What Were the Warlords?
The Seven Warlords of the Sea, known in the One Piece world as the Shichibukai, were a group of seven powerful and notorious pirates who formed an alliance with the World Government. In exchange for having their bounties frozen and being granted a degree of autonomy, these pirates were expected to hunt other pirates and help maintain the Three Great Powers, alongside the Navy Headquarters and the Four Emperors (Yonko). This system was designed to use pirates to keep other pirates in check, creating a delicate balance of power across the Grand Line. However, the Seven Warlords One Piece system was often criticized for allowing these individuals to continue their criminal activities under the protection of the law.
All Warlord Members
Throughout the series, the Shichibukai roster saw several changes as members were defeated, resigned, or stripped of their titles. The following is a comprehensive Warlords list of those who held the position at various points:
- Dracule Mihawk: The World's Greatest Swordsman and the only member without a crew.
- Crocodile: The first Warlord to be stripped of his title after his plot to take over Arabasta was exposed.
- Donquixote Doflamingo: The ruler of Dressrosa who used his status to run a massive underworld arms trade.
- Bartholomew Kuma: A former revolutionary who became a human weapon for the World Government.
- Gecko Moria: The master of shadows who resided on the massive ship Thriller Bark.
- Boa Hancock: The Pirate Empress and ruler of Amazon Lily.
- Jinbe: The First Son of the Sea, who eventually resigned to support Whitebeard and later join the Straw Hats.
- Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard): Briefly joined the Warlords to gain access to Impel Down before betraying the government.
- Trafalgar Law: Gained the title during the time-skip but lost it after forming an alliance with Luffy.
- Buggy the Clown: Rose to the position after the Battle of Marineford due to his reputation and followers.
- Edward Weevil: The self-proclaimed son of Whitebeard who joined during the time-skip.
Why They Were Abolished
The Shichibukai system was ultimately abolished during the Levely, a meeting of the world's royalty. The primary drivers for this change were King Riku of Dressrosa and King Cobra of Arabasta, both of whom had seen their kingdoms nearly destroyed by Warlords (Doflamingo and Crocodile, respectively). They argued that the system caused more harm than good, as it provided a legal shield for pirates to commit atrocities. Following a vote among the nations of the World Government, the Shichibukai were officially stripped of their titles, and the Navy was dispatched to capture them, turning the former allies back into hunted criminals.
SSG Replacement
The World Government was able to abolish the Seven Warlords One Piece system because of a new military breakthrough developed by the Special Science Group (SSG), led by Dr. Vegapunk. This replacement came in the form of the Seraphim. These are highly advanced living weapons—clones of the original Warlords created using Lunarian DNA (from King) and Green Blood to replicate Devil Fruit abilities. The Seraphim possess immense durability, flight, and the powers of the pirates they were modeled after, making them significantly more controllable and arguably more powerful than the original Shichibukai members they replaced.
Current Status of Each
Since the abolition, the former members of the Warlords list have taken various paths in the Final Saga:
- Buggy, Mihawk, and Crocodile: These three have formed the "Cross Guild," a powerful organization that has placed bounties on Navy officers, effectively flipping the script on the World Government.
- Boa Hancock: Her kingdom was attacked by the Navy and Blackbeard, but she remains at large after being saved by Rayleigh.
- Bartholomew Kuma: After being a slave to the Celestial Dragons, he was rescued by the Revolutionary Army and has played a pivotal role in the Egghead Island events.
- Jinbe: Currently serving as the Helmsman for the Straw Hat Pirates.
- Trafalgar Law: Continues his journey as an independent pirate captain after his defeat by Blackbeard.
- Edward Weevil: Recently captured by Admiral Ryokugyu while defending his father's homeland.
- Doflamingo and Moria: Doflamingo remains imprisoned in Impel Down, while Moria's status is uncertain after being held by the Blackbeard Pirates.
FAQ
Who was the strongest Shichibukai?
While power levels vary, Dracule Mihawk is generally considered the strongest due to his title as the World's Greatest Swordsman and his rivalry with the Yonko Shanks.
Is the Shichibukai system coming back?
Currently, there is no indication the system will return. The World Government has fully committed to the Seraphim as their primary deterrent against other pirates.
What does "Shichibukai" mean?
In Japanese, "Shichibukai" literally translates to "Seven Warlords of the Sea," which is the title used in the English localization of One Piece.
