Gol D. Roger

Roger was adventurous, impulsive and fiercely protective of his companions. Monkey D. Garp described him as capable of destroying an army over an insult to a crewmate, yet people who knew him also remembered a straightforward warmth and an ability to win former enemies’ respect.

He showed little fear of death. Learning that he had an incurable illness prompted him to undertake one last voyage rather than retire, and he surrendered only after completing it. He smiled at his execution, echoing the calm displayed by several other bearers of the initial D.

Roger preferred freedom and discovery to formal rule. Although the world called him its Pirate King, he did not command other pirate crews as subjects. For him, the title belonged to the person with the greatest freedom on the sea.

Roger was one of the strongest fighters of his era despite having no confirmed Devil Fruit. He used all three forms of Haki, including advanced Supreme King Haki powerful enough to clash with Edward Newgate without their weapons touching.

He wielded Ace, a Supreme Grade cutlass. His named attack Kamusari, or Divine Departure, releases an overwhelming Haki-infused sword strike capable of hurling a powerful opponent across a battlefield.

Roger could fight Newgate evenly and repeatedly faced Garp at the height of the Marines’ power. His ability to hear the “voice of all things” allowed him to sense information associated with Poneglyphs, though he could not read their script himself.

His strength was matched by navigational achievement. With Silvers Rayleigh, Scopper Gaban and the rest of his crew, Roger crossed the Grand Line and located islands that no previous known crew had reached in centuries.

Roger’s execution begins the central historical movement of the series. His declaration that his treasure could be found by anyone who reached it sends countless people to sea and creates the era in which Monkey D. Luffy begins his voyage.

In his youth, Roger invited Rayleigh to join him after finding him living aboard a stolen boat. The resulting Roger Pirates later clashed with the Whitebeard Pirates and other great powers. Roger and Garp temporarily joined forces at God Valley against the Rocks Pirates, contributing to the fall of Rocks D. Xebec’s crew.

After learning that he had roughly a year to live, Roger recruited Crocus as ship’s doctor. He borrowed Kozuki Oden from Newgate because Oden could read the Poneglyph script, then followed the Road Poneglyphs to the final island.

The crew discovered the truth of the Void Century, the Ancient Weapons and the meaning attached to the D. name, but concluded that they had arrived too early. Roger named the island Laugh Tale and disbanded the crew soon afterward. He then surrendered to the Marines and arranged his execution so his death would inspire a new generation.

Rayleigh is Roger’s first mate and earliest known companion. Their partnership begins when Roger proposes that they “turn the world upside down,” and Rayleigh remains the person with whom he shares the beginning and end of his voyage.

Newgate is Roger’s greatest pirate rival and one of the few opponents able to match him. Their crews fight for three days before exchanging gifts and celebrating together. Roger later tells Newgate about the Will of D and offers to reveal the route to Laugh Tale, though Newgate has no interest in becoming Pirate King.

Garp nearly kills Roger on numerous occasions, and Roger treats the Marine with the trust normally reserved for a comrade. Before his execution, Roger asks Garp to protect his unborn child, arguing that a baby should not be punished for a parent’s crimes.

Portgas D. Rouge is Roger’s partner and the mother of Portgas D. Ace. Roger never meets his son, but his request to Garp helps Ace survive the World Government’s search for Roger’s bloodline.

Oden supplies the knowledge needed to complete Roger’s final voyage. Shanks and Buggy serve as apprentices aboard his ship, while Crocus manages the illness that would otherwise have prevented the journey.