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{{Youmay|the organization of [[Pirate Lord]]s.|the musical theme "[[The Brethren Court|Brethren Court]]" or the wiki forums: [[Forum:Brethren Forum|Brethren Forum]].}}
 
{{Youmay|the organization of [[Pirate Lord]]s.|the musical theme "[[The Brethren Court|Brethren Court]]" or the wiki forums: [[Forum:Brethren Forum|Brethren Forum]].}}
{{Organization infobox
+
{{Organization-infobox
 
|name=Brethren Court
 
|name=Brethren Court
 
|image=[[File:BrethrenCoast.jpg|300px]]
 
|image=[[File:BrethrenCoast.jpg|300px]]
 
|founder=
 
|founder=
 
|leader=[[Pirate King]]
 
|leader=[[Pirate King]]
|members=[[Pirate Lord]]s<br>[[Keeper of the Code]]
+
|members=[[Pirate Lord]]s<br>[[Keeper of the Code]]<br>[[Carriers of the Code]]
|ships=''[[Black Pearl]]''<br>''[[Centurion]]''<br>''[[Troubadour]]''<br>''[[Ranger]]''<br>''[[Fancy]]''<br>''[[Empress]]''<br>''[[Ching's flagship]]''<br>''[[Seref]]''<br>''[[Otter]]''<br>''[[Flying Dutchman]]''
+
|ships=''[[Black Pearl]]''<br>''[[Centurion]]''<br>''[[Troubadour]]''<br>''[[Ranger]]''<br>''[[Fancy]]''<br>''[[Empress]]''<br>''[[Ching's flagship]]''<br>''[[Seref]]''<br>''[[Otter]]''<br>''[[Flying Dutchman]] (formerly)''<br>[[Koldunya]] (formerly)
 
|headquarters=[[Pirate Hall]], [[Shipwreck Island]]
 
|headquarters=[[Pirate Hall]], [[Shipwreck Island]]
 
|locations=
 
|locations=
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|cause=
 
|cause=
 
|}}
 
|}}
{{Quote|As he who issued summons, I convene this, the Fourth Brethren Court!|[[Hector Barbossa]]|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End}}
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{{Quote|The [[Hoist the Colours (song)|song]] has been sung. The time is upon us. We must convene the Brethren Court.|[[Hector Barbossa]] to [[Sao Feng]]|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End}}
  +
The '''Brethren Court''', also known as the '''Pirate Brethren''',<ref name="AWEvg">''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)]]''</ref> '''Brethren of the Coast'''<ref name="Freedom">''[[The Price of Freedom]]''</ref>, '''Order of the Brethren'''<ref name="CotBP">''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]''</ref>, '''Pirate Conclave'''<ref name="AWEvg"/> or '''Pirate Council''',<ref name="AWEvg"/> was a loose confederation of [[pirate]]s active in the [[Age of Piracy]]. Made up of the great [[Pirate Lord]]s, the Brethren Court was the governing body of pirates. These rogues and scoundrels were the best of the best, or the worst of the worst.
   
  +
Based primarily on [[Shipwreck Island]], where lay [[Shipwreck Cove]] and the [[Shipwreck City|town of Shipwreck]], the original members of the Pirate Brethren convened a great conclave, in which they plotted with [[Davy Jones]] to tear the rule of the seas away from the goddess [[Calypso]]. With his help, the Brethren tricked the goddess and imprisoned her into the body of a [[Tia Dalma|mortal woman]]. Many years later, Calypso was freed by the Fourth Court to help battle against the fearsome tide of [[Lord]] [[Cutler Beckett]]'s [[East India Trading Company Armada|Armada]].
The '''Brethren Court''', also known as the '''Brethren of the Coast'''<ref>''[[The Price of Freedom]]''</ref>, '''Order of the Brethren'''<ref name="CotBP">''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]''</ref>, '''Pirate Conclave'''<ref name="AWEvgPort">[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)|''Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'' (video game)]]: "Port Royal"</ref> or '''Pirate Council''',<ref>[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)|''Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'' (video game)]]: "Tortuga"</ref> was the formal organization of the nine [[Pirate Lord]]s and their followers, intended to serve as a ruling council for pirates across the world in matters of emergency.
 
  +
  +
In keeping with their heritage, the Brethren Court were governed by the [[Code of the Pirate Brethren|Code]], which favored legislative decision-making, hierarchical command authority, individual rights, and equitable division of revenues. [[Henry Morgan|Morgan]] and [[Bartholomew (Pirate Lord)|Bartholomew]] were perhaps the most famous members of the Brethren and the ones usually noted with producing the Code. The hallowed ''[[Pirata Codex]]'' would be guarded by the [[Keeper of the Code]].
  +
  +
Entry to this club required possession of one of the nine [[Piece of eight (item)|pieces of eight]], various small trinkets used as the First Court were, to a one, skint broke. Each captain, or successor, held this item close at all times since it provided entry to this mighty exclusive group.
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
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[[File:Mgc calypsostory cu1 002.jpg|thumb|330px|The First Brethren Court binds Calypso in her bonds]]
 
[[File:Mgc calypsostory cu1 002.jpg|thumb|330px|The First Brethren Court binds Calypso in her bonds]]
 
{{Quote|The first Brethren Court made the alliance with Captain Jones, and that right has been passed down through the ages, to the assembled Pirate Lords.|[[Ching|Mistress Ching]]|The Price of Freedom}}
 
{{Quote|The first Brethren Court made the alliance with Captain Jones, and that right has been passed down through the ages, to the assembled Pirate Lords.|[[Ching|Mistress Ching]]|The Price of Freedom}}
Contrary to the belief that the First Meeting of the Brethren Court convened in the days before the great Hellenic society of Greece was founded<ref name="Pirates' Guidelines">''[[The Pirates' Guidelines]]'', p4</ref>, the First Court actually met at a later date<ref name="TR">''"I will say, though, the 'time Greece was founded' is far too early and makes no sense. For there to be a Court you need pirates to gather from all over the world, and that sort of thing wasn't happening then."'' - [[Terry Rossio]]</ref>, possibly during the 17th century. The First Court consisted of the Nine [[Pirate Lord]]s who bound the sea goddess [[Calypso]] in her [[Tia Dalma|human form]], on the instruction of [[Davy Jones]], who revealed them secrets from the [[Journal of the Ancient Seas]]. They sealed Calypso's fate with Nine [[Piece of eight (item)|Pieces of Eight]], so that the rule of the seas would belong to men. The Brethren would convene a further three times before Calypso's eventual release.
+
Contrary to the belief that the First Meeting of the Brethren Court convened in the days before the great Hellenic society of Greece was founded<ref name="Pirates' Guidelines">''[[The Pirates' Guidelines]]'', p4</ref>, the First Court actually met at a later date<ref name="TR">''"I will say, though, the 'time Greece was founded' is far too early and makes no sense. For there to be a Court you need pirates to gather from all over the world, and that sort of thing wasn't happening then."'' - [[Terry Rossio]]</ref>, possibly during the 17th century before the [[Golden Age of Piracy]] began. The First Court consisted of the Nine [[Pirate Lord]]s who bound the sea goddess [[Calypso]] in her [[Tia Dalma|human form]], on the instruction of [[Davy Jones]], who revealed them secrets from the [[Journal of the Ancient Seas]]. They sealed Calypso's fate with Nine [[Piece of eight (item)|Pieces of Eight]], so that the rule of the seas would belong to men. The Brethren would convene a further three times before Calypso's eventual release.
   
 
====Known members====
 
====Known members====
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===The Third Brethren Court===
 
===The Third Brethren Court===
 
{{Quote|The Court has not met in my lifetime."<br>"Nor mine."<br>"And when last it did, my father told me, it ended...badly.|[[Sao Feng]] and [[Hector Barbossa]]|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)}}
 
{{Quote|The Court has not met in my lifetime."<br>"Nor mine."<br>"And when last it did, my father told me, it ended...badly.|[[Sao Feng]] and [[Hector Barbossa]]|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)}}
During the Third Meeting of the Brethren Court, a pirate thief named Tartaglia attempted to use the [[Timekeeper]] as a false [[Piece of eight (item)|Piece of Eight]] to fool the assembled [[Pirate Lord]]s into thinking he was one of them. His plan failed and the third Brethren Court ended in violence<ref>''[[Jack Sparrow: Dance of the Hours]]''</ref>.
+
During the Third Meeting of the Brethren Court, a pirate thief named Tartaglia attempted to use the [[Timekeeper]] as a false [[Piece of eight (item)|Piece of Eight]] to fool the assembled [[Pirate Lord]]s into thinking he was one of them. His plan failed and the third Brethren Court ended in violence.<ref name="JS9">''[[Jack Sparrow: Dance of the Hours]]''</ref>
   
 
====Known members====
 
====Known members====
 
*[[Sao Feng's father]]
 
*[[Sao Feng's father]]
*[[Tartaglia]] {{C|false member}}<ref>''[[Jack Sparrow: Dance of the Hours]]''</ref>.
+
*[[Tartaglia]] {{C|false member}}<ref name="JS9"/>
  +
  +
===The Court of Inquiry===
  +
{{Quote|The question has been raised, regarding whether the Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea has broken the Code by knowingly targeting and sinking other pirate ships. This inquiry will hear evidence to discover the truth.|[[Edward Teague]]|The Price of Freedom}}
  +
When the Pirate Brethren found itself endangered by the actions of the mysterious [[rogue pirates]], who were breaking the [[Code of the Pirate Brethren]] by slaughtering their victims and attacking other pirate ships, the Pirate Lord and Keeper of the Code [[Edward Teague]] called for an official court of inquiry. The Russian Pirate Lord [[Boris "Borya" Palachnik]] was accused of being one of the rogues. Inside the [[Pirate Hall]], all the witnesses told their stories, but there was not enough evidences against Borya, and Teague decided to summon [[Davy Jones]], the Lord of the sea.<ref name="Freedom"/>
  +
  +
Jones knew everything that happened in his watery kingdoms, and the Brethren Court spoke a [[Incantation|magic call]] that brought Jones onboard the ''[[Troubadour]]'', Teague's ship. Jones recognized Borya as the leader of the rogue pirates, saying that he and his men sent many souls to the sea bottom without mercy. Borya and his whole crew were quickly imprisoned in the [[Shipwreck City dungeons|dungeons]] of [[Shipwreck City]] and sentenced to [[Hanging|hang]], but they later managed to escape from the island.<ref name="Freedom"/>
  +
  +
====Known members====
  +
*[[Boris Palachnik]]
  +
*[[Davy Jones]]
  +
*[[Rafael|Don Rafael]]
  +
*[[Esmeralda Maria Consuela Anna de Sevilla|Lady Esmeralda]]
  +
*[[Mistress]] [[Ching]]
  +
*[[Hector Barbossa]]
  +
*[[Eduardo Villanueva]]
  +
*[[Jack Sparrow]]
  +
*[[Edward Teague]]
  +
*[[Ragetti]]
  +
*[[Melinda]]
  +
*[[Prison Dog]]
   
 
===The Fourth Brethren Court===
 
===The Fourth Brethren Court===
{{Quote|And it was the very first meeting that gave us no less than rule of the sea herself, didn't it? And now that rule is being challenged."<br>"The East India Trading Company."<br>"Lord Cutler Beckett is a pox on us all.|[[Hector Barbossa]] and [[Sao Feng]]|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)}}
+
{{Quote|But the time before that, it produced the Code, which has served us well...and it was the very first meeting that gave us no less than rule of the sea herself, didn't it? And now that rule is being challenged."<br>"The East India Trading Company."<br>"Lord Cutler Beckett is a pox on us all.|[[Hector Barbossa]] and [[Sao Feng]]|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)}}
 
[[File:Pirate Lords AWEos.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Six of the nine [[Pirate Lords]] of the Fourth Brethren Court.]]
 
[[File:Pirate Lords AWEos.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Six of the nine [[Pirate Lords]] of the Fourth Brethren Court.]]
   
The Fourth Meeting of the Brethren Court was called when the song was sung by convicted pirates and pirate associates at [[Fort Charles]], initially sent forth by [[Hector Barbossa]]<ref>''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide]]'' p88-89 "Shipwreck Island"</ref>. The majority of the Brethren assembled in the [[Pirate Hall]] on [[Shipwreck Island]], joined later by the recently-resurrected [[Jack Sparrow]] and Barbossa, and Elizabeth Swann, who replaced [[Sao Feng]]. Barbossa chaired the meeting, noting that the Brethren had not gathered in either his or Sparrow's lifetime.
+
The Fourth Brethren Court was called when the song was sung by convicted pirates and pirate associates at [[Fort Charles]], initially sent forth by [[Hector Barbossa]]<ref>''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide]]'' p88-89 "Shipwreck Island"</ref>. The majority of the Brethren assembled in the [[Pirate Hall]] on [[Shipwreck Island]], joined later by the recently-resurrected [[Jack Sparrow]] and Barbossa, and [[Elizabeth Swann]], who replaced [[Sao Feng]]. Barbossa chaired the meeting, noting that the Brethren had not gathered in either his or Sparrow's lifetime.
   
The Brethren assembled to discuss their course of action against [[Lord]] [[Cutler Beckett]] and the [[East India Trading Company]], finally decided following the election of Elizabeth Swann to the position of Pirate King. She elected to go to war, upon which the Pirate Lords agreed. Their nine pieces of eight were burned as part of a ritual that saw the release of Calypso, and the ultimate defeat of Lord Beckett.
+
Assembling at the chamber, the Pirate Lords, and their respective crews, met to discuss their course of action against [[Lord]] [[Cutler Beckett]] and the [[East India Trading Company]]. Ultimately, the Brethren decided to go to war, following the election of Elizabeth Swann to the position of Pirate King, upon which the majority of Pirate Lords agreed. Their nine pieces of eight were burned as part of an [[incantation]] that saw the release of Calypso, and the ultimate defeat of Lord Beckett.
   
 
====Known members====
 
====Known members====
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====Pirate fleet====
 
====Pirate fleet====
 
{{Main|Pirate Armada}}
 
{{Main|Pirate Armada}}
 
 
{{Quote|Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn, we're at war.|[[Elizabeth Swann]] to the Brethren Court|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End}}
 
{{Quote|Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn, we're at war.|[[Elizabeth Swann]] to the Brethren Court|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End}}
 
 
The [[Pirate armada|fleet of the Brethren Court]] numbered less than the three hundred ships [[Cutler Beckett]] marshalled against it, but was comprised of every vessel available at [[Shipwreck Cove]]. The fleet, prepared following the fourth meeting of the Brethren, brought together pirate vessels from around the world. The armada that witnessed the [[battle of Calypso's maelstrom]] included ships as diverse as [[galleon]]s, [[wikipedia:ketch|ketches]], [[sloop]]s, [[Wikipedia:Dhow|boutres]], [[schooner]]s, [[frigate]]s, [[galley]]s, [[brig]]s and [[junk]]s.<ref>''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide]]'', p92-93 "The Wrath of Calypso"</ref> [[Ching]] commanded a vast fleet of pirate junks,<ref name="CVG">''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide]]'', p90-91, "Pirate Lords"</ref> while [[Sao Feng]]'s ''[[Empress]]'' made an appearance, helmed by [[Tai Huang]].
 
The [[Pirate armada|fleet of the Brethren Court]] numbered less than the three hundred ships [[Cutler Beckett]] marshalled against it, but was comprised of every vessel available at [[Shipwreck Cove]]. The fleet, prepared following the fourth meeting of the Brethren, brought together pirate vessels from around the world. The armada that witnessed the [[battle of Calypso's maelstrom]] included ships as diverse as [[galleon]]s, [[wikipedia:ketch|ketches]], [[sloop]]s, [[Wikipedia:Dhow|boutres]], [[schooner]]s, [[frigate]]s, [[galley]]s, [[brig]]s and [[junk]]s.<ref>''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide]]'', p92-93 "The Wrath of Calypso"</ref> [[Ching]] commanded a vast fleet of pirate junks,<ref name="CVG">''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide]]'', p90-91, "Pirate Lords"</ref> while [[Sao Feng]]'s ''[[Empress]]'' made an appearance, helmed by [[Tai Huang]].
   
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==Structure==
 
==Structure==
 
{{Quote|There's not been a gatherin' like this in our lifetime."<br>"And I owe them all money.|[[Hector Barbossa]] and [[Jack Sparrow]]|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End}}
 
{{Quote|There's not been a gatherin' like this in our lifetime."<br>"And I owe them all money.|[[Hector Barbossa]] and [[Jack Sparrow]]|Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End}}
 
Made up of the great [[Pirate Lord]]s, the Brethren Court was the governing body of pirates.<ref name="AWEInside">''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]'' "Inside the Brethren Court" featurette</ref> The Court was led by the [[Pirate King]], chosen by popular vote by the nine [[Pirate Lord]]s, each lord hailing from a different region spread across the [[Four Corners of the Earth]]. This system of election was known to be flawed, as the pirates would commonly vote for themselves, making a decision difficult. The title was non-gender specific, though [[Elizabeth Swann]] was believed to be the first female Pirate King.
 
The Brethren Court was led by the [[Pirate King]], chosen by popular vote by the nine [[Pirate Lord]]s, each lord hailing from a different region spread across the [[Four Corners of the Earth]]. This system of election was known to be flawed, as the pirates would commonly vote for themselves, making a decision difficult. The title was non-gender specific, though [[Elizabeth Swann]] was believed to be the first female Pirate King.
 
   
 
Pirate Lords were required to each carry a [[Piece of eight (item)|piece of eight]], signifying their status as a member of the Brethren Court. It was initially suggested that the Pirate Lords carry actual silver coins, though the pirates, finding themselves short on money, opted for holding various items and trinkets that would be instantly recognizable and linked to the individual Lord.
 
Pirate Lords were required to each carry a [[Piece of eight (item)|piece of eight]], signifying their status as a member of the Brethren Court. It was initially suggested that the Pirate Lords carry actual silver coins, though the pirates, finding themselves short on money, opted for holding various items and trinkets that would be instantly recognizable and linked to the individual Lord.
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*The original opening of ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End|At World's End]]'' was to be a montage depicting the [[Pirate Lord]]s each receiving a [[piece of eight (money)|piece of eight]] from [[Hector Barbossa]] as a sort of invitation announcing the convening of the Brethren Court. However, the scene of the hanging at [[Fort Charles]], in which [[Hoist the Colors (song)|Hoist the Colors]] was sung, ended up being the opening in the final cut of the film. All that remained of the original opening was a shot of Barbossa with a piece of eight in his hand, which only appeared in the opening clip of the ''At World's End'' deleted scenes.<ref name=>[[Gore Verbinski]] Audio Commentary ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End|At World's End]]'' Deleted Scene Opening</ref>
 
*The original opening of ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End|At World's End]]'' was to be a montage depicting the [[Pirate Lord]]s each receiving a [[piece of eight (money)|piece of eight]] from [[Hector Barbossa]] as a sort of invitation announcing the convening of the Brethren Court. However, the scene of the hanging at [[Fort Charles]], in which [[Hoist the Colors (song)|Hoist the Colors]] was sung, ended up being the opening in the final cut of the film. All that remained of the original opening was a shot of Barbossa with a piece of eight in his hand, which only appeared in the opening clip of the ''At World's End'' deleted scenes.<ref name=>[[Gore Verbinski]] Audio Commentary ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End|At World's End]]'' Deleted Scene Opening</ref>
 
*While the second and third meetings of the Court were only mentioned in a deleted scene from ''At World's End'', they were put in official [[Pirates of the Caribbean|POTC]] material. The second meeting was mentioned in ''[[The Pirates' Guidelines]]'', while the third meeting appeared in ''[[Jack Sparrow: Dance of the Hours]]''.
 
*While the second and third meetings of the Court were only mentioned in a deleted scene from ''At World's End'', they were put in official [[Pirates of the Caribbean|POTC]] material. The second meeting was mentioned in ''[[The Pirates' Guidelines]]'', while the third meeting appeared in ''[[Jack Sparrow: Dance of the Hours]]''.
  +
*In [[Terry Rossio]]'s first screenplay draft of ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]'', the meeting of the Pirate Brethren was the Second Court, not the Fourth one. Its members also included three historical pirates, [[Blackbeard]], [[Calico Jack Rackham]], and [[Anne Bonny]].
{{Gallery|Brethren Court/Gallery}}
 
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
{{Gallery|Brethren Court/Gallery}}
 
*''[[The Price of Freedom]]''
 
*''[[The Price of Freedom]]''
 
*''[[Jack Sparrow: Dance of the Hours]]'' {{Mo}}
 
*''[[Jack Sparrow: Dance of the Hours]]'' {{Mo}}
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*''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]''
 
*''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]''
 
**[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)|''Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'' (video game)]] {{1st}}
 
**[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)|''Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'' (video game)]] {{1st}}
  +
*''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War]]'' {{Flashback-mention}}
 
*''[[LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game]]'' {{Nc}}
 
*''[[LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game]]'' {{Nc}}
   
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{{Brethren Court}}
 
{{Brethren Court}}
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  +
[[de:Hoher Rat der Bruderschaft]]
  +
[[fr:Tribunal de la Confrérie]]
  +
[[it:Fratellanza Piratesca]]
  +
[[es:La Ermandad]]
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[[pl:Trybunał Braci]]
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[[ru:Совет Братства]]
 
[[Category:Brethren Court| ]]
 
[[Category:Brethren Court| ]]
 
[[Category:Pirate organizations]]
 
[[Category:Pirate organizations]]

Revision as of 21:06, 6 July 2020

This article is about the organization of Pirate Lords.. You may be looking for the musical theme "Brethren Court" or the wiki forums: Brethren Forum..
BrethrenCoast
Brethren Court
Leader

Pirate King

Notable members

Pirate Lords
Keeper of the Code
Carriers of the Code

Ships

Black Pearl
Centurion
Troubadour
Ranger
Fancy
Empress
Ching's flagship
Seref
Otter
Flying Dutchman (formerly)
Koldunya (formerly)

Headquarters

Pirate Hall, Shipwreck Island

Affiliation

Pirate Armada
Barbary Corsairs
Buccaneers
New Orleans pirates
Pirate Confederation of China
Sao Feng's Empire
Spanish Treasure Fleet

First appearance

At World's End (video game)

Latest appearance

At World's End

"The song has been sung. The time is upon us. We must convene the Brethren Court."
Hector Barbossa to Sao Feng[src]

The Brethren Court, also known as the Pirate Brethren,[1] Brethren of the Coast[2], Order of the Brethren[3], Pirate Conclave[1] or Pirate Council,[1] was a loose confederation of pirates active in the Age of Piracy. Made up of the great Pirate Lords, the Brethren Court was the governing body of pirates. These rogues and scoundrels were the best of the best, or the worst of the worst.

Based primarily on Shipwreck Island, where lay Shipwreck Cove and the town of Shipwreck, the original members of the Pirate Brethren convened a great conclave, in which they plotted with Davy Jones to tear the rule of the seas away from the goddess Calypso. With his help, the Brethren tricked the goddess and imprisoned her into the body of a mortal woman. Many years later, Calypso was freed by the Fourth Court to help battle against the fearsome tide of Lord Cutler Beckett's Armada.

In keeping with their heritage, the Brethren Court were governed by the Code, which favored legislative decision-making, hierarchical command authority, individual rights, and equitable division of revenues. Morgan and Bartholomew were perhaps the most famous members of the Brethren and the ones usually noted with producing the Code. The hallowed Pirata Codex would be guarded by the Keeper of the Code.

Entry to this club required possession of one of the nine pieces of eight, various small trinkets used as the First Court were, to a one, skint broke. Each captain, or successor, held this item close at all times since it provided entry to this mighty exclusive group.

History

The First Brethren Court

Mgc calypsostory cu1 002

The First Brethren Court binds Calypso in her bonds

"The first Brethren Court made the alliance with Captain Jones, and that right has been passed down through the ages, to the assembled Pirate Lords."
Mistress Ching[src]

Contrary to the belief that the First Meeting of the Brethren Court convened in the days before the great Hellenic society of Greece was founded[4], the First Court actually met at a later date[5], possibly during the 17th century before the Golden Age of Piracy began. The First Court consisted of the Nine Pirate Lords who bound the sea goddess Calypso in her human form, on the instruction of Davy Jones, who revealed them secrets from the Journal of the Ancient Seas. They sealed Calypso's fate with Nine Pieces of Eight, so that the rule of the seas would belong to men. The Brethren would convene a further three times before Calypso's eventual release.

Known members

Known ships

The Second Brethren Court

"At any rate, the second Brethren Court drew up the Pirate Code which has served us well. Two of the Pirate Lords, Morgan and Bartholomew, figured it out and wrote it down, and that's what we've all lived by ever since."
Hector Barbossa[src]

On the Second Meeting of the Brethren Court, the Pirates' Code was set down by the Captains Morgan and Bartholomew and recorded in the Pirata Codex. In addition to the Nine Pirate Lords new Members of the Court were appointed: the Keeper of the Code and the carriers of the Code.[4]

Known members

Known ships

  • Henry Morgan's flagship
  • Bartholomew's ship

The Third Brethren Court

"The Court has not met in my lifetime."
"Nor mine."
"And when last it did, my father told me, it ended...badly.
"
Sao Feng and Hector Barbossa[src]

During the Third Meeting of the Brethren Court, a pirate thief named Tartaglia attempted to use the Timekeeper as a false Piece of Eight to fool the assembled Pirate Lords into thinking he was one of them. His plan failed and the third Brethren Court ended in violence.[6]

Known members

The Court of Inquiry

"The question has been raised, regarding whether the Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea has broken the Code by knowingly targeting and sinking other pirate ships. This inquiry will hear evidence to discover the truth."
Edward Teague[src]

When the Pirate Brethren found itself endangered by the actions of the mysterious rogue pirates, who were breaking the Code of the Pirate Brethren by slaughtering their victims and attacking other pirate ships, the Pirate Lord and Keeper of the Code Edward Teague called for an official court of inquiry. The Russian Pirate Lord Boris "Borya" Palachnik was accused of being one of the rogues. Inside the Pirate Hall, all the witnesses told their stories, but there was not enough evidences against Borya, and Teague decided to summon Davy Jones, the Lord of the sea.[2]

Jones knew everything that happened in his watery kingdoms, and the Brethren Court spoke a magic call that brought Jones onboard the Troubadour, Teague's ship. Jones recognized Borya as the leader of the rogue pirates, saying that he and his men sent many souls to the sea bottom without mercy. Borya and his whole crew were quickly imprisoned in the dungeons of Shipwreck City and sentenced to hang, but they later managed to escape from the island.[2]

Known members

The Fourth Brethren Court

"But the time before that, it produced the Code, which has served us well...and it was the very first meeting that gave us no less than rule of the sea herself, didn't it? And now that rule is being challenged."
"The East India Trading Company."
"Lord Cutler Beckett is a pox on us all.
"
Hector Barbossa and Sao Feng[src]
Pirate Lords AWEos

Six of the nine Pirate Lords of the Fourth Brethren Court.

The Fourth Brethren Court was called when the song was sung by convicted pirates and pirate associates at Fort Charles, initially sent forth by Hector Barbossa[7]. The majority of the Brethren assembled in the Pirate Hall on Shipwreck Island, joined later by the recently-resurrected Jack Sparrow and Barbossa, and Elizabeth Swann, who replaced Sao Feng. Barbossa chaired the meeting, noting that the Brethren had not gathered in either his or Sparrow's lifetime.

Assembling at the chamber, the Pirate Lords, and their respective crews, met to discuss their course of action against Lord Cutler Beckett and the East India Trading Company. Ultimately, the Brethren decided to go to war, following the election of Elizabeth Swann to the position of Pirate King, upon which the majority of Pirate Lords agreed. Their nine pieces of eight were burned as part of an incantation that saw the release of Calypso, and the ultimate defeat of Lord Beckett.

Known members

Pirate fleet

Main article: Pirate Armada
"Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn, we're at war."
Elizabeth Swann to the Brethren Court[src]

The fleet of the Brethren Court numbered less than the three hundred ships Cutler Beckett marshalled against it, but was comprised of every vessel available at Shipwreck Cove. The fleet, prepared following the fourth meeting of the Brethren, brought together pirate vessels from around the world. The armada that witnessed the battle of Calypso's maelstrom included ships as diverse as galleons, ketches, sloops, boutres, schooners, frigates, galleys, brigs and junks.[8] Ching commanded a vast fleet of pirate junks,[9] while Sao Feng's Empress made an appearance, helmed by Tai Huang.

Known ships

Structure

"There's not been a gatherin' like this in our lifetime."
"And I owe them all money.
"
Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow[src]

Made up of the great Pirate Lords, the Brethren Court was the governing body of pirates.[10] The Court was led by the Pirate King, chosen by popular vote by the nine Pirate Lords, each lord hailing from a different region spread across the Four Corners of the Earth. This system of election was known to be flawed, as the pirates would commonly vote for themselves, making a decision difficult. The title was non-gender specific, though Elizabeth Swann was believed to be the first female Pirate King.

Pirate Lords were required to each carry a piece of eight, signifying their status as a member of the Brethren Court. It was initially suggested that the Pirate Lords carry actual silver coins, though the pirates, finding themselves short on money, opted for holding various items and trinkets that would be instantly recognizable and linked to the individual Lord.

Meetings of the Brethren Court were convened by means of a "call" intended to draw all nine Lords to a single location. This call took the form of a sea shanty, Hoist the Colours, known to all pirates.

Behind the scenes

Appearances

Wiki
The Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Brethren Court.

Sources

External links

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 The Price of Freedom
  3. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  4. 4.0 4.1 The Pirates' Guidelines, p4
  5. "I will say, though, the 'time Greece was founded' is far too early and makes no sense. For there to be a Court you need pirates to gather from all over the world, and that sort of thing wasn't happening then." - Terry Rossio
  6. 6.0 6.1 Jack Sparrow: Dance of the Hours
  7. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide p88-89 "Shipwreck Island"
  8. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide, p92-93 "The Wrath of Calypso"
  9. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide, p90-91, "Pirate Lords"
  10. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End "Inside the Brethren Court" featurette
  11. Gore Verbinski Audio Commentary At World's End Deleted Scene Opening
Members of the Brethren Court

First Court
Pirate Kings
First Pirate King
Pirate Lords
First Pirate Lord of the Atlantic Ocean
Aides: Davy Jones


Second Court
Pirate Lords
Henry MorganBartholomewGrandmama


Third Court
Pirate Lords
Sao Feng's father
Others: Tartaglia


Court of inquiry
Pirate Lords
ChingBoris PalachnikRafaelEdward TeagueEduardo Villanueva
Aides: Davy Jones
Keeper of the Code: Edward Teague
Others: Hector BarbossaJack SparrowRagettiMelindaEsmeralda
Prison Dog


Fourth Court
Pirate Kings
Elizabeth Swann
Pirate Lords
AmmandSumbhajee AngriaHector BarbossaChevalle
ChingJocardJack SparrowEduardo Villanueva
Aides: AskayPusasnRagettiJoshamee Gibbs
Keeper of the Code: Edward Teague
Others: Sao FengPintelPrison DogCarriers of the Code

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