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 films is not given, though the film's scriptwriters place it in a "floating thirty-year environment" set in the 18th century, around 1720 to 1750. For the purposes of this timeline, 1745 is given as the date of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, going by the age of Johnny Depp at the time of filming, and in relation to the character's earlier adventures. This date is used purely as a point of reference for events depicted around and between the films.

Note that this is an unofficial timeline and all dates, save for historical ones, are not verified and are subject to change. Elements of this timeline were gathered from TalonCard's fan timeline.

1485

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

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.

1547

 * Hernán Cortés was believed to have 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.

1630

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

1688

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

pre-1693 -10

 * 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.

pre-1693

 * Ten years after pledging to serve as lord of the underworld, 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 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 Dutchman.
 * The first Brethren Court convenes, 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.

c.1693

 * Hector Barbossa is born.

1703

 * Jack Sparrow is born to Teague Sparrow and an unknown mother.

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 is killed, and his spirit becomes trapped in the Buccaneer's Heart.

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.

1720

 * Mary Read dies of fever in a Jamaican prison. Her spirit becomes trapped in the Buccaneer's Heart.
 * Around this time, Bartholemew Roberts sets down his articles in the Pirate code of the Brethren.

1722

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

1725

 * William Turner is born to Bootstrap Bill Turner and an unknown female in Glasgow, Scotland.

1727

 * Elizabeth Swann is born to Weatherby Swann and an unknown female.

1733

 * Jack Sparrow, in the employ of the East India Trading Company, refuses to transport slaves for Cutler Beckett. In response, Beckett has Jack's ship, the Wicked Wench burned, and brands Jack a pirate. 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.

1734

 * Jack Sparrow encounters Jolly Roger, who attempts to kill him. Roger kills his partner, Ammo Dorsi, who curses the pirate.

===1735 ===
 * 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.
 * 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.

1736

 * Around this time, Hector Barbossa uses John Rackham's pirate flag.

1737

 * 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 Royal Navy and becomes a pirate once more, ultimately ending up in Tortuga.

1739

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

1745

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

===1746 ===
 * 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. 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.
 * 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 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, and Jack Sparrow begins the search for the Fountain of Youth.

c. 1756

 * Elizabeth and William Turner III await the return of Will Turner. Will and Elizabeth remain faithful, 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 1737, the pirate Joshamee Gibbs befriends Jack Sparrow. He ultimately joins the Royal Navy.
 * At some point prior to 1745, Jack Sparrow became Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea. He hung his piece of eight over his bandana from this point on.
 * At some point prior to 1745, 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 1745, 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.