Eren Yeager’s capture in Attack on Titan was far more complicated than a simple military punishment. After the Raid on Liberio, Eren returned to Paradis without authorization, having launched an attack on Marley that resulted in significant casualties among both civilians and members of the Survey Corps. The military consequently imprisoned him because his actions threatened the fragile political situation on the island and because he was increasingly acting independently. However, Eren’s imprisonment quickly became the center of a much larger government conspiracy.
Soldiers and civilians began demanding his release, while a secret faction led by Floch Forster prepared to overthrow the military leadership. At the same time, Commander Dot Pyxis and other officials were considering their own strategy to prevent Eren from gaining complete control of the Founding Titan. The resulting conflict eventually destroyed the existing political order on Paradis.
How Eren’s Imprisonment Led to the Government Coup
The military initially captured Eren because he had disobeyed orders and independently infiltrated Marley. His actions during the Liberio attack demonstrated that he was no longer willing to wait for Paradis’ leadership to approve his plans, particularly his intention to meet his half-brother Zeke. As public support for Eren increased, the military found itself facing growing pressure from soldiers and civilians who considered him the island’s best chance of survival.
Behind the scenes, Floch Forster and the future Yeagerists were already organizing. Their objective was to reunite Eren with Zeke so they could activate the Founding Titan’s power, while eventually placing Eren at the center of Paradis’ new military order. This transformed Eren’s imprisonment from an ordinary disciplinary measure into the catalyst for a rebellion against the established government.
The conspiracy escalated when the Yeagerists assassinated Darius Zackly, the military’s commander-in-chief, by planting a bomb inside his office. At almost the same time, Eren escaped from his underground cell using the War Hammer Titan’s abilities, allowing him to reunite with his supporters. The coordinated timing made it clear that the Yeagerists had deliberately planned their uprising around Eren’s escape.
The government also had a plan of its own. Pyxis proposed negotiating with Eren by using Zeke’s location as leverage, but the strategy was ultimately intended to prevent Eren from obtaining the Founding Titan’s full power. Once the Yeagerists learned about the plan, they rejected the government’s authority and moved against its remaining leadership.
The result was the Yeagerist coup, which completely changed Paradis’ political structure. What started as Eren’s imprisonment became a struggle over who would control the Founding Titan and determine the island’s future, ultimately allowing Eren’s supporters to seize power.