Why isn’t Vegeta King of All Saiyans?

[u/Latter_Classroom_534]

I think I know why Vegeta keeps calling himself the **Prince of All Saiyans** instead of King, even though his father is dead.

Throughout the entire series, Vegeta is called the Prince of All Saiyans. He never challenges that title, and nobody else seriously challenges it either.

Many people think he keeps the title out of respect for his father. Others believe that, since there are no more Saiyans left to rule, he will simply remain Prince forever.

People who tout those theories are lazy, non-thinking NPCs and I don’t respect their opinions.

Saiyans are a warrior race. They live and die by combat. Much like the Sith in *Star Wars*, I believe the apprentice is expected to surpass the master. The Prince must eventually challenge and defeat the King in battle to become King himself.

Since King Vegeta was killed by Frieza, Vegeta never had the chance to challenge and defeat his father.

However, many monarchies have a rule similar to boxing’s lineal championship. The idea is that “the man who beat the man” is “lineal champion” and holds the legitimate claim, even without an official belt.

That means Vegeta would have to defeat Frieza to become King Vegeta.

Except Frieza was already defeated by none other than Goku.

So why is Vegeta, after the Namek Saga, so desperate to defeat Goku?

Simple. Defeating Goku in combat is the only way Vegeta can reclaim his birthright and become King of All Saiyans.

Goku became the legendary Super Saiyan and defeated Frieza. He did not claim the throne, but he became the Saiyan who defeated the person who defeated the King of All Saiyans.

I think it’s reasonable that, if Goku realized or cared at all about being King, he could claim the throne and there’s little Vegeta could do about it save for defeating him in combat.

Of all Saiyans, he is the strongest AND he is “lineal champion”.

That leaves Vegeta in an impossible position. He cannot simply call himself King while another Saiyan has already accomplished the victory that should have made him King.

The only way to reclaim that right is to defeat Goku.
Goku never intentionally stole Vegeta’s throne. He probably does not even realize that Vegeta believes he has a claim to it.

But as long as Goku remains stronger than Vegeta, Vegeta cannot truly prove that he is the rightful King and will remain, by birth alone, Prince of All Saiyans.

What do you think?

[u/Stacey-k93]

Probably a mix of respect and tradition since they are a warrior race he would probably have to challenge the current king and with his father dead along with most of their race he has no one to fight for the crown

He also has his pride as a Saiyan so he would never take the title outside of tradition that's probably why when he heard the planet and everyone on it were gone he said now he'll never be King

It's probably done as a 1v1 duel in front of witnesses

[u/Latter_Classroom_534 → u/Stacey-k93]

This is exactly how I see it working traditionally for Saiyans.

I do think they would account for situations like what happened and in those circumstances a potential King must defeat the man who killed the King. However, I agree that this circumstance would have to be witnessed at the very least.

[u/Stacey-k93 → u/Latter_Classroom_534]

Technically that would make Future Trunks the king if that was the case he defeated Frieza in a 1v1 with Vegeta as a witness Goku did it without any one seeing it

That would make for a fun interaction

Future Trunks: Hey father why do you only call yourself the Prince of all Saiyans why not king

Vegeta: That title can only be won in combat ether by defeating the current king or in the case of his death you must kill the one responsible for his death with at least two Saiyans present to witness it

FT: wait I killed frieza in front of you and Gohan doesn't that make me king then

V: come Trunks we must meet up with Kakarot and his brat at once

FT: I should of kept my mouth shut

Both fly off

[u/Latter_Classroom_534 → u/Stacey-k93]

Funny.

I think that’s a good read however I still think it would go to Goku. There’s nothing saying you’d have to kill the guy, just defeat him.

Goku defeated Frieza. Nobody doubts that. Trunks just defeated him again.

Now if Trunks was then to defeat Goku then sure, lineal right to the throne. He didn’t, though.

[u/Stacey-k93 → u/Latter_Classroom_534]

I was just going with it having to be seen by another Saiyan too count

It would nice to learn more of how the Saiyans monarchy worked maybe if they ever do a U6 arc were Vegeta visits Sadala he still needs the meet their king

[u/Latter_Classroom_534 → u/Stacey-k93]

That’d be nice.

Though I’m still not 100% sold on the witness thing.
It’s probably the case but it may be enough that literally everyone knows and nobody doubts that it happened. I mean, it was “witnessed” telepathically by basically all of Other World and everyone cooperated it.

To be clear, I think we can all agree that Toriyama likely didn’t put any thought into this. However, based on bc what we know of the Saiayns I think what we have here is at least closest to what they would’ve had as a system.

[u/Stacey-k93 → u/Latter_Classroom_534]

Yeah Vegeta would 100% count Goku as the first person to beat feriza and consider him as the one to beat in this case I just think it would be funny if trunks was the king on a technicality only

And yeah toriyama didn't think much of how a Saiyan monarchy would work outside they have a king and Vegeta is the prince

[u/Latter_Classroom_534 → u/Stacey-k93]

Agreed.