One Piece Theory: Mihawk Is the Son of a Roger Pirate and a Former Empress

An intruguing couple in One Piece has been considered the top candidates as Mihawk's parents, and the evidence points toward this theory being true.

Despite being syndicated for over 25 years, One Piece still presents many questions that demand answers. Among its many narrative threads, there are countless events that need to be explored. While Will of D., the lineage of Shanks, and the identity of Rocks D. Xebec are but a few of these mysteries, they speak to the show's interest in the lineage of One Piece's cast. The anime explores this recurring theme time and time against. As the series approaches its long-awaited final saga, there are still several major characters whose backstories and lineage are completely unknown. Arguably, the most noteworthy of these individuals is none other than Dracule Mihawk, the World's Strongest Swordsman.

Since his first appearance in the Baratie Arc, Dracule Mihawk’s origins have been shrouded in mystery. One Piece states the swordsman was once a Marine Hunter. As evidenced by their brief encounter at the end of the East Blue Saga, Mihawk considered Shanks to be his greatest rival at some undetermined point in the past. However, other than this information, virtually nothing is known about Mihawk's backstory, leading many fans to speculate that the identity of his parents could be revealed at a later date. Considering the swordsman's age, as well as a few other factors, there are two characters who are routinely mentioned as his potential parents: Silvers Rayleigh and Shakuyaku.

Updated on September 17, 2023 by Kennedy King: With Monkey D. Luffy now considered an Emperor of the Sea, the hunt for the One Piece has begun in earnest. Dracule Mihawk, who previously had little interest in finding the treasure, is now part of the Cross Guild alongside Buggy the Clown and Crocodile. This development makes the World's Strongest Swordsman more significant than ever. As he inches closer toward his long-awaited showdown with Roronoa Zoro, Mihawk's lineage will certainly be explored in the near future.

The Visual Similarities Of Mihawk, Shakuyaku, And Silvers Rayleigh

While the visual appearance of a One Piece character is not a reliable way to predict who their relatives might be, it's not the worst place to start in the case of Dracule Mihawk. When comparing his appearance to other notable characters, the World's Greatest Swordsman bears a striking resemblance to two specific characters introduced during the series' Sabaody Archipelago Arc. One is Shakuyaku, the former Empress of Amazon Lily. The other is Silvers Rayleigh, the former first mate of the Roger Pirates. The first similarity of note stems from Mihawk's hair, which has always been presented as pitch black with sharp, pointed accents. Shakuyaku's hair is very similar, and while its color isn't particularly noteworthy, the fact it is styled similarly to Mihawk's stands out. Both of their hairlines come to a triangular point below their ears — a similarity that is further emphasized by their strong squared chins. Although these overlapping visual designs could be chalked up to the art style of One Piece's author, Eiichiro Oda, there are more signs that point to a connection between the trio.

Besides Shakuyaku, Dracule Mihawk also enjoys a distinct resemblance to Silvers Rayleigh, the former right hand of Gol D. Roger. Although Silvers' hair is depicted as blonde during his youth, lighter hair colors tend to be a recessive gene, so it's not unrealistic to think that the two could be directly connected. Rayleigh's facial hair and eyebrows were black when he was still on the Roger Pirates. This lends further credence to the idea that his hair serves as a point of connection to the World's Greatest Swordsman. In fact, Rayleigh's style of facial hair also provides a potential through line between the two legendary pirates. Mihawk's goatee includes a single strip running down the middle of his chin, whereas Silvers Rayleigh sports five stripes of similarly arranged facial hair. These minor similarities between character designs may seem like an effect of Oda's art style. However, One Piece's author has used this strategy to provide hints about several characters' lineage. These hints include Zoro's resemblance to the Shimotsuki Clan, Sanji's eyebrows and their connection to the Vinsmoke Family, and the messy hair of Portgas D. Ace and Gol D. Roger.

How the One Piece Timeline Supports A Connection Between Mihawk, Shakky, And Rayleigh

When comparing the ages of Mihawk and his potential parents, the pieces continue to fit together. By the events of One Piece, Silver Rayleigh is 78, Shakuyaku is 64, and Dracule Mihawk is 44. If Mihawk is their son, it would mean that the pair would have been 34 and 20 when he was born. Considering that they were both pirates at this time and Shakky retired 42 years before the story, it is not impossible that they met on the sea and hooked up after a heroic bout between their crews. The words of Gloriosa support this theory, since she states that every Empress of Amazon Lily falls victim to the Love Sickness. Since Shakky abandoned her post as Empress around the same time that Mihawk was born, it's entirely possible that she did so in order to raise the boy who would eventually become the World's Strongest Swordsman. Similarly, when Silvers Rayleigh holds an infant Kozuki Momonosuke, he comments the child reminds him of the old days, perhaps suggesting that he is reminiscing about the time that he spent raising Dracule Mihawk.

Unfortunately, until further notice, the evidence surrounding Dracule Mihawk's connection to Shakuyaku and Silvers Rayleigh is completely circumstantial. Neither Shakky nor Rayleigh ever directly mention the fact that they have a son. Whenever Mihawk's rivalry with Shanks is discussed, there is never any mention of them being connected through the Roger Pirates. While the World's Strongest Swordsman has never been talkative, it seems like he would have mentioned his backstory to Roronoa Zoro during the two years that they spent together in the series' timeskip. Still, there are plenty of explanations for these discrepancies, making it entirely possible that Dracule Mihawk backstory houses one of the biggest secrets in One Piece history.