Buzz
Does Silvers Rayleigh's destiny align with his real-life counterpart's?
In the One Piece universe, Silvers Rayleigh is known by the formidable title 'Dark King.' Additionally, he holds the moniker 'Right Hand of the Pirate King,' serving as the first mate of Gol D. Roger's pirate crew and displaying remarkable strength.
During the Sabaody Archipelago arc, Shakuyaku emphasized that Silvers Rayleigh surpasses the combined strength of 11 Supernovas by a factor of 100. Even Admiral Kizaru admitted that capturing this legendary figure would require a meticulously researched plan developed over months. When Garp was informed of Rayleigh's possible presence on Sabaody, he instructed his forces to retreat immediately upon encountering him to minimize casualties.
At some point after Roger's departure and the disbandment of the Pirate King's crew, Rayleigh became a skilled mechanic on Sabaody Archipelago. Later, he played the role of a mentor, teaching Luffy how to use Haki. However, Rayleigh admitted that he's no longer in his prime, acknowledging a decline in combat prowess due to aging.
Did you know that Eiichiro Oda drew inspiration for the character Silvers Rayleigh from someone in real life? It turns out, the real-life prototype of the Dark King is Walter Raleigh (1552 – 1618), an English explorer, mariner, author, poet, and close confidant of Elizabeth I.
Walter Raleigh, the real-life inspiration for the Dark King.After Elizabeth I's passing, James I, not favoring Raleigh, accused him of plotting against the crown, leading to a death sentence in 1603. The sentence was later reduced to life imprisonment, and Raleigh spent the next 12 years incarcerated in the Tower of London.
In 1616, Raleigh was granted freedom to lead a second expedition in search of El Dorado, which ended in failure. Upon his return to England, his death sentence was reinstated, and the execution of Raleigh took place on a late October day in 1618.
