Gol D. Roger

The Roger Pirates' captain whose last words began the Great Pirate Era.

Gol D. Roger, better known as Gold Roger, was the captain of the Roger Pirates in One Piece and became infamous around the world.

Quick Facts

Crew: Roger Pirates (captain)

Facts from the source article.

Background

Suffering from a terminal illness, he took his crew on a complete voyage through the Grand Line, then disbanded them and gave himself up to the World Government, which claimed to have captured him. In secret he entrusted his son, Ace, to Monkey D. Garp. At his execution, 22 years before the Straw Hat crew formed, he set off the "Great Pirate Era" by announcing that his treasure, the One Piece, was there for whoever could find it. After his death it was said that only Whitebeard could match him in a fight, and his ability to hear "the voice of all things" let him and his crew learn the world's secret history. His straw hat passed to Shanks after his death, and Shanks later handed it on to Luffy.