Code Geass is a bit of an odd anime but it has consistently and rightfully kept its place as one of the most beloved anime for over a decade. The mecha anime tells a surprisingly complicated story of revenge and rebellion, with many side works enriching Code Geass' timeline. So, we explain all the main events in this article.
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When Does Code Geass Take Place?
Code Geass takes place in our own world but unfolds in an alternate timeline in which the so-called Holy Empire of Britannia is a major world force.
The calendar used to determine when various events took place in this timeline is known as the Imperial Calendar.
The main events of the anime take place between the years 2017 and 2018, which was the near future during Code Geass' original run (2007-2008).
It is unlike some fantasy anime whereby the events happen as part of a tucked-away magical society in the real world -- as is the case with Jujutsu Kaisen's timeline.
On the contrary, Code Geass calls us to imagine a radically different, dystopian world, in which the world's major forces are few, extremely powerful, and brutal.
So, let's break down Code Geass' timeline a bit more:
Code Geass' Timeline Explained
While the main events of the anime take place in 2017-2018, it's worth analyzing the events of Lelouch's backstory, as they're key not only to the identity he develops as a result but also to understanding the political turmoil of the narrative present:
- Spring, 2009: Marianne vi Britannia is killed -- by V.V., as is later revealed. Her children, Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia, are sent to Japan as political hostages.
- August 10, 2010: The Holy Empire of Britannia invades Japan. The Japanese are stripped of their freedom and even their name. Now a Britannian colony, Japan is renamed Area 11 and its people are called Elevens and face racism and abuse at the hands of Britannians.
- 2017: Lelouch gets caught up in an attack, is rescued by C.C. and is given Geass powers.
- August 2017: Third Prince Clovis la Britannia, Viceroy of Area 11, is killed by Lelouch, who has adopted the alias of Zero. Following Clovis's death, Second Princess Cornelia li Britannia takes over as Viceroy with her sister, Third Princess Euphemia, as sub-viceroy. While Cornelia is waging war against Zero, Lelouch forms the Order of the Black Knights.
- September 2017: Just as Zero is about to reach an agreement with Princess Euphemia who is trying to introduce the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, Lelouch loses control of his Geass and makes Euphemia massacre the Japanese, after which he has to kill her. The failure to create the Special Administrative Zone births a rebellion known as the Black Rebellion, which ends in defeat, with most Black Knights killed or captured. Cornelia goes missing.
- 2018: The remaining members of the Black Knights incite riots and kill Calares who succeeded Cornelia as Viceroy. Zero reappears after a period during which Lelouch had lost memory of his Geass and secret identity. Nunnally, who is in the custody of her older siblings, becomes the Viceroy of Area 11 and tries to reestablish the Special Administration Zone of Japan. Later in the year, Li Xingke and Zero interrupt the forced marriage between First Prince Odysseus eu Britannia and Empress Tianzi of the Chinese Federation.
- June 2018: Second Prince Schneizel el Britannia rises to power and attempts a coup. Lelouch continues his own rebellion, amassing a loyal following using his Geass. The events culminate in the death of Emperor Charles zi Britannia at the hand of Lelouch, who succeeds him as the 99th Emperor.
- July 2018 a.t.b: Lelouch vi Britannia, now the Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire, governs tyrannically with the support of Suzaku, whom he names Knight of Zero.
- September 2018 a.t.b.
- Lelouch declares himself the world leader, turning everyone against him, and declaring to execute everyone who stood against him, including some of his own siblings. This turns out to be part of his plan, which culminates in his planned assassination by Suzaku, in what becomes known as Zero Requiem. Following his death, factions that used to be enemies are now united by a shared hatred of him.
- Nunnally vi Britannia succeeds her elder brother as the 100th Empress of Britannia and works to achieve peace with Zero, who is in truth Suzaku, by her side.
Of course, these are not the only historical events associated with the Empire of Britannia, nor all the events that happened in the Code Geass universe.
The timeline above is an overview of the main canon events of the 2007-2008 anime but there are many other media.
If you want to check them out, our Code Geass watch order article is your friend!
Discover more of our insights and the latest anime news by following us on Twitter @epicstreamanime.
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