Who are the members of the World Government?

Since the East Blue Arc, the World Government has established itself as the supreme organization that reigns over the world of One Piece. But who are the members of this sprawling entity that dictates its law to pirates and citizens?

The Navy, led by admirals, is its armed wing, also directing the spy unit of the Cipher Pol which acts in the shadows. In the past, the Great Corsairs , these fearsome pirates, served the Government. At the top, the council of the Five Elders , leaders of the Celestial Dragons , makes the decisions. But we have recently discovered their true master... Imu .

Facing them, the Revolutionary Army and the Pirate Crews fight to overthrow this established order. Discover the different faces of this organization that pulls the strings of the world of One Piece!

Imu: King of the World

Introduced in One Piece Chapter 906, The Holy Land of Marie Joie, Imu is the most enigmatic character in the manga. The one called the King of the World holds the highest authority within the World Government. Even the Five Elders blindly obey him and bow before him! His existence is kept secret from the world and only the highest leaders are aware of it.

A mysterious character

So far, Imu has only been seen as a silhouette, whether in the manga or the anime. It is not yet known if he is human or a divine creature, but he wears a very long robe with patterns. On his head, he has a large crown with four very high points. The only thing we see of his face are his eyes... they are completely red !

The major antagonist of One Piece?

Not much is known about Imu yet, but he has shown us that he can be ruthless . When the people of Lulusia sided with the Revolutionary Army, he did not hesitate to destroy the island in a matter of seconds. He is ready to do anything to preserve the authority of the World Government, even sacrificing thousands of innocent lives. But Imu seems to have consideration for certain characters in One Piece:

• Luffy : Imu was recently seen stabbing and tearing up Luffy's wanted poster. He who dreams of becoming the Pirate King, he could discover the secrets of the Forgotten Century... and that, Imu absolutely wants to avoid!
• Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard) : Imu treats Blackbeard's wanted poster the same way, indicating that he places him on the same level of threat as Luffy. Blackbeard seems to know too much about the world's secrets. Perhaps Imu is afraid that he will use these secrets to overthrow him and take his place?
• Shirahoshi : By cutting out her photo, Imu shows that he views her differently. He may not see her as an enemy to be taken down, but rather as a potential asset to be controlled.
  As the Mermaid Princess, Shirahoshi has great influence on Fishman Island. Most importantly, as the Ancient Weapon Poseidon, she has the power to command the Sea Kings, which is an immense force. Imu may want to use this power to her advantage.
• Nefertari Vivi : Vivi's case is the most intriguing. By completely sparing her wanted poster, Imu shows a unique preferential treatment. She is a princess beloved by her people, who fought to protect the kingdom of Alabasta. Imu could see in her a valuable ally, someone who could legitimize his rule in the eyes of the world.

Destructive powers

Imu occupies the Empty Throne, which symbolizes absolute authority over the World Government and by extension, over the entire world of One Piece ... We'll let you imagine the power he has. Even though we haven't seen his powers in action yet, here are our theories:

• Imu may possess the ancient weapon Uranus , one of the three legendary weapons created during the Forgotten Century. This would explain how he razed the island of Lulusia in just a few seconds, from the sky.
• Imu might have eaten an extremely powerful Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit. Perhaps even the original fruit or a unique fruit of its kind.
• Imu may be the creature that created Devil Fruits, some sort of deity or primordial entity connected to their creation.

A final confrontation with Luffy, the embodiment of total freedom, seems inevitable to decide the fate of the world. Imu will most likely be the ultimate antagonist that the young pirate will have to defeat!

The 5 Elders: The Face of World Government

The Council of 5 Elders , also called Gorosei, are the highest ranking members of the Celestial Dragons and represent the highest authority of the World Government . They rule over the Navy, the Cipher Pol and had made an agreement with the 7 Great Corsairs before their abolition. Their authority exceeds even that of the Admiral in Chief of the Navy. Only Imu is superior to them.

Council Members

Immortal characters?

The Five Elders appear to be immortal or at least do not age. Their appearance has remained unchanged for decades, as shown in a flashback of Vegapunk meeting them 40 years ago. This suggests that they have been alive since the Forgotten Century and periodically conduct large purges to erase their existence from history.

A chaotic influence in the New World

In order to preserve the fragile political balance, the Deans orchestrated many major events:

• During the Marineford Summit War , they provoked the Navy and Whitebeard's crew to clash. We all remember the sad execution of Portgas D. Ace by Admiral Akainu. They also recruited Blackbeard as a Grand Corsair in order to further destabilize the New World.
• Most recently, they intervened on Egghead Island , sending an Admiral and CP0 Agent Lucci to prevent Dr. Vegapunk from leaking compromising information.
• During the Reverie , they oversaw the meeting of world leaders. Following an incident with the Revolutionaries, they covered it up, leading to Sabo's mysterious disappearance. Their influence thus extends over almost the entire world, making them the true masters in the shadows.

With demonic powers and enormous influence, the Five Elders are the ultimate bulwark protecting the secrets of the Forgotten Century and the world order. Their spectacular entrance in the final chapters suggests a confrontation with Luffy and his allies for the fate of the world... It promises to be a good one!

The Celestial Dragons: The Founding Families

The Celestial Dragons, also known as the World Nobles, are the descendants of the 19 of the 20 founding kings of the World Government. As a nobility, they consider themselves pure-blooded chosen ones, although they have the appearance of normal human beings.

The Celestial Dragons are recognizable by their astronaut-like attire, including a transparent round helmet covering their heads. This extravagant outfit, as well as their privileges, make them immediately identifiable. They wear these helmets to avoid breathing the same air as the people, which shows their contempt for the lower classes.

Members of the Celestial Dragons

Privileged beings

As the supreme nobility, the Celestial Dragons enjoy unheard of privileges. They are immensely wealthy and can free themselves from all rules. They consider other human beings as subhuman and do not hesitate to enslave them for their personal service.

Their behavior is cruel and capricious, they have a deep contempt for the people. They demand that the population kneel as they pass. Be careful... those who disrespect them risk death or slavery!

The cruel antagonists

In One Piece, the Celestial Dragons embody the worst of the powerful: abuse of power, gratuitous cruelty, contempt for others. They are recurring antagonists that the heroes encounter throughout the story. Luffy and his crew often stand up to their tyranny, not hesitating to defy them despite the risks. We all remember the moment when Luffy hits the Celestial Dragon Charlos who had shot his friend Hachi.

The Navy: The military organ

The Navy is the main military force of the World Government and one of the main antagonists in One Piece. It represents the armed wing that enforces law and order of the World Government on the seas of the New World . Its role is to capture pirates and maintain justice.

The Navy is a highly hierarchical organization, with hundreds of millions of soldiers spread across the world. It is led by the current Admiral-in-Chief, Akainu , but its authority is subordinate to that of the Five Elders and the World Government. Formerly at Marineford, its headquarters is now at New Marineford .

Members of the Navy

Grades

The Navy hierarchy includes many ranks, from the simple soldier to the Admiral in Chief. The main ones are:

• Admiral-in-Chief : Highest ranking, commands all forces
• Admirals : 3 extremely powerful officers just below the Admiral-in-Chief
• Vice Admirals : Senior officers commanding bases and fleets
• Rear Admirals : Intermediate Officers
• Colonels and Lieutenants : Field officers commanding ships
• Commanders and Junior Lieutenants : Non-commissioned officers
• Sailors and Soldiers : Basic Troop

There are also special elite units like the Cipher Pol or the G-5.

An extremely powerful organization

The Navy has considerable means at its disposal to enforce justice across the seas of the Grand Line:

• A huge fleet of warships, some of which can traverse the Calm Belt
• Hundreds of millions of trained and disciplined soldiers
• Dozens of bases spread across all seas and islands
• Access to weapons of mass destruction like the Buster Call
• Powerful allies like the Grand Corsairs (before their abolition)

But his main strength lies in the power of his senior officers, especially the Admirals who master overpowered Devil Fruits and Haki . They are among the strongest fighters in the world of One Piece.

A threat to pirate crews

Throughout the chapters, the Navy constantly opposes Luffy and the other pirates, trying to stop them in the name of Justice. But it often comes up against its own contradictions and the abuses of the World Government it serves.

Officers like Smoker, Aokiji or Fujitora question the notion of Absolute Justice and are more measured towards Luffy. Others like Akainu or Kizaru remain inflexible. The Navy plays a central role in major arcs like Enies Lobby, Impel Down, Marineford or Dressrosa. It represents a major obstacle for Luffy in his quest for freedom and the One Piece.

The Cipher Pol: The Secret Service

The Cipher Pol is a branch of the World Government that deals with espionage, intelligence, and assassinations. It is, in a way, the secret service of the World Government. Their role is to protect the interests of the World Government by eliminating potential threats and collecting sensitive information.

In an organized gang

The Cipher Pol is divided into several agencies numbered from CP1 to CP8, plus two elite units: CP9 and CP-AIGIS0 (also called CP0).

• Agencies CP1 to CP8 are responsible for more traditional intelligence and espionage missions.
• CP9 is a secret unit of assassins that operates completely in the shadows. Its agents master the combat techniques of the Rokushiki. CP9 was notably involved in the events of Water Seven and Enies Lobby.
• CP0 is the most important and mysterious agency. It is directly under the orders of the Five Elders and is responsible for the most sensitive missions. Its agents are among the most powerful in Cipher Pol.

Cipher Pol Members

Fearsome fighters

Cipher Pol agents, particularly those of CP9 and CP0, are proficient in Rokushiki , a fighting style based on six special powers:

• Geppo : Allows you to move through the air by kicking the air.
• Tekkai : Hardens the body to make it as hard as steel.
• Shigan : Transforms fingers into real human guns.
• Rankyaku : Allows you to throw sharp air blades with your legs.
• Soru : An ultra-fast movement technique.
• Kami-e : Makes the body as flexible as paper to avoid attacks.

Some characters like Lucci even master advanced techniques like the Rokuogan, a shock with devastating impact.

A destabilizing body

The Cipher Pol, and in particular CP9, played a central role in the Water Seven/Enies Lobby saga. In trying to capture Nico Robin and the plans for the ancient weapon Pluton , they opposed the Straw Hat crew. We were treated to epic clashes, especially between Luffy and Lucci.

More recently, CP0 intervened in Dressrosa and then in Wano Country, still in the shadows. They tried to get their hands on the Ancient Weapons and Luffy's Devil Fruit. Their presence underlines the growing importance of the stakes surrounding the Ancient Weapons and the secret of the Forgotten Century .

World Government Alliances

The 7 Great Corsairs

The Seven Great Pirates, also known as the Shichibukai, are a group of powerful pirates who have made a deal with the World Government. In exchange for having their bounties waived and some impunity for their past crimes, they agree to work for the World Government.

In total, 11 pirates have been known to have held the title of Shichibukai. Others include Trafalgar Law , Edward Weevil , and Buggy the Clown , but here are our favorites:

Their role is to counterbalance the growing threat of pirates. And in particular the Four Emperors, in order to maintain a certain balance of power on the Grand Line. With the Navy and the Four Emperors , they form one of the Three Great Powers that govern the world of One Piece.

The Grand Corsairs are chosen from the most powerful and influential pirates. Most of them have bounties exceeding 300 million berries before their appointment. Many are extremely powerful Devil Fruit users, such as Crocodile's Suna Suna no Mi or Doflamingo's Ito Ito no Mi. Some like Mihawk or Jinbe are also outstanding fighters even without powers.

Their strength is such that it is said that a single Corsair could destroy an entire country. Together, they are considered to be on par with the Navy and the Emperors.

For its part, the Government does not hesitate to revoke the title of Corsair of those who betray it. This was notably the case for Crocodile or Jinbe. Recently, it completely abolished the system of the 7 Great Corsairs.

The Pacifistas

The Pacifistas are cyborgs created by Dr. Vegapunk , the greatest scientist working for the World Government. They are based on the body of the former Grand Corsair Bartholomew Kuma . The Pacifista Project was originally a collaboration between Vegapunk and Kuma. The idea was to create powerful robots that could be deployed to protect civilians and fight pirates without risking human lives.

However, the Five Elders hijacked the project to turn it into weapons of mass destruction under their control. They forced Vegapunk to use Kuma's body as a prototype and used his daughter Bonney as leverage to ensure his cooperation.

The World Government first deployed the Pacifistas to Sabaody for a full-scale test that proved successful. They have since mass-produced them as the Navy's primary weapon . The Pacifistas allow the World Government to tip the balance of power in its favor. They are a tool of pressure and control over the world.

Recently, the World Government attempted to assassinate Vegapunk, believing that he knew too much and was becoming a threat. And he would eventually be killed by Admiral Kizaru, during Buster Call .

Enemy organizations

The Revolutionary Army

The Revolutionary Army is an underground organization that opposes the World Government and seeks to overthrow it. Their primary goal is to fight against the political oppression and corruption of the World Government that rules the world.

Led by Monkey D. Dragon , the world's most wanted man, the Revolutionary Army aims to end the rule of the Celestial Dragons. But more importantly, to expose the truths hidden by the World Government to the people. They want to return power to the people and change the way the world is governed.

Over the years, the Revolutionary Army has become a formidable force that the World Government fears. With their actions, they have become the World Government's public enemy number 1. The Revolutionary Army is composed of powerful pirates such as:

Their ability to disrupt the balance of the Three Great Powers (Navy, 7 Great Corsairs, 4 Emperors) makes them a major threat. Although they are not considered one of the three great powers, their influence grows as the episodes progress.

Their actions have a tangible impact, such as the liberation of slaves in Tequila Wolf or the attack on the Celestial Dragons during the Reverie . Although their operations sometimes resemble guerrilla warfare, the individual strength of their commanders allows them to stand up to the forces of the World Government.

Pirate Crews

In the One Piece universe, pirates represent the main opposition force to the World Government and its armed wing, the Navy. In seeking freedom, adventure, and One Piece, pirates challenge the authority of the World Government and threaten the balance of the Three Great Powers.

The World Government therefore considers most pirate crews as enemies to be eliminated . The Navy relentlessly hunts down pirates, with the aim of capturing or executing them.

Among the many pirate crews sailing the seas of One Piece, some stand out for their power and influence:

• The Four Emperors (Yonko) : Whitebeard, Shanks, Big Mom, Kaido and then Blackbeard. They rule over the New World and represent the greatest threat to the World Government.
• The Supernovas : 11 captains of the worst generation with a bounty of more than 100 million berries. Among them, Luffy, Law, Kid, X-Drake, Hawkins or Apoo. They embody the new wave of ambitious pirates.
• Renowned Crews : Many other powerful crews sail the seas. These include the Whitebeard Pirates, the Redhead Pirates, the Big Mom Pirates, and Kaido's Beasts Pirates.

But among all the pirate crews, Luffy's is considered one of the most dangerous by the World Government. Their actions have often endangered the world's balance:

• Defeated many renowned pirates and members of the Cipher Pol
• Declaration of War on the World Government at Enies Lobby
• Intrusion into Impel Down and participation in the war at the top of Marineford
• Alliance with other pirates (Law, Kid) and the Dragon Revolutionaries

Luffy himself, as the son of Dragon and grandson of Garp and aspiring Pirate King, poses a major threat. His current bounty of 3 billion berries reflects the danger he poses in the eyes of the World Government.

Soon the end of a reign?

The World Government is a powerful organization that rules the world of One Piece. With its various branches, it maintains its hold on the seas and populations.

But many gray areas remain. What is the true role of Imu , the king of the world? What secrets lie behind the Forgotten Century? Is the World Government truly legitimate or is it abusing its power?

Time will tell, but one thing is for sure: Luffy and his allies have not finished confronting this sprawling organization in their quest for freedom. The fate of the world is at stake!

Learn more about One Piece characters:

• The Fishmen