U. apparently organizes their military into left-wing and right-wing camps, and their forces are drawn from National Guard-style units from a member nation (i.e. the German National Guard, the Italian National Guard and the Dutch Engineering Corps).

Australia
Shown in white, Australia is seemingly independent of Britannia, possibly due to the historical divergence, causing no English settlers to be sent and no penal colony established. However, this is questionable given the circumstances, as Australia was discovered by the Dutch in 1606, and the Netherlands were a separate European nation from Tudor Dynasty Brittania at this time. Furthermore, it is implied by Mao to be populated in the episode "Cheering Mao," and is most likely populated by settlers of what are now EU Nations, or even solely by native Australian Aborigines.

United Federation of Nations
In order to combat Britannia successfully, Lelouch proposed a federation of all nations. Initially called the United States Alliance, during formal Ratification it was known as United Federation of Nations, consisting of United States of Japan, the Chinese Federation, exiled governments from the Areas, and fragments of Euro Universe. In total, 47 nations joined the the UFN by R2 Episode 16. Its capital is based on Penglai Island.

According to analysis by the Britannian Media, the United Federation of Nations wields power that equals that of Britannia. When a country joins the UFN, the signatory agrees to resign their military power. In their stead, the Order of the Black Knights, which is not affliated to any country, will agree to defend them in exchange for continued power and support for the United Federation of Nations. If an action were to be taken by the Black Knights, all members must agree to it.

United States of Japan
The United States of Japan is declared by Zero near the end of the first season. The country rebels against the Britannian Empire following the failed attempt at establishing the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, but is defeated when Lelouch abandons the Black Knights in search of Nunnally. Upon their escape to the Chinese Federation Consulate in the second season, Zero once again declares its formation, this time as a room in the consulate. While Britannia considers it to be non-existent, other countries, the Chinese Federation among them, do recognize it.

After the exile of the Black Knights, the Japanese are granted control of the artificial island of Penglai in Chinese territory, which has recently become their temporary capital.

History of the World
The fictional history of the Code Geass universe differs significantly from real-world history, primarily in the outcomes of various famous battles. The American Revolution is said to have been crushed at the Siege of Yorktown, thus allowing the development of the Holy Empire of Britannia in stead of the United States of America. Other differences also include the appearance of materials like Sakuradite and immortals like C.C. Another main difference would be the calendar the world goes by. Britannia uses a calendar based on the ascension of the first Celtic superking known as Acension Throne Britannia or A.T.B. This event occured in 55 B.C. making the A.T.B claendar 55 years ahed of our own. So the events in Code Geass while taking place in 2017 and 2018 A.T.B. actually take place in 1962 and 1963 A.D.

Geass
Geass (ギアス|giasu) is a mysterious ability which certain people can bestow upon others; C.C. is the most prominent character who grants the power of Geass. The form the Geass takes is different in each individual. C.C. calls Geass the Power of the King (王の力|Ō no Chikara) while Lelouch calls it a form of wish. It is represented by a glowing, bird-shaped symbol.

Knightmare Frames

 * Knightmare Frames(ナイトメアフレーム), officially designated as the Humanoid Autonomous Armored Knight, are giant mechanized vehicles designed by the Britannian Empire. Using self-propelled roller skate systems called 'Landspinners' to achieve high mobility and speeds on almost any terrain, they have all but replaced other ground-based combat vehicles. They are equipped with sophisticated 'Factsphere' open sensor cameras to gather visual data. They are powered by a Yggdrasil Drive and later models incorporate sakuradite. Verbally, the name sounds like nightmare, but in spelling, it refers to a knight's mare.


 * Typical Knightmare Frame armament includes hand-held rifles, shoulder or wrist-mounted wired rocket anchors called Slash Harkens, Stun Tonfas, lances, and air burst hand grenades. The cockpit, set in the protruding "hump back", is equipped with rocket engines and parachutes so that the pilot can eject to safety in case of emergency. Recent seventh generation Knightmare frames do not follow these standards and are equipped with experimental technologies.

Vehicles

 * Aside from Knightmare frames, other vehicles are used for tactical and strategical purposes, such as serving as Knightmare Frame carriers.


 * High efficiency electric vehicles are the standard, typically powered by a sakuradite energy filler. Pre-modern vehicles have been known to attain 50 horsepower, and go roughly 100 Kilometers per hour at maximum. Combustion of fossil fuels as a power source for vehicles may never had became commonplace in the world of Code Geass, though it is unknown if the principle is used.


 * Automobiles

Automatic Small Arms
Unlike real-world firearms, those found in the world of Code Geass do not use gunpowder as an ammunition propellant, eliminating the need for brass casings; instead they operate by using a strong electromagnetic pulse generated by sakuradite to fire bullets. Such weapons are used by the Britannian Military, The Black Knights, and the Chinese Federation.

Energy Filler

 * A type of battery, wherein sakuradite serves as a critical medium to the process of reverse electrolysis. Energy fillers of different types are the common power source of most of the world's vehicles and portable electronic devices.

F.L.E.I.J.A. Eliminator

 * It is a device described as an "Anti F.L.E.I.J.A. System" developed by Nina Einstein as a countermeasure to her F.L.E.I.J.A. warhead. Taking advantage of F.L.E.I.J.A.'s ever-changing composition, the F.L.E.I.J.A. Eliminator bombards it with a reaction that counters its composition thus preventing it from reaching its critical state. However, it must be inputted with the data of the surrounding environment into its program around 19 seconds before its detonation and the window for execution is only 0.04 seconds.

Super-Peltier Film

 * An advanced Peltier device capable of maintaining the temperature of icebergs. It is used by the Chinese Federation to create iceberg-supported ships that can transport more than one million people at a time.

Corporate Sponsorship
Code Geass is sponsored by a number of companies in Japan, and hence their logos and mascots make frequent appearances.

BIGLOBE

 * A Britannian internet service provider that owns a search engine often used by Lelouch and other characters. BIGLOBE is a Japanese internet service provider and a sponsor of Code Geass. Unlike Pizza Hut, this is not edited out of the English dub.

Pizza Hut

 * A popular Britannian fast food delivery chain that C.C. orders from constantly. Pizza Hut sponsors Code Geass in Japan, and as such, their logo and paraphernalia of their branch mascot, Cheese-kun(チーズくん), make frequent appearances. Pizza Hut's logo is edited out of the English dub, but their mascot isn't.

Cheese-kun

 * Official mascot character of the Area 11 branch of Pizza Hut, an amorphous orange blob made of mozzarella cheese. He is said to have been born in Italy, and has a sister that looks just like him (Cheese-kun is distinguished by his black hat while his sister wears a bow). C.C. collects a large amount of Cheese-kun Souvenir/paraphernalia, including a child-sized plush doll that she's often seen holding. The Japanese branch of Pizza Hut uses Cheese-kun as its mascot, hence the frequent appearances of the character.

SoftRola

 * A Britannian telecommunications company that provides mobile phone service. Its name appears to be inspired by SoftBank and Motorola, who are not official sponsors of the program.

Groups and Organizations

 * For other groups and organizations to which notable characters are affiliated, please refer to: List of Code Geass characters

Camelot

 * An irregular Britannian military research and development organization answerable only to members of the Imperial Family. It is headed by Lloyd Asplund following the Black Rebellion, and its research focus as of second season is the development of the experimental Knightmare Frame Lancelot and its subsequent derivative designs. It is the parent body of the Advanced Special Envoy Engineering Corps (特別派遣嚮導技術部), to which Lloyd was assigned prior to the Black Rebellion. It is named after the city of Camelot of the Arthurian Legend.

Four Holy Swords

 * An elite unit of four of Kyoshiro Tohdoh's most talented and devoted followers. Their existence extends all the way back into the initial invasion of Japan by Britannia seven years prior to the Battle of Narita.

In Vogue

 * A nuclear research team based at the Dallas Research Institute, created by Schneizel el Britannia and led by Nina Einstein. They seek to develop a working nuclear reactor as a viable source of energy with the possibility of weaponization.

Knight Police

 * A mechanized paramilitary unit that operates Knightmare Frames under the command of the Britannian Police Force, deployed to perform exceptionally dangerous or high-risk operations that fall outside both the abilities of common patrol officers and the jurisdiction of the military. The majority of the Knightmare Frames used by the Area 11 Knight Police appear to be modified Glasgows, painted white and marked with the Police emblem to indicate their affiliation.

NAC

 * A confederation of the richest and most powerful families amongst the former Japanese, tasked by the Area 11 colonial administration with the oversight and government of Elevens living outside the Britannian concessions. It was the public face of the Kyōto House prior to the Black Rebellion. Following the execution of most of its members, the present status of this governing body is unknown.

Rosenberg Institute

 * The research organization operating under Schneizel el Britannia, bearing some unidentified relationship to the military research project known as Code R. They are responsible for the cyberneticization of Jeremiah Gottwald and the creation of the Knight Giga Fortress Siegfried. Members of the organization were later sent to the Geass Directorate to finish the modifications of Jeremiah Gottwald.

Royal Panzer Infantry (RPI)

 * The official designation for common Knightmare Frame infantry within the Britannian Army.

Royal Marine Infantry (RMI)

 * The official designation for amphibious Knightmare Frame infantry within the Britannian Navy.

Sumeragi Concern

 * A large conglomerate founded by the Sumeragi House. It appears to remain in good standing with the Area 11 colonial government.

Toromo Agency

 * A research organization of Britannia that is situated in Cambodia, led by Schneizel el Britannia. Following the death of Emperor Charles zi Britannia, Schneizel el Britannia along with those loyal to him were hidden in Cambodia by the Toromo Agency. After Lelouch vi Britannia's ascension to the throne, they severed their relation with the Empire and became traitors. Under Schneizel, they were able to mass-produce the F.L.E.I.J.A. bomb as well as create the Aerial Fortress Damocles.

Area

 * The generic attribution of all presently known satellite colonies of the Britannian Empire. Each colony is given a numeric designation by order of conquest, which doubles as a derogatory diminutive for its native peoples. There appear to be nineteen such territories as of Cornelia's conquest in the Middle East in the first season and in the second season The Holy Britannian Empire conquers the Euro Universe making it area 19. The legal rights of the conquered peoples are under normal circumstances severely limited, but they may be further suspended if the loyalty of the colony comes under sufficient question, at which point the region is flagged by the motherland as a "correctional area" (矯正エリア, Kyousei Eria).

Code-R

 * A top secret Britannian military research project overseen by Princes Schneizel el Britannia and Clovis la Britannia, which employs the Rosenberg Institute under the leadership of Bartley Asprius. Not all members of the Britannian Imperial Family are aware of its existence. Its focus is the research of C.C. and the nature of the Geass ability, with the intent of duplicating her powers. In the sidestory Nightmare of Nunnally, it is also referred to as Project C.C.

Devicer

 * The technical term for a Knightmare Frame pilot.

Eleven

 * The derogatory designation of the Japanese following the colonization and establishment of Area 11.

"Emblem of Blood" Incident

 * A violent internal feud that occurred within the Britannian imperial family prior to Charles' ascension to the throne. During this period, assassination and betrayals was frequented among members of the Imperial Family that wanted the throne. Charles and V.V.'s mother were among the casualties. This event influenced the two to form a Geass contract to kill the Gods.

Ghetto

 * Districts within a Britannian colony left ungoverned by the colonial administration and inhabited by Numbers unwilling to adopt Britannian citizenship. Conditions are typically poor. The ghettos of Area 11 are filled with the bombed remains of pre-war buildings, and the majority of the residents are unemployed.

The Girl Who Loves Pizza

 * Pseudonym used in a letter to the Ashford Academy Student Government, requesting the baking of the world's largest pizza (12-meters in diameter) as a special event during the 2017 school fair. Because the pizza is ruined, the event is attempted again the following year under the title "Giant Pizza R", and is again ruined.

Honorary Britannian

 * Citizens of the conquered Areas can become Honorary Britannians when they swear allegiance to the Britannian Empire. They attain the same legal rights as normal Britannians, but by no means are they free from prejudice and inequality. Also, Honorary Britannian soldiers cannot achieve the same career as native Britannians as certain privileges but in civillian sector it has been all washed away because most civillian know they gave up alot of thing in order to become an honorary britannian, like piloting Knightmare Frames, are forbidden to them. However in extraordinary cases (usually involving the honorary Britannian having abilities that outclass most native Britannians and thus are of extreme importance to the Empire) a Britannian may rise even to nobility a position that it is extremely difficult to attain without being born as it in the first place and even native Britannians desire or other important posts that include command and respect above a large number of native Britannians.

Noble

 * The nobles are Britannia's highest position. They enjoy absolute power over everyone that is not a noble, even a native Britannian, and can only be surpassed by other nobles of higher position. Also, all nobles are extremely wealthy and have wealth far above most Honorary Britannians and native Britannians. This economic position isnt necessarily hereditary of the noble's previous family (as evidenced that some nobles are born nobles or their position is not hereditary) although the method by which this wealth is attained isn't specified (it could be that all nobles have high paying posts or that all nobles recive economic tribute from Britannia or maybe a combination of both). Politically the nobles are the ones who govern all of the Britannian Empire.

Royal Court

 * The Royal Court is the highest ranking group of nobles and possibly holds the highest positions. Within it is the ultimate political organ below the emperor. The Royal Court is composed of nobles of all kinds (dukes, counts etc.) as well as the Imperial Family.

Imperial Family

 * They are the highest ranking nobles that rule all of the Britannian Empire and are above all other nobles, they are the family of the Emperor of Britannia and possible heirs to the throne of Britannia, their power is absolute and their wealth unlimited and can only be surpassed by the Emperor, this position in nobility is can only be hereditary (normally, although not always). They form part of the Royal Court and hold the higher positions in it.

Emperor of Britannia

 * Although a noble himself/herself, an Emperor can be considered above and outside nobility and all denominations and classes within the Britannian Empire. All of the Britannian power is centered upon the Emperor who can shape the Empire during his/her reign in any form he/she desires. There is no organ, group or individual who can dimiss an order from the Emperor or counter his/her power in any situation as all the power of Britannia and thus all positions (including those of extreme power such as the Imperial Family and the Court) come from the Emperor and thus can be removed easily, as evidenced by Lelouch's actions as Emperor, when no one in the Britannian Empire dared to oppose, while those who did ended being restrained, even when their actions were directly contradictory to the complete Britannian culture, thus the Emperor is an absolute figure and can virtually be considered a dictator.

Imperial Calendar (Abbrev. a.t.b.)

 * The calendar used by the Britannia Empire. It started during the Roman Empire's first (foiled) attempt to invade Great Britain. The initials "a.t.b." mean 'Ascension Throne Britannia' and refer to the election of a Celtic super-leader by the British tribes to resist the invader.

Irregular

 * A term referring to a group within the Britannian military that is not bound by the ordinary chain of command. In Nightmare of Nunnally, "Irregulars" is also a term used to refer to individuals with physical capabilities that significantly exceed the limits of a normal human and the name of a Britannian military division that employs such individuals.

Numbers

 * A derogatory general designation for the people of regions colonized by Britannia, e.g. "Elevens". Native inhabitants of a colony are categorically referred to by their "Area" number.

Providence

 * Official term for the immediate vicinity of any Thought Elevator claimed by Britannia. Kamine Island is not designated as a Providence, as Clovis claimed it in a personal venture prior to his death. In the real world, the term "tenryou" was in the Edo period used to refer to territories under the direct control of the Shogunate, and during the Meiji period to the properties of the Japanese Emperor.

Ragnarök
Main article: Ragnarök


 * A term initially uttered by the Emperor of Britannia when Lelouch forms his Geass contract with C.C.. With the use of Sword of Akasha and the Thought Elevator, and two Codes, the Emperor can use it to force the collective subconscious of human beings onto the surface of their mask and affect reality, making all humans, both living and dead, into one being. For this reason, the Emperor has connected every thought elevator on the planet. He then intended to unleash Ragnarök using the thought elevator in Kamine Island.

Refrain

 * Main article: Refrain
 * An illegal and highly addictive deliriant that induces hallucinatory flashbacks to pleasant past experiences. Temporary behavioral abnormality is exhibited while under the influence of Refrain, and it is also useful as a truth serum. Once the drug wears off, the user is left unable to speak for some time. Under Britannian law, penalization for possession is comparable to that associated with narcotics in the real world. Prior to a crackdown executed by Cornelia, it was smuggled into Area 11 from the Chinese Federation by way of the Kyūshū Route. In the spin-off manga Nightmare of Nunnally, the character Mao is known as Mao of the Refrain, and his Geass abilities have the same effect as the drug.

Settlement

 * Areas within Britannian-controlled regions designed to provide First World comforts to citizens of the Empire abroad at the expense of colonized peoples. The commercial and residential sectors are administered so as to be indistinguishable from the metropolitan environments of the Britannian homeland. Settlements are typically segregated from the rest of the colony by the massive solar arrays that power them. Monorails are installed for ease of transport within.

Tabatacchi

 * A mascot character that appears to be a green otter, used by Kallen Stadtfeld as a disguise at the Ashford festival in the second season.

Chess

 * Chess is one of the games that is shown to be played in Code Geass universe and Lelouch is repeatedly shown and said to enjoy wagering money on the outcome of his matches against Area Eleven's noble population, with great success.



Knighting Ceremony

 * A Knighting Ceremony is a Ceremony to reward an individual with a promotion to Knighthood.