The "Blank/Void Century": What is it Really?

[EddyBob15]

I have a crazy theory. I believe that the Void History will reveal that the ancestors of the World Nobles did something terrible to create the world government.

[Kaiten]

You don't say? Where, pray tell, did you come by such a radical theory?

I daresay that this goes without saying. The better questions to ask are why the Twenty Kings led a revolt against the World Government and who exactly were they. We know the Tenryuubito are descendants of the Twenty Kings, but what happened to the survivors of the ancient kingdom? We know the Twenty Kings committed countless atrocities, we know all evidence of the ancient kingdom was methodically wiped out, we know it was done for reasons less than honorable. What remains is to learn about who they deposed and why.

[M3J]

Where was it said the Twenty Kings committed atrocities or why? I can't recall...


They probably lead a revolt because either the kingdom was evil, the Kings wanted power, or they didn't agree with the kingdom's ideals like equality between fishmen and humans or whatnot. Curious to see who they descended from, it could help us figure out things. And whether they were like Dragon and his army, but wicked or grew wicked over time (if they weren't, already).

[rosco12]

Why erase history, if you've got nothing to be ashamed of? That's why it seems obvious that the 20 kings where as evil as their descendant the tenryubitto.

[Kaiten]

Where was it said the Twenty Kings committed atrocities or why? I can't recall...

Like Rosco said: in the absence of wrongdoing there would be no reason to hide history. Considering the lengths they will go to suppress the true history, it can be assumed that knowledge alone is enough for the World Government to lose legitimacy. The liberties given to the Tenryuubito coupled with the suppression of history implies the Twenty Kings were some kind of tyrants, violently overthrowing the ancient kingdom.

They probably lead a revolt because either the kingdom was evil, the Kings wanted power, or they didn't agree with the kingdom's ideals like equality between fishmen and humans or whatnot. Curious to see who they descended from, it could help us figure out things. And whether they were like Dragon and his army, but wicked or grew wicked over time (if they weren't, already).

My guess is that the ancient kingdom was a utopia of sorts, a place of equality and prosperity. Chances are the Twenty Kings were local rulers desiring absolute power. To do so they formed an alliance to overthrow the ancient kingdom and seize power for themselves.

[Schabrak]

Where was it said the Twenty Kings committed atrocities or why? I can't recall...

One might guess, that the need to annihilate whole tribes and islands, like Robin's Oahana archeology clan, is an attempt to hide the revelation of the cause and reason of the assumption of power. This concludes that the reason would cast a slur at them because it was to crave power.

[Zoronoa Roro]

I think such a thing would be trivial as WG is already all that you all describeed! Slavery, racism, opression! we all saw what hapened to Ohara, isnt that exactly what you want to hide? how different is Tenryiubito from Tyrant?? Nothing short of the genocide couldnt shadow what WG is doin now but we saw that genocide is just their way.

I think that void century storry will go to entire different dirrection, maybe like good & evil fought, good won and sealed evil somwhere and now they protecting it and devil fruits are byproduct of that... or maybe evil won...

maybe he will go for secret society theme... idk! i just dont think that oda will be using such a generic theme for his grand finale

[M3J]

Like Rosco said: in the absence of wrongdoing there would be no reason to hide history. Considering the lengths they will go to suppress the true history, it can be assumed that knowledge alone is enough for the World Government to lose legitimacy. The liberties given to the Tenryuubito coupled with the suppression of history implies the Twenty Kings were some kind of tyrants, violently overthrowing the ancient kingdom.

My guess is that the ancient kingdom was a utopia of sorts, a place of equality and prosperity. Chances are the Twenty Kings were local rulers desiring absolute power. To do so they formed an alliance to overthrow the ancient kingdom and seize power for themselves.

Yeah, it's why I think the 20 Kings were bad. However, they may not have been as bad as the current Tenryuubito since I recall someone saying that as the generation passed, the descendants got worse and worse in behavior and personality. Doesn't necessarily mean The 20 Kings weren't evil (aren't they founders, rather?), but they may not have been as bad as the Tenryuubito.


Considering Rayleigh's facial expression when talking about the Void Century, it's probably safe to assume that it was a bad century, to say the least. I think the fishmen were the biggest victims, but it kind doesn't make sense that they wouldn't talk about the blank century unless they know nothing about it, and are going off on what happened way after.

I'm guessing this all ties in to the whole ultimate weapon of destructions thing, the blueprints Frankie had and Princess Shirahoshi. Which in turn makes me wonder about the sea kings....

[Schabrak]

It's hard to be worse than the current Tenryuubito.

Those weapons could easily have been counter-meassures to the overwhelming number of fleets from twenty united kingdoms.

[EddyBob15]

Well, in any case, there's definitely a secret that the WG doesn't want revealed. Then again, that guy who said that my theory is too generic does have a point. Maybe the history will reveal that it wasn't the Twenty Kings who created the world government by the guy carrying the first D. Hey, we're taking about the same guy who dropped the bomb that Roger had a son, right?

[Zehahaha]

But even, let's say, if those 20 Kings were evil and did atrocities and whatsoever, it still doesn't explain why the WG is so determined to eliminate anyone who wants to learn about the Void Century. The WG is already a big organization, too big to fail, without it the world will be in chaos, even if people knew about it, I doubt the legitimity of the WG will suffer from it. There's more to it.

[Kaiten]

Nothing is to big to fail. History is filled with popular uprisings, collapsing empires, revolutions, and civil wars. Never has the fear of chaos stopped the truly determined, even the most superficial reading of history will prove that. The World Government is willing to kill to suppress the true history. What reason could they have but to maintain their own rule? If the truth does not threaten their rule or the primacy of the Tenryuubito, why would they care? They clearly care little for the lives of the common people.

---------- Post added at 11:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 PM ----------

Yeah, it's why I think the 20 Kings were bad. However, they may not have been as bad as the current Tenryuubito since I recall someone saying that as the generation passed, the descendants got worse and worse in behavior and personality. Doesn't necessarily mean The 20 Kings weren't evil (aren't they founders, rather?), but they may not have been as bad as the Tenryuubito.

The Tenryuubito may have become more decadent as the years passed, less inclined to rule, more interested in creature comforts. The Twenty Kings may have actually taken an interest in more than luxury.

Considering Rayleigh's facial expression when talking about the Void Century, it's probably safe to assume that it was a bad century, to say the least. I think the fishmen were the biggest victims, but it kind doesn't make sense that they wouldn't talk about the blank century unless they know nothing about it, and are going off on what happened way after.

Neptune knows at least a little. He knows that Shirohoshi is one of the ancient weapons, and he knows what is recorded on Fishman Island's ponyglyph. Don't forget that knowledge is suppressed and keeping quiet is in his best interest. Neptune does not seem to know the complete history, only Roger seems to know that much, but he does know something. The Blank Century was 800 years before the current time line, the government has suppressed knowledge by force. Very few remaining people seem to know even a part of the history.

I'm guessing this all ties in to the whole ultimate weapon of destructions thing, the blueprints Frankie had and Princess Shirahoshi. Which in turn makes me wonder about the sea kings....

It's hard to be worse than the current Tenryuubito.

Those weapons could easily have been counter-meassures to the overwhelming number of fleets from twenty united kingdoms.

That is my guess as well, the three weapons were intended to challenge the Twenty Kings. They may have been intended to prevent the Kings from deposing the ancient kingdom, or they could have been created after, as a means to revolt, when the time is right. Joy Boy's message makes me think that the weapons were never actually used in battle.

[M3J]

Well, in any case, there's definitely a secret that the WG doesn't want revealed. Then again, that guy who said that my theory is too generic does have a point. Maybe the history will reveal that it wasn't the Twenty Kings who created the world government by the guy carrying the first D. Hey, we're taking about the same guy who dropped the bomb that Roger had a son, right?

Hmm, the first D. could have been the leader or prominent part of the Twenty Kings who overthrew the kingdom/s and set up a government, but he was the most honest or the most nice. Maybe he was the good one who kept others in line until he died or was murdered. If I recall, Blackbeard is the only exception to the Will of D, someone who killed his own nakama and all.

Though, the first D's heroics could be a made-up story to make the WG look good and all.

The Tenryuubito may have become more decadent as the years passed, less inclined to rule, more interested in creature comforts. The Twenty Kings may have actually taken an interest in more than luxury.

Could have been that they weren't viewed as supremely elite yet that they didn't act as douchebaggy as their descendants.

Neptune knows at least a little. He knows that Shirohoshi is one of the ancient weapons, and he knows what is recorded on Fishman Island's ponyglyph. Don't forget that knowledge is suppressed and keeping quiet is in his best interest. Neptune does not seem to know the complete history, only Roger seems to know that much, but he does know something. The Blank Century was 800 years before the current time line, the government has suppressed knowledge by force. Very few remaining people seem to know even a part of the history.

D'you think that what little he knows about the blank century has helped him hate humans (holy crap, alliteration! <3)? Though, I'm not confident with the thought that the abuse of fishmen would motivate teh WG to keep the century hidden and unknown considering they still allow fishmen to be sold for slavery.

That is my guess as well, the three weapons were intended to challenge the Twenty Kings. They may have been intended to prevent the Kings from deposing the ancient kingdom, or they could have been created after, as a means to revolt, when the time is right. Joy Boy's message makes me think that the weapons were never actually used in battle.

Could they have been the Twenty Kings' weapons, rather, that were refused to be made or used by them? It looks like something similar to Shirahoshi's power was used before. Now that I think about it, the blank century could also be the most embarrassing period for the WG, lots of mistakes, losin wars, stuff like that.

[Schabrak]

That are some weird theories you got there.

A D. leading the 20 Kingdoms instead of defending those that came prior, would make no sense at all with the current depiction of the Void Century and World Government. Also Blackbeard isn't the only exception, as Newgate has mention many Ds living somewhere not being heroic like Gol or Luffy.

I think Neptunes own experiences as a kid/adult are enough to make him despise human so much in the past, everything prior to Newgates intervention might have caused them to hate humans, like slavetrading and mostly human pirates.

Looking at Lvneel Kingdom's king[Noland] four centuries back, it hints to most of them being greedy to some degree.

[Kaiten]

Yeah, all of the characters introduced with the "will of the D." have in some way challenged the government: Roger, Ace, Dragon, and Luffy. The "D." probably represents descendants of the ancient kingdom with pure bloodlines. I am thinking "D." will be the antithesis of the Tenryuubito.