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Overview

Wandenreich
490Wandenreich symbol
Kanji 見えざる帝国 (ヴァンデンライヒ)
English German for "Walled Empire"

Japanese for "Invisible Empire"

Romaji Vandenraihi
Organization
Founder(s) Yhwach
Headquarters Silbern, Wandenreich City
Leader(s) Emperor Yhwach
Senior Member(s) Sternritter, Uryū Ishida
Other Members Asguiaro Ebern, Luders Friegen, Guenael Lee
Affiliation Quincy, Arrancar
Purpose United Authority of the Quincy

The Wandenreich (見えざる帝国 (ヴァンデンライヒ), Vandenraihi; German for "Walled Empire", Japanese for "Invisible Empire") is a hidden empire of the Quincy that were at war with Soul Society.[1][2]

History

After losing the war with the Shinigami 1,000 years ago, the Quincy escaped from the Human World into the Seireitei, the place they believed to be the most unguarded. In doing so, they used Reishi to create space in the "shadows". This is what was called the Wandenreich, the "Invisible Empire". Their plan was to use the abundant Reishi that was only to be found in Soul Society as the source of their power, so they hid and waited for 1,000 years while gathering their power.[3]

Sometime after the defeat of Sōsuke Aizen, the Wandenreich conquered Hueco Mundo, capturing Tier Harribel in the process.[4] In addition, they conscripted numerous Arrancar into their service and killed many Hollows.[5][6][1]

Organization

The organizational structure of the Wandenreich is not yet clear, but there is a central monarch based out of their headquarters.[7] In his service, there are a number of underlings who follow his direct orders. His successor to the entire monarchy is Uryū Ishida.[8]

Sternritter

A group of elite Quincy combatants known as the Sternritter (星十字騎士団 (シュテルンリッター), shuterunrittā; German for "Star Knights", Japanese for "Star Cross Knight Band/Order").[9] Jugram Haschwalth leads them as the Sternritter Grandmaster (星十字騎士団最高位 (シュテルンリッター・グランドマスター), Shuterunrittā Gurandomasutā; Japanese for "Highest-Ranked of the Band of Star-Cross Knights") and also serves as Yhwach's second-in-command and substitute. Members of the Sternritter and certain other individuals (including Yhwach) within the Wandenreich military are each assigned a letter of the alphabet and an appropriate epithet by Yhwach in order to designate them.[10] Four Sternritter are appointed as Yhwach's elite guards: Pernida Parnkgjas, Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Gerard Valkyrie, and Lille Barro.[11] These guards are known as the Schutzstaffel (親衛隊 (シュッツシュタッフェル), Shuttsushutafferu; German for "Protective Echelon", Japanese for "Elite/Imperial Guards").[12][13] Uryū Ishida is later promoted to Schutzstaffel after gaining their trust.[14] Lille is the leader of the Schutzstaffel, because he was the first Quincy to be ever granted a Schrift.[15]

Jagdarmee

There is a separate hunting unit called the Jagdarmee (狩猟部隊 (ヤークトアルメー), yākutoarumē; German for "Hunt(ing) Army", Japanese for "Hunting Corps"; Viz "Hunt Army") of Hueco Mundo which, in the wake of Hueco Mundo's conquest by the Wandenreich, is entrusted with capturing Arrancar to serve the empire.[16]

The Jagdarmee is separated into numbered groups, and the leader of the first Jagdarmee, the Executive Hunting Captain (統括狩猟隊長, tōkatsu shuryō taichō), is Quilge Opie.[17]

Soldat

The military is comprised of a large number of skilled Soldat (聖兵 (ゾルダート), zorudāto; German for "Soldier", Japanese for "Holy Soldier(s)"; Viz "Divine Warriors"). They can defeat low-ranked Shinigami with ease.[18]

Others

The Wandenreich have forcefully drafted many strong Arrancar into their army,[16] who are considered to be useful soldiers due to them not requiring prerequisite training, but are regarded as expendable, for Yhwach killed two of them once he deemed they had fulfilled their purposes, and claimed that, having annexed Hueco Mundo, he can obtain as many Arrancar as he wishes.[7] Any Arrancar who are to be drafted has their Zanpakutō confiscated,[19] and in place given a Quincy Cross that allows them to form Spirit Weapons.[20]

There exists a communication unit, which maintains the connection between headquarters and operational units.[9]

Headquarters

Over 1,000 years ago, Yhwach conquered the northern lands where Jugram Haschwalth and Bazz-B lived by burning down the village and forest in the area. He dubbed the conquered territory the Lichtreich (光の帝国 (リヒトライヒ), Rihitoraihi; German for "Light Empire", Japanese for "Empire of Light"), which extended to all the nearby countries.[21]

Main article: Silbern

484Silbern

Silbern, the headquarters of the Wandenreich.

The Wandenreich is currently based out of a large, ice-encrusted building known as Silbern (銀架城 (ジルバーン), Jirubān; German for "Silver", Japanese for "Silver-Wrought Castle"; Viz "Silver Cross Fortress"),[22] a large, ice-covered building surrounded by a vast city roughly the size of the Seireitei.[23] The Wandenreich uses metal plates known as Gates of the Sun (太陽の門, Taiyō no Mon) to move around the large palace quickly.[24] The headquarters is made purely out of Reishi particles from the Seireitei, and exists in a dimension within the Seireitei known as the Schatten Bereich (影の領域 (シャッテン・ベライヒ), Shatten Beraihi; German and Japanese for "Shadow Realm"; Viz "Shadow Area"), which hides the Wandenreich from the Shinigami.[25]

628Zeichen Palace

Wahrwelt, the new stronghold of Wandenreich.

After absorbing the Soul King, Yhwach brought the entire Wandenreich city to the Soul King Palace, and drastically altered its appearance. He placed the main palace at ground level while covering parts of it with ice.[26] He also connected the five floating cities nearby to the Wandenreich city, thus creating a massive Quincy Zeichen, and formed a massive, tower-like palace with Silbern on the top for his new stronghold, which he calls the Wahrwelt (真世界城 (ヴァールヴェルト), Vāruveruto; German for "True World", Japanese for "True World Castle") because it will be the cornerstone of his new world.[27]

Notable Members

Wandenreich
Rank Name Epithet Other Designation
Emperor Yhwach A: The Almighty[28][29] Father of the Quincy
Crown Prince Uryū Ishida A: Antithesis[30][31] Schutzstaffel[32]
Sternritter Grandmaster[33] Jugram Haschwalth B: The Balance[34][35] Substitute Emperor
Leader of the Schutzstaffel Lille Barro X: The X-Axis[36]
Schutzstaffel Pernida Parnkgjas C: The Compulsory[37] Left Arm of the Soul King
Schutzstaffel Askin Nakk Le Vaar D: The Deathdealing[38]
Schutzstaffel Gerard Valkyrie M: The Miracle[39] Heart of the Soul King
Vice-Captain of the Sternritter[40] Hubert Unknown
Executive Hunting Captain Quilge Opie J: The Jail[10] Captain of the 1st Jagdarmee
Arrancar Soldier Asguiaro Ebern None
Arrancar Soldier Luders Friegen None


Uniforms

486Wandenreich uniform

The typical uniform of a Wandenreich member.

The typical attire of most Wandenreich personnel consists of a long, white, double-breasted trench coat with shoulder straps and a white, button-down bib. This coat is bound at the waist with a black belt, which is further adorned with a decorative buckle, and is worn over both white trousers and trench boots. Many members sport white hats with black peaks and a crest emblazoned on its front, which is reminiscent of the five-pointed variant of the Quincy cross. This insignia is reflected by the buttons of their other apparel.[41] Some higher-ranking members pair this uniform with other additional pieces of clothing, such as capes or cloaks, to distinguish themselves.[42] The Sternritter wear a distinctive white, ankle-length cloak over their uniform which features the Wandenreich insignia emblazoned on its back and often a hood attached to the cloak's collar.[43] Apart from the standard uniform, a Soldat's attire consists of a military beret, black goggles with white lenses, a gas mask which obscures their entire face, and a short, collared cloak.[18]

In certain instances, personnel have been observed wearing a simplified version of the usual Wandenreich uniform, which lacks the normal button-down bib and belt.[44] Those who took part in the declaration of war upon Soul Society sported this specific variation, as well as a hooded cape, which featured a black mask in order to obscure their face, and a black band diagonally encircling their body.[45]

Hooded Coat

The Hooded Coat.

Each member of Yhwach's Schutzstaffel wears a distinctive cloak known as the Hooded Coat (フーデッドコート, Fūdeddo Kōto)[46] over their clothing; this cloak is fastened at the front with three buttons and features a large, black Hagal rune on the left side.[47]

1,000 years ago, this uniform was approximately the same, with some members choosing to add accessories like ties and capes to their ensemble. Additionally, the Wandenreich emblem only had 3 points at this time, along with a tick marking the center between each two points; the current five-pointed version would not be introduced until Yhwach began assembling the Sternritter.[48]

Equipment

496As's Medallion

An example of the medallion which the Wandenreich use to steal Bankai.

Medallion (メダリオン, Medarion): A number of those within the Wandenreich military, including all members of the Sternritter, carry on their person a round device which is roughly the size of a person's palm and has the Wandenreich insignia etched into its surface. When activated, this device can steal a single currently released Bankai in the immediate vicinity.[49] Once stolen, the medallion's wielder can use the stolen Bankai's power at will, even after the original owner's death.[50][51] They appear unable to exploit this power fully, for according to what Yamamoto experienced, Driscoll Berci's use of Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū was noticeably inferior to that of its true owner, Chōjirō Sasakibe.[52]

Terminology

  • Daten (情報 (ダーテン), Dāten; German for "Data", Japanese for "Information/(Military) Intelligence"): The exhaustive data collected by the Wandenreich on the opposition's forces, which has been distributed to all essential personnel.[53] Parts of this intelligence include details on those considered to be Special War Powers and those in possession of Bankai.[54]
  • Medalize (星章化 (メダライズ), Medaraizu; Japanese for "Star-Emblemize"): The process which the Wandenreich uses to steal Bankai.[55]
  • Schrift (聖文字 (シュリフト), Shurifuto; German for "Script", Japanese for "Holy Letter"; Viz "Sacred Letter"): The name given to the letters of the alphabet bestowed to select individuals within the Wandenreich by Yhwach in order to designate them.[56] The exact letter given corresponds to an appropriate epithet reflecting the nature of the person's particular ability.[10] By having a Quincy perform the Initial-In-Soul Writing Ritual and drink a cup of his blood, Yhwach is able to write an initial of the power he wishes to bestow on the select individual's soul. In addition, the granted power returns to Yhwach should the Sternritter die.[57]

Special War Powers

In their war with Soul Society, the Wandenreich have placed particular emphasis on five so-called Special War Powers (特記戦力, tokki senryoku; lit "Notable/Noted Fighting Powers"; Viz "Special Threats"), who they believe will play a pivotal role in deciding the ultimate outcome of the war itself.[58] These powers are important enough that the temporary detainment of just one prompted the Wandenreich to begin the invasion of Soul Society, due to their guaranteed absence.[9] Sōsuke Aizen was asked to join the Wandenreich as one of the special war powers, but he turned down the offer.[59] Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was not considered to be a special war power because Yhwach considered him weak compared to 1,000 years ago.[60] Originally, Kenpachi Zaraki was listed as first among the group's members,[61] but after Kenpachi's defeat at the hands of Royd Lloyd, Ichigo Kurosaki was deemed the most dangerous member of the Special War Powers.[62]

These 5 Special War Powers are exceptional individuals chosen for a very specific quality they possess that is unusual enough to be classified as an "unknown variable".[63]

Special War Powers
# Name Unknown Variable
1 Ichigo Kurosaki[64][65] Latent Ability (潜在能力, Senzai Nōryoku): His potential to be a Shinigami far more powerful and dangerous than normal due to his mixed (part-Quincy and part-Hollow) heritage.
2 Kenpachi Zaraki[66][65] Fighting Strength (戦闘力, Sentōryoku): His monstrous battle prowess as the current Kenpachi, including raw physical and spiritual power well above an average captain-level Shinigami.
3 Ichibē Hyōsube[65] Wisdom (叡知, Eichi): His ability to think and act strategically by drawing on his vast knowledge, experience, and insight as the ancient leader of the Zero Division.
4 Sōsuke Aizen[67][65] Spiritual Pressure (霊圧, Reiatsu): His Reiatsu, so enormous that it can outright disintegrate other beings if they draw too close, as well as repel the overflowing power of the Soul King himself.
5 Kisuke Urahara[68] Means (手段, Shudan): His intellect and resourcefulness, allowing him to outwit and outmaneuver almost any opponent via trickery and perpetually adapting his battle strategy.


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Bleach manga; Chapter 488, page 11
  2. Bleach manga; Chapter 490, pages 1 & 16
  3. Bleach manga; Chapter 547, pages 10-12
  4. Bleach manga; Chapter 485, pages 15-17
  5. Bleach manga; Chapter 486, page 10
  6. Bleach manga; Chapter 480, page 3
  7. 7.0 7.1 Bleach manga; Chapter 484, pages 16-17
  8. Bleach manga; Chapter 543, page 16
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Bleach manga; Chapter 489, pages 12-13
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Bleach manga; Chapter 500, page 15
  11. Bleach manga; Chapter 599, pages 6-8
  12. Bleach manga; Chapter 620, page 8
  13. Bleach manga; Chapter 630, pages 7-8
  14. Bleach manga; Chapter 630, pages 6-7
  15. Bleach manga; Chapter 656, page 4
  16. 16.0 16.1 Bleach manga; Chapter 486, pages 16-17
  17. Bleach manga; Chapter 487, page 10
  18. 18.0 18.1 Bleach manga; Chapter 511, pages 14-16
  19. Bleach manga; Chapter 487, page 15
  20. Bleach manga; Chapter 482, page 8
  21. Bleach manga; Chapter 631, pages 13 & 16
  22. Bleach manga; Chapter 559, page 6
  23. Bleach manga; Chapter 484, pages 12-13
  24. Bleach manga; Chapter 660, page 13
  25. Bleach manga; Chapter 547, pages 10-12
  26. Bleach manga; Chapter 627, pages 8-9 & 14-17
  27. Bleach manga; Chapter 628, pages 14-17
  28. Bleach manga; Chapter 543, page 16
  29. Bleach manga; Chapter 609, page 16
  30. Bleach manga; Chapter 543, page 17
  31. Bleach manga; Chapter 679, page 8
  32. Bleach manga; Chapter 630, pages 6-7
  33. Bleach manga; Chapter 547, page 13
  34. Bleach manga; Chapter 543, page 10
  35. Bleach manga; Chapter 679, page 5
  36. Bleach manga; Chapter 599, page 8
  37. Bleach manga; Chapter 599, page 9
  38. Bleach manga; Chapter 543, page 14
  39. Bleach manga; Chapter 599, page 8
  40. Bleach manga; Chapter 634, page 7
  41. Bleach manga; Chapter 486, page 17
  42. Bleach manga; Chapter 487, page 11
  43. Bleach manga; Chapter 490, page 2
  44. Bleach manga; Chapter 486, pages 15-16
  45. Bleach manga; Chapter 484, page 14
  46. Bleach manga; Volume 66, page 150
  47. Bleach manga; Chapter 599, pages 6-7
  48. Bleach manga; Chapter 632, pages 5-7
  49. Bleach manga; Chapter 496, pages 14-17
  50. Bleach manga; Chapter 501, pages 15-17
  51. Bleach manga; Chapter 503, page 17
  52. Bleach manga; Chapter 504, pages 15-16
  53. Bleach manga; Chapter 489, page 7
  54. Bleach manga; Chapter 502, page 12
  55. Bleach manga; Chapter 498, page 10
  56. Bleach manga; Chapter 543, page 17
  57. Bleach manga; Chapter 565, pages 11-13
  58. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named c490p1
  59. Bleach manga; Chapter 510, pages 9-10
  60. Bleach manga; Chapter 511, page 9
  61. Bleach manga; Chapter 505, page 16
  62. Bleach manga; Chapter 582, page 6
  63. Bleach manga; Chapter 662, page 9
  64. Bleach manga; Chapter 489, page 7
  65. 65.0 65.1 65.2 65.3 Bleach manga; Chapter 662, page 9
  66. Bleach manga; Chapter 505, page 16
  67. Bleach - The Dagger #4
  68. Bleach manga; Chapter 662, page 10

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