The Sims Lore: Complete History of Princess Cordelia, Goth & Landgraab Families
The Sims series has been around for over two decades now, and during that time, certain characters and families have become true legends of the franchise. In this article, we'll tell you about Princess Cordelia Thebe – a royal personage with a pirate's heart, whose story is hidden in hundreds of in-game descriptions, as well as about the two most iconic families – the mysterious Goths and the powerful Landgraabs.
We've tried to gather the most interesting bits from their tangled histories, though fitting everything into one piece is, of course, impossible – too many details are scattered across games, expansions, and in-game descriptions. In the section about each character and each family, you'll find links to sources where you can read or watch more complete versions of their incredible biographies.
Princess Cordelia: A Legend of The Sims
Sources: Sims Fandom, The COMPLETE History of Princess Cordelia by Gonz
Among all the characters in The Sims franchise, few can boast such a rich and tangled history as Princess Cordelia Thebe. Her name is mentioned in nearly a hundred in-game items in The Sims 4, each of which tells a tiny piece of her incredible life, full of adventure, loss, passion, and... giant sloths.
Cordelia's story begins long before the events of The Sims 4 – back in The Sims 2. There lived Cordelia Capp, daughter of Consort and Contessa Capp, belonging to the noble house of Thebe – an ancient royal dynasty whose roots reach back to Greek mythology. Her great-grandmother held the title of queen, and her great-grandfather Etion was a legendary king mentioned in Homer's "Iliad."
Cordelia grew up in a luxurious palace on the coast of a kingdom, presumably located somewhere in the Mediterranean. From childhood, she was a special child: a world champion at marbles, she even beat a mermaid in the tidal pools near her home. She was raised in strict royal traditions – the princess herself could always be seen walking around the palace in a bustle and corset, her hair adorned with a precious tiara.
Princess Cordelia was not just an ornament of the court. She possessed a sharp mind and was highly educated – her palace library contained hundreds of books. But Cordelia's main passion was furniture making. She founded her own company, where together with master cabinetmakers she designed and produced exquisite interior pieces inspired by marine life and her adventures.
Cordelia adored jazz. She had her own band, which featured legendary musicians.
Princes from all lands flocked to the princess's court to have tea with her, but Cordelia was unimpressed. Her heart beat for entirely different, far more dangerous and less noble men.
Three (or Four?) Pirate Hearts
Princess Cordelia harbored a strange, irresistible passion for pirates. Throughout her life, she was involved with at least three captains of pirate ships.
Captain Long John Buttercups was her first pirate lover. Their relationship began passionately but quickly ran into prosaic problems: the captain was disgustingly unhygienic and showed excessive interest in the princess's corsets. Cordelia even designed a special sink for him in hopes that he would start washing up, but to no avail. In the end, she broke off the relationship with him, giving him a corset-shaped vase as a parting gift so he wouldn't forget either her curves or her thorns.
Captain Chaz McFreeling was her second choice – handsome, well-groomed, and possessed of relatively good hygiene by pirate standards. But he had one exhausting trait: narcissism. Chaz constantly pulled out a golden mirror to admire himself and blow kisses to himself. When Cordelia commissioned her craftsmen to make a replica of his ship, Chaz spent so much time admiring it that the princess smashed it to pieces in a fury. Before long, she grew tired of his vanity and drove him away, but in memory of him, she named all her mirrors after him.
Captain Rodrigo de Pablo is considered the greatest love of her life. Rodrigo was extremely clumsy. He repeatedly sustained serious injuries on board: burned his legs on a steam valve, got his foot stuck in a hatch, which led to amputation and the installation of a wooden leg. Cordelia caringly nursed him, creating special furniture for his comfort. But tragedy struck the lovers: one day, as they sat by the fireplace, Rodrigo's wooden leg caught fire. As the ottoman's description states: "At least his heart was never broken." This hints that Rodrigo died in this incident, though rumors persist that Cordelia hired a witch to lock him in a glass bottle and throw him into the sea after she learned of his infidelity.
The fourth mysterious pirate: Cordelia's collection of plates made in honor of her lovers' parrots includes four items, though only three captains are officially known. The answer lies hidden in the Sulani caves, where a heart is carved with the initials PCT and JWBB – Princess Cordelia Thebe and John Wilson.
The Great Sloth Invasion
Cordelia's idyllic life in the palace came crashing down when catastrophe struck her kingdom – the Great Invasion of giant sloths. These creatures destroyed and pillaged everything in their path, forcing inhabitants to flee or perish.
Fortunately, Cordelia was already building a submarine called the "Epsilon," originally conceived as a floating workshop for observing marine life and creating furniture. Now it became a means of salvation. Together with John Buttercups, his crew, and a handful of court craftsmen, the princess boarded the vessel. But even with 48 rooms, there wasn't enough space for everyone.
Cordelia had to make agonizing decisions. Her beloved butler Bob was let go, her personal chef Matilda chose to stay with her family. But the most bitter loss was her jazz band – there simply was no room for them. The musicians' devotion was boundless: the pianist rolled his piano onto the upper deck of the "Epsilon" and played until the very end, until the submarine submerged into the depths, taking him with it. In memory of the fallen, Cordelia painted a series of pictures with silhouettes of her musicians, still playing in the depths of the sea, and commissioned a sculpture of Bob.
Life on the "Epsilon"
Life on the submarine was a strange mixture of wonders and dangers. Cordelia spent her time in her workshop, designing new furniture inspired by sea creatures. She observed deep-sea creatures through portholes and sold her creations in port cities where the "Epsilon" docked.
To decide where to go next, Cordelia would spin the globe in her cabin and tell the pilot to sail wherever it stopped. She loved winter and would ask to bring the submarine to the surface to admire the icicles falling from the hull's plating.
But it wasn't without dangers. A kraken regularly attacked the vessel, spewing fire. Cordelia, resourceful as always, designed a system that directed the monster's fiery breath through a series of air ducts to the onboard kiln, where her designer porcelain bathtub was fired. Once she even fed the kraken a watch because she wanted to know whether it was day or night on the surface.
Despite the appeal of pirates, Cordelia often needed solitude – especially because of their "pirate breath" – and kept separate beds for such occasions. In the tight corridors, she installed emergency stations with cologne, hoping to somehow deal with the smell.
Wanderings Around the World
Cordelia traveled all over the world, leaving her mark in different lands.
Henford-on-Bagley became one of the first places where she settled after her escape. The princess enjoyed country life, strolled through the village, and swam in the river. Here she climbed stairs on her own for the first time in her life – previously she had a special butler who carried her up and down the steps. In her diary, she called them "peasant stairs." The waterfall next to her cottage still bears the name "Cordelia Falls."
Britechester – the most ancient university, which for millennia served as a school for royal families. It turns out Cordelia helped design the university buildings during her time there, and her diaries are still kept in the archives.
Legacy and Descendants
After Rodrigo's death, a pregnant Cordelia continued her wanderings and gave birth to a son, whom she named Rodrigo Thebe.
Eventually, Cordelia and her family settled down, renouncing their royal title and returning to the surname Capp. She married Caliban Cala. Together they acquired wealth and influence, entering into a bitter feud with the Monty family. Cordelia bore three children: Tybalt, Hermia, and Juliette. But tragedy did not pass her by – Cordelia and Caliban perished in a fire, presumably set by the Montys. The children were left orphaned in the care of their grandfather Consort.
Years later, Rodrigo Thebe, Cordelia's son, returned to Tartosa, declaring himself her heir. He built an estate with his mother's pirate treasures. His descendants continued the line.
Princess Cordelia V – a legendary navigator and direct descendant of the original Cordelia. Like her predecessor, she is a fearless seafarer and socialite with a taste for lavish receptions, accumulated wealth, and complicated romances. She inherited not only the name and appearance but also the character – a passion for the sea, adventure, and unconventional relationships.
All descendants bear the characteristic traits of the dynasty: light hair, violet eyes, and that same independent spirit that made the first Cordelia a legend.
A Legend That Never Dies
Though Princess Cordelia is long gone, her name lives on in the modern world of The Sims. "Cordelia's Dance" is among the most fashionable dance moves. Furniture of her design is sold all over the world.
Princess Cordelia Thebe – a true legend of the game, whose story is hidden in the descriptions of hundreds of items, waiting to be pieced together. And now that you know it, every cuttlefish-shaped couch, every Captain Chaz McFreeling mirror, and every painting with the silhouette of a jazz musician will remind you of the incredible life of this royal personage with a pirate's heart.
The Goth Family: The Story of The Sims' Most Mysterious Family
Sources: Sims Fandom
You're surely familiar with the Goth family: Mortimer, Bella, Cassandra – these names have become true symbols of the franchise, unofficial mascots of the series. But behind their elegant Victorian mansions, gothic aesthetic, and noble appearance lies one of the most tangled and mystical stories in the entire universe of The Sims.
The Dynasty's Origins: The Sims 3 and the Founding of Sunset Valley
The Goth family's history has roots reaching far into the past. The events of The Sims 3 unfold approximately 50 years before The Sims 2 and 25 years before the original The Sims, allowing us to glimpse the very origins of this famous dynasty.
In Sunset Valley – a town which, according to game lore, was founded by the Goth family itself – we meet three family members: Gunther Goth, his wife Cornelia, and their young son Mortimer. The family lives in a luxurious Victorian mansion next to a cemetery – the first house built in this town. At their disposal is 50,000 simoleons, inherited from previous generations of wealthy relatives.
Gunther Goth: Aristocrat and Workaholic
Gunther – the embodiment of a Victorian gentleman. His name is of Germanic origin, meaning "fighter" or "warrior," which is quite ironic for a character who prefers battles in the business world. His signature style – an amber beard, long hair, and, of course, a purple top hat.
By nature, Gunther is frugal, charismatic, brave, and a workaholic with the "grumpy" trait – a family peculiarity of the Goths (in Sunset Valley, only six characters have this trait, four of them are members of the Goth family!). His biography states: "Gunther Goth's entire appearance testifies to the fact that he grew up in a wealthy family. No, he's not at all arrogant or greedy – he simply likes the fact that he's been swimming in money his whole life."
Gunther's parents – Gretel and Victor Goth – were also ambitious people. Gretel dreamed of living in luxury, and Victor aspired to become CEO of a megacorporation, which ultimately was achieved by their son.
Cornelia Goth: Elegance and Perfectionism
Cornelia embodies elegance and refinement. She has dark purple short hair and eyes of the same color (or dark blue – the color is mysterious).
Cornelia's biography states: "Cornelia Goth is the complete opposite of Gunther. She is polite, well-mannered, and not at all arrogant." However, judging by her constantly displeased facial expression, life with a workaholic husband who devotes little time to the family is not easy for her. The relationship between the spouses is far from ideal – they don't even wear wedding rings.
Little Mortimer and His Friends
In The Sims 3, we see Mortimer as a child. His English name means "dead sea" – quite fitting for the heir of a gothic dynasty. His biography states: "Mortimer was born into the close-knit Goth family. He's a healthy boy who inherited the best traits of his parents and promises to grow into a fine young man."
Most interesting – his best friend is Bella Bachelor, his future wife! Already in childhood, these two were inseparable. An interesting fact: in little Mortimer's inventory lies a book "Where's Bella?" – ironic, considering Bella's upcoming disappearance in The Sims 2.
Secrets of the Family Cemetery
At the Goth cemetery lies the mysterious Lolita Goth buried – a young woman who died from electrocution. Her name may be a reference to Nabokov's novel. She dreamed of having a pleasant voice and pursuing music, was a master of kissing, a hopeless romantic, and a perpetual child. But who is she? In the family tree, she has no connections to any character. This remains one of the many mysteries of the Goth dynasty.
It's also interesting that the fate of Gunther and Cornelia themselves is tragic: both die in fires, but at different times. First Gunther perishes, later Cornelia. A strange coincidence or something more?
The Golden Era: The Sims
Twenty-five years after the events of The Sims 3, we meet an adult Mortimer, his wife Bella, and their daughter Cassandra. The family lives in a modest house with a household budget of only 2,542 simoleons – surprisingly little for heirs of a wealthy dynasty.
Mortimer has become an enthusiastic entrepreneur and scientist, and Bella, his childhood friend, has transformed into an elegant lady. In the backyard of their home, eight relatives are buried, though the exact connection of these characters to the family is unclear.
In The Sims expansion, Gunther and Cornelia appear – now elderly and living in a mansion with two cats. Gunther has become a university dean, Cornelia a homemaker. Notably, their relationship has significantly improved compared to The Sims 3 – apparently, the years smoothed over old disagreements.
Drama and Mysterious Disappearance: The Sims 2
The Sims 2 – this is the peak of the Goth family drama and the most mysterious period in their history. Twenty-five years have passed since the first game. The Goth family is now the wealthiest in Pleasantview. Mortimer inherited a substantial fortune from his parents, being their only child.
But wealth brought no happiness. Mortimer is now an old man with very little time left to live. Bella Goth mysteriously disappeared – according to one version, she was abducted by aliens. Her disappearance became one of the most discussed mysteries in The Sims history. After his wife's disappearance, Mortimer began dating Dina Caliente – a young woman who is probably only interested in his money. But the drama doesn't end there.
Cassandra Goth, Mortimer's daughter, is now an adult and engaged to Don Lothario – a local ladies' man who is simultaneously dating three other women, including Dina, her father's lover! When first loading the family, the game begins with Cassandra and Don's wedding in the Goth mansion's yard. If the player doesn't intervene and make them perform a romantic interaction, Don will very likely run away right from the wedding. Classic soap opera in Goth style!
Alexander Goth, the younger son of Mortimer and Bella, is the only child still living with his father, trying to preserve what remains of the once-great family.
An Alternate Reality: The Sims 4
In The Sims 4, the Goth family returns, but the events take place in an official alternate universe, unconnected to previous games. This explains why all characters are young again.
The family resides in a luxurious three-story mansion in Willow Creek. Mortimer and Bella are young adults, Cassandra is a teenager, Alexander is a child. For the first time in history, the Goths don't have a home cemetery. In this version, Bella Goth remains the queen of elegance and mystery, a firm fan favorite.
The Goth family is a whole saga spanning generations, full of drama, mysteries, romance, and tragedies. From the founding of Sunset Valley to Bella's mysterious disappearance, from Mortimer and Bella's childhood friendship to the family dramas in The Sims 2. And who knows what new secrets will be revealed to us in the future?
The Landgraab Family: The Story of The Sims' Most Influential Family
Sources: Sims Fandom, The COMPLETE History of the Landgraab Family by Gonz
The Landgraab family is a true legend of The Sims. This dynasty has been present in the game from the very beginning, and their influence permeates every corner of the Sims universe. Wealth, power, scandals, and secrets – all of this is inextricably linked to their surname.
The Dynasty's Origins: From Medieval Times to the Colonial Era
The earliest mentions of the family date back to The Sims Medieval: Pirates & Nobles expansion. Here we meet Demetrius Landgraab and his son Daeshian, owners of the wealthiest town of Tredony. Their town was famous for its prosperity but was drawn into war with neighboring Aarbyville. The story of Daeshian, who ran away with the daughter of pirate captain Clarissa Dark Tide, became legendary. Captain Clarissa, believing her daughter had been kidnapped, declared war on the nobility. But when it turned out the young people truly loved each other, the war ended, and pirate blood entered the veins of the Landgraab dynasty forever. This possibly explains their future thirst for wealth and power.
Centuries later appears Admiral Landgraab – a tragic and controversial figure. The Admiral became famous for his exploits in his youth but then turned to mercantile enterprises, cannonball diplomacy, and breaking treaties.
He colonized an island and, exploiting the locals for labor and profit, the Admiral laid the foundation for the fortune that his descendants would inherit. Eventually he was killed by enraged islanders, a direct consequence of his colonial policy.
The Sims 3
In The Sims 3, we meet the Landgraab family in their prime. They live in one of the three luxurious mansions in Sunset Valley (the other two belong to the Goths and the Altos). The town's description states that "before Pleasantview, the town was founded by the Goths and built by the Landgraabs." The family possesses "old money," having inherited their fortune from earlier generations.
Nancy Landgraab is the direct heir of the line. She is the vice president of a business empire, obsessed with work, social status, and appearance. Her biography honestly admits: "Unfortunately, I don't have time left for my husband and son, young Malcolm."
Nancy married Geoffrey Landgraab – a modest, artistic doctor-genetic engineer who took his wife's surname for the sake of her privileged status. His biography is ambiguous: "A practical surgeon who married a pile of money in the form of [Nancy] Landgraab."
However, his character traits tell a different story: he's a jokester, loves nature, an exemplary family man, a hopeless romantic, and charismatic. Geoffrey clearly loves his son far more than the cold Nancy does.
Their son Malcolm is a smart child, kind, a bookworm, and career-minded. Malcolm wants to be an ordinary boy, but his mother insists he behave as befits the heir to an enormous fortune. Malcolm has a better relationship with his father.
Business Empire and Enemies
The Landgraabs own a significant portion of real estate: numerous residential and commercial buildings. Their home is the most expensive in town, with four fireplaces, a huge kitchen, two garages, a pool, and elegant neoclassical landscaping.
The dynasty has a bitter feud with the Alto family – nouveau riche whom the Landgraabs consider imposters. Despite this, young Malcolm and Holly Alto are friends.
Dark Sides of the Empire
In the game, there are mentions of Magnus Landgraab – a thief or evil inventor whose plans never work. If a sim reaches level 10 of the criminal career (thief branch), an event can occur where the sim steals expensive platinum induction coils from Magnus. In the law enforcement career at level 10, a sim can foil Magnus's plan to seize a small nation.
Also mentioned is François Landgraab – a famous and fear-inspiring culinary critic.
The Sims 2: Malcolm IV's Adult Life
In The Sims 2 appears Malcolm Landgraab IV, living in a huge mansion. His family tree shows he is the son of Malcolm III and Margaret Landgraab. Malcolm's parents died when he was a child, and he was raised by his grandmother and grandfather – Malcolm II and Marian Landgraab.
Marian, like her grandson, dreamed of becoming a criminal mastermind – the dedication to villainy in this family is impressive. Margaret was the daughter of Blair and Virginia Buckingham – a family of fortune sims who probably married into the Landgraabs for wealth and influence.
Malcolm IV is described as ruthless, cunning, brilliant, and absurdly wealthy, but beneath this mask is a somewhat naive and egocentric person with big dreams of becoming a criminal mastermind.
Landgraab Industries Continues Operations
The company founded by the Landgraabs continues to manufacture strange household appliances using military technologies: a dishwasher with hydrophonic technology, a grill with laboratory-precise gas control, a refrigerator with experimental cryogenic technology.
At the university, there is a dormitory and a secret society named after the family, indicating that the family was among the university's founders.
The Sims 3 and Parallel Worlds
In additional worlds of The Sims 3, the Landgraabs are scattered across different times and places. We meet scientist Kirsten Landgraab, who for some reason decided to create three clones of herself – apparently, oddities in this family are hereditary. In gloomy Midnight Hollow lives wealthy Todd Landgraab, but who he is and how he's connected to the main branch of the family is a mystery.
In futuristic Oasis Landing appears Gregory Landgraab with his family, he works as a forensic scientist and surprisingly seems to be a normal, devoted father.
But in Roaring Heights, a real revelation awaits us: at the local cemetery is buried that very Malcolm Landgraab from Sunset Valley. The kind boy in glasses who dreamed of being an ordinary kid did grow up, became CEO of a megacorporation, and lived his life. The circle is complete.
The Sims 4: Parallel Universe or Continuation?
The release of The Sims 4 caused confusion. In 2014, producer Sara Holding stated that The Sims 4 takes place in an "alternate universe." However, this statement was never officially confirmed again, and after Sara left EA in 2020, the game's direction changed – developers began bringing back classic characters and delving deeper into lore.
Many fans believe that The Sims 4 is a continuation of the timeline, where each world exists in a different time. This theory allows for a coherent chronology to be assembled.
The Landgraab Family in Oasis Springs
In The Sims 4, the family lives in a luxurious mansion in Oasis Springs. Nancy Landgraab is now a minor authority in the criminal career – a mean, materialistic snob with ambitions. Geoffrey Landgraab is a secret agent, a good family man, and a friendly person. The irony is that they work on opposite sides of the law.
Malcolm is now a teenager, and he's mean, skeptical, and a slob – the complete opposite of the kind bookworm from The Sims 3. What happened? Perhaps his mother's influence, teenage rebellion, or traumatic events.
Nancy and Geoffrey have secrets. Will these secrets tear their relationship apart?
Johnny Zest – The Disowned Son
The most intriguing mystery of The Sims 4 is Johnny Zest. His biography states: "The Landgraab family disowned him when he dropped out of school to become a comedian. Now he uses his stage name all the time."
Initially, his connection to the family wasn't indicated, but later he was established as Nancy and Geoffrey's son, Malcolm's older brother. His appearance and house resemble Dudley from the console games, and possibly "Johnny" is his stage name, while his real name is Dudley Landgraab.
Interesting fact: in 2019, Maxis uploaded to the Gallery Malcolm Landgraab's family from the console games, where Malcolm has similar facial features to the base version, hinting that they may be one and the same sim.
But there's a theory that Johnny is Nancy's illegitimate son, born BEFORE or DURING her marriage to Geoffrey. In The Sims 3, Johnny is nowhere to be found, which means: he was born but was hidden. A promotional image for The Sims' 16th anniversary shows Nancy openly admiring the gardener while her husband is grilling. This proves that Nancy is capable of infidelity.
Who's the father? Nick Alto (the family's enemy)? Boyd Wainwright (the cold scientist)? Or Thornton Wolff (a businessman afraid of commitment)? The mystery remains.
Nancy and Geoffrey's Past
In The Sims 4: High School promotional materials showed young Nancy and Geoffrey at Copperdale High School. Nancy was a cheerleader, popular and confident, with a larger nose (possibly had plastic surgery later). Geoffrey was a quiet boy, secretly in love with her.
In The Sims 4: Growing Together, a promotional image showed toddlers Nina and Dina next to infant Johnny, held by a woman who looks very much like Nancy. The caption: "Johnny enjoys time with a relative." This confirms: Johnny Landgraab is his real name, "Zest" is only a stage pseudonym.
The Landgraab family is a saga of power, greed, betrayal, and ambition spanning centuries. From pirate roots to corporate empires, this dynasty embodies the dark side of the American dream. But among them are also bright characters: kind Geoffrey, innocent young Malcolm, the disowned dreamer Johnny. Perhaps one day, one of them will break the vicious cycle and change the dynasty's fate.
Or not. After all, they're the Landgraabs.
