One Piece is undoubtedly one of the best anime. It features an array of fantastic characters, mostly pirates. But did you know that many of these characters were inspired by real-life pirates?
From well-known figures like Blackbeard to the more obscure ones, the historical roots of several characters in One Piece add a layer of fun and excitement to the series.
In this blog, we will delve into the characters inspired by some of the real pirates. So, let’s get started and explore the fascinating connections between One Piece and history.
10X Drake
X Drake is a member of the Beasts Pirates and one of the Tobi Roppo, the six strongest crewmates within the Beasts Pirates. His unique ability stems from an ancient mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit known as the Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Model: Allosaurus.
He exhibits excellent control over his Devil Fruit, which places him among the top six strongest crewmates. Additionally, he possesses the skill to wield Armament Haki.
Interestingly, X Drake draws inspiration from the historical figure Sir Francis Drake, an English pirate and renowned explorer during the Elizabethan era.
9Alvida
Alvida, the first female pirate encountered in the series, is also the first female Devil Fruit user. However, she doesn’t rank among One Piece’s most powerful women. Her Devil Fruit, the Slip-Slip Fruit, transformed her skin dramatically, making it incredibly smooth and slippery. Alvida can even glide using her Fruit’s powers, but it doesn’t enhance her offensive capabilities.
She is likely inspired by the legendary figure Awilda, who is believed to have been a pirate who later became the Queen of Denmark. While historians debate the accuracy of Awilda’s story, she remains a widely regarded legend rather than a confirmed historical person.
8Silvers Rayleigh
Silvers Rayleigh, once a member of one of the strongest crews to sail the Grand Line, remains formidable despite lacking a Devil Fruit. Although his abilities have waned with age, he can still hold his own against a Navy Admiral.
Rayleigh draws inspiration from the Englishman Sir Walter Rayleigh, who popularized tobacco usage in English society. Additionally, he evokes memories of John Silver from Treasure Island.
Fans may also appreciate that his name, “Silver,” aligns with his position as the second-most powerful crewmate of Gol D. Roger (Gold Roger), who holds the top spot.
7Gol D. Roger
Gol D. Roger is the central figure behind the entire One Piece narrative. As the Pirate King, he boldly challenged future pirates to seek out his substantial One Piece treasure and claim it for themselves. Roger is also the father of Portgas D. Ace and had ties to Rocks D. Xebec, another legendary pirate from a bygone era.
Interestingly, Roger’s character draws inspiration from real-life pirate, Olivier Levasseur, who dared others to find his legendary treasure and remains an enigma.
6Eustass Captain Kid
Eustass Kid, a notorious pirate in One Piece, was part of the Worst Generation. As captain of the Kid Pirates, he ranks among the strongest Supernovas. He even injured a Sweet Commander of the Big Mom Pirates and aided Trafalgar D. Water Law in defeating Big Mom during the raid on Onigashima Island.
His surname, Kid, draws inspiration from the Scottish pirate William “Captain” Kidd, who met his end through execution for piracy. Additionally, his name is linked to the French pirate and mercenary, Eustace the Monk.
5Big Mom
Charlotte “Big Mom” Linlin, captain of the Big Mom Pirates, has a storied past. She was once part of the infamous Rocks Pirates, a formidable crew in the One Piece world. Her crew consists of her children, including the witch-like Brulee and her powerful second son, Charlotte Katakuri. Big Mom also connects significantly with the mighty Kaido, as seen in the Wano arc.
Her abilities stem from the Soul-Soul Fruit, allowing her to manipulate souls. With a staggering bounty of 4,388,000,000 berries, her name draws inspiration from real-life pirates: Charlotte Badger and Charlotte de Berry.
4Blackbeard
Marshall D. Teach, commonly called Blackbeard, is the captain of the notorious Blackbeard Pirates in One Piece. He has ascended to the esteemed rank of one of the Four Emperors. His rise to power occurred after he vanquished the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates, ultimately earning him the title of Yonko.
He possesses a unique ability: the simultaneous wielding of two Devil Fruits. This extraordinary feat makes him an exceptionally formidable fighter by any standard.
The inspiration for Blackbeard’s character stems from the most renowned real-life pirate, who bore the name Edward Teach—more commonly known as Blackbeard. In crafting the character for One Piece, the series creator, Eiichiro Oda, cleverly adapted the last name of the historical pirate, resulting in the creation of Marshall D. Teach rather than Edward Teach.
3Calico Yorki
Yorki is a famous character, who was active before the events of One Piece. Fans recognize him through Brook, who used to be a member of Yorki’s crew. Yorki was the leader of the Rumbar Pirates and was nicknamed “Calico” Yorki. The word “Calico” in his name is believed to refer to Calico Jack.
Calico Jack, whose real name was John Rackham, was an English pirate captain who operated during the early 18th century. He mainly worked around Cuba and the Bahamas, accumulating his wealth as a pirate. He is also famous for having met the pirate Anne Bonny during his career.
2Jewelry Bonney
As the sole female member of the Worst Generation in One Piece, Jewelry Bonney remained an enigmatic figure for a long time. She wields a unique Devil Fruit that allows her to manipulate people’s physical age, including her own.
Interestingly, she draws inspiration from the real-life pirate Anne Bonny, an infamous female pirate during the 18th century. Despite being born into a noble family, Anne Bonny chose the life of a pirate and achieved considerable success in her chosen profession.
1Roronoa Zoro
Roronoa Zoro, a member of the Worst Generation, is one of the most popular characters in the series. He was the first to join Luffy on the quest to become the Pirate King.
His dream is to achieve the World’s Strongest Swordsman title, a personal mission driven by his determination to honor his late friend, Kuina. Additionally, he serves as a fierce rival to the enigmatic swordsman Dracule Mihawk.
Zoro draws inspiration from real-life pirate François l’Olonais. His surname reflects the Japanese pronunciation of this historical pirate captain, François, who gained fame in the 1660s as a daring high-seas pirate.
About One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997.
The man who had acquired everything in this world, the Pirate King, is Gol D. Roger. The final words he said at the execution tower were “My treasures? If you want it, I’ll let you have it. Look for it; I left all of it at that place.” These words sent many to the seas, chasing their dreams, headed toward the Grand Line, in search of One Piece. Thus began a new age!
Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy also heads toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece. His diverse crew is joining him along the way, consisting of a swordsman, marksman, navigator, cook, doctor, archaeologist, and cyborg-shipwright, this will be one memorable adventure.
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