A threat…a demand…when issued by one with absolute, overwhelming power becomes simply inevitable fate…after all, who could possibly oppose it? That is the existence known as the Four Emperors! And this is what it means to be driven to your very wit’s end…! ”
— Pekoms on the scope of the Four Emperors’ power.
What is Yonko in One Piece?
Yonko is a term from the popular manga and anime series “One Piece” created by Eiichiro Oda. In the world of One Piece, Yonko refers to the four most powerful and influential pirates in the sea. “Yonko” is a Japanese term that translates to “Four Emperors” or “Four Kings” / (海の皇帝, Umi no Kōtei). These four individuals are considered the strongest pirates in the world and each of them commands a massive crew and controls their own territory or territory of their allies. The Yonko are known for their immense power, wealth, and influence, and they play a significant role in shaping the events of the One Piece world.
Yonko and Things You Didn’t Know
The Four Emperors, known as the Four Pirate Sovereigns, constitute one of the Three Great Powers and are a renowned group of four pirates who hold the reputation of being the most infamous and formidable captains in the entire world. Presently, the Emperors consist of Red-Haired Shanks, Blackbeard, Straw Hat Luffy, and Buggy the Star Clown. Notable past members include Whitebeard, Big Mom, and Kaidou of the Beasts.
Rather than forming alliances or strictly being enemies, the Four Emperors prefer to maintain their autonomy in most situations. Throughout history, these Emperors have individually established their dominion in the latter portion of the Grand Line, known as the treacherous “New World.” They exert immense influence and control over numerous pirate crews and self-governed islands. Compared to the adversaries faced by the Straw Hat Pirates earlier in their journey, the Emperors pose a much greater threat during the latter part of the One Piece series. This is notably evident in the Whole Cake Island Saga and the Wano Country Saga, where Big Mom and Kaidou emerge as the primary antagonists respectively.
During the decisive Marineford Summit War, Whitebeard met his demise at the climax of the conflict. While Kaidou desired to strike Whitebeard before the war, his plans were thwarted by Shanks, who intervened and insisted on a ceasefire. In the subsequent year following the Payback War, Blackbeard, a former subordinate and murderer of Whitebeard, seized control and assumed his position.
Two years after the Marineford war, following the events of the Whole Cake Island Arc, Monkey D. Luffy was dubbed by the World Economy News Paper as the “Fifth Emperor” of the sea. This recognition was a result of the arc’s events and interviews conducted with Cavendish and Bartolomeo, who disclosed information about the formidable Straw Hat Grand Fleet consisting of 5,640 members. Furthermore, after the respective defeats of both Kaidou and Big Mom during the Raid on Onigashima, Luffy and Buggy were acknowledged as the newly risen Emperors to take their places.
