Espada

Espada
Organization
Headquarters	Las Noches
Affiliation	Aizen's Army
Purpose	Unknown

The Espada (Spanish for "Sword") are the top-ranked Arrancar in Sosuke Aizen's army; they are the most powerful Hollows under his command. They are the main rivals of the Gotei 13.

OverviewEdit

The Espada are without a doubt Aizen's most powerful servants, and generally serve as the leaders of some of his forces. They are ranked according to their reiatsu level, though this does not necessarily mean that a higher-ranking Espada is truly stronger than a lower-ranking one (despite it being usually the case): Yammy Llargo, despite being the Cero Espada upon his release, is still considered to be the weakest of the group due to his stupidity and general lack of combat skills. Members are replaceable, and it is possible to be promoted/demoted from one rank to another or be removed from the Espada altogether.

Due to their ranking, the Espada possess exclusive several abilities and privileges, such as command over the Numeros and the right to take any lower-ranking Arrancar (minus other Espada) as their subordinates, or Fraccion. They can also set up their own headquarters, from which they can indulge in their own habits until they are summoned by Aizen. They also possess a unique Cero, the Gran Rey Cero, that is more powerful than any other, though they are forbidden by Aizen from using it within Las Noches.

The four strongest Espada - Ulquiorra Cifer, Tia Harribel, Baraggan Luisenbarn, and Coyote Starrk - are forbidden to release their Zanpakuto within Las Noches because the reiatsu release alone would destroy the base, though they can apparently release it without fear while on the roof of Las Noches.

BiographyEdit

The creation of the Espada has long been one of Aizen's most important preoccupations. While it is not specified when the Espada were first brought together as a group, the original Espada were already in existence sometime before Aizen's defection from the Soul Society and acquisition of the Hogyoku. Since then, the composition of the Espada has changed, both in membership and position.

At some point in the past Nnoitra Jiruga was the 8th Espada with Nelliel as the 3rd Espada and Szayel Aporro Granz was not a member at all. During this time Aizen frequently sent the Espada out to search for the Vasto Lorde-class Menos.

MembersEdit

Espada
Rank	Name	Zanpakuto	Tattoo Location	Aspect of Death
0	Yammy Llargo (Post-Release)	Ira	Left Shoulder	Rage
1st	Coyote Starrk & Lilynette Gingerbuck (Post-Release)	Los Lobos	Back Side of Left Hand	Solitude
2nd	Baraggan Luisenbarn	Arrogante	Unknown	Aging (Time)
3rd	Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck	Gamuza	Mid Back	Unknown
3rd	Tia Harribel	Tiburon	Left side of right breast	Sacrifice
4th	Ulquiorra Cifer	Murcielago	Left pectoral muscle	Emptiness
5th	Nnoitra Jiruga	Santa Teresa	Tongue	Despair
6th	Luppi Antenor	Trepadora	Right Hip	Unknown
6th	Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez	Pantera	Right side, mid back	Destruction
7th	Zommari Leroux	Brujeria	Unknown	Intoxication
8th	Szayel Aporro Granz	Fornicaras	Unknown	Madness
9th	Aaroniero Arruruerie	Glotoneria	Top head: 3/4 of head Bottom head: 1/2 of head	Greed

DemotionEdit

Privaron Espada
Organization
Headquarters	Las Noches
Affiliation	Aizen's Army
Purpose	Unknown

An Espada may lose his/her rank if he/she is somehow weakened or displeases Aizen. If this happens, that Arrancar's Espada tattoo will be somehow removed (or concealed), and he/she could either become a Numeros, a Privaron Espada, or maybe even a Fraccion.

PrivaronEdit

The Privaron Espada (Spanish for "Deprived Sword") are natural Arrancar who were once members of the Espada but were demoted and replaced by the artificially created ones. Their authority, if they possess any at all, over the Numeros is unclear, but nonetheless, they tend to serve as outer guards to Las Noches and have their own personal headquarters, so they likely possess some level of authority over lower-echelon Arrancar or Hollows.

Privaron Espada
Rank	Name	Zanpakutō	Tattoo Location	Aspect of Death
103rd	Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio	Giralda	Unknown	Unknown
105th	Cirucci Sanderwicci	Golondrina	Unknown	Unknown
107th	Gantenbainne Mosqueda	Dragra	Unknown	Unknown