Christophe-Julien de Rapièr

"It's not a bad look, really. Eh?" This article would greatly benefit from the addition of one or more new images. Please upload a relevant image and place it here. Once finished, this notice may be removed.

Christophe-Julien de Rapièr
Biographical information
Gender	Male
Ethnic group	French
Eye color	Black
Hair color	Black
Born	Late 1670s
Died	Early 1710s, Wicked Wench, Atlantic Ocean
Title(s)	Captain
Statistics
Weapon(s) owned	Sword Pistol Musket Knife
Ship(s) captained or crewed	Le Requin La Vipère
Battles	Attack on the Lindesfarne Attack on the Spanish ship Attack on the Dutch flute
Affiliation	Brethren Court Rogue pirates
Behind the scenes
First appearance	The Price of Freedom
Last appearance	The Price of Freedom
Cause	Killed by Jack Sparrow

"I win again, Jacques! It is my day, not yours!"
"He who wins the day must buy the drinks. It's traditional."
"Another Jack Sparrow tradition. Why is it they always involve rum?"

―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr and Jack Sparrow playing hazard

Christophe-Julien de Rapièr was a French pirate captain during the Age of Piracy. A crafty and skillful swordsman, he was in command of a pirate vessel, Le Requin, and later his flagship, La Vipère. Christophe-Julien de Rapièr was also a great friend of Jack Sparrow, though they later became enemies when Christophe was revealed to be a member of the rogue pirates led by Boris Palachnik, who also served the Brethren Court as Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea. Despite the accusations against de Rapièr, Sparrow broke the Code when he facilitated the escape of his friend from Shipwreck Island, which led to Sparrow leaving the pirate's life and pursuing a legitimate career as a merchant seaman for the East India Trading Company. Lady Esmeralda also swore revenge on de Rapièr after he killed her grandfather Don Rafael, the Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea. Following an uneasy alliance to steal the Heart of Zerzura, Christophe de Rapièr was killed in a duel with Jack Sparrow aboard the merchant vessel, the Wicked Wench, after which Jack planned to give his sword to Esmeralda as a trophy.

Biography

Early life and career

Little is known of Christophe-Julien de Rapièr's early life, other than that he was one of the youngest pirate captains of his time, achieving the rank of a captain of a ship at the beginning of his thirties. One day, off the coast of Spain, Christophe's pirate ship, Le Requin, captured a British merchant ship, the Lindesfarne. Onboard the ship was Cutler Beckett, a young employee of the East India Trading Company. Beckett laughed in the pirate's face, and commented on how out-of-fashion his clothing was in both London and Paris. At this, Christophe allowed his crew to beat Beckett and humiliate him. When Beckett's father Jonathan refused to pay the ransom for his son, Beckett told Christophe to write to Lord Penwallow of the EITC, who paid the ransom for Beckett.

Rogue pirate

Christophe's rogue pirate flag.

"You really mean it? I can join your crew?"
"But of course!"

―Jack Sparrow and Christophe-Julien de Rapièr

At some point in his life, Christophe learned of the Treasure of Cortés, but he didn't know where the treasure was hidden. For unknown reasons, Christophe abandoned Le Requin, taking the brigantine La Vipère as his new ship. Later, Christophe and his crew later joined the rogue pirates led by Boris "Borya" Palachnik, who also served the Brethren Court as the Russian Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea. The rogue pirates slaughtered the crews of merchant ships they captured, and they even attacked other pirate ships, leaving no survivors.

Later, at Shipwreck Cove at Shipwreck Island, Christophe met young pirate Jack Sparrow, with whom he would play hazard and give instructions in swordfighting. They became good friends, and Christophe even offered Jack to join his crew. He also met Esmeralda, the granddaughter of Don Rafael, Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea, and he unsuccessfully tried to seduce her. When Captain Hector Barbossa and his crew arrived at Shipwreck City, they were the first witnesses of rogues' attacks on pirate ships. Barbossa's crewman Tommy recognized Borya as the captain of the rogue ship that sank Barbossa's ship, so Christophe killed Tommy by drowning him in the dead of night to silence him.

Escape from Shipwreck Cove

"Borya gave up the second rogue that Davy Jones spoke of? The one he said was here in Shipwreck Cove? Who...who was it?"
"Turns out it was that popinjay, styles himself de Rapièr."

―Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa

Thanks to Jack Sparrow, the Pirate Lords at Shipwreck Cove learned that Borya leads the rogues. He and his men were captured and sentenced by Captain Edward Teague to hang. Not wanting to be tortured, Borya revealed the names of seven other rogue captains under his commands, naming Christophe as one of them.

Though Christophe and his men tried to flee from Shipwreck Island, they were captured and imprisoned in the dungeons beneath Shipwreck City. Christophe's turquoise coat, which he wore on the night when he killed Tommy, was found onboard the La Vipère, which was enough evidence for Teague to sentence him and his whole crew to death.

However, Jack Sparrow believed that Christophe was innocent, and he agreed to break Christophe out of jail in the name of friendship, but as soon as he let Christophe free, Christophe freed Borya and then fled the city, taking Jack captive.

Continuing with rogue piracy

"Jacques, I have been thinking. Now that most of Borya's fleet is gone, perhaps I shall become the new commander of our little venture. Have my own fleet, eh? And in that case, I'll need captains for my vessels. Would you like to be one of them, Jacques?"

―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr to Jack Sparrow

Whilst aboard his ship, La Vipere, Christophe put Jack to work and forced him to take part in his rogue pirate activities. On one particular occasion, while aboard a captured merchant vessel, Jack was given the third bracelet of Zerzura by its dying pharaoh, Taharka. Christophe witnessed this, and finally had his chance to punish Jack.

He told the crew Jack Sparrow had been keeping stolen treasure, and sentenced him into a longboat without food or water, to float until he was rescued, or died. In the boat, Jack called back to Christophe, informing him he had kissed Esmeralda. When Christophe raised his musket to shoot Jack, Robby Greene jumped overboard and made Christophe miss his shot. Together, Robby and Jack rowed for days, and eventually made it to land, and joined the East India Trading Company.

Two years later, Christophe killed Don Rafael, shooting him in the back. Esmeralda, who became the new Pirate Lord of the Caribbean Sea, swore that she would have her revenge on Christophe.

Search for Zerzura

"Christophe, I know you've been searching for Zerzura, to no purpose. And now you know that it takes not one, but three talismans to open the door to the labyrinth."

―Jack Sparrow to Christophe-Julien de Rapièr

Five years later, Jack Sparrow found himself needing the third Zerzuran bracelet, and used Tia Dalma's compass to track Christophe down from aboard his ship, the EITC merchant vessel Wicked Wench. Under strict orders from Jack, Christophe followed him to Zerzura and into the Zerzuran labyrinth after the treasure it held. When there, Christophe attempted to steal the Heart of Zerzura, a green crystal that gave the Shining City its power.

Upon discovering Jack had swapped the real heart for a cursed rock, Christophe had a fit of rage and shot his first mate. After this incident, his crew held a mutiny, and put Christophe in a dinghy with no food or water, which was much similar to what Christophe had done to Jack many years earlier.

Death

"Christophe, listen carefully. You climb back down that ladder, and I might consider tossing down a canteen and some biscuit. But only if you immediately do as I say. If you refuse..."
"What, Jacques?"
"I'll kill you."

―Jack Sparrow and Christophe-Julien de Rapièr

Christophe found the Wicked Wench off the shore of Zerzura and came aboard, asking Jack to allow him to come aboard the EITC merchant ship and drop him off at the nearest port. Jack refused, and this led to a duel between Christophe and Jack on board the Wench, which ultimately ended with Christophe's death. Christophe's body was thrown overboard, and Jack took his sword to give it to Esmeralda as a trophy.

Personality and traits

"You impugn my honor?"
"I'd say shooting Don Rafael in the back pretty much established everything I need to know about your ‘honor.’ Or the lack of it."

―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr and Jack Sparrow

Christophe was generous to attractive serving wenches in the taverns of Shipwreck City, and he gave a gold doubloon to Marie Seymour on one occasion. He was charming to lovely ladies like Esmeralda, but he was sometimes very brutal with women, as witnessed when he attempted to rape Marie.

Like all rogue pirates, Christophe and his crew were one of the most ruthless pirates on the high seas. They slaughtered entire crews, even those that surrendered without fight. In a fit of rage, Christophe even shot his own first mate.

Christophe was a brave man who participated in many battles. The only man he ever feared was Boris "Borya" Palachnik, who was once a member of the Brethren Court as Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea.

Equipment and skills

"We fenced many times, mon ami. Remember who always won?"
"You did. But it will be different this time."

―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr and Jack Sparrow

Christophe was an excellent swordsman, gaining his skills during the long years of fighting at sea. His favored weapon was the Spanish Toledo sword engraved with silver and gold. Like all pirates, Christophe liked to drink rum, but he was an excellent swordsman even when he was half drunk. He was also a good shooter both with pistol and musket. He also carried a knife hidden in the sleeve of his coat.

Behind the scenes

Christophe-Julien de Rapièr appeared in A. C. Crispin's novel The Price of Freedom.

Appearances

• The Price of Freedom