Schneizel el Britannia is a major antagonist of the anime series, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. He's the Second Prince and Prime Minister of the Holy Britannian Empire. Throughout the series, he works behind the scenes to expand Britannia's power and influence around the world and even challenges his father Charles zi Britannia on multiple occasions.
Biography[]
Season 1:
He first appeared as a meaningful villain who eventually let Suzaku go free of his charges of insubordination. Later, he is shocked by Euphemia massacring the Japanese and suspects that something is making her do this.
Season 2:
He eventually discovers Zero's true identity as Lelouch vi Britannia by having soldiers follow Suzaku and try to make it look like he sold him out. And thanks to using his Geass on Guilford, Schneizel confirms it. In the battle of Tokyo Settlement, he has planned on having Suzaku use the F.L.E.I.J.A. bomb just in case the Geass command "Live" activates when the likes of Lelouch and Kallen try to get him killed. This plan succeed.
Next, he requested a meeting with the Black Knights under the condition that Zero himself will be not attending. This is the point where he tells them about his true identity, Geass, and the F.L.E.I.J.A. with some manipulative evidence. Ohgi and Viletta support him, saying this is all true. This leads to them betraying Zero, but the former requested to get Japan otherwise he'll go after Schneizel.
It wasn't until the 23rd episode of the series (when Lelouch became the emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire), that Schneizel revealed how dark and twisted his personality was. After taking charge of the Black Knights with Cornelia and Diethard by his side, Schneizel (wishing to "free" the empire's capital city Pendragon from Lelousch's rule) used the F.L.E.I.J.A. system to obliterate the city killing tens of millions of people. To Lelouch, he eventually revealed that he hid Nunnally from him the entire time, and was able to turn Nunnally against her brother. Next, told Cornelia of his plan to seize control of the world back from Lelouch by using the Democles satellite weapon to destroy every capital city on Earth and to "become a god". When Cornelia protested, he had her shot.
He then went to battle against Lelouch, with each of the pair's fleets masterfully commanded by the other in a chess-like battle for power. In the end, Lelouch used a securadite-based weapon in the Mount Fuji mines to trigger a volcanic eruption which destroyed vast swathes of Schneizel's fleet (as well as many of his own soldiers).
Using the Black Knights as expendable pawns, he had a hidden fleet of them attack Lelouch's ship the Avalon from behind, where they caused enough damage to begin sinking it. Lelouch left the Avalon and led a strike team of Knightmares against the Democles. In their attack, Schneizel had Nunnally launch a F.L.E.I.J.A. warhead at them, but Suzaku shot a disruptor at it, stopping it from detonating.
When Lelouch and his team infiltrated the Democles, Schneizel announced that he planned to evacuate the satellite and destroy it with a F.L.E.I.J.A. warhead, killing Lelouch and strike team, and allowing him (Schneizel) to seize control of the empire.
Lelouch appeared on the screen of Schneizel's escape shuttle, distracting with a video message, before appearing to Schneizel and using his Geass power to force Schneizel to be solely obedient to Zero. He then ordered Schneizel to kill Diethard.
After Suzaku became the new Zero and killed Lelouch by impaling him through the chest with a long sword, Schneizel entered service under Suzaku, and Nunnally became the new Empress of Britannia.