One Piece: Who are the Holy Knights? 

While the larger antagonistic group of mangaka Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is the World Government, the story also introduces several powerful subgroups operating within its ranks. This includes the Gorosei and the World Government’s true leader, Imu, as well as the Marines and the various Cipher Pol groups. Yet more menacing than all of them are the Holy Knights.

While there isn’t much known about the Holy Knights, fans do know they are the elite guard of Mariejois and have the authority to oversee the Celestial Dragons. This was confirmed via Saint Garling Figarland, then-Supreme Commander of the Holy Knights, overseeing the execution of Saint Donquixote Mjosgard.

It’s implied that One Piece’s Holy Knights have at least nine total members, with its top two ranks being Supreme Commander and Commander. As of this article’s writing, the last two to hold the titles were Saint Garling Figarland and Saint Shamrock Figarland, respectively. Likewise, some members of the Holy Knights are Celestial Dragons with actual combat skills.

Other Celestial Dragons who are a part of their ranks include Saint Shepherd Sommers and Saint Rimoshifu Killingham. Gunko is also a member of the group, but she wasn’t introduced and has yet to be confirmed as a Celestial Dragon. Beyond these five, two other members have appeared in the manga, but have yet to be formally introduced as of this article’s writing.

The Holy Knights’ involvement in One Piece’s story

The Holy Knights are first named as a group in One Piece chapter 1083 by Revolutionary Army leader Monkey D. Dragon. He theorizes that the World Government will mobilize the Holy Knights in response to both Sabo’s rising prominence and the Revolutionary Army’s siege of Mariejois. They appear here as a silhouetted group with minimal details.

However, one can argue that the Holy Knights technically first appear in chapter 907, where Shamrock Figarland was seen meeting with the Gorosei to discuss a specific pirate. "It’s confirmed that this was Shamrock—not his twin brother Shanks—by the distinct black cloak he wears, which matches the one seen on him in the Elbaph Arc.

Beyond this appearance, the next major action taken by the Holy Knights outside of Garling’s aforementioned execution of Donquixote Mjosgard is during the Elbaph Arc. Shamrock and Gunko arrive in Elbaph and immediately speak to Loki, attempting to convince him to join them. After he refuses, the pair attack him until he’s in a near-death state before departing.

Shortly after this, One Piece introduces Saint Rimoshifu Killingham and Saint Shepherd Sommers. Their arrival in Elbaph also marks Shamrock’s departure, as to need to handle something in Mariejois. Instead, Shamrock tasks Gunko and the others with completing the mission—casually suggesting they treat it like a "game."

While their initial goal was to get Loki to join them and use his might to force the other Giants to do their bidding, they adjusted after he refused to join them. They instead decided to abduct the children of Elbaph and use them as bargaining chips with the adult Giants. Likewise, their “game” sees each combining their powers to keep the Giants from rescuing the children.

Their ultimate goal was recently revealed in One Piece chapter 1146 as getting the Giants to join the World Government’s side in a coming world war. Gunko specifically states that the Giants’ allegiance will sway the battle’s outcome greatly, thus explaining the lengths the Holy Knights are going to.

In summation

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The Holy Knights are one of the strongest, most fearsome, and cruelest groups of fighters in all of One Piece. They currently consist of five named members and two more unnamed members. They serve as the Elbaph Arc’s antagonists, where they are attempting to kidnap the children of Elbaph to force the nation’s Giants to fight on their side in a coming war.

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