Karl Fritz

Lore & Background

In the wake of the Great Titan War, King Karl Fritz grew disillusioned with the endless cycle of violence fueled by the power of the Titans. Recognizing that his people's history of oppression had made them targets for global retribution, he devised a radical plan to save what remained of Eldia. He abandoned the mainland, relocating the royal family and a loyal faction of subjects to Paradis Island. There, utilizing the immense power of the Founding Titan, he constructed three colossal walls—Maria, Rose, and Sina—to serve as both physical barriers and psychological prisons. The most chilling aspect of his reign was not the construction itself, but the mental alteration he imposed upon the populace. To ensure compliance and prevent any accidental breach of his no-war policy, he wiped the memories of the common people, erasing their knowledge of the outside world, the existence of other Titans, and their own imperial past. This collective amnesia transformed a once-mighty empire into an isolated society living in fear of the monsters beyond the walls, unaware that they were the true giants. He passed his title and power to his daughters, ensuring that only those who shared his pacifist ideals could rule, effectively neutering the military potential of the nation he loved in order to preserve a fragile peace.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the empty throne room, carrying the salt-spray of a sea no one remembered. King Karl Fritz stood before the great stone tablets, his hand resting on the cold surface where the names of his ancestors were carved in blood and ash. He looked down at the young girl beside him—his daughter—her eyes wide with the dawning horror of a child who had just been told that her entire world was a lie. "Do not fear," he whispered, though the words tasted like poison on his tongue. His voice trembled, heavy with the weight of a thousand years of guilt and the terrible arithmetic of survival. "We are building a sanctuary, but to keep it safe, you must forget who we were. You must forget the empire, the war, and even your own name if it leads them to us. We will hide in plain sight, behind walls of flesh, until the world forgets us too." He turned away then, unable to meet her gaze, as the first memory was wiped from her mind, leaving only a blank slate for a life of peaceful ignorance.

Reader's Guide

Karl Fritz represents the tragic culmination of the Eldian Empire's desire for peace through self-imposed isolation. Unlike his predecessors who sought to expand their territory through the use of Titans, Karl recognized that true survival required a complete reversal of strategy. He understood that as long as the world remembered the atrocities committed by the Eldians, they would never be safe. Consequently, he chose to sacrifice the freedom and history of his own people to create a sanctuary where they could live without fear of immediate extermination. This vow ensures that no King or Queen can ever use the full extent of their power to launch an offensive war, effectively rendering Eldia defenseless against external threats unless they break the pact. This decision created a paradoxical situation where the most powerful weapon in the world is held by those who are forbidden from using it. The historical impact of his actions is seen in the stagnation of technology and culture within the walls for over a century. By erasing memories, he halted the natural progression of society, keeping the inhabitants in a medieval state while the rest of the world advanced. This isolationism eventually led to the rise of anti-Eldian sentiment globally, as the outside world forgot the nuances of the conflict and remembered only the fear of the Titans. Karl Fritz's story is a cautionary tale about the cost of peace, questioning whether safety bought through ignorance and self-deception can ever truly endure.

Did You Know?

• Karl Fritz is the ninety-fifth King of the Walls, according to the source.
• He used the Founding Titan to construct three colossal walls—Maria, Rose, and Sina—on Paradis Island.
• He wiped the memories of the common people, erasing their knowledge of the outside world and their own imperial past.
• He passed his title and power to his daughters, binding them through blood oaths to ensure only pacifist rulers could hold the Founding Titan.
• The island of Paradis is modeled after Madagascar, as stated in the source.