<p>I don't think previous Yonko have ever been mentioned in One Piece. It would actually be quite odd if there were always exactly 4 strong pirate crews. Especially since they have already added Luffy to the bunch so it's technically not even Yonko anymore.</p>

<p>The title probably originated after Roger died and a few of the pirate crews dominated everyone else. But there isn't much to cite from the manga as Oda hasn't really revealed anything about Shanks' rise to the top.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-07T05:09:33.547Z
Roger's death is what started the era of widespread piracy, fueled by the desire to find the One Piece. Whitebeard was definitely around during Roger's time, and we have recently seen mention of [Rocks](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Rocks) either the name of the captain or crew to which Kaido and Big Mom were both linked in some manner. So there were no 'Yonko' titles before, but people of that level were definitely present.
TheGamer007
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-07T05:12:21.993Z
@TheGamer007 Well, yeah. I didn't mean to imply that there were no strong pirate crews before. Just that they were probably called something other than yonko. You can also add Shiki to the list of old school strong pirates.
merlyn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-07T05:22:50.823Z
Yep. Your answer is on point, was just adding some other related info.
TheGamer007
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-04-24T06:47:49.980Z
During Kaido's intro, they mentioned that Kaido challenged Navy and Yonko meaning that before he became a Yonko, concept of Yonko already existed.
theprogrammer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-06T16:57:43.190Z
2018-11-06T16:57:43.190Z
merlyn
<p>Just like the way there have been multiple Kage's over the centuries (in the Naruto-verse), <strong><em>have there also been yonko's for previous generations?</em></strong> What i'm trying to grasp is if the Yonko title started with the "Big 4" (Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, shanks). If that were the case then Shanks would have been the youngest,and most likely the newest addition at that time.</p>

<p>Or Did Shanks replace a previous Yonko just like how </p>

<blockquote class="spoiler">
  <p>Blackbeard replaced Whitebeard?</p>
</blockquote>

<one-piece>
Who were the previous "Emperors of the Sea"
# Who were the previous "Emperors of the Sea"
Posted by: username_0 on 2018-11-06
Just like the way there have been multiple Kage's over the centuries (in the Naruto-verse), ***have there also been yonko's for previous generations?*** What i'm trying to grasp is if the Yonko title started with the "Big 4" (Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, shanks). If that were the case then Shanks would have been the youngest,and most likely the newest addition at that time.

Or Did Shanks replace a previous Yonko just like how

> Blackbeard replaced Whitebeard?
**Tags:** one-piece
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_1 on 2018-11-06. Score: 2
I don't think previous Yonko have ever been mentioned in One Piece. It would actually be quite odd if there were always exactly 4 strong pirate crews. Especially since they have already added Luffy to the bunch so it's technically not even Yonko anymore.

The title probably originated after Roger died and a few of the pirate crews dominated everyone else. But there isn't much to cite from the manga as Oda hasn't really revealed anything about Shanks' rise to the top.
> **Comments:**
> **username_2** (2018-11-07): Roger's death is what started the era of widespread piracy, fueled by the desire to find the One Piece. Whitebeard was definitely around during Roger's time, and we have recently seen mention of [Rocks](http://onepiece.wikia.com/wiki/Rocks) either the name of the captain or crew to which Kaido and Big Mom were both linked in some manner. So there were no 'Yonko' titles before, but people of that level were definitely present.  
> **username_1** (2018-11-07): @TheGamer007 Well, yeah. I didn't mean to imply that there were no strong pirate crews before. Just that they were probably called something other than yonko. You can also add Shiki to the list of old school strong pirates.  
> **username_2** (2018-11-07): Yep. Your answer is on point, was just adding some other related info.  
> **username_3** (2022-04-24): During Kaido's intro, they mentioned that Kaido challenged Navy and Yonko meaning that before he became a Yonko, concept of Yonko already existed.  
---
