Blackbeard, also known as Marshall D. Teach, has played a pivotal role in the One Piece series since his first appearance in Jaya. Despite his significance as one of the most prominent villains in the franchise, Blackbeard’s background remains a mystery as the story enters its final saga.
This lack of information about his origins is intriguing, suggesting that his past holds great importance for the plot’s progression.
One particularly captivating connection is the link between Blackbeard and the formidable Rocks D. Xebec. Xebec was so powerful that the World Government feared him to the extent of erasing all traces of his existence from history.
Even the combined forces of Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp could not defeat him without joining forces. Blackbeard has been portrayed as a metaphorical second coming of Xebec, and the possibility that he might be Xebec’s son adds an extra layer of intrigue to their relationship.
As the story unfolds, it is likely that the details of Blackbeard’s origins will be revealed in due time, shedding light on the significance of his connection with the legendary Rocks D. Xebec and how it affects the overall narrative of One Piece.
Blackbeard’s Connection to Rocks D. Xebec
Blackbeard is currently 40 years old. This means that he was merely a 2-year-old child during the God Valley Incident, which marked the end of Rocks D. Xebec’s life. Notably, this event took place 38 years before the present-day timeline in One Piece.
Given Blackbeard’s young age at the time of Xebec’s demise, it is evident that he could not have been a part of Xebec’s crew.
However, their undeniable connection raises an intriguing possibility – Blackbeard might be the son of the legendary Rocks D. Xebec.
When One Piece author Eiichiro Oda illustrated Blackbeard’s childhood appearance, he portrayed him as a lonely and miserable child.
This depiction aligns with the idea that Teach could be the orphaned son of Xebec, who passed away when Blackbeard was only two years old.
The timeline between Xebec’s death and Blackbeard’s current age fits this speculation remarkably well.
As the story progresses, it is likely that the details surrounding Blackbeard’s origins and his potential connection to Rocks D. Xebec as his father will be revealed, shedding light on the significance of their relationship and its impact on the overall narrative of One Piece.
Blackbeard’s Ship and the Mystery of Rocks D. Xebec
Rocks D. Xebec has only been depicted as a silhouette thus far, with his full physical appearance yet to be revealed.
However, his ominous grin appears to bear a striking resemblance to Blackbeard’s, which is undoubtedly thought-provoking.
It’s important to note, though, that a silhouette alone doesn’t provide conclusive evidence, and it could potentially be a red herring employed by the author Eiichiro Oda.
A more significant clue pointing to the narrative connection between Teach and Xebec is the fact that Blackbeard named his ship “Saber of Xebec.” This can hardly be a coincidence, as Xebec’s full name, Rocks D. Xebec, is largely unknown to most, presumably including Teach himself.
The majority of people have only heard of Rocks D. Xebec as Rocks, the captain of the notorious pirate group bearing his name. This is because the World Government has erased all information about the former from history, making his full name a well-guarded secret within the One Piece world.
Only those directly associated with Rocks, such as his former crewmates, Garp, Sengoku, and the Roger Pirates, were privy to the knowledge that he was called Rocks D. Xebec. The rest of the world, including Blackbeard who was a mere child when Xebec perished, has no way of knowing his full name.
The Ruthless Ambitions of Blackbeard and Rocks D. Xebec
The name “Saber of Xebec” for Blackbeard’s ship could be a subtle reference to the fact that he inherited Xebec’s ambition and aims to fulfill it, metaphorically becoming his weapon.
It is worth noting that a saber is a type of sword typically used by pirates in the 16th and 17th centuries, which seems to be an inspiration for Blackbeard’s character design.
Another evident connection between Blackbeard and Xebec is their shared use of the island of Fullalead (also known as Beehive in some translations and called Hachinosu in the original Japanese) as their respective bases of operations.
Xebec initially assembled his crew on Fullalead and used it as his headquarters from that point onward.
After Xebec’s death and the subsequent disbandment of the Rocks Pirates, Fullalead was seized by Ochoku. However, Blackbeard eventually overthrew Ochoku and claimed the island as his own.
Blackbeard’s particular interest in becoming the new ruler of Fullalead may have been driven by his desire to carry on Xebec’s legacy, much like his approach to assembling his crew.
While crews like the Straw Hat Pirates and many others are formed by close-knit friends connected by shared bonds, the Rocks Pirates and the Blackbeard Pirates appear to be structured differently.
The Rocks Pirates and the Blackbeard Pirates are not formed by close-knit bonds of friendship like many other crews in the One Piece world.
Instead, these crews are bands of outlaws held together by mutual interests and a lack of genuine camaraderie.
This distinction is significantly emphasized in the story, as the Rocks Pirates immediately disbanded after Xebec’s demise during the God Valley Incident.
Similarly, the newly recruited members of the Blackbeard Pirates stated that they would leave the crew if Teach failed to obtain Whitebeard’s Quake-Quake Fruit, highlighting their lack of loyalty and commitment to the group beyond their own self-interests.
It was revealed that Xebec’s ultimate goal was to become the “King of the World.” In his relentless pursuit of this ambition, he was remorseless, ready to attack anyone indiscriminately and crush anyone who stood in his way.
Blackbeard has exhibited a similar attitude, betraying and killing his crewmates without hesitation. Furthermore, the One Piece chapter 1107 revealed that Blackbeard’s aim is to seize control of the world, just as Xebec once attempted to do.
Both Blackbeard and Xebec are among the few characters in the One Piece universe who bear the fateful “D.” initial in their names.
However, they stand in stark contrast to most other members of the D. Clan, who are typically depicted as good-hearted individuals.
Blackbeard and Xebec distinguish themselves by their malicious lust for power and their willingness to pursue their ambitions through ruthless means.
Blackbeard’s Connection to Whitebeard
The World Government has historically taken drastic measures to eradicate the lineages of infamous pirates. When Gol D. Roger surrendered himself, the government began hunting all pregnant women within a certain area, aiming to eliminate the Pirate King’s bloodline.
Roger’s lover, Rouge, was forced to change the name of their son, Gol D. Ace, to Portgas D. Ace in an attempt to protect him from the manhunt.
Given the World Government’s intense fear and hatred of Rocks D. Xebec, it is plausible that a similar scenario unfolded after his demise at the God Valley Incident.
Following this assumption, Xebec had a 2-year-old son with a certain woman, and this young child could potentially be the person now known as Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard.
In this scenario, Teach’s surname, Marshall D., would derive from his mother, who changed the baby’s original surname to conceal his identity from the World Government’s pursuit.
Otherwise, his name would have been Rocks D. Teach. While this remains a speculative theory, it presents an intriguing possibility that could explain the connections between Blackbeard and Xebec.
The fact that Marshall D. Teach, also known as Blackbeard, became a prominent member of the Whitebeard Pirates at a very young age is quite intriguing.
Perhaps, Teach gained acceptance into the crew by revealing to Whitebeard that he was the son of the latter’s previous captain, Rocks D. Xebec. As a highly honorable man, Whitebeard might have felt a sense of remorse for abandoning his former captain.
In an attempt to make amends for his past negligence, Whitebeard could have happily welcomed the son of his former captain aboard his ship. This scenario seems even more plausible given that Blackbeard was an orphan.
Whitebeard was known for his desire to become a father figure to anyone seeking a family, and he might have felt a sense of responsibility for Teach’s orphaned status if he believed that Teach was indeed the son of his former captain.
Soul of the Pirate King
While it is clear that Blackbeard somehow inherited Xebec’s will, it is important to note that in the world of One Piece, the person who inherits someone’s will is often not a direct biological descendant.
For example, Gol D. Roger’s will was not inherited by his son, Ace, but by Monkey D. Luffy, someone with no blood relation to him.
Taking this concept into account, Blackbeard’s obsession with Xebec may not stem from being his biological son but rather from being Xebec himself in a new form.
One intriguing theory suggests that when Xebec was on the verge of death during the God Valley Incident, he used a certain Devil Fruit power to transfer his soul into another body, effectively possessing it.
It is worth noting that Teach is the only character in One Piece who can possess two Devil Fruit abilities, a unique trait that sets him apart from others.
During the God Valley Incident, many slaves and innocent people were present due to the “human hunting tournament” organized by the Celestial Dragons.
At that time, Blackbeard was a young child, and it is entirely possible that he was among those unfortunate individuals.
As he wandered around, having lost his parents in the carnage, the dying Xebec could have seized the opportunity to possess Blackbeard’s body, transferring his soul into the child’s form.
Is Blackbeard the son of Rocks D. Xebec?
When Luffy, Zoro, and Nami overheard Teach speaking enthusiastically in episode 147, he made a profound statement about the nature of dreams and ambition.
Rather than using his own words, Teach seemed to be channeling the perspective of someone else – potentially even the spirit of his role model, Rocks D. Xebec residing within him.
This could explain why he uncharacteristically referenced dreams in an inspiring way, contradicting his typically ruthless nature.
Teach expressed that people’s deepest aspirations need not be bounded or defined by what others think is realistic or attainable.
Even if others mock lofty goals, the most ambitious dreams can stay vividly alive, undefeated inside a person’s heart and mind.
He reminded me that for those seeking greatness, demonstrating one’s capabilities does not always involve physical confrontation or violence. There are other pathways to power and influence too.
This perspective, resonant with Xebec’s worldview, further strengthens the case for Xebec’s soul inhabiting Teach somehow.
It could clarify why Teach respects Xebec so deeply, emulates his mannerisms, struggles to sleep, and has an atypical body housing two devil fruits.
However, Luffy and Zoro cryptically corrected Nami’s assumption that Teach was operating as a single individual.
Through translational interpretations, they suggested some version of “It’s not just one guy, there is more than one entity present” or “It’s not he, it’s they.”
This perplexed Nami, but Luffy and Zoro did not elaborate further when she asked them to explain what they meant. Perhaps the captain and first mate of the Straw Hat crew sensed that Teach was not entirely himself at that moment – that there were in fact multiple spirits or personalities governing his words and actions overall.
This scene remains open to speculation until creator Eiichiro Oda reveals the intended truth. All theories about Blackbeard’s connection to Rocks D. Xebec are equally viable for now.
But Oda clearly planted these narrative clues deliberately, foreshadowing how the dynamic between Teach and Xebec will significantly influence the overarching story ahead.
More About One Piece
The story follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young man who has gained extraordinary rubber-like abilities after eating a Devil Fruit by accident.
Inspired by his childhood idol the late Pirate King Gold Roger, Luffy sets sail to gather a crew and locate Roger’s ultimate treasure, known as “One Piece,” thereby succeeding Roger as the next King of the Pirates.
Joining Luffy is Roronoa Zoro, a mighty swordsman who aims to become the greatest; Nami, a savvy navigator focused on building wealth; Usopp, a boastful marksman telling exaggerated tales; and Sanji, a skilled chef with a chivalrous streak.
They embark aboard the ship Going Merry, later the Thousand Sunny, engaging in adventures and battles with notorious pirates while gathering new crewmates.
These include Tony Tony Chopper, a doctor who gained human attributes through his own Devil Fruit; Nico Robin, an archaeologist with a sinister reputation; Franky, a shipwright adept at building and mechanics; Brook, a humorous undead musician; and Jimbei, a noble fish-man warrior.
Together this diverse cast of pirates pursue their dreams, encountering enemies like warlords and revolutionaries while also meeting allies in a variety of organizations.
Luffy and the Straw Hats sail onward through the seas, continuing their quest for the great treasure of One Piece.
