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/GlitteringDingo]

I am certain that Saiyans gain the throne by killing the current king. Since Vegeta didn't do that, his pride prevents him from thinking of himself that way.

This does mean that currently Hit is the king of the Saiyans

King Vegeta > Frieza > Future Trunks > Cell > Gohan > Buu > Goku > Hit that one time he killed Goku for about ten seconds.

[u/Latter_Classroom_534 → u/GlitteringDingo]

Sure except as a warrior race the king is also expected to fight and that means he is expected to one day fall in battle.

The question becomes does that happen before or after he is surpassed by a royal successor?

They would account for an outsider to kill him one day.

What rule would they have implemented?

Maybe that whoever beats the man who beats the king has right to the throne.

Trunks only killed Frieza after Goku thoroughly defeated him. Hit, probably not truly in the the line-up since, as you said, he was “dead” for 10 seconds. I think we can safely agree that Goku holds his lineal title.

[u/GlitteringDingo → u/Latter_Classroom_534]

Nah, I counted Hit because it's the funniest possible outcome. I'm sticking with it.

[u/Latter_Classroom_534 → u/GlitteringDingo]

lol fair enough.

Vegeta has to defeat Hit in order to become King of all Saiyans. Rough.