Espada

The Espada.
Top row: Nnoitra, Barragan, Grimmjow, Aaroniero, Halibel.
Bottom row: Yammy, Stark, Ulquiorra, Szayel Aporro, Zommari.

The Espada (十刃（エスパーダ） Esupāda?, Japanese for "ten blades," Spanish for "sword") are the ten strongest arrancar in Sōsuke Aizen's army. They are ranked in order of their strength and have their respective number tattooed somewhere on their body as proof of their superiority. The Espada are also allowed to choose any ordinary arrancar and have them appointed as their direct subordinates, referred to as fracción (従属官(フラシオン) furashion?, Japanese for "subordinate official," Spanish for "fraction"). The members are listed according to their rank.