Timeline of Pirates of the Caribbean series

A timeline of events as depicted and mentioned in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. A specific date for the placement of the first three films has not been given. Though the film's scriptwriters, while making the first film, placed them in a "floating thirty-year environment" set in the 18th century, sometime around the 1720s to 1750s. Although On Stranger Tides was said to be placed at the year 1750.

1485

 * Hernán Cortés born in Medellín, Extremadura, in Castile.

1497

 * Silver Pieces of Eight made in Spain.

1513

 * Juan Ponce de León discovers Florida while discovering the marvels of the New World in his search for the Fountain of Youth.

c.1519

 * Hernán Cortés conquers the Aztec empire with his armies and wielding the Sword of Cortés.
 * The Aztecs deliver to Cortés a stone chest containing 882 identical gold coins, as blood money to appease his slaughter. When Cortés refuses to stop his conquest, the heathen Aztec gods place a curse upon the treasure, so that anyone who took but one coin from the chest would become undead. It ultimately ended up on Isla de Muerta.

1523

 * Juan Ponce de León sails the Santiago to an island where he discovers the Fountain of Youth. The Santiago gets stranded inland by an ancient storm, sitting atop of rocks on the edge of a cliff.
 * The Mao Kun map was created at some point before the Santiago's disappearance, showing Ponce de León's journey towards the Fountain.

1547

 * Hernán Cortés died. However, his spirit remained in the Sword of Cortés, and would be unleashed by anyone who spoke an incantation over both the Sword and its scabbard.

1576

 * Island of Douwesen was colonised by the Dutch.

1600

 * The East India Trading Company is founded in England by London merchants on the 31st of December.

1630

 * A French squadron assaults and occupies the English Colony of Oxbay, only the small trading vessel Victory manages to escape.

End of 1630–1631??

 * The adventures of Nathaniel Hawk, captain of Victory, unfolds within the archipelago.

c.1635–1688

 * At an unknown date, Davy Jones falls in love with Calypso, the sea goddess. He agrees to captain the Flying Dutchman and usher souls who died at sea to the afterlife. He would spend the following decade performing this duty, at the end of which he could be reunited with Calypso for a single day.
 * Ten years after pledging to serve as ferryman to the other side, Davy Jones returns to land for one day to be with his love. He finds Calypso has forsaken him, and carves out his heart in his rage. He locks it in the Dead Man's Chest and buries it on Isla Cruces. Jones places a curse upon the Flying Dutchman, requiring anyone wishing to take Jones' place would have to replace his heart with their own. Refusing to continue his duty, Jones is cursed, and he and his crew slowly transform into sea creatures the longer they serve aboard the Flying Dutchman.
 * The Pirata Codex is created by Henry Morgan and Bartholomew. The first Brethren Court presumably convenes around the same time, presumably at Shipwreck Cove. Davy Jones informs them how to bind Calypso into human form, which they believe will make the seas safe. Nine pieces of eight are used as part of the ritual, and will be passed on to successive Pirate Lords. Calypso takes the form of Tia Dalma.

1680

 * Blackbeard is born in Bristol, England.

1683

 * George II of Great Britain is born in Hanover, Germany.

1688

 * Henry Morgan dies in Jamaica. His spirit becomes trapped in the Buccaneer's Heart.

1690

 * Edward Low is born in London, England.

1700

 * The Golden Age of Piracy begins.

1704

 * The Whale and Waterspout inn is established in Port Royal.

1706

 * Benjamin Franklin is born.

c. 1716

 * Jack Sparrow meets Benjamin Franklin and teaches him a "trick with the kite and the key".

1718

 * Blackbeard escapes from the battle of Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina. After that, he left to continue piracy and began to learn of the dark arts.
 * The city of New Orleans is founded by the French.

c. 1719

 * Torrents is captured by Davy Jones, and strikes a bargain with him, vowing to bring Jones the Sword of Cortés in exchange for his freedom. Jones marks Torrents' body with the sign of Quetzalcoatl, found on the Sword's scabbard. This angers the heathen gods, who curse Torrents with storms that follow him constantly.
 * Jack Sparrow begins his quest for the Sword of Cortés, assembling his first crew at Tortuga and Salty Cove. He discovers the City of the Dead, steals the eye of Stone-Eyed Sam and defeats Torrents.
 * Jack Sparrow is granted an audience with the mermaids at Isla Sirena, and negotiates the lives of his crew in exchange for his freedom.
 * Jack Sparrow locates Isla Fortuna and the Sword of Cortés. Left-Foot Louis is defeated by the Sword, and the spirit of Hernán Cortés is released by Sparrow. Jack later releases the spirit of Montezuma to defeat Cortés.
 * Benjamin Franklin writes 'The Downfall of Piracy' a poem/sailor song about the (faked) death of Blackbeard and the downfall of piracy.

1720

 * Mary Reade dies of fever and/or childbirth in a Jamaican prison. Her spirit becomes trapped in the Buccaneer's Heart.
 * Edward England dies on Madagascar.

1722

 * Bartholomew Roberts is killed by grapeshot and buried at sea. His spirit becomes trapped in the Buccaneer's Heart.

1727

 * George Augustus was crowned as King of England at Westminster Abbey.

1733

 * The city of Savannah is founded by the British.

1745

 * Rule Britannia is played in London for the first time.

1746

 * Ferdinand VI was crowned King of Spain.

1750

 * The quest for the Fountain of Youth was underway. Jack Sparrow joins Blackbeard and Angelica in the search for the Fountain aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge. Privateer Hector Barbossa searches for the Fountain under King George II. The Fountain of Youth would end up being destroyed by the Spaniard's crew, who searched for the Fountain under King Ferdinand.

c.-60y

 * Hector Barbossa is born in West Country, England. This follows the third meeting of the Brethren Court.
 * Edward Teague is born to Grandmama and an unknown male.

c.-50y

 * Christophe-Julien de Rapièr is born to unknown parents.

c.-46y

 * Esmeralda is born to unknown parents.

c.-40y

 * Jack Sparrow is born to Edward Teague and an unknown female aboard a pirate ship off the coast of India.

c.-35y

 * Angelica is born to Blackbeard and an unknown female..

c.-30y

 * James Norrington is born to Lawrence Norrington and an unknown female.

-20y

 * William Turner is born to William "Bootstrap Bill" Turner and an unknown female in Glasgow, Scotland.
 * Elizabeth Swann is born to Weatherby Swann and an unknown female. in London, England.

c.-15y

 * Adventures of Captain James Sterling . Jack Sparrow becomes captain of the Wicked Wench.

c.-13y

 * Jack Sparrow, in the employ of the East India Trading Company, refuses to transport a cargo of slaves for Cutler Beckett, so he sets them all free. In response, Beckett had Jack branded as a pirate and Jack's ship, the Wicked Wench, burned. Jack makes a deal with Davy Jones to raise the ship from the depths, allowing him thirteen years to sail it before he must serve for a century aboard the Flying Dutchman. Jack renames his ship the Black Pearl.
 * When the evil alchemist, the Shadow Lord created a Shadow Gold, a special metal that grants him unfathomable power, and threatened to destroy the Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court, Jack was sent by Tia Dalma on a mission to recover nine pieces of Shadow Gold in order to stop the Shadow Lord's Army of Shadows. During his journey around the world, Jack has been in Asia and Europe, fighting with powerful organizations like the East India Trading Company and band of thieves like the Fourth Estate. With the help of Pirate Lords, Jack was able to collect all pieces of Shadow Gold and defeat the Shadow Lord once and for all.

===-10y ===
 * Jack Sparrow arrives in Tortuga in the Black Pearl looking for a crew to sail to Isla de Muerta, hoping to find the Chest of Cortés. Sparrow's First Mate, Hector Barbossa, leads a mutiny after Sparrow gives up the heading to the island, and maroons Jack on Rumrunners Isle. The crew locates the treasure and spends it all. They become cursed, and set about reclaiming all 882 coins.
 * Three days after his arrival, Jack barters passage off the island with a group of rumrunners.
 * Bootstrap Bill Turner speaks out against the decision to mutiny against Jack, and the crew learns he sent off his gold coin to his son in Scotland, saying the crew deserved to remain cursed. Barbossa has Turner strapped by his bootstraps to a cannon, and sent to the bottom of the ocean. It is only after this point they learn they needed Turner's blood to lift the curse.
 * "Bootstrap" Bill lives out a tortured existence on the seabed, unable to die. He eventually makes a bargain with Davy Jones, agreeing to serve one hundred years aboard the Flying Dutchman.

-8y

 * William Turner's mother dies and he sets out to track down his father. Weatherby Swann and his daughter, Elizabeth, also set out from England to the Caribbean aboard the HMS Dauntless. Turner's ship is attacked by the Black Pearl, and Will is rescued by the crew of the Dauntless. He meets Elizabeth, who takes his medallion to ensure he is not mistaken as a pirate. The ship arrives at Port Royal, where Weatherby sets himself up as Governor and Will is at some point taken as John Brown's apprentice.
 * At some point following this voyage, Joshamee Gibbs deserts the British Royal Navy and becomes a pirate once more, ultimately ending up in Tortuga.

-7y

 * Jack Sparrow barters a mystical compass from Tia Dalma for a sackful of gold.

0y

 * James Norrington is promoted to the rank of Commodore. Jack Sparrow arrives in Port Royal prior to the Black Pearl's attack. Elizabeth Swann is kidnapped, and Will Turner recruits Jack to help save her. Jack assembles a crew at Tortuga, who set sail in the commandeered HMS Interceptor.
 * During the voyage to Isla de Muerta, Jack and his crew sack the Earl King, with Jack and Will posing as members of the Royal Navy.
 * Jack ultimately confronts Barbossa at Isla de Muerta. Turner lifts the curse, allowing Jack to kill Barbossa and his crew to be killed or captured by Norrington's men. Jack escapes a hanging with Will's help, and rejoins his crew. Will and Elizabeth pledge their love to one another. Jack the monkey takes a coin from the chest and becomes cursed once more.
 * Will begins to train Elizabeth how to handle a sword.
 * Jack and his crew embark on a series of adventures in the Caribbean Sea. During this time, his former crew become cursed again, and vow revenge on Jack.
 * Commodore Norrington resigns his commission after losing his crew in a hurricane while chasing the Black Pearl off Tripoli.
 * Isla de Muerta is claimed by the sea before Jack's crew can claim its treasure. Jack the monkey stows aboard the Black Pearl at this point.
 * Barbossa is resurrected by Tia Dalma, and stays at her shack prior to the death of Jack Sparrow.
 * Will and Elizabeth are set to be married.
 * Jack Sparrow begins his search for the Dead Man's Chest and its key, and enters a Turkish prison.

===+1y ===
 * The marriage of Will and Elizabeth is interrupted by Lord Cutler Beckett, who arrests them both and takes control of Port Royal. Jack Sparrow escapes from the Turkish prison with a drawing of the key. Will sets off to obtain Jack's compass for Beckett, and Elizabeth later escapes prison to track him down. Ragetti and Pintel escape from Port Royal prison. Tia Dalma resurrects Barbossa. Jack, Will and the rest of the crew seek Tia Dalma who tells them the history of Davy Jones and Calypso.Will is press-ganged aboard the Flying Dutchman, but escapes with the key. Jack arrives at Isla Cruces and unlocks the Dead Man's Chest, though Norrington later steals the heart. Jack and the Black Pearl are dragged down to Davy Jones' Locker by the Kraken. Norrington presents Beckett with the heart, and is reinstated as admiral. Davy Jones falls under Beckett's command.
 * After about two months, the East India Trading Company calls a state of emergency, and carries out mass hangings at Fort Charles, while the Flying Dutchman becomes the scourge of pirates in the Caribbean. Jack Sparrow's former crew, under Barbossa's command, travel to World's End and reach Davy Jones' Locker to rescue Jack. Sao Feng is killed onboard the Empress, and names Elizabeth Swann as Pirate Lord in his stead. James Norrington dies protecting Elizabeth as she escapes from the Flying Dutchman. The fourth Brethren Court convenes at Shipwreck Cove, and pledges to fight the East India Company. Calypso is released from her human bonds by Ragetti and forms a maelstrom. Will Turner and Elizabeth are married by Barbossa. Davy Jones is killed by William Turner, who replaces him as captain of the Dutchman, and Cutler Beckett dies aboard the HMS Endeavour. Will and Elizabeth spend their one day together before Will begins his duty aboard the Dutchman, and conceive a child. Barbossa commandeers the Black Pearl, Gibbs stays in Tortuga, and Jack Sparrow steals the navigational charts and begins the search for the Fountain of Youth.

+11y

 * Elizabeth and William Turner III await the return of Will Turner. Will and Elizabeth remain faithful to each other, and Will has carried out his duty for the past decade, meaning his curse is broken and he is freed from service.

Unknown placements

 * At some point prior to [-10y] Jocard killed his master and went from being a slave to a pirate.
 * At some point prior to [-10y] Jolly Roger attempts to steal Jack Sparrow's piece of eight and becomes an undead monster.
 * At some point between [-10y] and [-9y], the pirate Joshamee Gibbs befriends Jack Sparrow He ultimately joins the Royal Navy.
 * At some point prior to [0y], Jack Sparrow became Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea. His piece of eight was a small, ancient Siamese coin woven into Moroccan beads hung over his bandana.
 * At some point prior to [0y], Hector Barbossa became Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea. His piece of eight was a wooden eyeball given to Ragetti for safe-keeping.
 * At some point prior to [0y], Jack Sparrow is believed to have sacked Nassau Port without firing a single shot and impersonated an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy and a cleric of the Church of England.
 * At some point prior to [+1y], Jolly Roger began the invasion of Port Royal, raid on Las Pulgas, invasion of Tortuga, raid on the Catacombs, and invasion of Padres Del Fuego. The Royal Navy steals the Black Pearl and a nameless pirate helps Jack to recrew his mates and help him reliberate the Black Pearl.
 * At some point prior to [+1y], the Battle of Padres takes place.
 * At some point prior [+1y], Blackbeard meets Angelica, his supposed long-lost daughter.
 * At some point prior to [+1y], Angelica visited Tia Dalma and learned of the Profane Ritual.
 * At some point after [+1y], Barbossa loses the Black Pearl to Blackbeard and becomes a privateer in King George's court.