Article summary:
800 years ago, a 100-year period was completely erased from the history books. It is the Void Century. It was during this era that the Ancient Kingdom flourished before being annihilated by the alliance that would become the World Government. In 2026, thanks to the research of Ohara and Vegapunk, we finally know the truth.
Why is it forbidden to study the Poneglyphs? Why was Ohara Island destroyed by a Buster Call? The answer lies in one secret: the World Government did not "create" the current world; it conquered it on the ashes of a far more advanced civilization.
Knowledge is the World Government's greatest enemy.
The Ancient Kingdom: Futuristic technology
For a long time, it was believed that the Ancient Kingdom was a primitive civilization. That was false. As revealed in the Egghead Arc, this kingdom possessed technology superior to that of our current era (giant robots, unlimited energy...).
It was this power that frightened the 20 rival kingdoms. They therefore formed an alliance to destroy this civilization and erase its ideology of freedom. This is the origin of the Ancient Weapons (Pluton, Uranus, Poseidon), which are in fact remnants of this war.
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The Great War: Joy Boy versus Imu
The central conflict of the Void Century pitted two ideologies against each other:
- Joy Boy: Representing freedom, laughter, and equality (see our feature on Joy Boy).
- The Alliance of the 20 Kings: Secretly led by Imu-sama, seeking absolute control.
Joy Boy lost the war. The 20 victorious kings founded the World Government and settled in Mary Geoise, becoming the Celestial Dragons. Only the Nefertari family of Alabasta refused to move there, preserving part of the truth (and the famous D.).
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The Poneglyphs: Indestructible letters
Sensing that defeat was approaching, the Kozuki clan (from the land of Wano) engraved the history of this century on indestructible cubes: the Poneglyphs. They were scattered throughout the world so that future generations could discover the truth.
This is the message Roger found on Laugh Tale. The "Rio Poneglyph" is simply the compilation of all these truths.
To understand how to decipher these stones, read: How to read the Poneglyphs?
Conclusion: The truth will resurface
The Void Century is not merely the past; it is the key to the final battle. Luffy, having inherited Joy Boy's will, is destined to finish this fight.
To learn everything about the pirates' sworn enemy, visit our cornerstone page on The Marines and the World Government or discover the ultimate secrets on our page dedicated to the mysteries.
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