The World Government is the biggest and the most powerful organization in the world of One Piece. They are the current rulers of the world and are most certainly the biggest power at the moment. They have been ruling the world for centuries and are, on paper, responsible for maintaining peace and order in the entirety of it. Currently, over 170 countries are known to be allied with the World Government and this just goes to show how far-reaching their influence is.
However, as with all things, there is a dark side to the World Government and this is actually one of the focal points of One Piece. The World Government is based on a very dark past and as the story goes on, this past is slowly being uncovered and the true nature is being revealed to the fans.
The Creation Of The World Government
The World Government came to be nearly 800 years ago following a great war that engulfed a vast majority of the world of One Piece. It is believed that a very prominent kingdom existed in the One Piece world nearly 900 years ago and it flourished thanks to its incredible wealth and, most importantly, advanced scientific knowledge that surpasses even that of Dr. Vegapunk at the moment. These people were, more or less, like pirates, as has been hinted at in the story on various occasions. It is possible that their power was so massive that it made 20 kingdoms band together in an attempt to take them on in a war and destroy them.
While it is unknown how exactly they gained enough power to destroy this great civilization, they somehow managed to do this over a span of 100 years. This war, also known as the Great War, ended with the destruction of the Ancient Kingdom and its people, with Shandora being one of the last cities to fall to the 20 Kings. After the conclusion of the war, the 20 Kings banded together and created what is currently known as the World Government. All of the kings put down their blades in front of an Empty Throne, and in doing so, they ensured that all of them were equal in each other’s eyes and that there was no single sovereign of the world.
They then climbed atop the Red Line and created a holy land there called Mariejois. This holy land was most likely built atop a place where the Lunarians previously existed, as was hinted at by Whitebeard in a flashback during the Wano Country arc. The Lunarians, and possibly others, what once known as Gods of the world, however, now they are a race known to be on the brink of extinction. This title of godhood was taken by the 20 Kings and, their descendants are what are known in the world of One Piece as the celestial dragons.
The Power Structure Within The World Government
The World Government is incredibly vast and, given the fact that they have 170 countries allied with them, it isn’t hard to believe that they hold tremendous power within their ranks. The highest known power to the people of the world of one piece within the World Government are the Five Elder Stars, also known as the Gorosei. These Five Elders are the highest-ranking Celestial Dragons who run everything in the world and whatever they say is the word of law. However, in reality, there is a sovereign of the world, known by the name of Imu, who holds all the power and sits atop the Empty Throne in Pangea Castle. The existence of Imu is, however, a secret kept from nearly everyone in the One Piece world. Following the Gorosei are the regular Celestial Dragons, who are held in incredibly high regard and even touching one of them is considered to be a grave offense.
The Celestial Dragons or not generally fighters, however, they have the ability to exercise the greatest military forces of the World Government. The Celestial Dragons have the power to exercise the Cipher Pol, especially CP0, who are known to be their personal guards, in a way. At the same time, the Celestial Dragons are then followed by the multiple bodies created by the World Government, such as those delivering justice in Enies Lobby as the judiciary committee, and those who are known to be the military face of the World Government, that is, the Marines. Within the Marines, the Fleet Admiral holds the highest authority, and he’s followed by the greatest military asset of the World Government, The Three Admirals. Following the Admirals are the Vice-Admirals and then, other marines who don’t hold nearly as much importance in the story.
The World Government is central to the overarching plot of the story and with One Piece entering its final saga, they are more important now than ever before. Slowly, all the atrocities that they’ve committed over the years will come to light. Luffy, their ultimate enemy, will eventually lead a massive war and, hopefully, overthrow them, paving way for a better world in the future.
