The Great Kingdom was feared and hated by many in One Piece, but what do we know about it? There are legends about ancient societies that shaped the land around our favorite characters. In this case, specifically the rise and fall of One Piece’s greatest empire: The Great Kingdom. This is by far the most mysterious and powerful monolith from the Void century. What was the Great Kingdom in One Piece? What has been revealed, and why does it terrify the powers that be? Here it is…
The Great Kingdom’s Place in The One Piece Story
The “Great Kingdom” stood as an ancient realm of immense size, renowned for its pride and formidable might. Its entire existence, along with its historical records, has been meticulously expunged, shrouding even its very name in secrecy. This enigmatic kingdom once stood as a dangerous adversary to what is now known as the World Government. Formerly the Twenty Kingdoms. Because of this, the kingdom in question is basically the crown jewel of the Void Century that the government wishes to destroy.
A Brief Reminder: What is The Void Century?
These events happen about 800 years prior to the present narrative timeline. Hints drop during the Skypiea Arc, with the dates revealed in Robin’s flashback. The Void Century represents a one-hundred-year abyss within recorded and archaeological history, and the World Government strictly prohibits any inquiry into it. The occurrences within this era hold such paramount significance. Delving into them is to unveil the “true history” of the world. So, which character brought this to fans’ attention?
Revelations: Professor Clover Reveals the Truth
Hailing from Ohara, Professor Clover possessed the expertise to decipher Poneglyphs, placing him among the select few capable of discovering the truths concealed within the Void Century and pinpointing the precise locations of the ancient weapons. He ascended to the position of director at the Ohara Library, emerging as a foremost authority in the sector for archaeology. He explains that – through his and others’ research – the obliteration of the Great Kingdom acted as a catalyst to bring the World Government to power.
However, tragedy struck two decades ago when he and his fellow archaeologists embarked on forbidden research concerning the Void Century. This audacious pursuit prompted the World Government to launch a devastating Buster Call, resulting in the annihilation of the entire island of Ohara. Professor Clover, along with his colleagues, perished in the wake of this catastrophic event. Ever since there has been speculation about the Great Kingdom. Even from the likes of Vegapunk.
The Vegapunk Technology Theory
According to Vegapunk’s theory, the Great Kingdom achieved technological advancements that outstripped even the most advanced scientific knowledge of the present era. Think the Ancient Greek Antikythera mechanism or the farming habits identified within the Amazonian ruins. While this theory remains officially unverifiable, Vegapunk regards it as compelling evidence that the World Government goes to extreme lengths, including the obliteration of entire land masses like Ohara, in order to safeguard the concealed truth. It’s a solid theory to explain the Ancient weapons to some extent.
The Great Kingdom’s Supposed Ties to The Three Ancient Weapons
To reiterate, the reason why the World Government considers knowledge about this kingdom to be a threat remains a mystery. Professor Clover is firmly believes that the kingdom’s history holds the key to answering this and other crucial questions. It raises the possibility that the inhabitants of this kingdom might have played a role in the design and/or creation of the Three Ancient Weapons, implying that they possessed advanced technological capabilities as a society.
The Power of History in One Piece
The actual account of world history seems to conceal information of such an intense nature that those privy to it, including renegades, are exceedingly reticent to discuss it openly. Neither the Roger Pirates, Kozuki Oden, nor Edward Newgate disclosed the concealed truths held within Laugh Tale to the general populace. The ongoing question: Is this secrecy because the World Government is still at large, or does it have more to do that an unfortified mind couldn’t handle?
The Great Kingdom is so mysterious that we don’t even know if it was evil or not. By all accounts, it seems more like greed and relentless ambition shook the status quo. Now, we are watching a dystopian epic where pirates roam free. Quite possibly, the Great Kingdom could be the only key to salvation. Perhaps the One Piece will illuminate what has been thrown into seemingly infinite darkness. It’s hard to know if fans will ever get closure, or if the Great Kingdom is even real. Maybe that’s what makes it so fun to begin with. We might never get to discover what has been written in stone.
