Now, to fully understand Vegeta, you must know what a Saiyan actually is.  The reason why I'm mentioning this is because I've had people ask me this question.  If you watch the show, you'll obviously know what I'm talking about.  But I know a few people who don't have a clue what DBZ is all about.  I pity you, j/k.  So here it goes... SAIYAN 101: LESSON 1 A Saiyan---well, the word Saiyan translates from the Japanese word Saiya-jin.  Saiya- originates from the word Seiyuuki which in turn means Monkey.  There's a Chinese myth about the whole Seiyuuki thing but I don't know much about it.  I do know that myth involves a boy named Son Goku that transforms into a monkey ape (which ever you want to call it), has a poll stick, loves to eat, and is incredibly strong.  In fact, there's even another anime called Saiyuki with a similar character as Goku.

Saiyans are a strong proud warrior race.  They are raised to do nothing but fight.  At the sight of a full moon, the Saiyans have the ability to transform into Giant Apes.  The transformation is somehow connected with their tale.  If a tale is cut off, the Oozaru (Giant ape) form can't be accomplished.  And if not properly trained, they grow defenseless when someone grabs their tale. Ok, got that?  Good!  Now, on with Vegeta's tale...

 

Frieza, the most feared tyrant in the universe ran a system of Planet Trade/Selling, where he would send a band of soldiers to either destroy a planet or its inhabitants.  Then, he?d auction the Planet to the highest bidder.  Along the way of conquering the galaxies, Frieza made a pact with the Saiyans, hiring them to do some of his dirty work.  But Frieza took note of the Saiyans' abilities.  He feared that one day a Saiyan's power would surpass his own and overthrow him.  He visited the Saiyan Empire requesting claim of the young prince.  King Vegeta in plans to bring down the Ice Lord gave up Vegeta securing his safety on Frieza's ship before their raid.  Frieza being too powerful for them killed the King along with his men.  With a deadening blow, he destroyed Planet Vegeta annihilating all but a few remaining Saiyans who were off world at the time.

Born on Planet Vegeta as Prince of all Saiyans, Vegeta was one of the most powerful Saiyans of his line.  His father, King Vegeta, saw in him the potential of becoming the powerful Legendary Super Saiyan.  For in over 1,000 years this legendary warrior had not emerged.  And he, who had, could only obtain this "legendary" power in their Oozaru form.  Staring at the pods of Saiyan infants heading into outer worlds, Vegeta merely 5 years old, set his one goal: to become the legendary Super Saiyan, the greatest strength in the universe.

DARK PAST

With no kingdom left to rule, Vegeta continued working as one of Frieza's mercenaries along with Nappa and Raditz---2 of the surviving Saiyans.  It was told to them that their planet's destruction was caused by a large meteor.  For years the real source for the planet's explosion was kept secret.  But Vegeta knew the truth about his planet and in this truth he bowed to himself that no matter what it took, he would grow strong---stronger than Frieza...stronger than anyone could ever imagine.

DBZ ROLE   Vegeta first arrived on the DBZ scene a year after Raditz went off to Earth searching for his brother Kakarott (Goku), and learned of the legend of the Dragonballs.  He wanted to wish for immortality as a way to take down Frieza.  But his wish was dismissed, because once he arrived on Earth with Nappa in toll, he discovered that the Dragonballs had been used to bring back Goku to life from the outcome of Raditz's battle.  Vegeta and Goku fought a hard core battle each side giving their all.  The end result left both warriors completely battered.  Being forced to retreat, Vegeta escaped his near end as Krillin nearly delivered a finishing blow with a sword to his back.  But in a swift plea, Goku convinced the short former monk into letting him go admiring Vegeta's strength and abilities.  Goku had always been a strong fighter and finding a challenging opponent had usually been a hard task for him.  Vegeta crawled away into his pod recovering at one of Frieza's many bases.  His injuries were not the only thing that needed recuperating, his pride had taken a beating as well---he'd been defeated by a low class soldier.

In the Series, not much is shown about Vegeta's past but I could only imagine that growing up with Frieza was not an easy fleet.  His dark past became the result of Vegeta's cruel antisocial manner.

In the aftermath of the battle with the Saiyans, the Z gang prepared a trip to Namek---the home world of the Dragonballs, to revive their fallen friends.  In the scouter's transmission, Frieza overheard about the Dragonballs also setting a course to Namek.  Vegeta headed to Namek as well in an attempt to fulfill his wish and stop Frieza from making a wish of his own.  It was an all out struggle between Krillin, Gohan, Bulma, Vegeta, and Frieza and his men in who could retreat the Dragonballs first.  When Goku heard the Z gang was in need of help, he made his way to Namek training himself intensely for the battle that was to come.  After having some Dragonballs stolen, Frieza called in the Ginyu Squad forcing Vegeta to temporally side with the Z gang.  I guess you could say this is around the time Vegeta started to become one of the good guys (sort of).  So Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin tried defeating the Ginyus but ended up beaten and being rescued by Goku's arrival.

While Goku made quick work on the Ginyu Squad, Vegeta took off to recover the dragonballs that Frieza had taken.  It is discovered that the dragon can't be summoned without a password in which the creator and eldest Namek, Guru beheld this knowledge.  Again, an all out race for the dragonballs and password continued.  The battle between Goku and Ginyu  lead to Goku's body being switch to Ginyu's.  Frieza had set off to hunt down Guru while Dende raced to tell the password to Gohan and Krillin.  Vegeta just waited out the whole thing until Ginyu (in Goku's body) showed up and later Goku (in Ginyu's body) show up as well.  They battle.  Vegeta beat the living stuffings out of Ginyu but wrecked Goku's body in the process.

During Goku's battle with Frieza, everyone killed by Frieza was wished back to life which included Vegeta.  Because Planet Namek was on the brink of destruction everyone was wished to Earth.  So here was Vegeta back on Earth having absolutely no place to go...that is until Bulma invited him to stay at Capsule Corp.  After Goku defeated Frieza, he disappeared for a year.  Vegeta trained and trained but couldn't achieve the transformation to Super Saiyan.  He flew off into space in search of Goku but came back empty handed.

In preparations for the battle with Frieza, Vegeta took a short nap in which Gohan, Krillin, and Dende take the opportunity to make their wishes.  Piccolo is brought back to life and wished to Namek to help out in the battle.  Vegeta woke up to find to the dragon already summoned and demanded his wish for immortality.  But before the wish was made Guru died causing the dragonballs to turn to stone.  Then Frieza arrived...in a very pissed off mood I may add.  Battle, battle, fight, fight....Everyone took a crack at Frieza, but none were powerful enough to defeat him.   Right when Frieza was about to finish off Vegeta, Goku arrived.  Acknowledging Goku's strength, Vegeta declared Frieza's nightmare coming true---he would be defeated by a Saiyan.  In his anger, Frieza shot a blast through Vegeta's chest.  In his dying breaths, Vegeta, with tears in his eyes, revealed the story of his past and the destruction of their home planet.  He pleaded to Goku to bring down Frieza and avenge his people.

 

About a year later, Frieza returned with his father, King Cold for revenge.  But upon their arrival on Earth, a mysterious boy showed up, finishing them off with incredible ease.  All the Z warriors were astonished at the young man's power because he too could transform into a Super Saiyan.  Vegeta was green with envy.  A little later,  Goku finally returned home.  The young man asked to speak with Goku alone.  He revealed to Goku that he's from the future and that these incredibly strong androids created by Dr. Gero are going to cause death and destruction all over Earth.  In his time, all the Z warriors (except Gohan) were killed by the androids and Goku died from a heart disease he caught on Yardrat.  To prevent this tragedy from happening, the young man gave Goku an antidote for the virus.  He also revealed to Goku his identity---Trunks, Bulma's and Vegeta's son.

For 3 years, everyone trained intensely.  Finally, the day had come!  All Z warriors minus Vegeta meet up to anticipate the androids arrival.  They're surprised to find Bulma there with a baby in her arms as she revealed who's the father.  Because the androids had no Ki signature, they were forced to go and search for them.  They do battle.  A lot of the city was being destroyed during their battle, so Goku convinced the androids #19 and #20 to move the fight to an isolated island.  But during the fight with android #19, Goku started becoming fatigued.  The heart disease began to take its toll.  Overpowering Goku, the android began absorbing his energy.  Suddenly, out of nowhere the android fell from a kick from Vegeta, in his newly achieved Super Saiyan transformation.  He defeated android #19.

Overwhelmed by their strengths, android #20 which turned out to be Dr. Gero, himself decided to flee the scene.  Bulma flew in by aircraft with baby Trunks and Yajirobe.  Dr. Gero took the opportunity to escape to his lab by blasting the aircraft out the sky.  Future Trunks saved them in a nick of time but scold Vegeta for not trying to rescue them.  But Vegeta's too distracted by Dr. Gero's getaway to do anything.  They go after Gero, but by the time they manage to find the Dr.'s lab, they find he had already awakened android #17 and 18---the real threats.  17 and 18 kill off Dr. Gero and activate another android numbered 16.

During most of this saga, Vegeta's arrogant attitude and cockiness caused him many blows to his pride.  The androids ignored the Z warriors taking off to Goku's house---their prime objective was to kill Goku.  Vegeta took offense for being ignored and goes after the androids.  He fights 18 doing fairly well at first, but starts wearing himself down. (It's an android---the thing's probably packed with an endless supply of Super volt Energizer batteries or something!)  Vegeta got his ass kicked enraging him even further.  Everyone else took a beating as well except Krillin.  He was too afraid to fight, but managed to get a kiss from 18. >>>>> To Be Continued <<<<<