Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki

READ MORE

Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki
LizandMotleyCrewPromo "Please, I need your help. Come on!"
This article is in need of referencing per sourcing guidelines.

This article needs appropriate citations. Help us improve this article by referencing valid resource material. Remove this notice when finished.

For other uses, see Royal Navy (disambiguation)

"Pride of the King's Navy, you are."
Jack Sparrow to Mullroy and Murtogg[src]

The British Royal Navy, also known as the British armada, British Naval Fleet, British Navy, the English Navy, the King's Navy, His Majesty's Navy, or more commonly the Royal Navy, was the naval armed force and a component of the British Empire. Most notably under the reign of King George II as part of His Majesty's Navy, the Royal Navy also included the Royal Marines and was charged by the Crown with keeping peace, protecting the shipping lanes, and most important, capturing pirates. Unfortunately for the Crown, some Navy officers weren't as honest as perhaps they should be.

Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the British Royal Navy traced its origins to the early 16th century. From the middle decades of the 17th century, and through the 18th century, the British Navy vied with the Dutch Navy, the French Navy, and Spanish Navy for maritime supremacy as the world's most powerful navy. The Royal Navy played a key part in establishing and defending the British Empire, as well as the Navy's ability to assert naval superiority globally.

At its height, the British Navy was the most powerful navy on the Seven Seas, primarily based in the Caribbean. The Caribbean was as corrupt as it was beautiful, and it has proven easy to grow lax so far from home. Instead of protecting civilians, many Navy officials extort gold under the pretense of "taxes" and generally oppress anyone they thought they could push around. Some officers and guards could be bribed, while others turn their heads when crimes were committed. But all Navy personnel were still formidable fighters in the King's name. As its influence grew in the Caribbean, the East India Trading Company employed Royal Navy marines and ships to escort its vessels and defend against any attacks.

History[]

Origin[]

"Welcome back to His Majesty's Navy, Master Gibbs!"
Hector Barbossa to Joshamee Gibbs[src]

The Royal Navy was established during the early 1700's when the English and Royal Scots Navies were unified into one organisation, although the two Navies operated together since the Union of the Crowns in the early 1600's. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Royal Navy fought in many battles against her French and Spanish counterparts. The Royal Navy was one of the key weapons in the creation of the British Empire, conquering new lands and establishing colonies for England in the Far East, Africa, and the Caribbean.[citation needed]

Piracy in the Caribbean[]

Loadingscreen enterGame

A battle between the Royal Navy and the Caribbean pirates.

"I think it'd be rather exciting to meet a pirate."
"Think again, Miss Swann. Vile and dissolute creatures, the lot of them. I intend to see to it that any man who sails under a pirate flag, or wears a pirate brand, gets what he deserves: a short drop and a sudden stop.
"
Elizabeth Swann and James Norrington[src]

Piracy was one of the largest problems for the Royal Navy and the East India Trading Company. During the times of war, the Royal Navy employed many pirates as privateers to harass the Spanish Treasure Fleets on behalf of England. But when the wars ended, the privateers found themselves unemployed, and many of them turned to piracy once again, mostly in the Caribbean Sea.[citation needed] The best officers, marines, and sailors of the Royal Navy were often sent to hunt down the most notorious pirates in the Caribbean. According to legend, the infamous pirate Blackbeard was beheaded by the Royal Navy during the battle of Ocracoke Inlet off the coast of North Carolina,[14] before he swam three times around his ship and then climbed back onboard.[2] Bartholomew Roberts was killed by the Navy in 1722 off the west coast of Africa.[citation needed]

Admiral Lawrence Norrington used the entire Royal Navy, along with some East India Trading Company ships, to pursue the notorious Captain Teague, the Keeper of the Code who was reputed to be the most wanted pirate on the Seven Seas. Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III, Lawrence's nephew, sailed with Jack Sparrow for about a year aboard the Barnacle before Dalton revealed he was a spy in order to capture both Sparrow and Teague for the Royal Navy of England. With the help of sailor Joshamee Gibbs, they were able to escape capture aboard Teague's ship, the Misty Lady.[3] Lawrence's son, James Norrington, also served in the Royal Navy, from lieutenant to captain to commodore of the fleet.[5][6][10] Many pirates were captured by Commodore Norrington's forces and hanged in Port Royal, Jamaica,[4][7] until his failure in efforts to pursue Captain Jack Sparrow.

As its influence grew in the Caribbean, the East India Trading Company employed Royal Navy marines and ships to escort its vessels and defend against pirate attacks.[15] By this point, as a result of his failures in the Royal Navy's pursuit of Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl, notably sailing the HMS Dauntless into a hurricane, James Norrington was decommissioned and dishonorably discharged from the British Navy.[11] When given the opportunity to reclaim his status, James Norrington filled in Letters of Marque and gave the heart of Davy Jones to Lord Cutler Beckett,[10] who reinstated Norrington into the Navy, promoted him to admiral, and given the Flying Dutchman to command.[16] Lord Beckett's flagship, the HMS Endeavour, led the British Navy and East India Trading Company armada alongside the Dutchman, sailing to destroy the Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court. However, after the sinking of the Endeavour by the Dutchman and the Pearl, these three hundred ships retreated.[16][11]

Quest for the Fountain of Youth[]

Boats

Members of the Royal Navy at Whitecap Bay.

"Captain Barbossa, each second we tarry, the Spanish outdistance us. I have every confidence you will prevail and be rewarded with the high station you so desire."
"To serve doth suffice, Sire.
"
King George II and Hector Barbossa[src]

In 1750, King George II and his ministers would learn that King Ferdinand of Spain had located the Fountain of Youth. In an attempt to solve the issue of finding the Fountain, the King and the Royal Navy tried to enlist help from the notorious pirate Jack Sparrow, who had knowledge of the route to the Fountain.[1] After the elusive pirate escaped St. James's Palace, a crew of the Royal Navy, led by the reformed pirate and privateer Hector Barbossa, participated in the quest for the Fountain in the King's behalf. Their mission was to find the Fountain before the Spanish crew did. Despite the assistance they received from Jack Sparrow, who rendezvous with Barbossa's crew on the island where the Fountain of Youth was located, the British ultimately failed their mission to secure the Fountain in the King's name. Almost all of Barbossa's crew was killed, while Barbossa himself returned to piracy.[2]

Symbols[]

RNWhiteEnsign

The White Ensign of the Royal Navy‎

"I am Don Carrera de la Vega. Why do you fly British colors?"
"That...is a stolen flag. Overcome with remorse, we are even now on our way to deliver it back.
"
Carrera de la Vega and Jack Sparrow[src]

The Royal Navy uses several symbols, so that her ship cannot be mistaken for merchant ships or ships of other navies. One of the emblems of the Royal Navy shows a shield with the British flag, two crosses, two ships and three Royal Crowns. The crowns represents the power of the English Monarch and the ships represents the power of the Navy. The Royal Navy flags includes the Blue Ensign, which is the flag of the "Blue Squadron", and White Ensign, which is the flag of the "White Squadron".

Royal Navy officer ranks[]

Notable members[]

"Are we not King's men?"
Hector Barbossa to the crew of the HMS Providence[src]

Notable vessels[]

Goliath

The HMS Goliath, pride of the Royal Navy

Behind the scenes[]

"You pirates think you can challenge us? We're the British Navy - and we control the seas."
Admiral Scarfield to Jack Sparrow[src] (2013 screenplay)

Appearances[]

Wiki
The Pirates of the Caribbean Wiki has a collection of images and media related to British Royal Navy.

Non-canon appearances[]

Sources[]

External links[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide, pp. 14-15: "The British"
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Jack Sparrow: Sins of the Father
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003 junior novelization)
  5. 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Pirates of the Caribbean production notes, accessed Dec 9, 2006
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide, p. 24: "Norrington"
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
  9. 9.0 9.1 Wordplayer.com: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST by Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 DisneyPirates.com - Archived
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Pirates of the Caribbean (2003 video game)
  13. 13.0 13.1 Pirates of the Caribbean Online
  14. "Blackbeard's history is definitely a legend, and like most legends, may or may not have a basis in fact." - Terry Rossio
  15. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide, pp. 18-19: "East India Trading Co."
  16. 16.0 16.1 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
  17. Seen in the back cover of Zizzle actions figures.
  18. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Promotion Guide (June 1, 2006) (backup link)
  19. The Price of Freedom
  20. Wordplayer.com: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES by Terry Rossio
  21. Dead Men Tell No Tales script by Jeff Nathanson, second draft, 5/6/2013
  22. Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned
Advertisement