Reiss Family

Lore & Background

The Reiss family's history is defined by their possession of the Founding Titan and their role as the true rulers behind the Walls. Rod Reiss, along with his father Uri and sister Frieda, operated from a secret chapel where underground caverns held the remains of past inheritors. The stability of this line was shattered when Grisha Yeager infiltrated the estate and consumed Frieda Reiss to steal the Founding Titan. Years later, during the political unrest following the appearance of Titans within Wall Rose, Rod Reiss sought to restore his family's power by kidnapping Eren Yeager, who had inherited the Titan through eating his father. Rod revealed that only a member of the royal bloodline could fully utilize the Coordinate, and he attempted to coerce his daughter Historia into transforming and consuming Eren. When she refused and destroyed his vial of spinal fluid, Rod consumed the serum himself, mutating into a monstrously large Abnormal Titan before being killed by Historia with the help of the Survey Corps.

In Their Own Story

In the dimly lit cavern beneath the Reiss estate, rows of coffins lined the walls where past inheritors were laid to rest. Rod Reiss stood over Eren Yeager, driven by a twisted fervor to reclaim the Founding Titan he believed was his birthright. He pleaded with Historia, his daughter, to allow herself to be transformed into a Pure Titan so she could eat Eren and restore the royal line's control. When Historia refused and smashed Rod's vial of Titan spinal fluid, the situation turned catastrophic. In a final, desperate bid for power, Rod injected himself with the serum, transforming into a grotesque Abnormal Titan that dwarfed everything around him. The battle ended swiftly as Historia, aided by Levi and the Survey Corps, struck down the monstrous form, killing her father and effectively ending the Reiss dynasty. This event marked the collapse of the memory-wiping system and the beginning of a new era where the truth about Eldians and Marley was revealed.

Reader's Guide

The Reiss Family's role as the clandestine sovereigns ended with the death of Rod Reiss at the hands of Historia in the year following the Battle of Trost. Key to their history is the fact that they were the only surviving members of the royal bloodline capable of accessing the full power of the Founding Titan. The family operated out of a secret chapel, where they maintained the illusion of peace by keeping humanity confined within the Walls. Their downfall was triggered when Grisha Yeager stole the Founding Titan from Frieda Reiss years prior. Later, Rod Reiss's attempt to force Historia into consuming Eren failed due to her refusal and subsequent destruction of the spinal fluid vial. The death of Rod, who transformed into an Abnormal Titan before being killed by Historia, signaled the end of their rule. Following this, Historia was declared Queen, but the Reiss lineage ceased to hold power as the truth about Eldians and the outside world came to light.

Did You Know?

• The Reiss family operated from a secret chapel where underground caverns held the bones of past inheritors.
• Rod Reiss transformed into a monstrously large Abnormal Titan after consuming the spinal fluid serum himself when Historia refused to take it.
• Historia Reiss killed her own father, Rod Reiss, with the help of the Survey Corps, ending the Reiss dynasty.
• Grisha Yeager obtained the Founding Titan by eating Frieda Reiss, a member of the royal bloodline.
• The Reiss family were the only surviving members of the royal bloodline capable of fully utilizing the Founding Titan's power.