The True History
The forbidden truth that could shatter the world or unite it forever.
The True History refers to the lost chronicles of the world's most ancient civilization, hidden from public knowledge for nearly a thousand years by the ruling World Government. This forbidden narrative details the origins of the Void Century, the rise and fall of the Great Kingdom, and the creation of the ancient weapons capable of destroying the planet.
Accessing this history requires finding the Road Poneglyphs scattered across the seas to locate the final island, Laugh Tale. It is the ultimate prize sought by the Pirate King Gol D. Roger and his crew, representing the truth that could dismantle the current world order or lead to its total destruction.
- Era Covered
- The Void Century (approx. 800-900 years ago)
- Primary Antagonists
- The Twenty Kingdoms (Founders of the World Government)
- Key Artifact
- The Poneglyphs
- Current Status
- Hidden/Suppressed by the World Government
- Last Known Reader
- Gol D. Roger and his crew
Lore & Background
Centuries before the current era, a powerful and advanced civilization known as the Great Kingdom flourished, standing in opposition to twenty other nations that banded together to form an alliance. This conflict, known as the Void Century, ended with the victory of the allied kingdoms, who subsequently erased all records of their enemy from history books. The Great Kingdom's legacy survived only through indestructible stone tablets called Poneglyphs, which were scattered across the globe by its last queen, Nefertari D. Lily.
In Their Own Story
The waves crashed against the walls of Laugh Tale as the crew stood in silence, the weight of a thousand years pressing down on their shoulders. Roger laughed, not with mockery, but with a profound, tearful joy that echoed through the empty halls of the ancient city. He looked at his crewmates, realizing they were the first to hear the story since the world was forged anew. 'So this is it,' he whispered, tracing the wall where the final Poneglyph hummed with a secret that would either save humanity or end it all.
Reader's Guide
The True History remains the central mystery driving the narrative of One Piece. It is the reason the World Government maintains such strict control over information and executes anyone who dares to speak of the Void Century. The history is physically recorded on Poneglyphs, unique stones that cannot be destroyed by conventional means. While most are red or black, four specific Road Poneglyphs hold coordinates leading to the final island.
Only a few individuals in history have been able to read these inscriptions: the scholar Oden, the pirate Roger, and currently, Monkey D. Luffy's crewmate Nico Robin. The content of this history is said to explain why the world is divided by the Red Line and the Calm Belts, the nature of the Ancient Weapons Pluton, Poseidon, and Uranus, and the true meaning of the Will of D.
Understanding the True History is not merely an academic pursuit but a political act. The World Government fears that revealing this past would invalidate their legitimacy as rulers and potentially unite the world against them. Consequently, the journey to uncover these truths has become the primary motivation for pirates, revolutionaries, and Marines alike, making it the most dangerous and coveted secret in existence.
Did You Know?
- The term 'Void Century' refers to a specific 100-year gap in historical records that the World Government actively censors.
- Gol D. Roger was able to reach the final island only because he had the ability to hear the voice of all things, allowing him to read the Poneglyphs.
- The name 'Laugh Tale' comes from the fact that Gol D. Roger and his crew laughed upon hearing the true history, rather than being horrified by it.
- Nico Robin is currently the only known living person capable of reading the ancient script without needing a translator.