Summary of Code Geass R1

In the year 2010 a.t.b. The Holy Empire of Britannia completed its takeover of Japan, using its superior technology of the Knightmare Frames, a humanoid type of mecha. Britannia renames Japan Area 11, and forces all Japanese to become known as Elevens, in an effort to strip the Japanese of their culture and identity. Seven years later, a Britannian high school student named Lelouch Lamperouge is going down the highway in Area 11 with his friend Rivalz when they become mixed up in a terrorist plot to steal a bomb containing deadly gas from Britannia. Lelouch and the bomb become separated from the terrorists only to meet with his childhood friend Suzaku Kururugi with whom he and his sister Nunally had escaped from Britannia to live in Area 11, but has now become an honorary Britannian soldier. The "poison gas" bomb opens and it is revealed to instead be a container for a live girl.

Suzaku is ordered by his commanding officer to shoot Lelouch, but when Suzaku refuses, he is shot instead. Lelouch is about to be killed when the girl suddenly gives him the power of Geass, which allows him to give absolute commands to anyone he wishes. Armed with this new power and his already brilliant intellect he directs the terrorists into victory against the Britannian troops which were sent against them, so that they can escape. Lelouch then assassinates his brother Clovis who was the Viceroy of Area 11, before donning a mask and taking up the second identity of Zero, who is a freedom fighter and renames the terrorists the Black Knights. Zero leads the Black Knights in a quest to bring down Britannia, both to get revenge on the Emperor who he hates, and to create a peaceful world where his sister Nunally can be happy.

(Developed by Sunrise and Bandai Entertainment)
Summary written by Pride

Code Geass 1

On August 10, 2010, a.t.b., Japan was conquered by the Holy Empire of Britannia. Seven years later, teenage student Lelouch Lamperouge finds himself pulled into a battle between anti-government terrorists and the Britannian Army in the Shinjuku Ghetto. In the midst of the conflict, a mysterious, green-haired girl saves him from death by granting him "the power of the king", which allows him to compel others to do his bidding...

Code Geass 2

Using his newfound power, Lelouch hijacks an enemy Sutherland and leads the rebels in a counterattack against the Britannian army, forcing Viceroy Clovis la Britannia to call for the release of an experimental Knightmare Frame, the Lancelot, piloted by Suzaku Kururugi. The Lancelot proves to be far superior to previous Knightmare Frame models and Lelouch is forced to change his plans. Just as the Britannian Army corners the terrorists, Clovis orders an immediate cease-fire, under the order of Lelouch...

Code Geass 3

Lelouch confronts Clovis at gunpoint about the murder of his mother, Marianne vi Britannia, before killing him. When he returns to Ashford Academy, he discovers that Kallen Stadtfeld, one of the terrorists he helped in Shinjuku, attends the same school. The limitations to his power are also revealed to him when he attempts to question her and unsuccessfully erase her memory; he creates a cunning deception to ease her suspicions of his identity. When the death of Prince Clovis is announced in the media, it is Suzaku who is accused of the murder...

Code Geass 4

The purebloods within the Britannian Army scapegoat Suzaku for Clovis' death, planning to use him as an excuse to rid the army of Honorary Britannians. Lelouch concocts a plan to save his childhood friend, with some help from Kallen and Kaname Ohgi, leader of Kallen's resistance group. Announcing himself publicly as Zero, Lelouch declares it was he who killed Clovis, and uses his power on Jeremiah Gottwald to force him to assist in Suzaku's rescue. In private, Lelouch offers Suzaku the opportunity to turn against Britannia for falsely accusing him, but he refuses, wishing to change the Empire from within...

Code Geass 5

To Lelouch's surprise, C.C., the girl who gave him his power, is alive and now living in his residence. Suzaku, having been acquitted of all charges, accidentally meets Third Princess Euphemia li Britannia and ends up intervening in an internal pureblood struggle. Meanwhile, Second Princess Cornelia li Britannia endeavors to take charge of Area 11 as Viceroy and bring Zero, now the Empire's number one enemy and most wanted man, to justice...

Code Geass 6

Suzaku transfers into Ashford Academy and faces the scorn of the Britannian students. Cornelia continues her hunt for Zero, destroying several rebel strongholds but finding no clues to his whereabouts. A stray cat slips into the Lamperouge residence on campus and takes off with Lelouch's Zero mask and a massive, comedic chase involving the entire student body follows. The Emperor of Britannia makes a speech during Prince Clovis' funeral on the virtues of inequality and the social battle for evolution and betterment.

Code Geass 7

Cornelia sets a trap for Zero at the Saitama Ghetto as she begins to clear another resistance cell. Despite C.C. trying to stop him, Lelouch takes the bait and goes to the aid of the Saitama resistance. His plan falls apart from a combination of Cornelia's superior tactics and the resistance cell's dissimilar motivations. Lelouch is cornered and nearly discovered, but C.C. dons his Zero costume and distracts the Britannian Army, allowing him to escape. Lelouch blames his defeat on the undisciplined rebels and resolves to build something better than a mere resistance unit.

Code Geass 8

A group from the Japan Liberation Front takes a hotel and its occupants hostage, including most of the Ashford Student council and a disguised Princess Euphemia. As such, Princess Cornelia cannot make a move against the hostage takers, which Lelouch realizes and takes advantage of. He mounts a rescue operation with Ohgi's resistance cell, and as he speaks with the hostage takers, Suzaku sinks the floating hotel using the Lancelot. However, Lelouch derails any rescue efforts by the army so he can take credit for the rescue. Broadcasting publicly to the nation, he announces the creation and purpose of his Black Knights, "allies of justice" who will judge the world and protect the weak from "those with power."

Code Geass 9

Told mostly from Kallen's perspective, her rocky relationship with her biological mother is revealed. The Black Knights are sent on a mission to take out the drug "Refrain", and find themselves to be popular among the Elevens. Kallen's mother is found among the Refrain users, and is arrested following the Black Knights' destruction of the drug stockpiles. Kallen promises to have changed the world by the time she is released.

Code Geass 10

Cornelia and the Britannian Army heads to Narita, hoping to destroy the remnants of the Japan Liberation Front. Lelouch has his Knights follow her in the hope of capturing her alive so he can question her about his mother's death. As the Britannian forces close in on the Front's headquarters, Kallen utilizes her new Knightmare Frame, the Guren Mk-II, to cause a massive landslide that takes out much of the Britannian forces.

Code Geass 11

The Black Knights' assault on the Britannian Army in Narita proves successful, and Cornelia is cornered by Kallen and Lelouch. At Euphemia's request, Suzaku rushes onto the battlefield in the Lancelot to rescue Cornelia. He saves her and manages to corner Lelouch. C.C. comes to his rescue by mentally traumatizing Suzaku. The Black Knights retreat from the conflict in victory, leaving the Japan Liberation Front and the Britannian Army to fight amongst themselves.

Code Geass 12

Zero and core members of the Black Knights meet with Taizo Kirihara, one of the most powerful people in the Japanese underground and an acquaintance of Lelouch from his younger days at the Kururugi Shrine. Lelouch deftly displays his tactical prowess and wit before Taizo, revealing his true identity to the man to gain his trust and support. When Lelouch returns to Tokyo, Shirley informs him of her father's death, indirectly caused by Zero during the Battle of Narita.

Code Geass 13

Kallen and Lelouch separately reflect upon the deaths of innocents in the Narita campaign, with both vowing to press on. Shirley secretly follows Lelouch and witnesses the battle between the Japan Liberation Front and the Britannian Army, which Lelouch ends by detonating the Japan Liberation Front freighter as the Britannian Knightmares begin to board it, killing all personnel on board and giving the Black Knights the element of surprise. Suzaku attacks Lelouch, easily overpowering his weaker Burai with the Lancelot, forcing him to eject. He crash-lands near Shirley and is knocked unconscious. Shirley prepares to kill him to avenge her father, but hesitates when his mask falls off, revealing to her that Zero is Lelouch.

Code Geass 14

Lelouch believes Shirley may have discovered his identity as Zero, so he and C.C. pursue her to Narita. Ohgi explores the battlefield of the previous night, discovering a wounded Villetta Nu left for dead out of sight. Lelouch encounters Mao, a young man who also has the power of Geass. Mao uses his mind-reading abilities to play on Shirley's insecurities, manipulating her into shooting Lelouch, but she falters at the last moment and C.C. sends Mao away temporarily. With Shirley torn apart by grief and guilt, Lelouch uses his Geass to erase her memories of him.

Code Geass 15

C.C. explains her history with Mao, and how his inability to turn his Geass off drove him insane. An injured Villetta wakes up in Ohgi's apartment and he discovers she has selective amnesia. C.C. leaves Lelouch to take care of Mao herself, but Mao gains the upper hand when he incapacitates her. Lelouch utilizes his intellect to fool Mao and rescue C.C. using the Britannian Police to surround and shoot Mao. Safe on a rooftop away from the scene, Lelouch reaffirms his contract with her, promising not to fall victim to his power as Mao did.

Code Geass 16

C.C. departs as a messenger to the Chinese Federation and Milly has a marriage interview with Lloyd Asplund, creator of the Lancelot. Mao returns to kidnap Lelouch's sister, Nunnally, and holds her hostage in the Ashford Academy sewers. Lelouch and Suzaku work together to rescue her, with Suzaku's physical adeptness and the clever use of Lelouch's Geass proving to be beyond Mao's planning. Before he can be arrested, Mao reveals Suzaku killed his own father; in return, Lelouch silences him with his power and C.C. returns to end Mao's life as Suzaku crumbles to the ground, confronted with his actions after years of secrecy.

Code Geass 17

An inauguration ceremony of Clovis' memorial art museum is held, with Euphemia judging the art works. Lelouch agrees to help Kyoshiro Tohdoh's comrades rescue their leader. During the rescue mission, Lelouch convinces Tohdoh to join the Black Knights. The Lancelot appears and attempts to stop them, but Lelouch is able to predict its movements and plan a counterattack. When Tohdoh slices open the cockpit, revealing Suzaku within, Lelouch is shocked, having originally planned for Suzaku to become Nunnally's knight. He orders an immediate retreat as reinforcements arrive. Seeing Suzaku's bravery and creed, Euphemia announces to the media that he will be her knight.

Code Geass 18

As Euphemia knights Suzaku, Lelouch establishes the hierarchy of the Black Knights. Diethard Reid suggests assassinating Suzaku, but Lelouch has other plans for him. He launches an operation to capture Suzaku and the Lancelot at a Britannia military base on Shikinejima. It almost succeeds, but Second Prince Schneizel el Britannia appears and orders his floating battleship, the Avalon, to bombard the island, intending to sacrifice Suzaku in order to kill Zero.

Code Geass 19

The aftermath of the Avalon's arrival inexplicably leaves Lelouch, Euphemia, Kallen, and Suzaku on the mysterious Kamine Island. Suzaku encounters Kallen, and learns she is a Black Knight and the pilot of the Guren Mk-II, while Euphemia is found by Zero, confirming her suspicions that he is Lelouch. Meanwhile, Schneizel, Lloyd, and Cecile Croomy survey the island's ancient ruins. When Lelouch, Kallen, Suzaku, and Euphemia suddenly fall into the ruins, Lelouch and Kallen steal the prototype Knightmare Frame Gawain to escape. As Suzaku is detained for insubordination, it is revealed that Lelouch used Geass on Suzaku, giving him the command to "live." Elsewhere, the exiled Japanese government from seven years ago launches a full-scale assault on Kyoto with the help of the Chinese Federation.

Code Geass 20

The Britannian Army fights back against the Kyoto invaders with the Lancelot. Meanwhile, Nina meets Princess Euphemia and inadvertently gives Euphemia peace of mind about her feelings for Suzaku. As Suzaku becomes cornered when his Lancelot's power runs out, Euphemia encourages Suzaku to fight on and live. Zero and C.C. fly into the battlefield in the Gawain to recharge the Lancelot, and the two Knightmares end the Kyoto campaign together.

Code Geass 21

The Ashford Academy holds their annual school festival. Ohgi, Villeta, Euphemia, and Kallen all make their separate ways to the event and a series of close encounters risks the revealing of their hidden identities. Suzaku pilots the Ganymede for the festival's main event: making a giant pizza, slated to be the world's largest. When Euphemia's presence is revealed, mass panic ensues. On live television, she declares the Mount Fuji area to be the "Specially Administrated Zone of Japan", where Elevens can be referred to as "Japanese" again. She believes this will bring back the happy days with Lelouch and Nunnally, but Lelouch thinks otherwise, knowing she is being naive.

Code Geass 22

During the commemoration ceremony for the Specially Administrated Zone, Lelouch and Euphemia privately discuss Japan's future. She convinces him, and Lelouch summarily halts his rebellion, until he suddenly loses control of his Geass while jokingly telling her to kill all the Japanese. The Geass-influenced Euphemia orders a bloody massacre of the people attending the ceremony. Blaming himself, a resolute Lelouch decides to salvage the situation by declaring Euphemia's Specially Administrated Zone a trap to lure out the Black Knights, and commands his troops to defeat the Britannian forces, protect the Japanese, and stop Euphemia.

Code Geass 23

Left with no choice, Lelouch shoots and mortally wounds Euphemia in front of Suzaku. Suzaku returns to the Avalon with her battered body as the Black Knights continue to contain the violence. She then dies from her injuries as Lelouch announces his plan for the creation of the United States of Japan. Alone, Lelouch grieves over his actions as C.C. comforts him, reminding him she will stay alongside him, as per their contract. Soon, the entirety of Area 11 revolts against the Britannian Empire. Advancing with his massive army, Lelouch ignites the conflict by initiating the collapse of the Tokyo Settlement.

Code Geass 24

Lelouch's strategies give the Black Knights and their allies the upper hand in their battle against the Britannian Army. As riots break out through the country, the Black Knights take over Ashford Academy as their headquarters, and the students are spared on Lelouch's orders. An enraged Suzaku, now aware of Zero's power thanks to a mysterious young boy named V.V., pursues Zero for revenge, which Cornelia also covets.

Code Geass 25

After managing to capture Cornelia, Lelouch forces her to reveal what little information she knows of Marianne's murder, but the answers do not please him one bit. V.V. takes Nunnally to Kamine Island, and Lelouch abandons the Black Knights to rescuehis sister. Without Lelouch, the Black Knights begin to lose ground to the Britannian Army. Suzaku follows Zero, leading to the revelation of Zero's identity to him and Kallen and a final confrontation between the former friends.