Summary
TheOne Pieceseries is full of pirates, but few are more prominent than the Four Emperors,alternatively referred to as the Yonko. This is an honorific bestowed upon the four most notorious and powerful pirate captains. It is unclear exactly who determines this, but it appears to be a mixture of the World Government and the press, which is largely co-opted by them. Each of these captains not only possesses a crew of their own, but also affiliate crews who tend to further cement their power.
Often, they also have control over certain territories and infrastructure as well. Despite their criminality, the government may even cut deals with emperors, and many operatives are unable to engage them without clearance, a tacit understanding of the exact level of power they possess. In addition to the four current emperors, there are three captains who previously held the title. The majority of these pirates not only have their own core crews, but also those they historically served under before their ascension to Emperor status. This list seeks to look at each crew who considered a current, past, or future Emperor among their own.
9Rocks Pirates
Included Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom
Led by Rocks D. Xebec,the Rocks Piratesruled the seas before Roger’s ascension. They were once considered the most dangerous pirate crew of all time, and with good reason. Even after the crew’s defeat at God Valley and subsequent dissolution, many members went on to become well-known in their own right.
Edward “Whitebeard” Newgate, noted that the crew was full of those who were not the type to serve others, which led to many internal conflicts. Additionally, Xebec concerned himself heavily with subjects that were traditionally forbidden by the government to research. Between most crewmates not wishing to recount their experiences often and the World Government deliberately erasing him from history, he is largely unknown at present.
Regardless, his crew included the majority of the first known batch of emperors. Charlotte “Big Mom” Linlin and Kaido were also members of the Rocks Pirates, where they became friends. Incidentally, all who were a part of the crew are no longer emperors, with each one currently presumed dead.
8Roger Pirates
Included Shanks and Buggy
Who better to foster future Emperors than the Pirate King himself?Gol D. Roger’s crewconsisted of many powerful pirates in its heyday. His first mate, Silvers Rayleigh, is shown to be a force to be reckoned with, even in his old age. The crew was also one of two to harbor Kozuki Oden, the legendary Daimyo of Kuri in Wano Country. Roger not only found the One Piece, which cemented his status as the King of the Pirates, but his mention of it during his execution brought about the Great Age of Pirates.
Ironically, the future emperors were probably among the weakest pirates on the ship. Shanks and Buggy were a pair of apprentices who didn’t always get along, notably arguing often whether the North Pole or South Pole was colder. Buggy intended to steal and sell the Bara Bara no Mi, a Devil Fruit the Roger Pirates obtained during the raid. However, Shanks inadvertently led to him swallowing it instead. This enraged Buggy as he hoped to use the funds from selling the fruit to gather a crew and search for treasure underwater. However, as a Devil Fruit user, he was no longer able to swim. An eventual sickness Buggy picked up, and Shanks volunteering to stay behind to help take care of him, led to both of them not actually witnessing Roger’s acquisition of the One Piece. Yet now they are both Emperors, each sharing that same goal in the present day.
7Whitebeard Pirates
Led by Whitebeard, Included Blackbeard
After breaking off from the Rocks Pirates,Whitebeard formed his own crew. He served as a friendlier rival to Roger than Rocks had been, and the two had fought and broke bread at various points. They notably had Oden amongst their ranks before he joined the Roger Pirates. The late division commander, Izo, was once a vassal of Oden’s upon initially joining the crew, remaining with the Whitebeard Pirates until they disbanded.
Due to growing up as an orphan on the island of Sphinx, Whitebeard had a strong yearning for a family, and this became his pirate crew. He often considered his crewmates his “sons” and had a heavily organized crew. The Whitebeard Pirates were stratified by division, with 16 of their most powerful members each leading a division of the crew. Additionally, the crew had several subordinate crews, at least some of which were led by former members of the Whitebeard Pirates themselves. Roger’s son, Portgas D. Ace was also a member, and, preferred Whitebeard to his actual father, much to the captain’s chagrin.
Despite their power, Whitebeard never wished to find the One Piece and always considered his family his treasure. He sought to protect the territories his crew controlled and sunk any excess funds into humanitarian aid for Sphinx, where his first division commander, Marco, served as a doctor when the crew retired. Among its members, the crew also recruited a young boy by the name of Marshall D. Teach, who, despite his physical strength, never seemed to want much recognition. He would later betray the Whitebeard Pirates, and form a crew of his own.
6Beasts Pirates
Led by Kaido
Kaido slowly started to builda crew of his own, after the Rocks Pirates dissolved. His first prospect was Alber, a boy belonging to the near-extinct Lunarian tribe. Kaido recognized his power and deemed him “King”, making him his right-hand. Kaido was eventually recognized as a powerful pirate captain. This led to an offer by Kurozumi Orochi, the shogun of Wano Country. Orochi granted Kaido territory he could use to build weapons in Wano, in exchange for protection.
Kaido was then stationed in the territory, and exerted control over Wano for roughly two decades. In that time, he built up his strength, teaming up with the likes of Donquixote Doflamingo, and recruiting many powerful pirates to his cause, including members of the recent infamous Worst Generation. It took the combined might of the Ninja-Pirate-Mink-Samurai Alliance to defeat this crew, and even now, it’s still unclear if Kaido is actually dead or not.
5Big Mom Pirates
Led by Charlotte Linlin
After God Valley, Linlin and her longtime companion, Streusen, left the Rocks Pirates. Linlin formed a crew of her own and eventually took over Totto Land. True to her name, Linlin served as the mother to over 70 children, the majority of whom serve in her crew. Many of Linlin’s children are cross-bred from other humanoid species, such as Mermaids and Longlegs, giving them unique advantages to regular humans.
This is all part of Linlin’s goal to have Totto Land serve as a community where beings of all races can live in harmony, as long as they pay Linlin. However, certain races such as Giants and Lunarians are not present, sticking out as rare exceptions in the community. Like many an Emperor, Linlin also makes use of subordinate crews. She has forced her children into arranged marriages with captains or other principal crew members, in an effort to consolidate alliances between crews. However, in multiple cases, her daughters have willingly turned against her, once a captain wishes to break off an alliance.
She, too, was defeated alongside Kaido, in a manner that makes her supposed death ambiguous for the time being. Her crew continues to operate in her absence, though their current leader is unclear.
4Red Hair Pirates
Led by Shanks
Some time after building his own crew, Shanks operated out of Foosha Village in the East Blue. There, he and his crewmates befriended the locals, including one Monkey D. Luffy. After realizing the boy’s drive to become a pirate, Shanks offered Luffy his own straw hat, which was once Roger’s when he was a novice. Shanks said Luffy should give him back the hat once he becomes a great pirate. Six years after he left Foosha Village, Shanks became recognized as an Emperor.
The top members of theRed Hair Piratesinclude Benn Beckman; Shanks' intelligent and stern first mate, Lucky Roux; a heavy set yet surprisingly flexible pirate, and Yasopp; a master marksman and the father of Usopp, who Luffy recruited due to hearing stories about him from Yasopp. The Red Hair pirates also have subordinate crews, but unlike the majority of the other Emperors, they are generally viewed as weak. However, they also have the support of the mighty Giant Warrior Pirates, a legendary pirate crew which recently reformed. The crew is also notable currently for not having any known Devil Fruit Users in it. As of late, Shanks has redirected his efforts to finding the One Piece, anticipating a potential meeting with Luffy once again.
3Blackbeard Pirates
Led by Blackbeard
Marshall D. Teach was a longtime member of the Whitebeard Pirates, having joined at the age of 12 and stayed with the crew into his late thirties. He was notably powerful, being offered the position of division commander, but declined due to “not having that kind of ambition.” This was true in the most direct sense, as his actual ambition was to usurp Whitebeard. After killing Thatch, a division commander, for the Yami Yami no Mi, Teach fled the crew and quickly formed his own. It was a fairly small crew, at first consisting of only five members, who were mere allies of convenience.
However, after doubling its size by unleashing Impel Down’s deadliest inmates, Blackbeard assassinated Whitebeard, stole his Devil Fruit powers, and subsequently prepared to take over his territories. His status as Emperor was cemented by the Payback War, where Marco led the Whitebeard Pirates and their affiliates against Blackbeard’s crew, where the former disbanded for good.
Beyond using his knowledge of Whitebeard’s Devil Fruit and territories, Blackbeard also stratified his crew similar to Whitebeard’s. His first nine crewmates, and the former admiral, Kuzan, areeach considered “captains"in their own right, commandeering a ship and a division of the crew. Blackbeard also utilizes subordinate crews, but tends not to care much for their members.
2Straw Hat Pirates
Led by Monkey D. Luffy
This crew was formed by Monkey D. Luffy to find the One Piece, and fulfill his goal of becoming the King of the Pirates. It is a fairly small crew, but each of its members proves essential. Their mutual care for one another is such that they will directly defy the World Government if it means rescuing a member.
Unlike certain other crews led by Emperors, they do not seek to take over any territory, and do not usually have a base of operations. Instead, they often align with those in charge of specific areas, usually to repel a mutual enemy, typically an opposing pirate crew. Their manpower is further supplemented by the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, an alliance of pirate crews formed off the heels of Dressrosa, who feel as though they are indebted to the Straw Hats.
Before Luffy was officially recognized as an “Emperor,” the sensationalist reporter, “Big News” Morgans, deemed him the “Fifth Emperor” out of respect for his accumulated power and willingness to defy other Emperors. He has since been recognized as a proper Emperor due to his defeat of Kaido.
1Cross Guild, and the Crews Before it
Led by Buggy (who is secretly controlled by Crocodile and Mihawk)
The Buggy Pirates were a relatively low profile crew, who tended to operate in the East Blue. Buggy served as one of Luffy’s first proper enemies and developed a grudge against the young pirate. He initially added to his crew’s power by forming an alliance with Alvida, a powerful pirate who had an attraction to Luffy. The pair’s alliance attempted to corner him in Lougetown, but failed. Buggy was eventually imprisoned at Impel Down after wandering into a marine garrison, with his crew refusing to rescue him.
Crocodile was a Warlord, a government-endorsed pirate, who secretly planned to take over Alabasta. He utilized Baroque Works, a group of criminals he secretly controlled, to carry out operations in this vein, acting as their leader, Mr. 0. However, his operation was discovered and he was thrown in prison. Although a former subordinate offered him a chance to escape, he refused it and was transferred to Impel Down.
The pair eventually broke out when Luffy entered Impel Down, causing a prison break during his initial goal of freeing Ace. During this time, many powerful prisoners pledged themselves to Buggy, impressed at his status as a Roger Pirate and friend of Shanks, as well as his willingness to break out of Impel Down. They participated and survived in the subsequent Summit War. Crocodile’s former subordinate, Galdino aka Mr. 3, joined Buggy after the war, recognizing his skill at recruiting powerful allies to his side. Buggy was offered the title of Warlord, which he used to create a mercenary group known as Buggy’s delivery.
After wandering the New World, Crocodile wished to form a mercenary group of his own, and contacted Mihawk to aid him in its formation. This group would place bounties on marines, allowing them to be potentially hunted for money in the same vein as pirates. He wished to make use of a debt Buggy owed to him, which inadvertently involved the pirate supplanting him as the group’s true leader. Crocodile and Mihawk decided to make use of this misconception, in order to make Buggy an emergency scapegoat, leading him to be identified as the Emperor. Despite this status, Buggy wrestled a minor bit of control, pushing the mercenaries to search for the One Piece, and make him the Pirate King.
