While there are a lot of great characters on Attack on Titan, Historia Reiss, the illegitimate daughter of the king, is one of the anime's best, and her growth from her weak “Christa Lenz” persona to becoming a literal queen has had a major effect on the series. Here's everything you need to know about Historia and her tragic backstory.
At the beginning of the show, Historia Reiss hides her real identity, taking the persona of Christa Lenz, a shy and kind girl, always willing to help others. Her Christa personality is immediately contrasted with Ymir, who, at first glance, is more selfish and keen to take advantage of others. Christa notably proves her compassion when she helps Sasha Braus, who gets punished for eating a stolen potato. When she volunteers to become a member of the Scouts Regimen, she states this decision was taken by her innermost self, which indicates Christa is not her true identity.
Her relationship with Ymir is one of the most important elements defining Historia’s growth as a character. Their differences are highlighted again in Season 2, when during their training times they get stuck in a blizzard with Daz, another cadet who loses consciousness. Christa’s insistence on helping others becomes extreme, as she chooses death as a way to gain meaning for her life. Ymir reveals she knows Christa is lying about her real identity and in comparison, she would never disregard her name as this would mean admitting defeat. Seeing through her façade, Ymir makes Christa promise that, when the moment comes to reveal her real name, she must live her own life, not someone else’s. In the end, she helps out both Christa and Daz to get back to safety.
Later, during the "Clash of Titan" arc, the recruits are surrounded by titans while taking cover in the Utgard Castle. Ymir then saves everyone by transforming into a Titan. After the fight, Christa holds Ymir, who has taken a lot of damage, closely. She then proceeds to reveal to Ymir in an emotional moment, her true name as being Historia. This moment exemplifies Historia’s loyal personality; she takes Ymir’s promise very seriously and she also defends her to Hange, saying that she is an important ally to humanity. More so, when Reiner and Bertholdt capture Eren, revealing they are the Armored and Beast Titan, Ymir uses Historia to escape with them. Despite using her, Historia tells Ymir she will always be on her side. These scenes reveal more about Historia’s real personality. As this was encouraged by Ymir, she is starting to acknowledge how important it is to accept your authentic self.
Season 3 takes a deeper look into Historia’s past, revealing she's the illegitimate daughter of the real noble family and the rightful ruler of the Walls. This is where we learn the origin of her Christa persona. Historia was inspired by a kind and caring character in a book she received from her big sister, Frieda. However, all of these good aspirational values are shattered when she is faced with the decision of helping her father, Rod Reiss. Rod shows her that Eren's father is to blame for killing and taking Frieda's Titan power. This is the moment, Historia has to make a crucial decision on whether to follow her family's legacy in becoming a Titan, eating Eren and taking the Founding Titan's powers or think for herself.
While Rod’s plan would lead to saving humanity by sacrificing Eren, she remembers Ymir’s words of living her own life with pride. This is the moment Historia decides to follow her own rules and beliefs. She opposes her father’s plan realizing humanity is actually in the wrong. She finally chooses to walk her own path, becoming humanity’s worst enemy in the process.
Historia’s defiance contrasts with Eren’s willingness to be punished for his father’s wrong-doings. While Eren’s flaws as a protagonist are clear, Historia shows her new, strong personality. They are both characters that have massively been influenced by their family's actions. What makes Historia such a great character is that she breaks from her family's convictions and also frees Eren, giving him the opportunity to rethink his reasons for fighting. She decides to become the queen of the Walls and fight alongside the Scouts in defeating her own father. As the coronation takes place, Historia takes her role as a queen and even shows-off to Levi, who smiles back at the scout's accomplishments.
