The Three Great Powers

The Three Great Powers (三大勢力, San Dai Seiryoku) are the three most powerful forces in the fictional world of the anime and manga series One Piece, created by Eiichiro Oda.

Roles

The Three Great Powers shape and mold the world. While the Shichibukai do not seem to have any interest other than their own gain or personal matters, the authorities of the Marine Headquarters use their power to control countries and to maintain order and justice. The Yonkou serve an unknown role, presumably the mere existence of these powerful pirates is enough to upset the World Government's authority. The Gorousei express fear that if this balance of power is disrupted, the world itself could collapse around them.

Yonkou

File:Yonkou.JPG

Vice-Admiral Monkey D. Garp introducing the Yonkou in chapter 432.

The Yonkou (四皇, Yonkō), literally Four Emperors are the four most powerful pirates in the second half of Grand Line. According to Monkey D. Garp, these "Four Emperors" rule above all others and form a precarious balance with the Shichibukai and Marine Headquarters. The Yonkou are not an actual organization, as each pirate works to further his own ends. The World Government considers the four pirates so powerful, that a potential alliance between Whitebeard and Shanks is enough to send them into a panic.

Members

Whitebeard

Main article: Whitebeard Pirates

Red-Haired Shanks

Main article: Red Haired Pirate Crew

Kaidou

Kaidou fought with Gecko Moria in the New World, and was said to have fought on an equal level with him.

The fourth Yonkou

Has not made an appearance

Shichibukai

The Shichibukai (七武海 Shichibukai, literally Seven Armed Seas, called "The Seven Warlords of the Sea" in the FUNimation and 4Kids english dubs) are seven extremely powerful former pirates who have allied themselves with the World Government, hunting down pirates and other criminals considered threats and handing over a large fraction of captured bounties. In return for these actions, the World Government pardons these pirates for their crimes and freeze their bounties. Other pirates consider the Shichibukai to be "government dogs", however. The Shichibukai are granted large deals of autonomy, often going unsupervised for long period of time, and are not guaranteed to follow the World Government's orders, rarely ever showing up for meetings. The World Government tolerates these actions, however, to mantain order over the One Piece world. The Shichibukai are loosely based on the privateers of Europe, government endorsed pirates considered heroes in their homeland and pillagers in others.

Members

Dracule Mihawk

• Former Bounty: Unknown
• Seiyū: Takeshi Aono
• Voice Actor (4Kids Entertainment): Wayne Grayson
• Voice Actor (FUNimation): John Gremillion

Dracule Mihawk (ジュラキュール・ミホーク, Jurakyūru Mihōku), also known as, "Hawk-Eye" Mihawk is the first of the Shichibukai to be introduced and plays a major role as Roronoa Zoro’s ultimate goal. He appears first while the Straw Hat crew are at the Baratie, having pursued Don Krieg's armada from the Grand Line. Mihawk destroys Krieg's only remaining ship for the sake of his amusement. Roronoa Zoro challenges Mihawk but loses against Mihawk's 4-inch knife. Leaving Zoro with a huge scar on the front of his torso, Mihawk tells him he will await the day when Zoro can surpass his ability. Mihawk is next seen with Red-Haired Shanks on an island in the Grand Line, delivering Monkey D. Luffy's wanted poster, much to Shanks' delight. Mihawk's most recent appearance in the series has been a meeting between the World Government and the Shichibukai to discuss the Straw Hat Pirates, where it is implied that he has the worst attendance record of all the Shichibukai.

Jimbei

• Former Bounty: Unknown
• Seiyū: ?
• Voice Actor (FUNimation): ?

Jimbei is the former captain of the Fishmen Pirates, which split up after he became a Shichibukai. Arlong became captain of some of the former members of his crew. He has not made an appearance in the story so far.

• See also: Arlong Pirates

Sir Crocodile

• Former Bounty: 81,000,000 Beli
• Seiyū: Ryūzaburō Ōtomo
• Voice Actor (4Kids Entertainment): David Brimmer
• Voice Actor (FUNimation): John Swasey

Sir Crocodile (サー・クロコダイル, Sā Kurokodairu) first appears in One Piece Chapter 126 during a phone conversation with Sanji. He is the leader of Baroque Works, a secret organization of assassins and spies, and a member of the Shichibukai. Utilizing Baroque Works, he incites rebellion in the kingdom of Alabasta in order to gain access to the Poneglyph hidden beneath the palace. He believes it will reveal the location of the weapon Pluton, which Crocodile wishes to gain control of in order to establish his military power. He is defeated by Monkey D. Luffy and stripped of his Shichibukai status by the World Government, after which he is imprisoned. Crocodile ate the Devil Fruit Suna Suna no Mi (Sand Sand Fruit) which allows him to create, manipulate, absorb, and transform into sand. Crocodile mastered the Devil Fruit powers to the point of perfection where he can turn into sand reflexively if attacked and while in a Desert area his powers make him unbeatable. He wears a tough golden alloy hook on his left hand. When golden part of the hook is taken off, it reveals to be a hook loaded with poison strong enough to melt through rock. If this poisonus hook is ever broken off, he has a knife hidden away in it that can be used in its place. According to series creator Eiichiro Oda, Crocodile's bounty would have been more than twice its value if he wasn't a Shichibukai.

• See also: Baroque Works

Donquixote Doflamingo

• Former Bounty: 340,000,000 Beli
• Seiyū: Hideyuki Tanaka
• Voice Actor (FUNimation): Robert McCollum

Doflamingo (ドンキホーテ・ドフラミンゴ, Donkihōte Dofuramingo) first appears in One Piece Chapter 234, during a meeting between the Shichibukai and high-ranking World Government officials, where he attempts to pick a fight with Supreme Admiral Sengoku. Doflamingo then appears in Mock Town to punish Bellamy for dishonoring his flag. He displays an ability to control others using movements similar to a puppeteer, and forces Sarquiss to seemingly kill Bellamy. Like many other One Piece characters, Doflamingo has a unique laugh (fufufufufufufufufu).

• See also: Bellamy Pirates

Bartholomew Kuma

• Former Bounty: 296,000,000 Beli
• Seiyū: ?
• Voice Actor (FUNimation):?

(バーソロミュー・くま, Bāsoromyū Kuma)"Kuma" means "bear" in Japanese. Like Doflamingo, his first appearance is at the government summit of Mariejoa following Sir Crocodile's defeat in Alabasta. He is next seen at Thriller Bark, where he offers Gecko Moria his aid in defeating the Straw Hat Crew. According to Gecko Moria, Kuma is the only Shichibukai truly obedient to the World Government. Kuma possesses the power of the Nikyuu Nikyuu no Mi, one of many fictional Devil Fruits in One Piece. This fruit gives him the ability to repel or reflect anything he touches with his hands. He is also a "Pacifista", an experimental cyborg created by the Marine scientist Doctor Vegapunk. Perona describes Kuma as "a tyrant", and claims he committed every atrocity a pirate could commit.

Kuma is seen again at Marine Headquarters, enduring a scolding from Fleet Admiral Sengoku. He informs Sengoku that the Straw Hat's Log Pose will bring them very close to the Marine Headquarters at Mariejoa.

Gecko Moria

• Former Bounty: 320,000,000 Beli
• Seiyū: Katsuhisa Hōki
• Voice Actor (FUNimation):?

Gecko Moria (ゲッコー･モリア, Gekko Moria) first appears in One Piece Chapter 449, as the captain of the enormous ship Thriller Bark. He is extremely large and has a devil-like appearance, but is also exceptionally lazy. This is reflected by his fighting style, as he prefers to lay back and let his own shadow, Doppelman, fight his battles for him. However, he can fight seriously if he is provoked or somewhat insulted. Moria ate the fictional Devil Fruit Kage Kage no Mi, giving him control over his own shadow as well as the ability to steal the shadows of others. Moria can place a stolen shadow into a corpse, creating a zombie that is totally obedient to him. Aside from this power, he can also manipulate the structure of bodies through their own shadows, teleport to other places and absorb shadows, turning him into a grotesque giant monster. In the past, Moria fought on the same level as the Yonkou Kaidou, but his crew was slaughtered some time before the current story. This results in Moria's desire to create an army of zombies to fight for him, as they cannot be killed without the aid of salt. He was defeated by Monkey D. Luffy after a long fight, making him the second Shichibukai Luffy has defeated after beating Sir Crocodile. Like many other characters in One Piece, Moria has a unique laugh (kishishishi). (月光, 'Gekkou') is the Japanese word for 'moonlight'.

• See also: Thriller Bark

Marshall D. Teach

Main article: Blackbeard Pirates

• Former Bounty: 0
• Seiyū: Akio Otsuka
• Voice Actor (4Kids): William Minkin
• Voice Actor (FUNimation): Cole Brown

Sir Crocodile's replacement, granted the title after his capture of Portgas D. Ace.

The Marine Headquarters

Main article: Navy (One Piece)

See also: List of One Piece Marines

The Marine Headquarters operate under the authority of the Gorosei and Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Their structure is the most ordered of all the Three Great Powers.

Other powerful organizations

The World Government

Main article: World Government (One Piece)

Although not a Great Power in itself, the World Government controls the Marines and to an extent the Shichibukai. Through a Marine overseer that has a direct relationship with the World Government, it also has influence on Cipher Pol. The leaders of the World Government are the Gorosei, Five Elder Stars.

Cipher Pol

Main article: Cipher Pol

Cipher Pol is a secret police organization founded by the World Government.