Christa Lenz, also known as Historia Reiss, is the current Queen of the Walls and the last surviving member of the Reiss royal family. She played a crucial role in the battle against the Titans and the Marleyan invaders, as well as in the restoration of the Eldian Empire. However, her fate at the end of the series is tragic and heartbreaking, as she sacrificed her happiness and freedom for the sake of humanity.
The Transformation of Christa Lenz to Historia Reiss
- Becoming Queen within the walls
Christa Lenz was the false name that Historia Reiss used to hide her true identity as the illegitimate daughter of Rod Reiss, the former king of the Walls. She was raised in isolation and was forced to join the military to avoid being killed by the Interior Police. She befriended Ymir, a fellow soldier who knew her secret and encouraged her to live for herself. After the coup d’etat led by the Survey Corps, Historia learned the truth about her family and the Titans from her father, who wanted her to inherit the Founding Titan and continue the cycle of oppression. However, Historia rejected his plan and killed him, becoming the new queen of the Walls and the true ruler of the Eldians.
- Her role in the battle against Titans
As the queen, Historia supported the Survey Corps in their mission to explore the outside world and uncover the secrets of the Titans. She also helped the orphans and the poor by opening an orphanage and a farm on her land. She was one of the few people who knew about Eren Yeager’s plan to activate the Rumbling, a cataclysmic event that would unleash millions of Colossal Titans to trample the world. She agreed to cooperate with him, despite the risk of losing her friends and her people. She also became pregnant with a child, whose father is unknown, to protect herself from being turned into a Titan by the military.
Her Character Development Throughout the Series
- Impact of her past on her present self
Historia’s past was filled with trauma and abuse. She was neglected by her mother, who hated her for being born, and was abandoned by her father, who only cared about her as a tool. She was also manipulated by the First King’s will, which influenced her memories and personality. She developed a false persona of a kind and gentle girl, who wanted to be loved and admired by others. She also had a death wish, believing that she had no value or purpose in life.
- Growth and self-discovery
Historia’s character changed drastically throughout the series, as she learned to accept and embrace her true self. She was inspired by Ymir, who taught her to be honest and selfish, and by Eren, who told her to be proud of who she was. She also gained courage and confidence, as she faced her father and the Titans, and became the queen and the leader of her people. She realized that she had the power and the responsibility to change the world and to make her own choices.
The Tragic Fate of Historia Reiss
- Sacrifices for the sake of humanity
Historia’s fate at the end of the series is tragic and heartbreaking, as she sacrificed her happiness and freedom for the sake of humanity. She lost Ymir, the person she loved the most, who died in the hands of the Marleyans and gave her Titan power to Porco Galliard. She also lost Eren, the person she trusted the most, who betrayed his friends and became the enemy of the world. She was forced to live in isolation and fear, as she was pregnant with a child that she did not want. She was also burdened with the guilt and the grief of the millions of lives that were lost in the Rumbling.
- Her ultimate legacy in the story
Historia’s legacy in the story is both positive and negative. On one hand, she was the queen who restored the Eldian Empire and freed her people from the tyranny of the Titans. She was also the mother of the child who inherited the Founding Titan and the Beast Titan, and who ended the curse of Ymir, the source of all Titans. On the other hand, she was the queen who witnessed the destruction of the world and the genocide of her enemies. She was also the mother of the child who was born into a world of hatred and violence, and who carried the burden of the sins of his parents.
Conclusion
Christa Lenz, or Historia Reiss, is one of the most complex and tragic characters in Attack on Titan. She went through a remarkable transformation, from a timid and suicidal girl to a strong and determined woman. She played a vital role in the battle against the Titans and the Marleyans, as well as in the restoration of the Eldian Empire. However, her fate at the end of the series is tragic and heartbreaking, as she sacrificed her happiness and freedom for the sake of humanity. She was the queen who freed her people, but also the queen who doomed the world. She was the mother who ended the curse, but also the mother who started a new cycle.
