Key Takeaways
Whitebeard acted as a "father" to his crew, influencing Blackbeard and others significantly. Shanks, an influential mentor, inspired Luffy and indirectly influenced Bartolomeo and others. Fisher Tiger's leadership influenced the Sun Pirates and other Fish-Men to join and form separate crews.
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In One Piece, it is made clear that piracy does not exist in a vacuum. Although motives like wealth and power will obviously lead many to sail the seas, something less considered is the pirates themselves. Whatever their goals, it has been made clear many times that, whether they acknowledge it or not, even the most powerful pirates have their inspirations.
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One Piece: 5 Pirates Who Used To Work For the World Government
Many pirates in One Piece, including those tied to some of the biggest crews, used to be employed by the World Government.
Some pirates became the reason that the next generation pursued the craft, while others merely became influential through their actions. Most of these influential pirates are no longer alive in the current canon of One Piece, but each one of them has left their mark on pirate history, as well as the series' broader history.
5 Whitebeard
Roger's Rival
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First Appearance: Episode 95 (Silhouette), Episode 151 (Full)
Edward "Whitebeard" Newgate had little interest in the stereotypical ambitions of a pirate. His history as an orphan instead left him with a desire for family. To this end, he recruited numerous other pirates who he acted as a "father" to. His crew was so large that it necessitated divisions. Many pirate captains, including those who were previously members of his crew, pledged themselves and their crews to him. He was also in control of many territories, seemingly to provide them with a form of protection. He was, prior to his death, an Emperor, a moniker for the pirate captains who the government view as the most dangerous.
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Perhaps the most notorious pirate Whitebeard can be credited with directly influencing is Marshall D. Teach, who refashioned his captain's moniker for himself. Blackbeard not only stole Newgate's alias, but also his territories, Devil Fruit powers, and crew structure, making his earlier crew members "captains" themselves to accommodate the presumably large crew he commands. Allegedly, Teach himself is beginning to gain influence. Notably, Caribou, a scoundrel who possesses knowledge of the Ancient Weapons, claims that Teach inspired him to become a pirate. The veracity of this claim is unclear, but he was not seen prior to the timeskip, making it, at the very least, possible.
4 Shanks
Luffy's Mentor
First Appearance: Episode 4
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When considering that Luffy is the main protagonist of One Piece, Shanks is the most influential pirate in the series. The captain of the Red Hair Pirates was an early friend of Luffy who mixed his hedonism with heroism. Although Luffy saw Shanks and his crew party, he also witnessed them fight off bandits, with Shanks himself even sacrificing an arm to protect Luffy from a Sea Monster. The fun-loving, but noble mannerisms he displayed can be seen reflected in Luffy himself. He also gave Luffy a straw hat, which was given to Shanks by his own former captain, the legendary Gol D. Roger.
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Beyond influencing Luffy, Shanks is currently an Emperor, dedicating himself to the protection of many territories, as well as weaker pirate crews that act as his subordinates. Additionally, Luffy himself is steadily becoming influential, having inspired Bartolomeo to turn to piracy after he was present at Luffy's botched execution and witnessed him escape. Shanks himself later confronted Bartolomeo, which ended less than favorably for the pirate and his crew. In addition to the Barto Club, other crews represented in the Straw Hat Grand Fleet consisted of people who turned to piracy after Luffy and his crew saved them in Dressrosa, showing further indirect influence from Shanks.
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3 Fisher Tiger
The Fish-Man Pirate
First Appearance: Episdeo 415
When it comes to any pirate crew made up of Fish-Men, this pirate captain is always somehow involved. An ex-slave who led revolts which freed many others, Fisher Tiger was also the captain of the Sun Pirates. The Sun Pirates were the crew that Arlong and his friends joined. Although technically predated by the Arlong Pirates, it can be argued their time as Sun Pirates helped them become a more serious crew when they broke off, which was primarily due to Tiger's death.
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There are many reasons why a pirate may leave their crew. Each of these pirates exemplify a different one.
Even with the majority of its known original members gone, the Sun Pirates still operate today, and are still dedicated to a greater goal of Fish-Man liberation and integration. Another off-shoot of the crew, the Macro Pirates, was formed by three freshwater Fish-Men who, counter to the base crew, participate in the slave trade, albeit with little apparent success.
The New Fish-Man Pirates, formed by Hody Jones, a protégé of Arlong, was also created, despite going against Tiger's ideals. Nonetheless, the crew shared the late captain's hatred of humans, albeit with no experience with what that prejudice was rooted in. However, they disavowed Tiger after learning of his desire for peace with humans. Although a number of Fish-Men pirates do not stand for what he stood for, many of them got their start working for Fisher Tiger.
2 Rocks D. Xebec
Gone, But Also Forgotten
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First Appearance: Episode 958
Rocks D. Xebec is a name largely lost to history. This is due to the crimes he chose to commit, which included research into subjects forbidden by the World Government. He was a notably ruthless man, unafraid of killing world nobles and uncaring if he killed their slaves as well. It is said the combined might of both Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp was required to finally defeat him.
Even if Xebec is a somewhat unremarkable name in present times, he had an clear eye for talent. Many noteworthy pirates, including three future Emperors, sailed with Xebec as members of the Rocks Pirates, before going on to make names of their own. Big Mom, Whitebeard, and Kaido all viewed the experience of sailing with Xebec as unpleasant, but were still among many future stars in the world of piracy to have graced his crew. Whitebeard noted that the crew was full of people who weren't the type to take orders, which likely contributed to its dissolution.
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It is possible that Xebec's influence still exists through Teach, as he appears to name his primary ship, Saber of Xebec, after the late pirate captain, and has sailed with Whitebeard, Xebec's former crewmate.
1 Gol D. Roger
Ushered In a New Era
First Appearance: Episode 1
Gol D. Roger seems to have very few currently active pirates who directly attribute him as their influence, but he does not need to in order to be considered influential. His execution, originally meant to deter people from piracy, instead motivated many to take up the occupation with the promise of treasure; specifically the titular One Piece, which only Roger and his crew have ever laid eyes on.
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Aside from this fact, three of the current Emperors are variably connected to him. Shanks and Buggy used to serve as his cabin boys. Although they are radically different pirates, the pair appear to both have some degree of respect for their former captain. Unfortunately, they were among a few in his crew who did not see the One Piece, as Buggy had an illness that Shanks stayed behind to help him recover from.
Luffy, an adherent of Shanks, is also an Emperor. Shanks himself has noted he sees a lot of his former captain in Luffy, which is partially why he gave the young pirate Roger's straw hat. It is quite possible that a lot of the mannerisms Luffy inherited from Shanks were originally learned from his own captain, Roger. It is clear a number of notable pirates, in addition to many others, might never have entered piracy if not for him.
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One Piece
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Fantasy
Release Date October 20, 1999
Story By Eiichiro Oda
Seasons 20
Studio Toei Animation
Streaming Service(s) Crunchyroll , Netflix , Hulu
See at Amazon
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