Historia Reiss (Anime)

"I told you already, Ymir. No matter what happens...I will always be your ally!"

- Historia to Ymir

Historia Reiss (ヒストリア・レイス) is a graduate of the 104th Cadet Corps and a member of the Scout Regiment. During her cadet days, she went by the name of Christa Lenz (クリスタ・レンズ).

Appearance
Historia is petite and the smallest soldier from the 104th Cadet Corps from which the central cast originates. She has long blonde hair, large blue eyes, and a heart-shaped face; she usually wears the standard Scout Regiment uniform. Historia is noted for being very pretty; this, coupled with her kindness, sometimes causes her classmates to wonder if she is a goddess or an angel. It is hinted that many of the boys in her class adore her. While on expeditions, she wears her hair in a low ponytail and dons the traditional green Scout Regiment cloak.

Personality
Historia displays kindness to all those who cross her path, and takes any available opportunity to help people. She is shown to be rather weak, but friendly to those she is close to in the Scout Regiment. Historia is not above making sacrifices for others, as she willingly tears her clothing so that she may give Reiner Braun a sling for his broken arm, which she treated for him. Historia also goes out of her way to see that others are well, making sure that Sasha Braus has food and water after her punishment in the 104th Cadet Corps and sticking up for her when Ymir picks on her.

While Historia is kind and considerate of others, she is not fearless. Historia showed extreme fear when she made the decision to join the Scout Regiment and when facing Titans outside the Walls. However, Historia consistently charges into the face of danger, even if she is unarmed. Ymir accuses this tendency of Historia's to be attributed to her desire to die a hero, which she vaguely denies but later admits to.

History
Historia was born as the illegitimate and unrecognized daughter of Rod Reiss, head of the Reiss family and the true monarchs of the Walls. She was raised on the estate owned and administered by the Reiss family. Her mother was deliberately distant from her, spending much of her time reading or leaving the estate at night via carriages. She never participated in work around the estate and appeared to have some other source of income.

Growing up, she began to read every book she could get her hands on, including ones that depicted the typical relationship between a mother and her child, causing Historia to question her own relationship with her mother, and desiring to understand what it was like to have meaningful physical contact with her. This led to an attempt to hug her mother resulting in her being violently thrown away and causing her mother to openly lament that she did not have the courage to kill Historia when she had been born. Though bruised and bloody, Historia was happy because it was the first time she had ever been spoken to by her mother. After this incident, she would not see nor interact with her mother again for several years. During this interlude, she came to understand her position in the Reiss household, particularly that she was regarded by those around her as a curse and grave burden to her family; though she did not understand the reason for her treatment and rejection.

The Fall of Shiganshina arc
Days after the fall of Wall Maria, Rod Reiss comes to the estate with her mother to see Historia and to take her into the Reiss household properly; it is assumed that Historia would thus be recognized as a child and heir to the Reiss family. As they attempt to evacuate they are surrounded by unmarked soldiers of the First Interior Squad of the Military Police Regiment, who are looking to remove the blots on the Reiss family name. They confront Rod over the identity of Historia and her mother. Rod in turn, denies any relation to them. One of the soldiers, Kenny Ackermann, restrains Alma and kills her as she desperately attempts to deny being Historia's mother and her existence thereof. Her last testament before having her throat cut are to look at her daughter and coldly state that she wishes she had never given birth to her. The soldiers then prepare to kill Historia as well, but Rod intercepts their efforts by offering an alternative arrangement: that if, she were to disappear from the Reiss household, assume a new name and identity before enlisting as a soldier, that would mean they would not need to kill her. The soldiers agree with this, and Rod gives her the new name of "Christa Lenz."

Living under the new name Christa Lenz, Historia eventually decides to join the Cadet Corps.

Humanity's Comeback arc
After the cataclysm of the Colossal Titan breaching Wall Maria, Historia lives in a refugee camp before reaching the minimum age requirement to enable her to enlist as a cadet.

At some point during training, the cadets of the 104th Cadet Corps completed a snowstorm training exercise, arriving at a base at the foot of a mountain. After her fellow cadet Daz loses consciousness during the exercise, Historia elects to try to pull his body along on a cot, despite Ymir's protests. Ymir argues that they will only survive if they abandon Daz and head for base together, but Historia insists that they could all survive if Ymir goes ahead of her. Noticing that Historia has not asked for help during their entire course, Ymir deduces Historia has no intention of saving Daz nor herself, and that she is using their situation as an excuse to search for her own heroic end.

Ymir reveals that she is aware of Historia's true past, having heard officials from the Order of the Walls discussing her existence. Historia asks if Ymir joined the Cadet Corps in order to find her, and Ymir proposes that it may be due to her own past being similar. Historia asks if Ymir originally wanted to befriend her, but Ymir said that they are nothing alike, as Ymir kept her old name after starting a new life, because abandoning her name would be to admit defeat. By living for herself, she robbed her enemies of their power. Ymir scolds Historia for looking for death rather than directing her feelings towards her enemies, and Historia says that there is no longer any way for all three of them to survive their mission.

Ymir leads Historia to a cliff overlooking the base at the foot of the mountain and proposes tossing Daz over the edge so that she and Historia can make it to the base alive while Daz could be searched for later. When Historia objects, Ymir takes matters into her own hands and throws her aside into a snowbank. When Historia escapes from the snow and returns to the cliff, Ymir and Daz are nowhere to be found.

When Historia arrives at base, she spots Ymir outside the base. She asks about Daz, and Ymir shows her that Daz was safe indoors. Upon looking at the cliff from the ground, Historia sees that such a descent would be impossible without a rope. Ymir decides to reveal to Historia how she saved Daz, but only if she promises to live by her true name when her secret eventually becomes known to everyone.

Upon her subsequent training and graduation, she is ranked as 10th of the 104th, a rank below Sasha Braus (this is later asserted by Historia to have been given the tenth position by Ymir).

Distress
In the year 848, two years before graduation, Historia accompanies the other cadets on a wilderness hunt to sustain themselves in times of peace. Along with the other cadets, Historia is pulled into an equipment heist by thieves in the forest and is kidnapped, held as a hostage so the cadets do not retaliate. The ones left behind create a plan to try and rescue her, and after some trouble and the eventual capture of the thieves, Historia is safely returned and the thieves arrested.

The Struggle for Trost arc
During the Struggle for Trost, Historia's squad discovers Armin in a catatonic state, following the deaths of his squad mates. When Conny and Ymir get into a fight over whether or not to leave him, Historia breaks them up, saying that the deaths of their comrades has upset them. When Armin suddenly leaves, Historia's squad continues to move forward through Trost.

Later, while awaiting further orders with her fellow cadets, Historia listens as Conny gives an account of how he and the other cadets managed to resupply in the military headquarters.

Eve of the Counterattack arc
As ordered, in the aftermath of the battle of Trost District, she reports her omni-directional mobility gear to the Military Police Brigade for inspection as a part of the investigation over the deaths of the two captured Titans, presumed to be have been killed by a soldier using vertical maneuvering equipment. Despite her fears in facing the Titans in combat again she volunteers to become a member of the Scout Regiment, something she later says is a decision made by her innermost self and that she herself does not understand the reasons behind it.

The 57th Exterior Scouting Mission arc
During her first expedition out of the Walls she saves Reiner, Armin, and Jean after they become partially stranded in combat against the Female Titan by supplying them with a horse allowing all of them to proceed on horseback.

She is then seen to be holding her position on the tree line (as per orders) baiting the Titans and preventing them from entering the forest while the Scout Regiment attempts to capture the Female Titan.

Clash of the Titans arc
Historia is later shown to be part of the group that is being suspected for being comrades of Annie Leonhart, when Titans suddenly appear inside Wall Rose and the recruits are ordered to warn nearby homes.

When Pastor Nick reveals to the members of the Scout Regiment that Historia may know about the Walls having Titans inside them because of her family, and that she went under an assumed name after being caught in the middle of her relatives' dispute. It is not long until Eren and the others realize that she was often around Ymir.

After Historia and the rest of the recruits watch Ymir fighting against the group of Titans nearly falling off the tower when Ymir transformed, to which Reiner questioned her if she knew about it but tells she did not know herself despite being so close to her and refuses to believe it at first. When the recruits question whose side Ymir is on, Historia remembers some events of her and along with the other watching Ymir's attempt to fight the other Titans and came to the conclusion that she is fighting to protect everyone. She begins to cheer for Ymir telling her not to die and to break down the tower and celebrates when Ymir does so. She, along with the others, ride on her back and land on the ground safely, except for Ymir who is eaten by the Titans. As Historia tries to make her way to Ymir to fulfill her promise she is nearly grabbed by a Titan but is saved by Mikasa. As everyone watches in disbelief at Ymir's wounds and the truth, Historia reveals her true name.

The Scouts regroup atop Wall Rose and Ymir is brought up via a lift. Historia looks after her and speaks to Hange Zoë on Ymir's behalf, claiming that she is undoubtedly an ally to humanity. While Hange is skeptical, she notes that it would obviously be for the best if they could all get along and work together, noting that Ymir's information could be a treasure to humanity.

Shortly after, Reiner and Bertholdt reveal themselves as the Armored and Colossal Titans. The two transform successfully kidnap both Ymir and Eren. Historia joins the combined military force led by Erwin Smith in chasing them down.

When the military gets to the forest where Reiner and Bertholdt are expected to be recovering, Historia is among those that come inside in search of Eren and Ymir. The Scouts find Ymir in her Titan form, looking at each of their faces, and when Historia arrives Ymir captures her inside her mouth.

Ymir flees and joins Reiner and Bertholdt in escaping with their captives. As they run away with the Armored Titan carrying everyone else, Ymir removes Christa from her Titan's mouth and partially emerges from the nape. She apologizes for eating her and explains that she is going along with Reiner and Bertholdt, and that this is for Historia's safety as well. It is not as bad outside the Walls, and no one will say Historia should never have been born.

Historia does not believe Ymir and offers to help her fight off Reiner and Bertholdt. Though Ymir wavers, she says she cannot let Historia go. Ymir expects she will be killed to retrieve the power of the Titans she stole, but if she hands Historia over Reiner and Bertholdt, they will speak on Ymir's behalf. She calls herself pathetic for doing this to save her own life, but Historia reassures her that she will always be her ally, even if there are things she cannot tell her.

Erwin leads a horde of Titans into Reiner to stop their escape and Ymir is forced to defend Historia. In the chaos they are separated from Reiner and Bertholdt, but they manage to kill a Titan together. Even when Conny tries to ride away with Historia, she rejoins Ymir to reassure her that she feels stronger when they are together. Despite all of Ymir's actions, she believes that Ymir is still trying to protect her rather than living for herself.

They join Sasha and Conny in fending off the Titans around them when a newly freed Eren strikes a particular Titan with his bare hand, triggering something that causes all the mindless Titans present to drop what they are doing in favor of devouring the one that had attacked Eren. Historia and the others watch in shock. Eren's scream then sends the Titans after Reiner and Bertholdt.

The Scouts prepare to retreat during the confusion and Ymir pauses to look back. Historia calls out to her and Ymir carefully reaches out to caress Historia's hair before apologizing. She runs back to help Reiner and Bertholdt. Historia turns to follow her, when Conny grabs the reins of her horse and says to leave her. She looks back at Ymir, distressed, as Conny leads her away.

The Uprising arc
Some time later, Historia is brought into the new Squad Levi to be safeguarded with Eren in an isolated forest cabin. While her friends converse and argue, Historia sits alone with a sullen expression.

Historia remains aloof and withdrawn for several days, not talking to any of her fellow squad members. She finally opens up to Eren while performing chores with him, admitting that since wants to respect Ymir's decision to go with Reiner and Bertholdt, that she has lost all of her motivation. She apologizes for dropping her more likable personality, but Eren admits that he likes her new self more than her Christa persona, since she feels more genuine than before.

Levi receives a message from Erwin warning the cabin's inhabitants that the government is freezing all Scout activity outside the Walls and is demanding that Eren and Historia be handed over, and Levi has everyone evacuate the cabin. It is decided that Squad Levi will smuggle Eren and Historia into Trost and seek safe harbor with Commander Pyxis.

Historia and Eren are transported in an enclosed wagon driven by Keiji, while Levi runs a decoy strategy with Jean and Armin posing as the two. The wagon is attacked by members of the Military Police, who manage to tear the roof from the wagon using their mobility gear, exposing Eren and Historia and allowing the soldiers to tranquilize them. Despite an effort from Levi Squad to recover them, the two are ultimately kidnapped successfully.

The Military Police transport the two to a discreet location, where Historia is reunited with her father. Embracing her, Rod apologizes for the methods he employed to obtain her, but explains that he had no other way. Rod offers to take her to where "it all began," explaining that she possesses royal blood and is the only one who can save humanity.

Omni-directional mobility gear
Historia's abilities with her blades and ODM gear are above that of the average soldier, as she was able to get into the top 10 in the 104th Cadet Corps despite 218 other soldiers in her class. However, it is believed that Historia's placement in the top 10 was largely due to the influence of Ymir, who Historia knows did something to aid her so that she may have the chance to going the Military Police Brigade, though she is not sure what.

Relationships

 * Ymir - Their relationship is complex, but they are very close, and Ymir has been stated to be in love with her. Both girls feel similar to each other, as they dealt with the same issues when they were younger. For Historia, Ymir is a trustful person, and none of them are afraid to point the other their respective flaws.
 * Sasha Braus - Sasha initially regarded Historia as a goddess when she brought her food and water after she had spent several hours running. The two seem to have remained close during their training days.
 * 104th Cadet Corps - Historia is admired by the rest of the cadets, and the most popular girl among them. Many of her male classmates have a crush on her due to her beauty and kindness, as demonstrated when she rescued Reiner Braun, Armin Arlelt, and Jean Kirschtein.

Trivia

 * The official site reveals that the majority of her male classmates had a crush on her, referring to her as the "Goddess" of the 104th.
 * A recurring gag in the series is that people actually refers to her as "goddess" or by terms related to God in several circumstances. First by Sasha, in Episode 3, when Historia gave her bread after having fallen, tired from having been forced to run for 5 hours; the second time by Jean and Armin, in Episode 18, when she came to their rescue after they were attacked by the Female Titan.
 * Her name Historia is Greek in origin and means "History." Also, her pseudonym Christa is of Greek origin (greek: Χριστή), meaning "she who is the anointed one." In Hebrew, "the anointed one" is "messiah."
 * Her alias Christa comes from a character of a book she read as a child. In addition, Historia's kind behaviour is based on this character's personality.
 * Her alias surname "Lenz" means "spring" in old German.
 * At the Animagic 2014 series panel, producer confirmed that Ymir and Historia are "indeed a couple."
 * Historia's situation was the opposite of Ymir's. Ymir is a regular girl who pretended to have royal blood, while Historia actually has royal blood but pretended to be a regular girl. They were both also given new names for their fake roles, namely Ymir and Christa.

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Historia Reiss (Anime)