Thief King Bakura was born in the ancient Egyptian village known as Kul Elna. His village became under attack by Akhenaden who took the lives of nearly one hundred people to create the well known Millennium Items. The aftermath of this horrible tragedy resulted in Bakura being the sole survivor.
This attack on his home and loved ones fueld a hatred in young Bakura that drove him to take revenge on Pharoah Aknamkanon, the one who ordered the attack.
This hatred was also passed onto Pharoah Atem.

Yami Bakura is the present day spirit that inhabits the Millennium Ring. The current holder of the ring Ryou Bakura involuntarily becomes the host of this spirt. The spirit itself is the fusion of a shard of Zorc Necrophades' soul and Thief King Bakura's. The spirit within the millennium may contain Thief King Bakura's soul but his memories are alost. His main goal is to obtain all of the 7 Millennium Items in order to bring back Zorc in order to reunite with him to be complete.