Even before he was King of the Pirates, Gold Roger was destined for greatness. So, why did he allow himself to be captured and executed at the height of his power? There’s a surprising reason behind it which shows the Pirate King was a pretty smart guy, and knew what he was doing to encourage the next big generation of pirates entering the Grand Line.
This article contains spoilers for One Piece. Catch up on Viz or MangaPlus to avoid spoilers!
Why Was Roger Executed?
Depends on who you ask, but the Navy would probably say there was no reason not to execute him. Roger did everything he could in life to avoid the Navy and rack up offense after offense as a pirate. Even despite being one of the nicer crews to visit around the Grand Line, he was branded as a fearsome evil. The World Government wanted him dead for decades, with Garp especially chasing him down all over the seas. So imagine their surprise when he popped up on their front porch one day.
What isn’t revealed until much later on in the story of One Piece is that Roger actually hands himself over to the Navy. He knows something they don’t! that he’s dying of an incurable illness. So, finding out what he does at Laughtale, Roger puts himself up on the chopping block for something even greater to happen. Roger turns himself in, to the absolute bafflement of everyone in the World Government and Marines, with no fuss whatsoever.
Good Will at God Valley
While he was always on the run from the World Government, for the longest time Roger got a little bit of a side-eye. In his rookie years, not too long after he sets out alongside Rayleigh, they encounter Rocks D Xebec at God Valley. It’s only with his help that the Marines led by Monkey D Garp and God Knights of Saint Figarland Garling are able to overcome. Though it’s begrudging, Garp has to let Roger off by order of Garling.
This is also how Shanks ends up with the Roger Pirates, but more importantly, it earns Roger a little goodwill. Now the Marines are slightly less concerned about catching him right off the bat. Hell, not like Garp wants Roger to be captured anyway, seeing as he’s one of the few Garp has fun fighting. It’s this that allows the Roger Pirates to operate relatively unimpeded throughout the world in the coming years, though.
Roger’s Disease
Thanks to how great Crocus is as the Roger Pirates Doctor, they know about the disease a good bit in advance. There’s still no indication as to what the disease is, but when Roger starts getting to the last remaining years of his life, he knows. Crocus gives him around two years, matching up perfectly around the time that they meet Kozuki Oden. It’s perfect timing, with Oden’s family joining up with Roger and finding Laughtale.
By the time they find the legendary island Roger only has a few months left. It’s not necessarily showing on him yet, but that’s probably more thanks to his immense power. Roger is in fine form when it comes to physical strength and Haki energy, so he’ll fight the disease until the very end if he feels the need to.
Roger’s Plan
It’s when Roger gets down to two years left in his life, the disease starts to set in, and he makes his move. For years on the seas he hears about the Void Century and Poneglyphs, and it’s him that decides to go for the goal of Pirate King. At this point in the story Laughtale and the One Piece are more of a distant memory for explorers, with only rumors and hearsay. The Gorosei wanted it that way, but with Roger’s plan, he’s going to find it and figure out what’s so important to hide.
Kozuki Oden is the final piece of his puzzle, with a knowledge of what the Poneglyph language is. Oden follows along with Roger, curious himself about the information at Laughtale. This leads them all over the Grand Line. They follow the same path that Luffy and his friends have so far for the most part. Finally, they end up reaching their destination, meeting all kinds of folks along the way like the Skypieans.
He Laughed
When Roger initially sets out on his journey for Laughtale his mission is different. At first, he thinks that he himself will be able to fulfill Joyboy’s promise the Poneglyphs mention. Reaching Laughtale proves him otherwise though. Instead everyone breaks out into immense laughter upon finding out what the One Piece actually was. They learn that, as much as they may want to take down the World Government, it’s not up to them.
A prophecy of some sort at Laughtale says that they’re twenty-five years too early. It’s kind of a bummer, getting all the way to the end where the legendary treasure lies, all to find out that they’re too early to actually see it in full effect. It does plant an idea in Roger though, and he fulfills the WIll of D that he was born with. Unfortunately for him, the plan does have some bumps that he won’t have to deal with.
Willful Surrender
Roger makes a farewell tour of the Grand Line, taking everyone back home and bidding them farewell. From here on, the Roger Pirates are dissolved, and will no more roam the seas. Everyone goes their separate ways, whether it’s Shanks and Buggy making their own crews or Rayleigh retiring to Sabaody. Roger also bids farewell to his lover, Portgaz D Rouge, a woman living in the South Blue. She ends up as the mother of Ace, and will keep Roger’s secret by hiding her child for twenty months.
The last stop he makes is at the Navy Headquarters in Marineford. Gol D Roger turns himself in, the Pirate King who everyone already knows about. At this point, Roger’s reputation and the news he found Laughtale has spread amongst his friends. Although the only one he told is Whitebeard before he turned himself in. The legend is about to live on and Roger’s plan is in full effect. Especially as the Marines eventually take him to his hometown for execution. It’s right before this that he speaks to Garp, ensuring that his son will be taken care of.
Execution at Loguetown
Loguetown is the final stage for Roger. He plans on going out on a chaotic note as the Will of D dictates. It’s an entire spectacle, just as Roger had hoped for. He knew that by turning himself into the Navy, he would get a grand reception before his execution. The Marines want to teach a major lesson with his justice. The World Government believes by broadcasting his death to the world, they can finally end the age of pirates. All by showing a stark, bloody example of what awaits pirates.
It also gives Roger the largest audience in the world to hear his legend. With everyone in attendance from Monkey D Dragon to the Warlords of the Sea and a young Smoker, few don’t watch the execution of the Pirate King. Someone in the massive crowd watching shouts out, asking Roger where he left his treasure. The moment he’s waited for, Gol D Roger’s last words, saying he “left the treasure in One Piece”. It kicks off the single greatest age of piracy the world has ever known.
Fallout of Roger’s Execution
Before he dies Roger gets out the word that his treasure is at the end of the Grand Line, waiting for anyone brave enough to find it. Naturally, the treasure of the Pirate King has to be good, right? Everyone and their mother set off to find the One Piece, hoping to find the amazing treasure that Gold Roger hid. It’s exactly what he plans, and he’s setting up for every pirate to take to the Grand Line and create as much chaos as possible for the World Government.
Roger knows that someone will take down the World Government in twenty-five years, but his part is making sure that person sets out on their path. Even more, he makes sure that the World Government has more on its hands to contend with. With focus diverted to pirates all over the New World and Grand Line, it’s even harder for the Gorosei to put out the fires of Revolution that Joyboy will eventually bring. Of course, Roger doesn’t know that the one they’re waiting for will be a direct successor of his Straw Hat.
In short, Gold Roger was executed by the Marines for his life of piracy. Although, he didn’t just slip up and get caught. Instead, Gold Roger played a calculated gamble, hinging all his hope that his legend would live on and inspire others. It does all that and more as pirates for the next two decades set out in search of the treasure he left behind. Long after Gold Roger is executed, his spirit lives on through the thousands of pirates throughout the Grand Line.
