Shanks/History

Childhood and Apprentice Years
Shanks was born in the West Blue, 39 years before the present day, growing up in a town that produces wine. When he was a mere one-year old infant, Shanks was found inside a treasure chest by the Roger Pirates at God Valley. It is unknown how exactly Shanks ended up in such a situation, but he was eventually taken in by the crew.



At least 30 years ago, at the age of 9, Shanks, alongside Buggy, was an apprentice of the crew. While reading a newspaper, Shanks was unhappy that it kept focusing on the Whitebeard Pirates. At this point, he was already wearing the straw hat that was given to him by Gol D. Roger.

At least more than 27 years ago, he spent most of his time together with fellow apprentice Buggy, arguing over meaningless things, such as which pole was colder, the North or the South. Their constant bickering was met with annoyance by the crew's first mate, Silvers Rayleigh. Despite the difference between them, both pirates were often seen together while they were on board the ship. This led Whitebeard to notice and even remember seeing a "big nose" with Shanks during their battles with Roger.



Later, the crew spotted a nearby ship and was preparing to attack it. As they prepared for combat, Shanks and Buggy discussed the importance of treasure, with Shanks claiming that treasure was not the only important thing in a pirate's life. During a raid on an enemy ship, while the crew retrieved a Devil Fruit: Bara Bara no Mi, Buggy found a treasure map marking the location of a valuable underwater treasure which he did not plan to share with anyone. After the battle, the crew threw a party in celebration of their victory, and Shanks tried to invite Buggy to join them, as they had found a "weird treasure". That night, Shanks and Buggy talked about what they were planning to do after leaving the crew, and when Buggy claimed that he would gladly take Shanks as his crew member if it were not for his ideals, Shanks stated that he did not want to be Buggy's follower and that people with different beliefs like them should travel different paths. The two of them agreed that they would meet as enemies once they left the crew, but then Shanks told Buggy about how the Devil Fruit they had found, which he noted would sell for around 100,000,000, causing Buggy to modify his scheme so he could obtain and sell the fruit.

The next day, after Buggy had eaten a fake version of the Devil Fruit to trick the rest of the crew, Shanks came across him with the real fruit, forcing Buggy to hide it in his mouth. Shanks told Buggy to not steal too much food and walked away but came back to tell him something that Roger just did, surprising Buggy, who accidentally swallowed the Devil Fruit. As Buggy was yelling at him, Shanks noticed the map Buggy had found earlier floating away, which prompted Buggy to leap into the ocean in pursuit of it. However, since Buggy could no longer swim, Shanks also leaped into the ocean in order to save him.

27 years ago, while the crew was being confronted by Golden Lion Pirates and he readied himself for battle, Shanks reminded Buggy not to worry since his body was immune to slashing attacks. Shortly afterwards, after a storm allowed the Roger Pirates to escape Shiki's fleet, this battle became known known as the Edd War.

At some point 26 years ago, the Roger Pirates were causing a ruckus on an island. After defeating a group of Marines, they learned that the Whitebeard Pirates docked on the other side of the island. The Roger Pirates then clashed with the Whitebeard Pirates for three days and three nights before the skirmish ultimately became a gift exchange. Shanks and Buggy gossiped about Marshall D. Teach's inability to sleep. The Roger Pirates were then joined by Kozuki Oden and his family, as well as Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. While initially distrustful of Oden due to his association with Whitebeard, Shanks eventually warmed up to the samurai and began considering him a proper member of the crew.

At some point, the crew visited Skypiea and discovered the Shandorian Golden Belfry Bell, where Roger asked Oden to carve a message into. Following their departure from Skypiea, the crew's voyage took them to Water 7, Tequila Wolf, Sabaody Archipelago, and Fish-Man Island. Sometime later, they left Kozuki Toki, Momonosuke, Hiyori, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi at Wano Country under Crocus' suggestion due to Toki having fallen ill at the time. Sometime after they had visited Zou, Buggy also became ill. Shanks decided to stay behind with his friend to take care of him, so they never went to Laugh Tale with the rest of the crew, although Shanks declared that he intended in doing so someday in the future.

Following Roger's return from Laugh Tale, Shanks asked Roger something, only to shed tears afterwards. 25 years ago, Shanks offered Oden his help to open Wano's border only to be politely declined by him.



After Roger had become Pirate King, the crew was disbanded in secret a year before his death. Roger was the first to leave and after parting ways with their captain, the rest of the crew returned Oden to Wano Country. The other members, including Shanks, left the crew one by one. 24 years ago, Shanks was among the attendants during Roger's execution at Loguetown. He cried after his former captain had passed away. Later, at the same place, he started making plans for his own pirate career. He offered a place in his crew to Buggy, who refused to work for Shanks, and the two went their own ways. Shanks would often hear tales of Buggy's activities as a pirate.

The Rise of Chief Red-Haired Shanks


22 years before the current timeline, Shanks heard about a skilled sniper by the name of Yasopp and went to Syrup Village in the Gecko Islands in order to recruit him. Afterwards, Shanks' crew would grow bigger and bigger, with the likes of Benn Beckman and Lucky Roux being recruited as well.

19 years ago, the Red Hair Pirates rescued an island from a rival pirate crew, and Shanks adopted the orphaned two-year-old Uta, having found her inside a chest they had looted at the time.

At some point, Shanks encountered the Whitebeard Pirates' member Marshall D. Teach again, during which he left Shanks with 3 scars across his left eye. The exact date of that event is unspecified. Shanks also fought often with Mihawk, and their battles were said to echo through the whole of the Grand Line.

13 years ago, Shanks' crew stole the Gomu Gomu no Mi that was being guarded on a government ship by then CP9 agent Who's-Who. In that same year, Shanks arrived on Dawn Island, where he met a strange young boy named Monkey D. Luffy. Intrigued by the boy and enjoying the atmosphere of Foosha Village, he decided to make the island his crew's base for a short period of time, which turned into a year. Luffy quickly grew attached to the crew, so much so that he wished to join their ranks and become a pirate as well, but Shanks refused to allow the boy into his crew on the basis that he was too young.

12 years ago, the Red Hair Pirates visited Elegia. Following the incident on the island Shanks took the blame for it, left Uta in Gordon's care and returned to Foosha Village. As a result, by that time, Shanks' bounty was 1,040,000,000.

Romance Dawn


One day, Shanks witnessed Luffy attempt to prove himself worthy of joining his crew. He and his men watched with anticipation, but were then shocked as Luffy stabbed himself below his left eye.

They then held a party at the Partys Bar in celebration of Luffy's courage. During which, Shanks scolded Luffy for being so foolish and once again denied Luffy permission to join his crew because he felt the boy was still too young and inexperienced, and that he could not swim. After tricking Luffy into drinking juice, Shanks told him that he and his crew would be leaving the village after two or three more trips, which Luffy said would give him time to learn how to swim. However, they were interrupted when Higuma and his bandits arrived and demanded sake, which Shanks and his crew had drank all but one bottle of. Shanks offered Higuma the last bottle, but Higuma smashed it over his head because he felt it was not enough. When Shanks tried to clean up the mess rather than retaliate, Higuma threw Shanks' food onto him and left, convinced that Shanks was a coward. Afterward, Shanks and his crew laughed over his humiliation, but Luffy, disillusioned by how Shanks refused to fight back, tried to leave, leading to Shanks discovering that he had eaten the Gomu Gomu no Mi when he grabbed Luffy's arm. Shanks scolded Luffy for this, stating that this meant he could never swim again.



A few days later, Shanks and his crew went out to sea, with Luffy being left behind once again. Eventually, Higuma returned and took Luffy as a hostage when the latter insulted him. As Higuma was preparing to kill Luffy, Shanks, having returned, appeared nearby and teased Luffy about his claim of having a punch as powerful as a pistol. Higuma warned Shanks to stay back, and when Shanks began to approach him, one of the bandits put a gun to his head. However, Shanks merely told the bandit to not point a gun at someone to scare them as Lucky Roux shot the bandit in the head, shocking the onlookers. When the other bandits claimed this was dirty, Shanks pointed out how he and his crew are pirates before telling Higuma that he will never forgive someone for harming his friend, no matter what their reasons may be. After Benn Beckman had defeated the rest of the bandits, Higuma tried to claim that Luffy is the one who started this, but Shanks stated that it did not matter because Higuma had a bounty on his head, forcing Higuma to throw a smoke bomb and escape. Shanks expressed shock at Luffy having been kidnapped and frantically wondered what they should do.



Soon afterward, Shanks headed to sea and caught up to Luffy, who had been thrown into the ocean by Higuma, and defended him from the Lord of the Coast, whom he scared away with just a glare. However, as Shanks was comforting him, Luffy began crying over how Shanks had lost his left arm in defending him, only for Shanks to claim it was just an arm.



Later, Shanks and his crew began preparing to leave the village. When Luffy told him that he would become a pirate on his own, Shanks claimed that Luffy did not have what it took to become a pirate, which prompted Luffy to angrily proclaim that he would gather his own crew to defeat Shanks' and become the Pirate King. Smiling at this, Shanks gave Luffy his treasured straw hat and told him to return it once he had become a great pirate, causing Luffy to begin crying. As Shanks boarded his ship, Beckman told him that he believed Luffy would become a well-known pirate, which Shanks agreed with because Luffy reminded him of himself when he was younger.

Return to the Grand Line and Rise of the Emperor
Shortly after, Shanks returned to the Grand Line, eventually arriving on the Sabaody Archipelago and meeting Rayleigh again. To Rayleigh's surprise, he had lost his trademark Straw Hat along with his left arm. When Rayleigh asked him why, he excitedly started telling him about the young boy he met in East Blue who had spoken the exact same words as Gol D. Roger. Sometime later, presumably right after talking with Rayleigh, Shanks and his crew entered the New World. At some point, Dracule Mihawk ceased dueling with Shanks because of his lost arm but he retained a casual standing with the latter and Shanks told him about Luffy.

Then, six years after leaving Foosha Village, Shanks would become recognized as one of the Four Emperors.

Meeting with Ace
At some point, he met Portgas D. Ace, who thanked him for saving his little brother. Shanks quickly became friendly when Ace revealed his association with Luffy and Makino, and threw a party to celebrate.

While talking, Ace told Shanks that he had no intention of becoming Pirate King, but rather wanted to make his reputation spread throughout the whole world. Ace then asked Shanks about the scar on his face, and Shanks replied that he was unsure what the man who gave it to him was doing at the time, not revealing his name. Ace then left, and Shanks and Benn Beckman noted that his Haki was strong enough to melt away the snow while he was there.

Loguetown Arc


Sometime later, while Shanks and his crew were relaxing on an island after drinking too much, Mihawk arrived. After stating he had no interest in fighting him again, he showed Shanks that Luffy had gained a bounty of 30,000,000. Seeing Luffy had finally made his emergence, a gleeful Shanks had Mihawk stay as he threw another party despite his hangover from his previous drinking session.

Jaya Arc


Shanks later expressed an interest in Ace's pursuit of Blackbeard and sent Rockstar to deliver a note to Whitebeard concerning this matter. Angry at Shanks for sending him a letter, Whitebeard told Rockstar that his captain must come in person and bring plenty of good rum. Elsewhere, Shanks talked on a Den Den Mushi to Rockstar, where he laughed how the old man has not changed a bit and denied Rockstar the chance to redeem his honor against the Whitebeard crew before ordering him to come back. When Beckman questioned whether or not he should go to Whitebeard, Shanks told him that the crew should prepare for battle.

Post-Enies Lobby Arc
But he is not a man who would try to upset the world himself. We will observe him without taking rash actions!

After Whitebeard had told Rockstar that Shanks would need to come to him in person if he wanted to deliver a message, the two Emperors finally met after the Enies Lobby incident. As Shanks boarded Whitebeard's ship, he used Haoshoku Haki to render the lower-ranking members of Whitebeard's crew unconscious. Having arrived on the deck, Shanks apologized for his actions and claimed he was simply being cautious before telling Whitebeard he came to talk and had brought some "healing water". When Marco pointed out what Shanks had done, Shanks asked him to join his crew, which Marco angrily rejected.

After sitting down to drink with Shanks, Whitebeard began reminiscing about the past, where he noted that Shanks used to be a simple apprentice on Roger's ship. When Whitebeard asked him if the "Red Nose" that was with him was still alive, Shanks revealed that he had not seen Buggy since they split up at Loguetown before revealing that he had heard rumors of Buggy still being a pirate. Whitebeard claimed that he could still hear the duels between Shanks and Mihawk that used to echo throughout the Grand Line before asking him what enemy he lost his left arm to, only for Shanks to state that he bet it on the "New Era".

No one could have stopped this, it's the rampaging point of this age!



Shanks noted that the scars over his left eye were currently aching and revealed that Blackbeard inflicted them before describing how Blackbeard deliberately avoided becoming notorious during his time on Whitebeard's crew. Shanks warned Whitebeard that Blackbeard would come for his position now that he had gained strength and started moving, and when Whitebeard asked him what he wanted him to do, Shanks asked him to stop Ace because he felt it was not the time for him and Blackbeard to fight. However, Whitebeard claimed that he needed to teach Blackbeard about morality and that Shanks was 100 years too early to tell him what to do. After finishing their sake, Shanks and Whitebeard drew their weapons and clashed, resulting in the skies above them splitting in two.

Impel Down Arc
As mentioned by Momonga, when Whitebeard began making his move towards Marineford to save Ace, Kaidou attempted to take advantage of the situation to attack the Whitebeard Pirates. To the horror of the Marines, reports came in that Shanks had intercepted Kaidou, creating a dispute between two of the Four Emperors. While the two captains ended their confrontation with a stalemate, the Marines became greatly anxious about the possible problems that could arise from conflict between the two pirates.

Marineford Arc
I'm here to put an end to this war!

After the deaths of Ace and Whitebeard, Shanks suddenly arrived at Marineford, just in time to save Koby from being killed by Admiral Akainu. Commending the young Marine for his determination, Shanks told him that he had secured the "seconds of courage" to change the fate of the world with his brave words before proclaiming that he has come here to end the war. The Marines noticed the presence of the other Red Hair Pirates as they wondered how Shanks was able to arrive at Marineford so quickly, having fought with Kaidou the day before.

Calling out to Buggy, Shanks told him to give Luffy his straw hat and lied about rewarding him with a treasure map. When Lucky Roux asked him if he was sure that he did not want to see Luffy again after having not seen him for 10 years, Shanks admits he would like to do so before stating that it would be breaking their promise. After Trafalgar Law had escaped with Luffy, an enraged Buggy called Shanks out on lying to him, but Shanks merely commented on how it has been a while since they last saw one another.



After ordering Marco to withdraw in order to stop encouraging the battle, Shanks told the remaining Marine and Whitebeard Pirates that he and his crew would fight anyone who wished to continue the war. Shanks asked Blackbeard if he wished to do so, but Blackbeard decided to leave instead, having determined that it is not yet time to face Shanks. Shanks told the remaining Whitebeard Pirates and Marines to save face for him before telling the Marines that he wanted to give Whitebeard and Ace the burials they deserved. When Fleet Admiral Sengoku stated he would hand their corpses over to the pirates and that he would take responsibility for the Marines' actions, Shanks thanked him for doing so.

Post-War Arc


Later in the New World, the Red Hair Pirates attended Whitebeard and Ace's funeral with the Whitebeard Pirates to pay their respects. Marco thanked Shanks for ensuring that Whitebeard and Ace received proper burials. As he was leaving, Shanks quietly thought about how Luffy was handling Ace's death and noted that one must know both victories and defeat to become a real man.

From the Decks of the World: The 500,000,000 Man Arc
While attending a wedding at the ruins of a certain island, Shanks read the news of the Straw Hats' new bounties after the Dressrosa incident.

Levely Arc


As the news of Luffy's exploits at Totto Land spread across the world, Shanks read the newspaper and looked forward to seeing Luffy again.

Shanks later went to Mary Geoise to speak with the Five Elders in person about a certain pirate.

Wano Country Arc
One week after Luffy's fight with Kaidou, Shanks and his crew arrived near the shores of Wano. Shanks acknowledged Luffy's skill as a pirate and thought back to the times he was last in Wano when the Roger Pirates were dropping off Kozuki Oden, also saying that Momonosuke and Hiyori must be all grown up by now. He looked at Luffy's new wanted poster while reminiscing about the time he stole the Gomu Gomu No Mi from CP9 as well as about the time he was with Luffy in Foosha Village. Though his crew wanted to meet Luffy after this long time, Shanks declined and reminded the crew that Bartolomeo had been ravaging in their territory, stating that if they let that just slip, it might hurt Shanks' reputation as an Emperor. Setting Bartolomeo as their next target, he took a cup of sake and sat down with Beckman whom he asked if it's finally the time they go and claimed the One Piece.

Shanks interrupted Momonosuke's fight with Admiral Ryokugyu by sending a strong wave of Haoshoku Haki from the outskirts of Wano. The Admiral sensed his Haki and realized that Shanks was the one using it. The Red Hair Pirates told Shanks not to use his Haki without warning, since he was knocking out newcomers of the crew. Shanks then told the Admiral to leave the pirates to rest after they had just finished making pirate history, before asking if the "New Age" frightens Ryokugyu that much. The Admiral disengaged the fight, not wanting to confront Shanks.

One Piece Film: Red
Sometime after his daughter Uta's concert had commenced, Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates arrived at Elegia to try to stop her. When Uta saw her father again after being abandoned, she ordered her unconscious fans to attack and punch him. Despite this, he ordered his crew to do the civilians no harm and to protect them from Marine bullets above all else. He fended off Kizaru from directly attacking Uta, criticizing the decision from the Marines to attack despite the danger of killing civilians. After Uta had awakened the Tot Musica, Shanks and his crew fought the demon's many limbs with the help of Katakuri. Using the advanced Kenbunshoku Haki of Shanks, Yasopp, and Katakuri, the crew was able to land blows at the same as the Straw Hat Pirates and their allies in the Uta World, an essential part in destroying the Tot Musica.

After they succeeded, Shanks tended to a weakened Uta, giving her a medical remedy to get her to sleep, and thus, stay alive. She refused, however, due to her fans still being stuck in the world. After Uta sang again and brought everyone to the real world, Shanks caught her before collapsing. The Marines then approached Uta, but Shanks warned them off with a Haoshoku Haki burst strong enough to take down Vice Admirals, declaring that Uta is his daughter and a part of his family. The Marines departed, not wanting to fight a battle with Shanks, as it would endanger all the civilians on the island. Shanks then brought Uta to his ship and set off from the island, evading the course of the Thousand Sunny, as it too had left Elegia behind.

Egghead Arc
Shanks and his crew dropped off Marco at Sphinx island. As Marco was getting off the Red Force, Shanks asked him if he was going to join the crew. Marco laughed and told him to quit dreaming and that he was too old and worn out to babysit great pirates like them. Shanks then said that he was not a handful and asked Beckman to back him up. Beckman replied to him by saying that he could not, and the crew burst out in laughter.

Sometime later, the Red Hair Pirates arrived at Elbaf to hang out in a local tavern, where Shanks reunited with his longtime friends Dorry and Brogy from the Giant Warrior Pirates. Rockstar then alerted Shanks about the Kid Pirates sailing around Elbaf's coast. Telling Rockstar to send a message of fight or flight to Kid, Shanks decided to prepare for battle himself along with his crew, including the Giant Warrior Pirates at the Emperor's request and his other allied Captains who were present nearby.