Hans' brothers are unseen characters mentioned in Disney's 2013 animated feature film, Frozen. The twelve older brothers of Prince Hans and oldest princes of the Southern Isles, they are given greater context in the expository novel A Frozen Heart.
“Twelve older brothers. Three of them pretended I was invisible, literally, for two years.”
―Hans describing his brothers to Anna
Hans' brothers don't appear in the film, but are mentioned on a few occasions. What was known from his date with Anna is that Hans is the youngest of the Southern Isles' thirteen princes. According to Hans, three out of his twelve older brothers pretended that he didn't exist for two years. Although Anna considers such treatment to be horrible, he merely replied "It's what brothers do." Later, after Elsa had lifted the curse on Arendelle, Hans, who had been revealed to be evil and selfish, is seen imprisoned on a ship set to take him back to the Southern Isles. According to the French dignitary, Hans will receive an unspecified punishment from his brothers for his crimes, which as of Frozen Fever includes shoveling horse manure at the stables.
Hans' brothers appear as minor supporting antagonists in the first half of the show's fourth season. They were mentioned in the season's first episode, but eventually made their appearance in the third episode. In the series, three of his twelve brothers appear and serve as his minions, and two of them are named Franz (portrayed by Nils Hognestad) and Jurgen (portrayed by Marcus Rosner).
Here, the siblings are portrayed as being in collaboration with their youngest brother in his plot to take over Arendelle and having a conquest as a whole to conquer foreign lands for their nation, which differs heavily from Hans' implied motivations and standing with his family in the film. Their being just as evil as Hans, willing to aid his schemes and not disciplining him for his past misdeeds also differs from what can be inferred from the scene showing the latter toiling in servitude in Frozen Fever.
Two years after events equivalent to the film's, and approximately a year before the first Dark Curse, they were first mentioned by Elsa when she reminds Anna that Hans and his older brothers are waiting to take over Arendelle as revenge for his defeat two years earlier. Then, after Anna had left for Mist Haven (the Enchanted Forest) to solve the mystery concerning her parents' ill-fated voyage that has to do with Elsa, Hans and his army, consisting of his twelve brothers, had set up camp in the Southern Mountains on their way to Arendelle. Here it's shown that Hans and his brothers still don't get along well; first demonstrated when Hans refuses to put more wood on the fire for them, resulting in one of his brothers belittling him and expressing to use him instead. Then, when Hans told them that they shouldn't insult him as the soon-to-be king of Arendelle, they burst into laughter and stated their doubt as he's still thirteenth in line, as well as bringing up his failed earlier attempt to seize Arendelle's throne. Hans remarked that he wasn't prepared the last time, but he showed them something that will help him: a special urn hidden in the North Valley that's capable of trapping people with magical powers, which he intends to use on Elsa to take over Arendelle. However, they're unaware that Anna's fiancé, Kristoff, had spied on them and discovers their plan. Even though Elsa and Kristoff had managed to beat them to the urn, Hans and his three volunteering brothers caught up to them. Hans ordered his brothers to get the urn from the two, but they're easily outmatched by a combination of Elsa's magic and Kristoff's fighting skill. When Hans threatens to kill Kristoff, Elsa hands him the urn and frees his two brothers, and one of them now holds Kristoff as a hostage. Once Hans had the urn, he shows off his success to his brothers and prepares to trap Elsa inside it by uncapping its lid and pours out a living white liquid substance that everybody believed will trapped her. Instead, the liquid substance morphs into Ingrid the Snow Queen, who turns Hans into an ice statue as punishment for calling Elsa a monster, leaving his brothers to flee the scene.
30 years later, Arendelle, having been frozen by Ingrid earlier, begins to thaw, and Hans managed to claim the kingdom as his own. He and his brothers barged in on Anna and Kristoff, who were discussing their plan to rescue Elsa from Rumplestiltskin, and have them arrested for treason, feigning on the notion that Anna had overthrown her own sister. Pretending that they surrender, Kristoff and Anna fight their way out and escape. Later, after buying the compliance of the pirate Blackbeard in gold, Hans and his brothers managed to catch them and take them to a spot out at sea known as Poseidon's Boneyard, the exact spot where the ship that once carried the parents of Anna and Elsa had sank, hoping to drown the couple. However, they're unaware that the two had survived through Elsa's possession of the wishing star, Anna's necklace for her and Kristoff's wedding, which transported them to Storybrooke. Sometimes after Ingrid had redeemed herself by giving her life to lift the Spell of Shattered Sight she had cast on the town, Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff had managed to return to Arendelle through a portal in the Sorcerer's Storybrooke mansion, and managed to reclaim their kingdom from Hans and his brothers. It is unknown if Hans and his brothers are imprisoned or have been forced out of Arendelle for good.
Printed media[]
A Frozen Heart[]
In the novel, all of the brothers (with the exception of Hans) are revealed to be married by the time Hans is a young adult. The oldest brother is named Caleb and appears to be his father's favorite. The third oldest brother, Lars, is an avid historian and the brother who is the kindest to Hans. There are also twins, Rudi and Runo, who bully Hans the most.
During Hans' childhood, they were manipulative and abusive on the young Hans for being the youngest son and always played cruel tricks at Hans' expense except Lars. This continued on to adulthood, where the brothers would still tease Hans and even humiliate him during political meetings. Their father the King, who despised weakness and saw Hans as weak for being the youngest, would do nothing to stop their antics, and when he did he only chided Hans for his behavior on the third oldest's behalf. It was because of his family's cruelty that Hans wanted to escape from the Isles and rule Arendelle to finally have the praise and power he had long been denied despite warnings from Lars.
Conceal, Don't Feel[]
In the Twisted Tales version of Frozen, which retells events of the story where Elsa and Anna were separated, Hans talks about his brothers to Elsa, whom he is attempting to marry to become her king. During his dialogue he says that among the things he misses from home are his father's wisdom and his brothers (sometimes), although he still mentions they pull cruel tricks on him like they do in Frozen Heart. He also mentions that his oldest brothers are set to rule regions of the isles while his other brothers married well and will rule elsewhere.
Frozen Fever: "Making Today a Perfect Day" Olaf's Frozen Adventure: "Ring in the Season" • "The Ballad of Flemmingrad" • "That Time of Year" • "When We're Together" Frozen II: "All Is Found" • "Some Things Never Change" • "Into the Unknown" • "When I Am Older" • "Lost in the Woods" • "Show Yourself" • "The Next Right Thing" Musical: "Let the Sun Shine On" • "A Little Bit of You" • "Hidden Folk" • "Hans of the Southern Isles" • "Queen Anointed" • "Dangerous to Dream" • "What Do You Know About Love?" • "Hygge" • "I Can't Lose You" • "Kristoff Lullaby" • "Monster" • "True Love" • "Colder by the Minute" At Home with Olaf: "I Am With You" Deleted: "Love Can't Be Denied" • "We Know Better" • "Spring Pageant" • "More Than Just the Spare" • "You're You" • "Life's Too Short" • "Reindeer(s) Remix" • "When Everything Falls Apart" • "Resolution" • "Home" • "I Seek the Truth" • "Unmeltable Me" • "Get This Right" • "See the Sky"
Objects
Kristoff's Sled • Royal Ship • Elsa's Tiara • Yule Bell • Iduna's Scarf • Runeard's Dam
See also
Musical • The Story of Frozen: Making a Disney Animated Classic • Disney On Ice • As Told by Emoji • Frozen: Northern Lights • Into the Unknown: Making Frozen II • The Making of Frozen: A Return to Arendelle
Season One:Emma Swan • Snow White/Mary Margaret Blanchard • Prince Charming/David Nolan • Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold/Weaver • Evil Queen/Regina Mills/Roni • Belle French/Lacey • Henry Mills • Happy • Sneezy/Mr. Clark • Bashful • Doc • Dopey • Sleepy/Walter • Jiminy Cricket/Archie Hopper • Lady Tremaine • Stealthy • Victor Frankenstein/Dr. Whale • Blue Fairy/Mother Superior • Widow Lucas/Granny • King George/Albert Spencer • Genie/Magic Mirror/Sidney Glass • Nurse Ratched • Mad Hatter/Jefferson • Prince Henry Mills • Knave of Hearts • Sheriff of Nottingham/Keith • Fairy Godmother • Abigail/Kathryn Nolan • Red Riding Hood/Ruby • Huntsman/Sheriff Graham • Baelfire/Neal Cassidy • Pinocchio/August W. Booth • Frederick/Jim • Severe Nurse • Mayor Tomkins • Hansel and Gretel/Nicholas and Ava Zimmer • The Woodcutter/Michael Tillman • Martin • Myrna • Stephen • Donna • Prince James • Blind Witch (Enchanted Forest) • Peter • Siren • Pongo • Gaston • The King/Mitchell Herman • King Leopold • King Midas • Zoso • Prince Thomas/Sean Herman • Grace • Daniel Colter • Nova • Briar Rose • Geppetto/Marco • Gus/Billy • Ruth • Dark One Season Two:Killian Jones/Captain Hook • Aurora • Prince Phillip • Mulan • Milah • Maid Marian • Quinn • Anita Lucas • Jack • King Xavier • Anton • William Smee • Greg Mendell • Tamara • The Dragon • Queen Eva • Seer • Lancelot • Wendy Darling • Nana • Mary Darling • George Darling • John Darling • Michael Darling • The Shadow • Felix • Raven Season Three:Malcolm/Peter Pan • Ariel • Zelena/The Wicked Witch of the West • Glinda • Walsh/Wizard of Oz • Elsa the Snow Queen • Tinker Bell • Lumiere • Blackbeard • Ursula the Sea Goddess • Jonathan • Dorothy Gale • The Witch of the East • Rapunzel • Rapunzel's Mother • Rapunzel's Father • The Sheriff of Hamelin • Medusa • Prince Eric • Liam Jones • Roland Season Four:Anna • Kristoff • Hans • Grand Pabbie • Sven • Ursula the Sea Witch • Marshmallow • Little Bo Peep • The Apprentice • Ingrid • Lily Page • Colette • Oaken • King of Arendelle • Queen Gerda • Cruella De Vil • Poseidon • Hans' Brothers • Chernabog • King Stefan • Isaac/The Author • Madeline • Merlin/The Sorcerer Season Five:Merida • Queen Elinor • King Fergus • Captain Silver • Harris, Hubert, and Hamish • The Witch • Lord Macintosh • King Arthur • Sir Kay • Guinevere • Gorgon The Invincible • Charon • Brennan Jones • Hades • Megara • Hercules • Zeus • Cerberus • The Scarecrow • Toto • Cleo Fox • Auntie Em • Dr. Jekyll • Mr. Hyde • Evil Queen Season Six:Aladdin • Gideon • Count of Monte Cristo • Alexandra • Jasmine • Red Bird • Captain Nemo • Clorinda • Tisbe • Jacob • Oracle • Royal Guards • The Sultan • Beowulf • Black Fairy • Killian Jones/Hook/Rogers • Tiger Lily • Robert • Prince Achmed • Stanum • Cowardly Lion • Lucy • Robin of Locksley Season Seven:Rapunzel Tremaine/Victoria Belfrey • Cinderella/Jacinda Vidrio • Tiana/Sabine • Isla • Robin Hood/Margot • Alice/Tilly • Drizella/Ivy Belfrey • Anastasia • Gothel/Eloise Gardener • Eudora • Dr. Facilier/Mr. Samdi • Hansel/Jack/Nick Branson • Marcus Tremaine • Cecelia • Madame Leota • Naveen/Drew • Blind Witch/Hilda Braeuburn • Gretel • Chad • Seraphina • Flora • Isla • Zorro • Fairy Godmother • Prince • Prince Naveen/Drew
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland:Alice • Cyrus • Anastasia/Red Queen • Percy the White Rabbit • Edwin • Jabberwocky • Silvermist • The Sultan/The Old Prisoner • Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum • Mrs. Rabbit • Elizabeth/Lizard • Amara • Bandersnatch • Millie • Cheshire Cat
Both series:Will Scarlet/The Knave of Hearts • Cinderella/Ashley Boyd • Robin Hood • Little John • Friar Tuck • Grumpy/Leroy • Cora/The Queen of Hearts • Caterpillar • Maleficent • Jafar • Dr. Lydgate
Episodes
Season One: "Pilot" • "The Thing You Love Most" • "Snow Falls" • "The Price of Gold" • "That Still Small Voice" • "The Shepherd" • "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" • "Desperate Souls" • "True North" • "7:15 A.M." • "Fruit of the Poisonous Tree" • "Skin Deep" • "What Happened to Frederick" • "Dreamy" • "Red-Handed" • "Heart of Darkness" • "Hat Trick" • "The Stable Boy" • "The Return" • "The Stranger" • "An Apple Red as Blood" • "A Land Without Magic"
Season Two: "Broken" • "We Are Both" • "Lady of the Lake" • "The Crocodile" • "The Doctor" • "Tallahassee" • "Child of the Moon" • "Into the Deep" • "Queen of Hearts" • "The Cricket Game" • "The Outsider" • "In the Name of the Brother" • "Tiny" • "Manhattan" • "The Queen Is Dead" • "The Miller's Daughter" • "Welcome to Storybrooke" • "Selfless, Brave and True" • "Lacey" • "The Evil Queen" • "Second Star to the Right" • "And Straight On 'Til Morning" Season Three: "The Heart of the Truest Believer" • "Lost Girl" • "Quite a Common Fairy" • "Nasty Habits" • "Good Form" • "Ariel" • "Dark Hollow" • "Think Lovely Thoughts" • "Save Henry" • "The New Neverland" • "Going Home" • "New York City Serenade" • "Witch Hunt" • "The Tower" • "Quiet Minds" • "It's Not Easy Being Green" • "The Jolly Roger" • "Bleeding Through" • "A Curious Thing" • "Kansas" • "Snow Drifts" • "There's No Place Like Home" Season Four: "A Tale of Two Sisters" • "White Out" • "Rocky Road" • "The Apprentice" • "Breaking Glass" • "Family Business" • "The Snow Queen" • "Smash the Mirror" • "Fall" • "Shattered Sight" • "Heroes and Villains" • "Darkness on the Edge of Town" • "Unforgiven" • "Enter the Dragon" • "Poor Unfortunate Soul" • "Best Laid Plans" • "Heart of Gold" • "Sympathy for the De Vil" • "Lily" • "Mother" • "Operation Mongoose" Season Five: "The Dark Swan" • "The Price" • "Siege Perilous" • "The Broken Kingdom" • "Dreamcatcher" • "The Bear and the Bow" • "Birth" • "The Bear King" • "Broken Heart" • "Swan Song" • "Souls of the Departed" • "Labor of Love" • "Devil's Due" • "The Brothers Jones" • "Our Decay" • "Her Handsome Hero" • "Ruby Slippers" • "Sisters" • "Firebird" • "Last Rites" • "Only You" • "An Untold Story" Season Six: "The Savior" • "A Bitter Draught" • "The Other Shoe" • "Strange Case" • "Street Rats" • "Dark Waters" • "Heartless" • "I'll Be Your Mirror" • "Changelings" • "Wish You Were Here" • "Tougher Than the Rest" • "Murder Most Foul • "Ill-Boding Patterns" • "Page 23" • "A Wondrous Place" • "Mother's Little Helper" • "Awake" • "Where Bluebirds Fly" • "The Black Fairy" • "The Song in Your Heart" • "The Final Battle" Season Seven: "Hyperion Heights" • "A Pirate's Life"• "The Garden of Forking Paths" • "Beauty" • "Greenbacks" • "Wake Up Call" • "Eloise Gardener" • "Pretty in Blue" • "One Little Tear" • "The Eighth Witch" • "Secret Garden" • "A Taste of the Heights" • "Knightfall" • "The Girl in the Tower" • "Sisterhood" • "Breadcrumbs" • "Chosen" • "The Guardian" • "Flower Child" • "Is This Henry Mills?" • "Homecoming" • "Leaving Storybrooke"
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland: "Down the Rabbit Hole" • "Trust Me" • "Forget Me Not" • "The Serpent" • "Heart of Stone" • "Who's Alice?" • "Bad Blood" • "Home" • "Nothing to Fear" • "Dirty Little Secrets" • "Heart of the Matter" • "To Catch a Thief" • "And They Lived..."
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland:Wonderland Castle • The Mad Hatter's House • White Rabbit's House • Underland • Tulgey Wood Both series:Storybrooke • Maine • Enchanted Forest • Forbidden Fortress • Wonderland • Wonderland Maze • Agrabah • Sherwood Forest • The Sultan's Palace
Objects
Once Upon a Time:Once Upon a Time (Book) • Red Riding Hood • Maleficent's Staff • Magic Wand • Glass Slipper • Poisoned Apple • Spinning Wheel • Magic Lamp • Dark One's Dagger • Chipped Cup • Jefferson's Hat • Magic Beans • Captain Hook's Hooks • Enchanted Candle • Pixie Dust • Dreamshade • Salad Fork • Pandora's Box • Silver Slippers • Sorcerer Hat • Enchanted Broom • Trident • Enchanted Shell • Heroes and Villains (Book) • Merida's Bow • Magical Rose • Excalibur • Olympian Crystal • Cinderella's Dress • Golden Scarab Beetle • Rapunzel's Frying Pan • Magical Golden Flower • Shrinking Potion • Floating Lanterns • Tarot Cards • Maui's Fish Hook
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland:Vorpal Blade Both series: Enchanted Hearts • Jafar's Lamp
Original Songs: "Powerful Magic" • The Queen Sings • Love Doesn't Stand a Chance • Revenge Is Gonna Be Mine • Wicked Always Wins • Charmings vs. Evil Queen • Emma's Theme • A Happy Beginning
