Four Emperors



The Yonkou (四皇, Yonkō), literally Four Emperors, are the 4 great pirates who rule the second half of the Grand Line (known as 'the New World').

They are one of the 3 great powers, the other being the Shichibukai and Marines and live quite literally as though they are Emperors, doing mostly as they please. For the World Government, these are the greatest pirate threats in the world. It is only the combined efforts of the Marines and the Shichibukai that keeps their power in check.

The four emperors themselves are not united together as one group like the Shichibukai and follow their own individual paths, but the possibility that two or more of the Yonkou could form an alliance is a great inconvenience to the World Government. For that reason, the World Government attempts unsuccessfully to prevent a meeting between Red-Haired Shanks and Whitebeard at one point in the series, fearing the two emperors may unite together creating a stronger threat.

Hypothetically, the three powers are equal in strength. They, however, are not united like the Shichibukai or Marines. The emperors may even consider each other as an enemy. While the strength of the Shichibukai pirates comes from the captain's power, the Yonkou appear to have exceptionally powerful cremates in addition to themselves. For example, Portgas D. Ace, commander of Whitebeard's second division's, defeat was enough to guarantee the title of a Shichibukai.

History
Much of the history of the Yonkou is unknown.

The first of the Yonkou to be introduced was Shanks who visited Luffy's hometown ten years ago. Although, it is unknown that the Yonkou existed at this point of time. It is reasonable to assume they did as this was the around the time the Shichibukai organization was being formed. The second was Whitebeard, the only man to tie in a fight with Roger. Whitebeard was also later announced as the strongest pirate in the world upon Roger's death. Some of the Shichibukai were rivals to the Yonkou in the past; Shanks was a rival to Mihawk and Kaidou to Gecko Moria.

Shanks and Whitebeard are both familiar to the old days of piracy, before Roger's death 22 years ago. It is currently unknown if the other two Yonkou are from the old days of piracy.

All of the Yonkou seem to acquire strong fleets, including ships and elite crewmen. All Yonkou have traveled to the New World at some point in their past, where they are currently locked in stalemate, unable to progress any further into the Grand Line. This is a product of the combined efforts of both the Marines and Shichibukai, as well as the presence of the other Yonkou in the Grand Line.

Until recently, the World Government has been fine with the world powers remaining as they are. With the Yonkou stuck in a deadlock situation, this allowed the world to remain stable. However, with the absence of Crocodile, defeated at the hands of the Straw Hat Pirates, the World Government was alarmed that two of the Yonkou, Shanks and Whitebeard, arranged to meet each other. Later, with Enies Lobby in ruins, the Marines saw another defeat in the New World when a blockade failed to prevent the two meeting.

Fearing the two crews might form an alliance, the World Government has resulted in laying in wait to see what happens. Shanks believes the days of Whitebeard as the top pirate are coming to an end, warning him of the era to come. With Blackbeard aka Marshall D. Teach now making his move to the top, the pair are last seen clashing weapons. It has recently been stated that the Shichibukai are preparing to battle the Whitebeard Pirates.

Current Story
Kaidou and Shanks are ready to clash as Kaidou wanted to stop Whitebeard, but Shanks intercepted him leaving Whitebeard free to rescue Ace.

The Shift in the Balance
So far three incidents committed by the Straw Hat Pirates have seemed to disrupt this balance in favour of the Emperors:


 * When Crocodile of the Shichibukai was defeated by Luffy, Shanks managed to make contact with Whitebeard.


 * The incidents at Enies Lobby shifted the balance against the Marines. Whether it directly affected events in 'the New World' is unknown. Soon, after this incident, Whitebeard and Shanks broke through attempts to halt both Emperors from seeing each other.


 * The Shichibukai [A Warlord] Boa Hancock fell in love with Luffy. Thus putting Luffy above her past concerns, shichibukai status, and the world government.

List of Pirate Emperors

 * 1) "Red-Haired" Shanks
 * 2) Edward Newgate ("Whitebeard")
 * 3) Kaidou
 * 4) Unknown