- "Too long my fate has not been in me own hands...No longer."
- ―Hector Barbossa to Elizabeth Swann
Hector Barbossa was a legendary and ferocious pirate of the Caribbean. A captain of treacherous morality, a vile pirate returned from the dead, and a master of his own fate, Barbossa was the ultimate survivor. Ruthless and cunning, combining experience with reckless daring, Barbossa was also a deadly enemy and nemesis to Captain Jack Sparrow.
In his youth, Barbossa was an honest sailor who left to make an easier living as a pirate. Originally a captain of the schooner Cobra, Barbossa would join Jack Sparrow aboard the Black Pearl as first mate. After a while of sailing under Sparrow, Barbossa led a mutiny against Jack and marooned him before finding the treasure of Cortés in Isla de Muerta. In mysterious circumstances, Barbossa would become the Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea after he obtained the Piece of Eight of the previous Lord. Upon falling under the Aztec curse, Barbossa led his crew in search of all the scattered pieces of gold they frittered away, and blood to lift their terrible curse. Ten years later, the curse was lifted by Will Turner, the child of former crewman Bootstrap Bill, at which time Barbossa was killed by his old captain, Jack Sparrow.
Even death was not the end of Captain Barbossa, as he was later resurrected by Tia Dalma, secretly the sea goddess Calypso in human form, who demanded that Barbossa help free her from her human bonds in return for his resurrection. After helping rescue Jack Sparrow in Davy Jones' Locker, Barbossa had to join up with the Brethren Court to battle against Lord Cutler Beckett, who had control over Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman. At some point afterwards, Barbossa had lost his leg, and the Black Pearl, which forced him to serve as a privateer, claiming to owe his allegiance to King George II. Having been given command aboard the HMS Providence, Barbossa participated in the quest for the Fountain of Youth, where he would rendezvous with Jack Sparrow, Blackbeard and destiny.
Biography
Early life
- "Ladies, gentlemen, allow me present to you, Captain Hector Barbossa."
- ―Edward Teague to assembled pirates at Shipwreck Cove
Like most pirates, Hector Barbossa came from England's West Country,[4] and his mother was Irish.[1] Nothing is known of Barbossa's father, but his last name indicates possible Portuguese or Spanish origin. Although Barbossa's history prior to engaging in piracy remains mainly shrouded in mystery, it was known that he ran away to sea at the age of 13 because he came from a background of poverty. He would be on board ships where he'd seen very grand cabins and the captains living in spacious and elegant quarters. Barbossa may have had earnest desires to be a man of the sea, but realized that he could gain a lot more if he broke the rules, lied to people, and killed a few in the process. Barbossa became greedy, with horrible social pretensions. He became a horrible liar, pretending to be a gentleman of the sea, and a dirty, cunning rogue. Barbossa also had a sword on his belt and learned how to skewer people and survive by using preemptive logic to map out his plans and deceive people.[14][12]
Pirate
First commands
Hector Barbossa's wanted poster.
- "Gents... Ladies... 'Tis lucky I am to be standing here afore ye today. Two months ago, almost to the day, me ship Cobra was attacked and sunk by one of our own. We had raised our true colors, and yet still they tried to slaughter us. We were attacked by one of our own brethren... a clear violation of the Code, 'twas."
- ―Barbossa to assembled pirates at the Great Chamber
Not much is known about Barbossa's early adventures, except that he became a capable pirate. In his early forties, Barbossa was the captain of a small pirate schooner named Cobra. After he plundered a French barque loaded with ivory, his ship was attacked by another pirate ship, in the waters north of Bermuda. His ship sank, and he almost drowned, but he was saved by two of his crewmembers, Pintel and Ragetti. Two months later, Barbossa and his men were picked up in Tortuga by Don Rafael, Pirate Lord of the Caribbean. Don Rafael took them to Shipwreck Cove, where Barbossa told the tale of his disaster to assembled pirates. During that meeting, he met Jack Sparrow for the first time[15].
Shipwreck Cove
- "So why were ye looking for me, Jack Sparrow?"
"Captain. I believe I've found the vessel that sank Cobra. I'd like you to come with me and see if you can identify her." - ―Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow
A few months later, Jack Sparrow discovered what ship sank the Cobra. It was the Koldunya, a ship of Boris "Borya" Palachnik, the Russian Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea and Barbossa's old friend. Jack immediately informed Barbossa of his discovery, and the pirate captain recognized the Koldunya as the rogue ship. Captain Edward Teague, Keeper of the Code, and Don Rafael, joined them on the docks, and they agreed to search Borya's ship.
Later, Teague called for an official court of inquiry, and the Pirate Lords assembled in the Great Chamber. At the court, all the witnesses told their stories, but since there was not enough evidences against Borya, Teague decided to summon Davy Jones, the Lord of the sea. 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. When asked about Borya's guilt, Jones recognized him as the leader of the rogue pirates, saying that he and his men sent many souls to the sea bottom without mercy.
Receving the Piece of Eight
- "You need to be careful of that little token. Don't lose it. Show it to Captain Teague as soon as you can. He'll tell you what it is."
"You say this is important? Looks like junk."
"It is important, Hector. Unless I'm much mistaken, that is one of the Nine Pieces of Eight."
"And what might those be, Jack?"
"They’re important. Teague will explain." - ―Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa
Borya and his whole crew were imprisoned and sentenced to hang. Borya even gave them the name of one of the rogue captains under his command, Christophe-Julien de Rapièr, captain of La Vipère. The French pirate and his crew were also quickly captured. A few days later, Barbossa visited Borya in a prison, where Borya apologized for the destruction of Barbossa's ship. Borya even gave Barbossa his most precious token, a small block of wood, his Piece of eight, the sign of pirate lordship, thus making Barbossa the next Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea.[16][17] However, Barbossa didn't know the meaning of the Piece of Eight at that time, and Borya didn't tell him about its importance. Borya also agreed to give the Koldunya to Barbossa as a payment for the loss of the Cobra, so he wouldn't be a captain without the vessel.
A few hours later, Barbossa encountered Jack Sparrow and Don Rafael's granddaughter Esmeralda at the Drunken Lady tavern. He told them about his conversation with Borya, and showed them the block of wood which Borya gave him. Both Jack and Esmeralda recognized Borya's piece of eight, and they told Barbossa to show it to Captain Teague as soon as possible.
However, that same night, the rogues escaped on the Koldunya and La Vipère, taking Jack with them. After that, Barbossa intended to join Captain Teague's fleet in rogue-hunting. He gave Borya's piece of wood to one of his subordinates, Ragetti, who missed an eye and ordered him to keep it safe, without learning its meaning.[18]
Onboard the Black Pearl
First Mate
- "I don't know what you're playing at, but I know you can hear me, Jack."
"Oh, sorry. I presumed you must be addressing some other Jack, one who was not captain of the finest ship ever to sail the Seven Seas—since surely if you were addressing me, you would have said 'Captain Jack,' isn't that right?"
"My apologies, Captain Jack." - ―Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow
In unknown circumstances, Barbossa lost contact with Ragetti and his Piece of Eight. Five years after the escape of the rogues from Shipwreck Cove, while he was in Tortuga, Barbossa joined the crew of the Black Pearl, captained by Jack Sparrow. Barbossa was made Sparrow's first mate, and the crew set out from Tortuga to the Far East, sent by Tia Dalma to collect seven pieces of powerful magical potion called the Shadow Gold, and prevent an evil alchemist, the Shadow Lord from destroying the Pirate Brethren. Sparrow and Barbossa traveled around the world, chased by the East India Trading Company and the Shadow Army, but at the end, they were able to defeat the Shadow Lord with the assistance of all Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court.[19]
Mutiny on the Black Pearl
Captain Barbossa with his crew.
- "Well, Jack! I'm afraid your career as a pirate has been a short one. I am the captain of the Black Pearl. No one challenges my authority."
- ―Hector Barbossa to Jack Sparrow
Two years after adventure with the Shadow Gold, the Black Pearl sailed towards Isla de Muerta to find the lost treasure of Hernán Cortés. Although Barbossa didn't believe Jack Sparrow about the curse that was placed on the treasure, believing it as a "ridiculous superstition," he went on the search anyway. The Isla de Muerta was an island in the Caribbean that could not be found except by those who already knew where it was, but Captain Sparrow had a map as to the approximate location of the island. Three days into the voyage, Barbossa was able to coax the bearings from Jack. The then over-trusting Jack gave his bearings willingly to his "loyal" first mate, thinking that he could help in finding the island.[5]
- "I hardly believe in ghost stories anymore, Captain Barbossa."
"Aye. That's exactly what I thought when we were first told the tale. Buried on an island of dead what cannot be found, except for those who know where it is. Find it, we did. There be the chest. Inside be the gold. And we took 'em all." - ―Hector Barbossa to Elizabeth Swann
That same night Barbossa rallied the rest of the crew in a mutiny against Jack. They marooned him on an island, jokingly appointing him it's "governor", and gave him a pistol with one shot—to kill himself when the heat and thirst got too much. With the Pearl now under Barbossa's control, they then sailed towards Isla de Muerta. Prior to this however, Barbossa attained his precious pet monkey, mockingly named "Jack", after their old captain. Then, with Jack's bearings, the crew found the island and the treasure inside it's caves. Inside a large stone chest were 882 identical pieces of Aztec coins, once belonging to Hernán Cortés, given to him by the Aztec to stop the ambitious Spaniard from slaughtering their people. Cortés continued his conquest despite the tribute. According to legend, the heathen gods of the Aztec placed a curse on the treasure to avenge the fallen people. Supposedly, anyone who took a single piece from the chest would be cursed for eternity. The crew ignored the legends which Jack Sparrow has mentioned to them earlier, and seized the treasure for themselves. They returned to Tortuga and after a time, they traded the whole gold away on frivolous things.[5]
The Curse of Cortés
- "Look! The moonlight shows us for what we really are. We are not among the living, and so we cannot die. But neither are we dead. For too long I've been parched of thirst and unable to quench it. Too long I've been starving to death and haven't died. I feel nothing. Not the wind on my face, nor the spray of the sea...nor the warmth of a woman's flesh. You best start believing in ghost stories, Miss Turner. You're in one!"
- ―Hector Barbossa to Elizabeth Swann.
The cursed Barbossa.
Very soon they realized that the legends were true, and they lost the ability to taste, digest, or feel in general. Perhaps worst of all, at night, beneath the moon, they were revealed for what they were: undead skeletons; neither living nor dead, and unable to die or succumb to bodily harm. Nevertheless, the crew set about immediately to find the lost treasure.[5]
There was only one crewman who had been bitter and guilt-ridden ever since the marooning of Jack Sparrow: Bootstrap Bill Turner who sent a piece of the treasure to his child, telling the others that they deserved to be cursed. This angered Barbossa greatly, so he ordered his men to strap "Bootstrap's bootstraps" to a cannon. He then ordered them to push the cannon overboard, taking "Bootstrap" down to the crushing depths, unable to die, yet unable to move. Barbossa was able to figure out a way to reverse the curse: by returning the coins to the chest and offering a tribute in blood, the curse of the heathen gods would be satisfied, and the crew would be free. With this plan in mind, Barbossa and his crew set out to try and recover the treasure by using an ability to sense when a coin was near.
Strangers Bearing Gifts
Pintel and Barbossa after finding a mysterious castaway.
- "Then why even follow me into my trap? I am a god, after all."
"We already be damned. So even a slim chance at finding a cure is better than no chance. And for a 'god' you seem to be awfully...limited." - ―Palaimon and Hector Barbossa
At some point during the quest to lift the Aztec curse, Barbossa recalled the story of Icarus before his crew came across a mysterious castaway, a young boy floating unconsious in the middle of the ocean. Somehow still alive and wearing shackles, the boy was brought on board the Black Pearl. After ordering Ragetti to fix the boy a stew, Barbossa felt that something was wrong. When Barbossa asked Pintel about his opinion on the bodies of the ship's crew, Pintel said they were eaten by the sharks, but Barbossa cleverly noted that there was no blood on the surface of the water.[20]
Later, as the boy had dinner in the captain's cabin, Barbossa expressed his curiosity on the situation about the wreck of the Delfin, the shackles on the boy's hands, and the boy himself being alive. Despite Barbossa's disbelief, the young boy insisted himself to be Juan Ponce de León and that he managed to find the Fountain of Youth. Claiming the Fountain, among other things, "cured all my ills in an instant", the boy offered to take Barbossa to the Fountain. Believing that the Fountain of Youth might hold the key to lifting the terrible curse that his crew was under, Barbossa ordered his men to chart a course to the Fountain's location.[20]
As the sun began to set, Bo'sun informed Barbossa that they were arriving at the cove, causing the captain to close a book about Greek mythology. Upon reaching the dubious destination that had a statue of a boy riding a dolphin, Barbossa told "Mr. de Leon" a story pertaining to Greek mythology. He collectively accused the young passenger of being Melikertes, who revealed himself now to be Palaimon, a demonic Greek sea god who fed on the human souls. As Palaimon summoned an army of souls to fight against Barbossa's undead pirates, he himself engaged in a fierce duel with Barbossa. Against the odds, Barbossa defeated Palaimon by forcing him to fall into the sea, deducing that he couldn't swim due to having found him clinging to a piece of floating wood and that his altar showing him riding a dolphin. After making sail for safer waters, Pintel asked Barbossa if the Fountain was real, despite what had occurred. Barbossa responded in saying they're un-living proof that tales of the be were but tales of hope and redemption, finishing by saying he didn't believe in fairy tales.[20]
The lost medallion
Two years after falling under the curse, the Pearl attacked a ship with a coin on board. They were not able to find the coin and left the burning wreckage behind them, narrowly avoiding a confrontation with the HMS Dauntless.[5] In the mysterious circumstances, Barbossa learned the meaning of the piece of wood which Borya gave him years ago, and became the new Pirate Lord of the Caspian Sea.[21]
Lifting the curse
Attack on Port Royal
- "First, your return to shore was not part of our negotiations nor our agreement, so I must do nothing. And secondly, you must be a pirate for the Pirate's Code to apply, and you're not. And thirdly, the Code is more what you'd call guidelines than actual rules. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl, Miss Turner."
- ―Hector Barbossa to Elizabeth Swann
Barbossa negotiating with Elizabeth aboard the Black Pearl.
Over the course of the next eight years, the crew raided and pillaged settlements throughout the New World, searching for the lost pieces of Aztec gold. At last, they returned all but one of the coins to the chest. One day, Barbossa and his crew sensed the last piece. They followed the "call" of the gold, and finally ended at the British colony of Port Royal. They attacked at night, blending in perfectly with the dark and cloudy night. The Pearl was followed by an eerie fog, a side-effect of the cursed crew's long-term occupation of the ship. Due to the cover, the Pearl was able to attack Port Royal unhindered. Barbossa ordered his cannonneers to fire on Fort Charles. While the ship occupied the fort's attention, Barbossa sent a raiding party to collect the coin.[5]
- "Captain Barbossa, I am here to negotiate the cessation of hostilities against Port Royal."
"A lot of long words in there, miss. We're naught but humble pirates. What is it that you want?"
"I want you to leave and never come back."
"I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request. Means 'no'." - ―Elizabeth Swann and Hector Barbossa
Some time later, the boats returned laden with swag. Two of Barbossa's crewmen, Pintel and Ragetti, came aboard with a young female hostage. When his boatswain, Bo'sun, asked them why they had brought a captive, the young woman tried to explain she had invoked the right of parley so she could negotiate a truce with the Captain, but was slapped in return. Barbossa took offence to this and reprimanded the boatswain and apologized to the woman. She audaciously demanded that Barbossa cease his attack on Port Royal, or else she would throw the Aztec coin overboard. Barbossa tried to hide the crew's need for the medallion she wore around her neck, but the young woman said that she had seen the Pearl on her crossing of the Atlantic from England eight years before. Barbossa asked for the girl's name. She responded by saying her name was Elizabeth "Turner", and that she was a maid in the governor's household. Barbossa was thrilled by the fact that they had very likely found "Bootstrap's" child, after all these years, and would finally be able to lift the curse. Barbossa agreed to leave Port Royal and ordered his crew to set sail. After giving over the medallion, "Miss Turner" demanded she be taken ashore. Barbossa refused, citing that her return to shore was not part of their agreement. With that, the Pearl set off towards Isla de Muerta, to lift the curse.[5]
Isla de Muerta
- "Captain Barbossa, and his crew of miscreants, sail from the dreaded Isla de Muerta. It's an island that cannot be found, except by those who already know where it is."
- ―Jack Sparrow to Will Turner about Hector Barbossa
Barbossa telling Elizabeth about the "pirate medallion".
While the Pearl sailed towards Isla de Muerta, Barbossa entertained Elizabeth, and held her as his guest in his cabin. Food that was always kept near, in case the curse was lifted, was now able to be cooked and brought out. Barbossa watched, utterly envious, as Elizabeth ate her food. She, however, was suspicious as to why Barbossa was not eating, but was encouraging her to eat instead. Elizabeth asked if the food was poisoned; Barbossa was amused. He told her that there was no sense in killing her. Elizabeth asked why he was still keeping her. Barbossa saw that Elizabeth did not know about the curse, and so he told her the story of the crew and its curse. He then told her that she was the last blood sacrifice needed to lift the curse. At that, Elizabeth leapt up and attempted to run out of the cabin. Barbossa ran after her, but Elizabeth turned around and stabbed him with a knife from the table; she was shocked to see that Barbossa was unimpressed. Elizabeth then ran out into the moonlit sky, and ran face to face with the half-dead skeleton crew. While drinking wine from a bottle Barbossa explained the curse's effect on the crew, and, startled, Elizabeth ran back into the cabin, where she remained for the duration of the voyage. Barbossa locked the doors behind her and laughed.[5]
Upon reaching Isla de Muerta, the crew of the Pearl unloaded all of their booty into the caverns, while Barbossa prepared the ritual. After a short speech, Barbossa cut Elizabeth's palm with the ritual knife, covered the coin with her blood, and dropped it into the chest. Not feeling any different, Barbossa shot Pintel to see if the curse was lifted. Surprisingly, Pintel did not die. Barbossa confronted Elizabeth, asking her if William Turner was her father. Elizabeth admitted that she was not, but refused to tell Barbossa who William's child was. Frustrated, Barbossa slapped Elizabeth, dropping the coin as well. While the crew at first became angry at Pintel and Ragetti for bringing the wrong person, they soon turned their attention to Barbossa, claiming every decision he had made has led them from bad to worse, the curse itself being the most prominent example. But, when Barbossa brandished his sword, challenging the crew to fight him, no one dared fight against such a skilled swordsmen and stopped blaming Barbossa. The confrontation was interrupted by Jack the monkey, who pointed towards the exit of the caverns, screaming. Barbossa turned towards where Elizabeth had fell, and saw that she was no longer there.[5]
Barbossa shooting Pintel
He ordered the crew to find her. Soon the crew called for him, and he went to find, much to his amazement, Jack Sparrow. Barbossa asked him how he got off his island, and Jack said that he had forgotten a very important thing, that he was Captain Jack Sparrow. Barbossa, annoyed with Jack's self-aggrandizing attitude, ordered his crew to kill Sparrow. Sparrow, however, coolly asked if Elizabeth's blood hadn't worked. Barbossa, perceiving Jack's motives, ordered his crew to hold fire. Jack then told him that he knew who's blood they really needed. Since a compromise couldn't be made on the spot, and the medallion, on the HMS Interceptor (Barbossa learned the name courtesy of Jack) was getting farther and farther out of Barbossa's reach.[5]
Chasing the Interceptor
- "Haul on the main brace! Make ready the guns!…and run out the sweeps."
- ―Hector Barbossa to his crew and Bo'sun
So the crew and Jack boarded the Pearl and headed out in hot pursuit of the Interceptor. Barbossa and Sparrow, meanwhile, attempted to cut a deal in Barbossa's cabin. Jack was attempting to make Barbossa give him "his" ship, where then he would strand Barbossa on a beach and shout the name of the person who's blood he needed to him, as he sailed away. Barbossa, however, did not feel comfortable with giving away his ship, while he trusted that the name Sparrow gave him was the one he needed. Negotiations were at a standstill when Bo'sun entered the cabin and informed them that the Interceptor was in view.[5]
Barbossa and Jack Sparrow, before Jack was sent to the brig.
Barbossa ordered Jack to be put in the brig and headed closely behind the Interceptor. The resourceful crew of the Interceptor, however, attempted to lose the Pearl over an unnamed shoal. The Interceptor, small and light, was easily able to transverse over the shoal. It then began to dump supplies and cargo overboard, to make it go even faster. Barbossa ordered the crew to bring out the oars, as well as the guns, confident that the Pearl would catch up with the Interceptor before she reached the shoals. As the Pearl slowly caught up, the Interceptor attempted one last trick. It lowered its starboard anchor into the shoal, catching one a rock and turning sharply around towards the Pearl. Barbossa quickly ordered the crew to turn the ship around, and ordered a full broadside.[5]
Barbossa gave his crew orders during the ensuing battle, overseeing the boarding of the Interceptor, and giving commands to his cannonneers. During the battle, the main mast of the Interceptor crashed onto the Pearl's deck, and Jack the monkey crept onto the mast and scurried onboard the Interceptor. The monkey soon returned, medallion in hand, with Sparrow (out of his cell) suspiciously in hot pursuit of the monkey. Barbossa's crew then captured the survivors of the crew aboard the Interceptor, and tied them up, while Barbossa, tipped off by his crew that they had set up an explosion, eagerly waited for the Interceptor's destruction, the medallion in his hand.[5]
After the Interceptor exploded, Barbossa was confronted by a man claiming to be Will Turner, son of "Bootstrap Bill". He intended to shoot himself, and fall into the sea, thus making his blood unattainable for Barbossa's plan to lift the curse. Barbossa asked Turner what his terms were; Turner said he wanted Elizabeth to be set free, a term Turner eagerly made clear previously, and he also wished for the crew of the Interceptor not to be harmed. Barbossa agreed, ordering the crew of the Interceptor to be locked in the brig.[5]
Deal with Sparrow
- "I suppose in exchange, you want me not to kill the whelp."
"No, no, no. Not at all. By all means, kill the whelp. Just not yet. Wait to lift the curse until the opportune moment." - ―Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow
Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa negotiating in Isla de Muerta.
But, instead of just leaving Elizabeth at a port, he decided to cleverly twist his bargain with Turner and "release" Elizabeth by marooning her on an island, the same island that Jack had been marooned on all those years prior. But, she would have company; Sparrow was also to be marooned on the island, in response to his previous escape, and for trying to manipulate Barbossa. With those two dealt with, Barbossa turned the Pearl back toward Isla de Muerta, now finally able to lift the curse. At the request of his crew, Barbossa intended to kill Will and spill all of his blood to lift the curse in order to avoid any mistakes.[5]
Duel with Sparrow
- "So what now, Jack Sparrow? Are we to be two immortals locked in an epic battle 'til Judgement Day and trumpets sound, hmm?"
"Or you could surrender." - ―Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow
Hector Barbossa dueling Jack Sparrow.
Barbossa's crew made for Isla de Muerta, though the Pearl sailed slower than usual due to damage sustained during the fight. By the time Barbossa began the ritual once more, this time with Will as the sacrifice, Jack Sparrow miraculously appeared yet again, leaving Barbossa in utter disbelief. Jack informed Barbossa and his crew that the HMS Dauntless was sailing just off shore, waiting for them. With the ritual successfully stalled, Jack offered Barbossa a deal: Barbossa would seize the Dauntless for himself, leaving Jack as captain of the Pearl, and would have the makings of his very own fleet, and could take the title of commodore. Enticed, Barbossa agreed to Jack's proposal in return for twenty-five percent of Jack's plunder, and Jack's promise that he would purchase Barbossa a big hat. Barbossa sent his men on a walk on the ocean floor, while he, Will and Jack waited in the caves for the battle to end.[5]
- "You're off the edge of the map, mate. Here there be monsters!"
- ―Hector Barbossa to Jack Sparrow
Hector Barbossa dueling the cursed Jack Sparrow.
Barbossa was starting to trust Jack again and noted that Jack was a hard man to predict. This trust ended when Jack freed Will, who engaged Barbossa's men, while Jack dueled Barbossa. Ultimately, Barbossa, knowing that Jack could not kill him, threw his weapon aside. Sparrow, taking the opportunity, stabbed Barbossa in the chest. Barbossa sighed to himself, ripped out the sword, and in turn stabbed Jack with it in the gut. Jack staggered backwards, feigning mortal injury, but a seemingly accidental step into a shaft of moonlight revealed him to be under the influence of the curse: He had sneaked a piece of gold from the Chest of Cortés while talking to Barbossa.
Death
- "Ten years you carry that pistol, and now you waste your shot."
"He didn't waste it." - ―Hector Barbossa and William Turner
Captain Hector Barbossa's dead body.
The duel continued around the cave, quite pointlessly, until finally, Barbossa pulled a gun on Elizabeth Swann, who had come to help Will and Jack. Before Barbossa could pull the trigger, however, Jack shot him in the heart. Barbossa sneered, claiming that Jack wasted his shot. But upon defeating Barbossa's crewmen, Will had gathered the last two coins, with blood from himself and Jack, and dropped it all into the chest, lifting the curse. Unbuttoning his coat, Barbossa found that the wound from Jack's shot began to spurt blood. Barbossa then stated that he felt cold before falling to the cave floor, dead.[5]
- "I feel...cold."
- ―Barbossa's last words before dying.
Jack the Monkey with Barbossa's boots in Tia Dalma's shack.
Resurrection
Accord with Tia Dalma
- "Caution, Barbossa. Do not forget it was by my power you return from the dead. Or what it mean if you fail me."
"Don't you forget why you had to bring me back. Why I could not leave Jack to his well-deserved fate. It took nine Pirate Lords to bind you, Calypso. And it'll take no less than nine to set you free." - ―Tia Dalma and Hector Barbossa
For an unknown amount of time, Hector Barbossa's dead body remained in the treasure caves of Isla de Muerta.[5] Through undetermined circumstances, Barbossa was at some point resurrected from the dead by the voodoo mystic Tia Dalma, the human form of the sea goddess Calypso.[6] During the War of Jolly Roger, Barbossa was reputedly found haunting the island known as Devil's Anvil, providing information that only a dead man could know.[22] Several of Barbossa's possessions were spotted by Jack Sparrow's crew while visiting Tia Dalma's wooden shack seeking information about the Dead Man's Chest. The crew spotted Barbossa's boots after Tia Dalma released Jack the Monkey, who ran straight towards his boots, while Jack Sparrow himself briefly held Barbossa's old black hat.[6]
Captain Barbossa with Jack in Tia Dalma's shack.
- "So tell me, what's become of my ship?"
- ―Hector Barbossa
However, Barbossa's resurrection came at a price: Tia Dalma/Calypso needed Barbossa, as one of the nine Pirate Lords, to assemble the Brethren Court so they could release her from her human bonds.[18] Complications arose when Jack Sparrow and the Black Pearl was taken to Davy Jones' Locker by the Kraken. It wasn't until the remainder of Jack's crew came for refuge at Tia Dalma's shack did Barbossa reveal himself, much to the crew's surprise, after Tia Dalma proposed the crew set out on a voyage to World's End, waters that Barbossa had prior knowledge of.[6] However, they needed a map that led to the Locker, so Barbossa and the crew set out for Singapore.[23]
Summoning for War
Singapore
- "Captain Barbossa. Welcome to Singapore."
- ―Sao Feng to Hector Barbossa
Barbossa led Jack's former crew to Singapore, but not before having sent forth Hoist the Colours, a song meant to summon a meeting of the Brethren Court. Before Barbossa and his associates could venture to World's End to save Jack Sparrow, they needed to obtain a ship, crew, and the navigational charts that led to World's End from Sao Feng, the notorious Pirate Lord of Singapore. A meeting with Sao Feng was arranged so that Barbossa could request the ship and the crew, and Will Turner was sent to steal the charts.[18]
Elizabeth Swann and Barbossa in the streets of Singapore.
Barbossa and Elizabeth Swann went together to meet Sao Feng at his Singapore bath house. Barbossa sent the rest of the crew into the passages below the bath house; they hid there, alert, ready to provide support if things went wrong. Feng ultimately told Barbossa that it was an odd coincidence he would ask for a ship and a crew on the same day his navigational charts were almost stolen. Feng then revealed the captured thief to his guests— it was Will Turner. He was being kept in a vat of water. Barbossa pretended that Will was not known to him, but when Feng moved to kill Will, Elizabeth shrieked. Certain then that Barbossa and Elizabeth had lied to him, Feng asked why they were going to such lengths to acquire his charts. Barbossa attempted to change the subject by telling that the song was sung and summoning him, as one of the Pirate Lords to the Brethren Court, in order to decide what was to be done against the forces of East India Trading Company––which was systematically exterminating pirates around the world.[18]
- "There was a time when a pirate was free to make his own way in the world. But our time is comin' to an end. Our enemies have united, and have vowed to destroy us."
- ―Hector Barbossa to Sao Feng.
Hector Barbossa and Elizabeth Swann in Sao Feng's bath house.
Feng was hesitant to enter into open war with the East India Trading Company and remarked that pirates were betraying each other instead of holding together. After this, Elizabeth declared him a coward. Feng was impressed by Elizabeth's assertiveness but instead of answering her, he pointed out that Barbossa had still not said why he wanted his charts. Barbossa and Elizabeth both refused to answer, but Will revealed that they needed the charts to rescue Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' Locker. Feng became angry because Sparrow had insulted him once, and declared that the only reason why he would not want Jack Sparrow to remain dead is that he wanted to kill Jack himself. Barbossa then stated that Sparrow was one of the nine Pirate Lords and could not pass on his Piece of Eight before being dragged into the Locker, and therefore they could not open the Brethren Court without him.[18]
- "Jack Sparrow holds one of the nine Pieces of Eight. He failed to pass it along to a successor before he died, so we must go and get him back."
- ―Hector Barbossa to Sao Feng
The meeting became much more tense, when Feng suddenly noticed an unfamiliar man with a fake tattoo among his soldiers—undoubtedly another spy. Assuming that the man belonged to Barbossa’s crew, Feng called on his soldiers, who came out of their hideouts. Barbossa tried to calm his opponent, but without success. Barbossa’s men who were hiding under the floor, realized that this attempt has failed and that Barbossa and Elizabeth needed help, so they threw four swords through slots between the planks forming the floor of the bath house and Barbossa and Elizabeth grabbed two of them each. Feng immediately seized the spy and declared that he would kill him if Barbossa did not drop his weapons. Barbossa, however, encouraged Feng to kill the man, claiming that the spy was not his, but at that moment the beginning confrontation between Feng on one side and Barbossa, Will and Elizabeth on the other side was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a large group East India Trading Company soldiers led by Mercer.
Barbossa and Feng briefly united their forces against a common enemy and fought their way through the harbour. During the battle Will Turner made his own deal with Feng without Barbossa's knowledge; he acquired the charts himself, and provided Barbossa with a crew of Chinese pirates led by Tai Huang and a junk ship, the Hai Peng. They took the ship and left for World's End [18]
Captain Barbossa consulting Sao Feng's charts.
At World's End
- "You've doomed us all."
"Don't be so unkind. You may not survive to pass this way again, and these be the last friendly words you'll hear." - ―Elizabeth Swann and Hector Barbossa
After escaping safely from Singapore, the crew sailed through uncharted, frozen wastes to reach the Farthest Gate, although Barbossa was unable to decipher the charts' cryptic instructions for returning from Davy Jones' Locker. Undaunted, Barbossa showed no fear neither when he led the Hai Peng into a giant ice cave, where they got lost, what he claimed to be necessary to find a place that can't be found else ways, nor when he sailed the ship over the world's edge, plunging the junk and its crew into the underworld.
Barbossa holding Sao Feng's charts in Davy Jones' Locker.
The ship was wrecked, though all of the crew survived and made it to Davy Jones' Locker. Shortly after, they were all reunited with Jack Sparrow, who was still with the Pearl. Barbossa brought up their last fateful meeting in conversation, though Jack brushed this off and, leaving Barbossa out of his new crew, continued to refer to himself as the one and only captain of the Black Pearl. Barbossa contested this, knowing that Jack could not leave the Locker without the charts, which were now in Barbossa's possession. Thus, the two rivals were forced to co-operate as the Pearl set sail on the endless seas of the Locker.[18]
- "Jack Sparrow."
"Ah, Hector. It's been too long. Hasn't it?"
"Aye. Isla de Muerta, remember? You shot me."
"...No I didn't." - ―Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow
Barbossa arguing with Jack Sparrow on the Black Pearl.
When sailing these mysterious waters, Barbossa and Jack were constantly fighting over who had the right to be captain,[18] but finally he and Jack decided that Barbossa was to be captain of the starboard side, and Jack captained the port side. [24] Sparrow ultimately worked out the meaning of the charts, and coerced the crew into tipping the Pearl upside down. Barbossa understood Jack’s plan and ordered the crew to loose the cannons and the freight in order to make capsizing the ship easier and even hacked some ropes securing the barrels himself to accelerate the process. The capsizing happened coinciding with sunset in the Locker that resulted in a green flash and the return of the Pearl to the land of the living.[18]
Barbossa and Tia Dalma onboard the Black Pearl following Jack Sparrow's rescue.
The moment Barbossa was sure he was back in the real world, he pulled his flintlock on Sparrow, forcing him to agree to meet with the Brethren Court and Shipwreck Cove. Immediately, Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner, Joshamee Gibbs and Jack the monkey, also drew their pistols and pointed them at each other, so that a few seconds later numerous barrels pointed at Barbossa who was treating Sparrow with one pistol and Joshamee Gibbs with another. The tense stand-off was diffused when Jack Sparrow attempted to shoot Barbossa and found out the crew's pistols malfunctioned due to wet powder, so they put them away and set about locating a source of water at a nearby island.[18]
Jack and Barbossa talking on Black Sand Beach.
However, Barbossa and Sparrow nearly quarreled once again because they mistrusted each other so much, that none of them could afford the risk of leading the landing party and leaving the other one aboard the Pearl, because he had to fear that the one who stays aboard might commandeer the ship in his absence and sail away leaving him behind on the island. Will Turner solved the situation when he proposed that both Jack and Barbossa should go ashore temporarily leaving him as the Pearl's acting captain.[18]
Betrayals and alliances
- "Still thinkin' of runnin', Jack? Think you can outrun the world? You know, the problem with bein' the last of anythin', is by and by there'll be none left at all."
"Sometimes things come back, mate. We're living proof, you and me."
"Aye, but that's a gamble of long odds, ain't it? There's never a guarantee of comin' back, but passin' on, that's dead certain." - ―Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow
Barbossa negotiating with Sao Feng aboard the Black Pearl.
After the arrival on the island, Barbossa and Sparrow happened upon the corpse of the Kraken, and Barbossa remarked upon the certainty of death to counter Jack's insistence to the contrary. However, Barbossa, like Sparrow, would contemplate his own mortality in the time to come. For now, more pressing matters were at hand.[18]
After this short philosophical conversation between the two captains, the landing party continued exploring the island. The group could discover a spring but the dead body of Steng, the East India Trading Company spy who was killed with a fid, was lying in it. Barbossa tasted the water and found out that it was poisoned by the decaying corpse. After seeing Sao Feng's flagship, the Empress, arriving at the island and coming closer to the Black Pearl, Tai Huang and his men suddenly drew their weapons and turned on Barbossa's crew. Jack Sparrow immediately denied his captaincy and claimed that Barbossa is the captain. They were brought aboard the Black Pearl, where they met Sao Feng who had seized the Pearl immediately before their arrival. There, Turner's betrayal was revealed.[18]
Hector Barbossa fighting Ian Mercer on the Black Pearl.
Soon afterwards, the HMS Endeavour appeared. Jack Sparrow was transferred to the Endeavour and the rest of the crew including Barbossa remained aboard the Black Pearl, chained and guarded by Feng's soldiers and some Blue Coats led by Mercer. When Jack Sparrow spoke with Lord Beckett in the latter’s cabin aboard the Endeavour, he declared that he was willing to deliver Barbossa and the other Pirate Lords to Beckett. Meanwhile, Barbossa was able to bargain with Feng by mentioning Calypso and making him believe that she is Elizabeth. Feng, already disappointed of the Company because Mercer broke their agreement and refused to give him the Black Pearl, was intrigued, and agreed to join Barbossa in opposition to the East India Trading Company in exchange for Elizabeth. Sao Feng's men freed the prisoners while Feng himself returned to the Empress together with Elizabeth. Barbossa's crew and the Chinese pirates turned on the East India Trading Company Marines aboard the Black Pearl and defeated them. During this skirmish Barbossa duelled briefly with Mercer, kicked him in the stomach and forced him to escape from the ship by jumping overboard. After damaging the Endeavour with some shots, the Black Pearl made for Shipwreck Cove, once again co-captained by both Barbossa and Jack Sparrow who returned safely aboard the Pearl.[18]
Barbossa and Tia Dalma at Shipwreck Island.
By the time the Black Pearl reached the coast of Shipwreck Island, Barbossa stood on the ship's forecastle, conversing with the Voodoo priestess, Tia Dalma, regarding their bargain. The mystic accused him on intending to betray her and therefore reminded him on that he was brought back from the dead by her power, and also, demonstrating her abilities by briefly decomposing Barbossa's right hand, cautioning him of his fate should he fail to keep his end of the bargain. Barbossa in turn reminded her that she, secretly the goddess Calypso, was the one who needed him; she resurrected Barbossa so he could help retrieve Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' Locker and summon a meeting of the Brethren Court, since only the nine Pirate Lords had the power to free Calypso. To avoid the risk of the goddess reaching an accord with someone else, Barbossa ordered Pintel and Ragetti to lock Tia Dalma in the brig. Barbossa remained on deck, glancing at his right hand while contemplating his debt.[18]
The Brethren Court
- "There's not been a gatherin' like this in our lifetime."
"And I owe them all money..." - ―Barbossa and Jack Sparrow when arriving at Shipwreck Island
Hector Barbossa arriving to Shipwreck Cove.
At Shipwreck Island, Barbossa served as the de facto leader and the Master of Ceremonies of the meeting, using a Chainshot as an improvised gavel.[18]
Barbossa declared the Fourth Brethren Court opened and ordered all the present Pirate Lords to lay their Pieces of Eight into a bowl, what all except Jack Sparrow did. He took Ragetti’s eyeball and put it into the ball as well. Barbossa now had all but two Pieces of eight and waited for Sao Feng's arrival, but it was Elizabeth Swann who appeared in his place. She proclaimed that Feng is dead, killed by the Flying Dutchman, and Elizabeth has been made the Empress' new captain and the new Pirate Lord of Singapore. When asked what to do, Elizabeth proposed to face Lord Beckett's armada in an open sea battle, but Mistress Ching preferred staying at Shipwreck Cove and holding out a siege.[18]
- "It was the First Court what imprisoned Calypso. We should be the ones to set her free. And in her gratitude, she will see fit to grant us boons!"
"Whose boons? Your boons? Utterly deceptive twaddle-speak says I." - ―Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow
Barbossa at the Brethren Court, seeking for order.
Barbossa made a third proposal: He suggested that Calypso should be released so that the East India Trading Company would have a harder time controlling the seas. Tai Huang stated that Sao Feng supported this idea and Villanueva agreed with Barbossa as well, but the other lords opposed since they feared the sea goddess' power and retaliation. A fight broke out, but Barbossa stopped the violence by jumping on the table and firing a warning shot in the air. [18]
When the Pirate Lords were calm again, Jack Sparrow made a fourth proposal: He wanted to start a faint battle only in order to flee later. Barbossa reminded him that this would mean war and only a Pirate King had the right of declaring war. In order to proof this, he called on captain Teague, the Keeper of the Code, who confirmed this. An election of the Pirate King was called out, during which Barbossa voted for himself, but since all the other Pirate Lords voted for themselves as well, excepted for Sparrow who supported Elizabeth, he lost the election to her.[18]
Parley
- "Everything we've ever faced, everything we've ever done, has led to this."
- ―Hector Barbossa on the conflict with Cutler Beckett
Barbossa, Swann and Sparrow during parley.
The pirate fleet left Shipwreck Island and got ready to fight. Barbossa and Sparrow quarrelled as to who of them was the right captain of the Pearl, but when Cutler Beckett's armada appeared, Jack Sparrow called for a temporary parley, so the two captains Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa, along with Pirate King Elizabeth Swann, took a rowboat and went to a sandbar where they met with Lord Cutler Beckett, Captain Davy Jones and William Turner. Barbossa walked to the right of Elizabeth. On the sandbar, the six had a confrontation and during this confrontation, Jack Sparrow was traded for Will as part of the parley, and for Jack to repay his debt to Jones. [18]
- "Jack's one of the nine Pirate Lords. You have no right."
"King!" - ―Hector Barbossa and Elizabeth Swann
Elizabeth and Will walked away, while Barbossa had a deal with Sparrow: Barbossa attacked Sparrow with his sword and cut off his Piece of Eight (a coin woven into Moroccan beads) while calling Jack a "blackguard". Jack the monkey grabbed Sparrow's Piece of Eight, the last one to be collected, and secretly handed it to Barbossa. The three returned to the Black Pearl and prepared for the battle:[18]
Back at the Black Pearl Barbossa settled his debt with Tia Dalma and organized the ceremony of releasing Calypso from her human form. To do this, all nine Pieces of Eight were burned and Ragetti whispered the magic phrase in Tia Dalma's ear. When Calypso was released, Barbossa pleaded for her intervention, but Calypso refused to aid those who kept her imprisoned. Disappointed by this, Barbossa advised Elizabeth not to battle Lord Cutler Beckett, signifying that he was not going to die for her revenge, but Elizabeth held a speech which encouraged him as well as the rest of the crew. In the mean time Calypso showed her wrath by summoning a storm and forming a whirlpool by striking the sea with lightning.[18]
Battle of Calypso's Maelstrom
- "Captain Barbossa! We need you at the helm."
"...Aye, that be true." - ―Elizabeth Swann and Hector Barbossa
Barbossa at the wheel.
Barbossa, now undoubtedly the captain of the Black Pearl, which sailed under his colours, ordered to sail into battle with the Flying Dutchman. Elizabeth asked him, as the best steersman aboard, to man the helm, and Barbossa did it with alacrity. When the two ships entered the maelstrom, Barbossa ordered to prepare for the battle, but waited with firing the guns until the Pearl came near enough to the Dutchman and assumed the right position which allowed to use her guns most efficiently. Then he gave the order for firing a full broadside. The two ships rotated in the whirlpool and fired at each other until they finally came close enough for boarding.[18]
- "Barbossa! Marry us!"
"I'm a little busy at the moment!" - ―Elizabeth Swann and Hector Barbossa.
Barbossa fighting the Dutchman's crewmen.
During the following battle Barbossa stayed on his position, the bridge of the Black Pearl and fought numerous East India Trading Company Marines and Fish-men, including Urchin and Jelly, in addition to Morey whom he killed by beheading and stabbing. During the battle Will and Elizabeth asked him, as the ship’s captain, to join them in matrimony. Still fighting against numerous enemies, Barbossa performed a marriage. When Will stabbed Jones’s heart and the Dutchman began to sink in the whirlpool, Barbossa ordered Pintel and Ragetti to fire a chain shot on the mast tops of the two ships which were jammed together in order to uncouple the ship from the sinking Dutchman and when this was done he sailed the Black Pearl safely out of the dissolving swirl.[18]
Barbossa with Jack and the crew of the Pearl shortly before the Endeavour's destruction.
Despite the Dutchman's defeat, Beckett's armada still had to be dealt with. Jack Sparrow escaped from the Dutchman and came aboard the Black Pearl to become her captain once more. He ordered to continue the attack, but Barbossa refused. During their conversation the Dutchman resurfaced again, now with Will Turner as its new captain. Delighted about this unexpected arrival of a new ally, Barbossa agreed to attack. Sparrow and Barbossa sailed the Pearl towards Beckett's flagship, the HMS Endeavour. The two galleons boxed the Endeavour in and attacked it from both sides, annihilating the ship along with its captain. The remaining ships of Beckett's fleet, seeing the destruction of their flagship, the death of their supreme commander and with the Dutchman out of their control, retreated from the battle. Barbossa and all the other pirates celebrated their victory.[18]
When after the end of the battle Elizabeth Turner left the Black Pearl to spend the one day her husband could spend on land with him, Barbossa was the first in the row of crewmembers who took leave from her.[18] He smiled to her and, ironically, he had to address her as "Turner", which is how Elizabeth first (falsely) introduced herself to him.[18][5]
Second Mutiny
Barbossa with Sao Feng's charts.
After the pirates' victory, the Black Pearl sailed back to Tortuga. While Jack was in port impressing women, Barbossa rallied the crew, left the sleeping Joshamee Gibbs on the pier and commandeered the Black Pearl once again, planning to use the charts he obtained from Sao Feng to find the Fountain of Youth. However, some time later, when Barbossa was feeding Jack the monkey on the bridge of the Black Pearl, a group of crewmen consisting of Pintel, Ragetti, Marty, Mullroy and Murtogg, who all felt unwell because they left Jack Sparrow behind, demanded him to show them the charts in order to calm them. Barbossa promised them "Eternal life" and agreed to show the charts, but when he furled the charts he was dismayed to find that Jack has cut the middle out of the charts.[18]
- "Ah. Feast your eyes upon this, mateys. There's more than one way to live forever. Gents, I give you the Fountain of Youth. [notices that the center of the charts have been cut out]...Sparrow."
- ―Hector Barbossa after his crew demanded him to show them Sao Feng's charts
Revenge
Blackbeard's attack
- "What has become of my beloved Pearl?"
"I lost the Pearl as I lost my leg!"
"Lost the Pearl?"
"Aye. I defended her mightily enough, but she be sunk nonetheless."
"If that ship be sunk properly, you should be sunk with it." - ―Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa
With the map to the Fountain of Youth stolen, Barbossa and his crew resumed their pirate ways. One night, while the Black Pearl was sailing through the coast of Hispaniola, Barbossa's crew was suddenly attacked without warning by the Queen Anne's Revenge, the infamous vessel captained by the notorious pirate Blackbeard. The Pearl was peppered by cannonfire from the Revenge. Then the sea beneath the Pearl began to roil as the Pearl itself was pitching and yawing to where the ship itself couldn't be maneuvered. Witnessing all of this tempted Barbossa to give the order he thought he would never give—"Abandon ship".[25]
But it was too late, as Blackbeard used his sword to turn the Black Pearl against Barbossa and his crew. Every plank, rail and spar aboard the Pearl began to creak a hellish noise as the rigging came to life. Barbossa's men were tangled by the ropes, unable to fight as they were wrapped around like snakes. One of the ropes would wrap around Barbossa's right leg. Not wanting his fate changed or be mastered by anyone but himself, Barbossa used his sword to cut off his own leg. Barbossa was able to escape the brutal attack, but with the knowledge of having lost both the Black Pearl and his right leg to Blackbeard. Although having narrowly escaped Blackbeard's attack on the Pearl, Barbossa had no knowledge of the fate of his ship, having only believed that it was sunk in battle.[13]
- "I am the master of my ship, not Blackbeard. I am the master of my fate, not Blackbeard! So I did what needed done...I survived."
- ―Hector Barbossa to Jack Sparrow
From that night on, Barbossa abandoned his search for the Fountain of Youth; his goal now was to get his revenge on the man who took the Pearl and his leg: Blackbeard.[25] However, because he was without a ship and crew, Barbossa needed help to achieve this plan. Having lost his leg, Barbossa would have very few options, as his standing among other pirates would be lowered. So to ensure his revenge, Barbossa approached the British and offered his services to the Crown.[13]
Privateer in the King's court
- "Hector. How nice to see a fellow pirate make good of himself."
"Pirate? Nay. Privateer. On a sanctioned mission, under the authority and protection of the Crown." - ―Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa
Through unknown circumstances, Barbossa received a Royal Pardon and became a reformed pirate, serving as a privateer in the employ of England.[26] At some point during this time, Barbossa would have started an investigation, with an obsessive passion, in which he gained information to help him in his pursuit of Blackbeard. It was through these investigations that Barbossa would learn at least the basics on Blackbeard, including his own obsession to find the Fountain of Youth as well as the importance of his sword. As time passed from departing from his past pirate ways and a seemingly new respect for authority, Barbossa had won the trust of the British Crown.[27] The ex-pirate soon became a trusted advisor of King George II and was given command as captain of the HMS Providence, the pride of the British Royal Navy. By the time of his new-found captaincy, Barbossa began to wear a wooden leg, which contained a hidden rum supply, and used a wooden crutch.[13]
Barbossa during Jack Sparrow's escape from St. James's Palace.
Barbossa would still be serving as a privateer after King George's interest in finding the Fountain of Youth before King Ferdinand and the Spanish Armada, which Barbossa humbly agreed to take part in. After Jack Sparrow was forced to meet with King George in St. James's Palace, he was offered to guide an expedition to the Fountain under Barbossa, who believed that Sparrow could be a useful ally.[27] It was at this meeting that Barbossa and Jack had a brief reunion, in which Jack complemented Barbossa's new pirate lifestyle, though Barbossa corrected him by revealing that he was now a privateer in service to the King. Jack then asked about what became of the Black Pearl, Barbossa only revealed, without getting too far in detail, that he lost the Pearl and that his beloved vessel was sunk. Barbossa watched as Jack angrily reacted in hearing that news and the King's Royal Guards had to restrain him to stop him from attacking Barbossa. Before King George and Barbossa resumed their order of business, Jack made one of his legendary escapes. Barbossa watched as Jack, after making fun of his wig, took out some of the guards as he escaped the palace's banquet room. When the King reacted to his escape, Barbossa assured the issue was going to be handled. However, Jack was able to escape from the guards.[13]
Race to the Fountain of Youth
- "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
Barbossa interrogating Joshamee Gibbs.
With the pressing issue of the Spanish outdistancing the British towards the Fountain of Youth, the King sent Barbossa to prepare the HMS Providence to sail in their quest for the Fountain. To prepare for the voyage, Barbossa rallied a large crew for the Providence, including officers Theodore Groves and Gillette. But, since Jack Sparrow escaped, Barbossa needed someone else who might know the way to the Fountain. So Barbossa carried a noose as he greeted Joshamee Gibbs in the Tower of London. Barbossa threatened to hang Gibbs unless if he would offer him anything for their voyage to the Fountain. Gibbs revealed he had Sao Feng's map in his possession and, after Barbossa asked for the map, burned it. This action forced Barbossa to have Gibbs recruited as the navigator of the Providence, after the latter revealed that he was able to study the map and had memorized every route to the Fountain of Youth.[13]
- "The Fountain is the prize. It appears we be not even worth the time it take to sink us. Now, we've fallen behind! All hands! Make more sail!"
- ―Hector Barbossa
Barbossa aboard the HMS Providence.
As the journey progressed, Barbossa had Gibbs brought to him, as he needed a heading. Gibbs was sure they were on the right course, as he saw three galleons of the Spanish Armada. Realizing that this fleet was led by the Spaniard, Barbossa immediately ordered the crew to get into their battle stations. But before they could fire their cannons, the Spanish fleet simply passed by the Providence without fire. Barbossa deduced that their mission to find the Fountain was why the Spanish didn't attack, and that they weren't worth the time to attack. Knowing that they have fallen behind, Barbossa was now more determined to reach their destination.[13]
Whitecap Bay
- "Are we not King's men?"
"Aye!"
"Aye! Hands all off, and bear away! Stave on ahead to Whitecap Bay!" - ―Hector Barbossa and the crew of the Providence
Barbossa eating a plate full of apples.
At some point in the voyage, Barbossa was enjoying a silver plate bearing finely sliced apples, feasting with tiny bites. As he ate his meal, Groves came to him, reporting rumors about the ship's destination amongst the crew. Barbossa told Groves to continue on. But seeing that Groves hasn't moved on prompted Barbossa to reveal their immediate course in their quest, Whitecap Bay. Gibbs came in to ask if the stories of the bay were true and, after Barbossa ordered him to say it, asked if the journey to the bay could involve mermaids. Barbossa revealed that they were indeed sailing there. The crew then started to fear the worst, even leading one of its members to jump overboard, whom Barbossa believed to be a deserter. However, Barbossa managed to inspire confidence into the men by asking if they were King's men. And so the Providence set sail for Whitecap Bay.[13]
Barbossa threatens Groves at Whitecap Bay.
Soon the Providence would arrived to Whitecap Bay. As a storm erupted, Barbossa brought a team ashore, consisting of a handful of men, including his officers, Groves and Gillette, and Gibbs. While Barbossa's men found remains of deceased mermaids from the recent attack on the bay, Gibbs warned Barbossa to give up the madness. Barbossa stated that he couldn't, saying that "footsteps lie before him". As Groves warned Barbossa that they must hasten, the remaining crew aboard the Providencewas under attack by living mermaids.
- "Your head or my heading, I'll have one or the other, I don't care which."
- ―Hector Barbossa to Joshamee Gibbs
Knowing that they were dead already, Barbossa ordered a heading from Gibbs. Groves, being concerned for the men aboard, urged Barbossa to help them, but Barbossa denied the idea while pointing his pistol at Groves to change his mind. As Barbossa tried getting a heading from Gibbs, the Providence soon fell to its attackers and sunk beneath the waves. With their ship ultimately destroyed, Gibbs found their next heading and the crew continued the journey through the jungle island.[13]
Barbossa and his crew journeying through dark jungles.
Continuing their journey through dark jungles, Barbossa and Gibbs complained about it being nice to have a map or a ship. Barbossa ordered everyone in the crew to stop as he carefully takes a little, but deadly poisonous dart frog from Gibbs' shoulder. He put it in a jar with the other frogs that he recently started collecting. As Gibbs stared in a bewilderment, Barbossa asks if an old man can't have his own hobby. He ordered the crew to push on in their search. Looking at his collection of frogs, he said to himself that fortune continued to favor him.[13]
Finding the Chalices
Barbossa confronts Jack Sparrow in the Santiago.
- "Come come, Hector. If you wanted the Chalices, you'd seen they were missing and gone. You were lying in wait for Blackbeard."
- ―Jack Sparrow to Hector Barbossa
Later, Barbossa left his crew behind to find Chalices of Cartagena, which were hidden aboard the Santiago, the ship of Ponce de León. The Chalices were a key element of the ritual for the Fountain of Youth, and Barbossa knew that Blackbeard had to find them. He discovered the Santiagoon the edge of the cliff and entered the captain's cabin, waiting for the arrival of Blackbeard. However, Barbossa was only to discover that Blackbeard sent Jack Sparrow to get the Chalices.[13]
Barbossa and Jack aboard the Santiago.
Seeing that they were both after the same prize, Jack wanted to fight Barbossa. But the balance of the Santiago was so unstable that when they moved, the ship dangerously leaned. As Barbossa and Jack put the ship into balance, a chest slid from under the bed. They knew that the chest held the Chalices, but before they could reach it, the ship went unbalanced again. After once again getting the ship into balance, Barbossa and Jack decided to open the chest together. However, they only discovered that there was nothing inside, except for two stones instead of the two Chalices. They both realized that the Spanish already took the Chalices. Taking a look at a map in the hands of Ponce de León's corpse, Barbossa found where the Spanish would make their camp.[13]
- "They know the path. But I can also see where they'll most likely make camp."
- ―Hector Barbossa
Infiltration of the Spanish camp
- "What are you doing?"
"Planning an escape route. Isn't that how you do it?"
"Yes...Well, sometimes I just improvise." - ―Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa
Barbossa spoting the Spanish camp.
Barbossa and Jack later found the location of the Spanish camp where they met up with Barbossa's men. Jack and Gibbs had a brief reunion before the crew continued with their goal. As the crew made it to a stopping point near the Spanish camp, Jack stated that he would take the mission from there on account of Barbossa's condition of having one leg. Barbossa however stated that he'd accompany Jack. Barbossa ordered Groves for the men to stay back and wait for the signal.[13]
Barbossa and Jack captured by Spanish soldiers.
Going through palm trees and bushes, and waded through a lake, Barbossa and Jack were able to sneak over to some bushes to investigate a tent where the Spaniard was conversing with his men. Barbossa and Jack then notice the Chalices right on the table where the tent was and crawled through bushes towards them. After Jack said that his sword smelled funny, Barbossa revealed that his sword was poisoned from the innards of poisonous frogs. As they stood up to plan the next step in their infiltration, Barbossa looked around to calculate an escape route, thinking that's how Jack's successful escape plans work. Jack however suggested to improvise. Barbossa and Jack were able to swipe the Chalices and knock out a Spanish officer. However, after attempting to just walk out and fighting off some Spanish soldiers, the two were captured by a dozen Spanish soldiers with muskets.[13]
Barbossa reveals what happened to the Black Pearl to Jack.
Now prisoners of the Spanish, Barbossa and Jack were stripped of their possessions and tied around palm trees, sitting facing each other. Barbossa reached forward, hands still tied, and works to unscrew his peg leg and opens his rum supply. As Barbossa took a gulp, Jack reacts to this by his desire for one. Barbossa then hands the wooden leg over to Jack, who toasts it to revenge, revealing that he knew of Barbossa's true intentions aboard the Santiago—to confront Blackbeard. Though denying it at first, Barbossa came out with it, relaying on Blackbeard's attack on the Black Pearl and how his leg was lost. Barbossa screws his leg back into place on its harness as he admitted no interest for King George or "tavern yarns that give hope for a healed limb", just for a chance to take on Blackbeard and kill him with the blade of his poisoned sword. Jack assured Barbossa that he'll get the chance, finally having his hands freed.[13]
- "So...You're not after the Fountain."
"I care not for King George or tavern yarns that give hope for a healed limb. But I'd give my left arm for a chance at Blackbeard."
"Not your right?"
"I need me good arm to drive my poisoned blade through his heart."
"I'll see you get the chance, mate." - ―Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa
With haste, Jack schootches up the trunk and climbs upwards a palm tree. Barbossa looks on Jack's escape attempt with admiration as Jack reached the top and was suddenly slingshoted onto another palm tree. Patrolling Spanish soldiers witnessed the escape and took out their weapons and spread out to find Jack. As Barbossa struggled to get free, Groves appeared with Jack and Barbossa's weapons, taking Jack's distraction as the signal, and sets Barbossa free. Barbossa and Groves then fled back to the rest of Barbossa's crew. Jack appeared with the Chalices in hand. With the Chalices retrieved, Jack and Barbossa quickly made way in their new joint venture, in which Jack would help Barbossa get his chance of revenge against Blackbeard.[13]
Fight with Blackbeard
- "Edward Teach! For crimes committed on the high seas, by the authority granted to me by His Majesty the King, with the goodly amount of personal satisfaction, I hereby place you in the custody of the court, and declare you to be my prisoner."
"My trick's out, is that it?"
"Such crimes to include but are not limited to piracy, treason, murder, torture of the most heinous sort, including the brutal theft of one used, twisted, hairy right leg!" - ―Hector Barbossa and Blackbeard
While Jack rejoined Blackbeard and his crew, Barbossa and his crew followed them from a distance. When the pirates found the Fountain of Youth, Barbossa and his crew made a surprising entrance, out of the Fountain's foggy environment, in which Barbossa finally confronts Blackbeard. As Barbossa pulled out his sword, he declared Blackbeard as his prisoner, for numerous crimes including the loss of his leg. Blackbeard asked Barbossa if he was to face his sword, in which Barbossa said he would, being far away from his ship. Blackbeard, believing Barbossa was the "one-legged man" from his prophesied death, believed Fate had come to him. However, Blackbeard didn't want to go down without a fight. And so a battle ensued as both Barbossa and Blackbeard's crew started to fight each other, with their captains in a fierce duel to the death.[13]
Barbossa duelling with Blackbeard at the Fountain of Youth.
In their deadlock battle, Barbossa fought Blackbeard, as he blocked the pirate's attacks with his sword and crutch. They continued slashing at each other until Gillette got in the way and was stabbed through by Blackbeard, briefly interrupting their duel. Gillette's body fell onto Barbossa, who immediately pushed it aside to resume fighting with Blackbeard. They fought evenly throughout their duel, until Blackbeard grabbed Barbossa's crutch and broke it, leaving Barbossa slightly unbalanced. Blackbeard laughed and said that there could have been more of a fight. However, Barbossa was still able to fight until Blackbeard tripped Barbossa to the ground, where he couldn't get back up. To Blackbeard's frustration, Barbossa had a smile on his face, which infuriated him as he was about to finish him off. But Blackbeard wouldn't be given that chance, as Barbossa pointed out to him, as he gazed upon unwanted visitors—the Spanish.[13]
Barbossa and Blackbeard watched as the Spaniard and his men appeared out of the fog, slowly stopping the fight at the Fountain of Youth. After killing Groves and taking the Chalices from Angelica, Blackbeard's daughter, the Spaniard declared that the Fountain was to be destroyed and smashed the two Chalices thrown them in a deep pool nearby. As the Spanish began destroying the Fountain, the Spaniard confronted Blackbeard, calling him a fool for seeking what only faith can provide. Blackbeard debunked that claim, saying that for faith there is enough to see, but enough to blind. Barbossa took this opportunity to cut Blackbeard's wrist with his poisonous sword. As the bewildered Blackbeard turned around, Barbossa stabbed him through with his sword, saying that his act was for the Black Pearl.
- "What devilry is this?"
[Barbossa stabs Blackbeard with his poisoned sword]
"For the Pearl." - ―Blackbeard and Hector Barbossa
Seeing that he was mortally wounded, Angelica ran to her father's side to remove the sword, but cut herself in the process. Barbossa informed them that the blade of his sword was poisoned, saying that he wouldn't have faced Blackbeard without a venomous advantage. As the Spanish continued destroying the temple around the Fountain, Barbossa walked to pick up Blackbeard's sword, claiming it along with his ship and crew as payment for his lost leg. And so Barbossa left Blackbeard to die at the Fountain, followed by Blackbeard's human crew.[13]
Return to Piracy
- "I claim Blackbeard's ship and crew and this sword payment for me missing limb."
- ―Hector Barbossa
Hector Barbossa looks upon his new ship.
Having taken the revenge he wanted from Blackbeard, Barbossa made his way across the huge barren rocks, backed by what is left of Blackbeard's pirate crew, including Ezekiel, Salaman, Garheng, Scrum, and the Cabin Boy. Anchored in the bay of the island, lied the Queen Anne's Revenge. Barbossa declared the Revenge his new ship.
When he came aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, Barbossa had changed into his full pirate regalia. As Barbossa took the ship's helm, the Cabin Boy approached him with an old wide-brimmed black hat—the very hat Barbossa had lost in battle—which he found belowdecks. Barbossa takes the hat and flips it as he places it on top of his head. He then draws his new sword, causing the lines to whip through the air and the sails unfurl, on their own accord. The crew looks in wonder, as Barbossa points the sword straight ahead, causing the Revenge to sail forward in full speed.[13]
Hector Barbossa takes command of the Queen Anne's Revenge.
As the Revenge sailed, Barbossa sheathed his sword and yelled orders to his new crew, who approve him as their new captain. Barbossa became a notorious pirate captain once again as he reached into his coat and pulled out his Letters of Marque, saying that the Crown served him well, and ripped them up as he told the crew of their next destination. The papers flew through the air as Barbossa had the Revenge set sail for Tortuga.[13] His further fate is unknown.
- "All hands! Ply to windward! Get cracking, ye bloomin' cockroaches! [laughs] The Crown served me well. But now, by the Gods of sea and sky! Make way for Tortuga!"
- ―Hector Barbossa to his crew
Personality and traits
- "Barbossa, you lying bastard! You swore she'd go free!"
"Don't dare impugn me honor, boy. I agreed she'd go free, but it was you who failed to specify when or where." - ―Will Turner and Hector Barbossa
Hector Barbossa
Confident and persuasive,[27] ruthless and cunning,[28] Hector Barbossa combines experience with almost reckless daring.[7] Barbossa was grim and rough-edged, to say the least, but he had a knack for dry humor.[5][18] He was also very inspiring when it came to pep-talking his mates and was never short some wise advice. At his worst he was cruel, wily, manipulative, and bloodthirsty. He could be merciless and often turned agreements to his own favor,[29] but nevertheless he stated that he had a merciful nature and sense of fair play, though this was possibly only an example of his morbid sense of humour.[18] He was not completely without honor, however; he claimed to be a man of his word, and defied the Pirate King when told not to free Calypso, in order to fulfill his promise of freeing her. He considered himself a gentleman of the seas and possessed a certain eloquence which he frequently used to his advantage. Being a vain person,[9] Barbossa liked to wear fine clothes and enjoyed setting himself in scene and holding powerful speeches, for example in the cave at Isla de Muerta[5] or on the Brethren Court.[18] Like many other pirates he considered the Pirate Code to be "more guidelines than actual rules", but nevertheless he respected the right of Parley and preferred interpreting the Code in his own favor instead of breaking it openly. [5] Barbossa had an apparent fearlessness, which could be interpreted by some as suicidal insanity—much to the dismay of his crew, he did not hesitate to sail right over the waterfalls at World's End, nor did he show much concern for sailing the Black Pearl straight into the massive maelstrom created by the enraged goddess Calypso and took part in the battle at the center of it.[18]
Originally having earnest desires to be a man of the sea, Barbossa became greedy because of his megalomania for wealth and power.[14][12][29] Cunning, wily, and manipulative, Barbossa became a pirate, but not because he wanted to live the adventurous life as a pirate in the way Jack Sparrow did. However, once he became a pirate Barbossa constantly and successfully worked on the attainment of these dreams, so that by the time the end of his captaincy over the cursed crew he considered them fulfilled. Indeed, Barbossa intended to lift their curse, have a prized pirate bride, and spend the rest of his life as a rich rogue.[29][2] Attracted by Elizabeth Swann's beauty he even believed that she could be a pirate bride for him,[29] but nevertheless he had no scruples when sending her to walk the plank, to face either the sharks or a slow death at a desert island, when he found out that she was worthless for him.[9]
Barbossa and his monkey, "Jack".
Some time after his first mutiny on the Black Pearl, Barbossa kept a capuchin monkey, mockingly named "Jack" after his old captain Jack Sparrow, as his pet and cared for him. He seemed to genuinely care about the monkey and seemed to find pleasure in petting or feeding the little animal. Jack normally accompanied his master everywhere and often sat on his shoulder.[5][18]
Barbossa's relationship with Jack Sparrow was complicated. He led the mutiny against Jack, resulting in becoming captain of the Black Pearl, but also helped rescue Jack from Davy Jones' Locker. Although he was working under King George, Barbossa and Jack worked reasonably well together despite having had a hostile relationship in the past. Jack Sparrow was also one of the few who called Barbossa by his first name "Hector", implying a companionship prior to Barbossa's mutiny. Although Barbossa could be vengeful, most notably shown by his obsession with his revenge on Blackbeard,[13] he did not seem to have a huge grudge against Jack. This can be noted by Barbossa casually pointing out that he had shot him while they were in Davy Jones' Locker, but not attempting to harm Jack for doing so, even after they returned to the mortal world.[18] Even after all they had been through, Barbossa was secretly an admirer of Jack's incredible escapes.[25]
Barbossa's favorite delicacy was caviar,[21][30] but he also had a penchant for apples, which was a quite expensive obsession since fresh fruit like apples are not commonly available in the Caribbean and therefore a rare treasure. He offered an apple to Elizabeth during their dinner aboard the Pearl and he commented that after the curse was lifted, he would eat a whole bushel of apples - for this reason he always kept a number of apples on the table in his cabin on the Pearl. This seemed to be one of Barbossa's simple pleasures in life - unable to feel or taste due to the curse, apples turned into a constant craving.[5] He was holding an apple upon his death because he intended to eat it immediately after lifting the curse,[5] he was eating one when he revealed himself to the members of Jack Sparrow's crew in Tia Dalma's house.[6]
Barbossa offering an apple to Elizabeth "Turner".
Although Barbossa did not drink much alcohol by the time of his command over the crew, the fact that his liver was wrecked[31] implies excessive drinking in the past. It is known that rum was his favorite drink after the loss of the Cobra.[32] It is likely that he overcame the habit of drinking strong drinks during the decade when he was cursed and therefore unable to find any pleasure in drinking.[5] However, he was seen drinking wine when he captained the HMS Providence.[13]
Barbossa was a tall man speaking with a strong West Country accent and uses the pirate "arr". His face was covered with pockmarks or freckles and he had many scars, the most notable one is under his right eye. He wore his auburn, greying hair long and partially loose, partially tied up to a thin plait. He had a straggly beard running down to the base of his neck.[5] Barbossa also had a braid descending from the top of his head to the back of his head. After his resurrection he painted his long and sharp fingernails black.[18]
Hector Barbossa's cursed form during his duel with Jack Sparrow.
With the curse upon him, Barbossa's face became weathered and gaunt over time, with yellowed eyes giving him a particularly sinister appearance. Under the light of the moon, Barbossa transformed into a living corpse with rags for clothing. Interestingly, his appearance in the moonlight showed somewhat less decomposition than that of his crewmen; for example, the soft tissues of his nose remained, whereas most of his crew's nasal cavities were exposed.[5]
At a date after the Pirate Lords' defeat of Cutler Beckett, Barbossa had lost his right shin and foot during Blackbeard's attack on the Black Pearl.
Equipment and skills
Barbossa wore fine clothing befitting a man of his stature and status, and he carried many valuable items about his person.[9]
His suit consisted of dark brown, full breeches, a brown, double-breasted waistcoat elaborately ornamented by a pattern and a grey coat with black cuffs, black liner and thin black brims around the buttonholes, fitted with buttons made from melted down Inca silver stolen from Spanish ships.[9]
He also wore brown leather swash boots and a faded light-green bandanna. At the end of his time as the Cursed Crew's captain his shirt was dirty and grey, but after his resurrection he wore a shining white one. [33] An orange with yellow sash worn under a leather belt with a patinated bronze buckle and a leather baldric with a big, frame-shaped silver buckle, a smaller silver loop and a silver cover at the end, all three elaborately ornamented, complete his outfit. On his left hand he wore a black leather gauntlet, presumably in order to protect the hand.
Jack Sparrow holding Barbossa's hat in Tia Dalma's shack.
He was rarely seen without his big, round, dark hat which is decorated with blue ostrich feathers as a show of vanity. There were several holes and cracks in the hat's brims and during Barbossa's duel with Jack Sparrow on Isla de Muerta his opponent has cut off some of the ostrich feathers. [5] At the point after becoming a privateer for England, Barbossa abandoned his pirate regalia and wore instead a Naval officer's black and gold bicorne, along with a set of fine clothes, including a white cravat, blue privateer's waistcoat with gold trimmings, white gloves and a dark blue coat with gold trimmings and crimson cuffs. While his clothing changed, Barbossa still wore his hair long and scraggly, along with his signature moustache and beard, unless he wore his powdered wig in the presence of higher-class persons. After losing his leg, Barbossa began sporting a peg leg in place of his right shin and foot, which contains a rum supply and a cup. He also used a wooden crutch fashioned for him by an admiralty carpenter. This crutch was used both for balance and for combat as shown during his fierce duel with Blackbeard.
The jewelry he wore consisted of a silver ring, which bore the image of a lion's head, plundered from a Venetian ship and signifying Barbossa's status as leader of his pirates on his right ring finger, a silver snake pendant on a 26-inch long metal chain which features four white crystals set in a square around a much larger shining red stone at the centre of the piece. [2] and a silver earring with an attached fang of an unknown big carnivore in his right ear. It is unknown whether the last two items have any symbolic meaning.[5][9][18]
Hector Barbossa carried a broadsword and a flintlock pistol. He won his elegantly engraved pistol in a duel against a Spanish pirate, a foolish opponent who lost his life, and allowed him to kill his enemies in the way of a gentleman.[9]
He was a master seaman, who had excellent navigational abilities[5][18], a strategist who could plan ahead and outwit his opponents[34] and an able yet brutal and unforgiving leader as evidenced when he shot Pintel in the heart in order to see if the curse has been lifted.[5] These abilities not only gave him many advantages in his pirate life but also earned much respect both among his subordinates[9] as well as among his enemies; these skills, combined with his exceptional fighting abilities, were in fact the reason why Barbossa managed to survive a life of piracy for several decades and contributed to his reputation and his high-ranked position during this time. Barbossa rose through the ranks, and through treachery and cruelty he swiftly became captain; the mutiny he led robbed Captain Jack Sparrow of his beloved ship the Black Pearl.[12][9]
Barbossa had a controlled and defensive style of combat; he normally attempted to win through building his forces up to something big without allowing himself to be torn back down.[34] Therefore, when he participated in a battle he preferred not to fight on the front but to stay behind the fight and command his subordinates from a safe position.[5][18] However when he was forced into a duel, he was a deadly enemy. Barbossa was a skilled swordsman, hinting at a lifetime of experience, where he just had a sword on his belt and learned how to skewer people and survive.[12] Only a few people could match his swordsmanship.[35] Barbossa proved capable of holding his own against numerous enemies at once and also fatally injured the legendary pirate Blackbeard although it should be noted that Blackbeard was distracted when Barbossa iniciated his final strike, cutting him on the hand when looking at his back and then stabbing him in the chest when he turned around afterward. Before challenging the legendary pirate, Barbossa poisoned his sword, saying he wasn't foolish enough to fight Blackbeard without a "venomous advantage". During his duel with Blackbeard, Barbossa was hindered by the loss of his right leg and lost his balance a few times but still managed to fight his opponent as an equal and might have defeated him in a fair fight if not for his lost leg. He also used his crutch as a weapon in battle, weilding it along with his sword against Blackbeard. The two cutlasses on his flag possibly signifies these swordsman abilities. It is likely that he did not receive training at a finishing school, but instead learned through brawls since his teenage years, therefore his fighting style was quite dirty, however he had an extensive knowledge of killing manoeuvres such as beheading. Barbossa used hand grenades as well on some occasions and sometimes he kicked his opponents in sensitive points like the head or the stomach area, like he did with an attacking East India Trading company Marine whom he kicked in the face.[18]
In addition to his remarkable swordsmanship he was also a accurate and experienced marksman, so that while residing on Devil's Anvil he could give people who visited him shooting lessons.[22]
Aside from English, which was his native language, Barbossa also fluently spoke Spanish.[20]
Behind the scenes
- "That's Sora, Donald and Goofy to you! And don't you forget it!"
"Aye, that we won't, and we'll engrave it on your tombstones, to be sure."
"Woah, I like your style!" - ―Sora, Barbossa and Pete
Hector Barbossa's Jolly Roger.
- Hector Barbossa was portrayed by Geoffrey Rush in the Pirates of the Caribbean films.[5][6][18][13] He was voiced by Brian George in Kingdom Hearts II[10], The Legend of Jack Sparrow[36], the At World's End video game[23], and Pirates of the Caribbean Online. Haruhiko Jo provided the voice in the Japanese version of Kingdom Hearts II.[10]
- Barbossa is the main antagonist of The Curse of the Black Pearl, had a cameo in Dead Man's Chest, and was one of the main characters of At World's End and On Stranger Tides.
- Director Gore Verbinski jokingly said that Rush was his third choice for the role of Barbossa, after the (already deceased) Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers.[12] Robert De Niro turned down the role because he felt the film would flop as all pirate films before did. He regretted this decision later, voting for Curse of the Black Pearl for Best Picture at the Academy Awards ballot, and accepted the role of Captain Shakespeare in the movie Stardust out of his regret for turning down Pirates of the Caribbean.[37]
- Barbossa's character seemed to have an evolution throughout the films, as noted by Geoffrey Rush, who stated that it was the best part of his involvement in the series. As stated from an interview with Rush:
- The best part, for me, has been that the writers have managed to give an evolution to the character. He started out as this spat out from hell villain who was the bad guy and an evil dude. And in the course of the subsequent films, he used those particular powers to become a politician, brokering a G20 summit of Pirate Lords. In the last film, he went over to the other side and worked for the king. So, on that level, it feels as though I'm going into a new terrain each time, which is terrific.[38]
- For director Gore Verbinski and writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio,[39] Barbossa was a "Dark Trickster" and the evil counterpart to Jack Sparrow. While Geoffrey Rush felt, from the inside, he was playing the hero in The Curse of the Black Pearl. Because Barbossa's dream was that his crew would lift the curse, he'd have a fabulous prize pirate bride, and he would live happily ever after as a very rich rogue.[29]
- For The Curse of the Black Pearl, in an effort to find out what makes Barbossa tick, Geoffrey Rush developed an elaborate backstory for the character, to explain who and what he is, as the actor prepared for the role. The backstory revolved around Barbossa running away to sea at the age of thirteen because he came from a background of poverty. And having had earnest desires to be a man of the sea at one time in his early life, Barbossa realized that he could gain a lot more if he broke the rules. Rush also said of Barbossa, "I actually think he's quite smart, it's probably why he's survived. He's a horrible liar, and he pretends to be a gentleman of the sea, but he's a dirty, old, cunning rogue. And a crack swordsman. And a nasty one. He didn't go to finishing school with an epee, he just had a sword on his belt and learned how to skewer people and survive. When he pulled his sword out, even big guys cower away."[14][12][29]
- The name "Hector Barbossa" was first revealed in the The Curse of the Black Pearl DVD commentary with Johnny Depp, who said that he and Geoffrey Rush were joking about Barbossa's first name on set.[40] Writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio initially thought that Barbossa's first name was fan-made, having wound up on the Internet and everyone started calling him Hector, so they decided to put it in.[41] Spoken onscreen for the first time in At World's End, by Depp's character Jack Sparrow, as his first line to Barbossa,[18] Hector Barbossa has since been used in further installments and other media.
- "Barbossa" might have been derived from "Barbarossa" (Italian for "Redbeard"), another name for the legendary Ottoman privateer Aruj and his brother Hayreddin Barbarossa. The word "barbossa" in Italian means "beard of bones", which is very consistent with his skeletal look. His name in the original script, "Blackheart", was a reference to the pirates who had a nom de guerre featuring the word "Black" (Blackbeard, Black Bart, Black Sam.) One of the undead pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean Online was later named Blackheart. Another name used in the original script was Captain Wraith.[42]
- In the original draft of the script, Barbossa was Italian not English, this was changed later but he kept his surname.[43][3]
- He uses the same flag as the notorious pirate Calico Jack Rackham, which led to speculations that he might have served in the latter's crew at the beginning of his pirate career or succeed his position as a Pirate Lord from him. However, it is unlikely as Barbossa succeeded Boris Palachnik as Pirate Lord in The Price of Freedom.
- In the first screenplay draft of The Curse of the Black Pearl, Hector Barbossa claims to have sailed with "Morgan" for ten years.[43]
- According to his Wanted Poster, he is wanted for committing piracy in the Caribbean Sea and the Caspian Sea, stealing the Aztec gold of Hernándo Cortés, murder, pilfering a bushel of apples, cruelty to animals, mutiny, theft, and kidnapping.[citation needed][8]
- Barbossa's bounty of 10000 guineas is the second highest of all bounties featured in the whole Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as of At World's End, it is only 1 guinea less than Jack Sparrow’s bounty, which is the highest.[8]
- "Treasure's already his. So's the curse upon it. I've no desire for such treacherous spoils. But I will have back what's mine—the Black Pearl!"
- ―Jack Sparrow on Barbossa
- Hector Barbossa is a villain in the Port Royal world of Kingdom Hearts II. He leads a team of pirates who have been cursed to be undead by Aztec gold, leading them to seek out all 882 pieces gold so that they can break the curse. They are allied with Black Pete. Instead of his pet monkey Jack he has a Heartless named Illuminator which Pete summons for him, who acts in a similar way. During a confrontation with Sora, Donald, Goofy, Jack Sparrow and the others, Hector Barbossa agrees to leave with Will Turner, but allows the Heartless to stay on board with the explosives placed on the Interceptor. In the final confrontation with Jack Sparrow and Sora's group, Hector Barbossa makes use of Illuminator, a Gecko-type Heartless that can hide Hector Barbossa in darkness, as well as his own sword skills and grenades. When he was defeated by Sora, Jack and the others, Jack drops his sword and shoots Barbossa with the pistol the renegade captain left him upon his exile. Hector Barbossa laughs it off at first, but Will calls his attention and drops the last two Aztec coins back into the chest, both smeared with his and Jack's blood. Hector Barbossa, his curse broken, feels the pain of his gunshot wound, which struck him directly in the heart. His last words are, "I feel... cold." He then falls backwards, dead (although it is unknown whether or not Tia Dalma will resurrect him in Kingdom Hearts continuity).[10]
- Hector Barbossa (along with other Black Pearl crewmen) is pictured on the cover of WAS IST WAS band 71 Piraten.[44]
- A number of visual clues foreshadow Barbossa's return in Dead Man's Chest: Jack inspects his hat at Tia Dalma's shack, and Barbossa's boots are seen while Tia is searching for the jar of dirt. Jack the monkey instinctively returns to his master upon being released from his cage.[6]
- Hector Barbossa is one of only four Disney villains ever nominated for the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain, the others being Davy Jones, Scar from The Lion King, and Jadis the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[4]
- According to a sketch seen in An Epic At Sea: The Making of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl", Barbossa is 5'11"5° (1.82 metres) tall.[12] However, Geoffrey Rush is 6' (1.83 metres) tall. [5]
- Barbossa appears in a German Disney comic as a success-less pirate who met an ancestor of Scrooge McDuck [6]
- The scene in which he drinks rum from a bottle in his skeletal form is a reminiscence to the ride. [12]
Barbossa in the POTC ride.
- In 2006, Barbossa was placed in the POTC ride, replacing the Pirate Captain of the Wicked Wench.[45]
- He is a playable character in the At World's End video game[23] and a non-playable character in Pirates of the Caribbean Online.[22]
- A man named Barbossa is set as the Black Pearl's default captain in the code of the Pirates of the Caribbean video game.[46]. However, that man can't be Hector Barbossa, because the game is set in the 1630s, a time when Hector wasn't even born.
- One of the ideas for a second Pirates of the Caribbean movie featured Barbossa’s daughter. As the Dead Man's Chest script was chosen instead, this idea cannot be considered canon, by now no descendents or other relatives of Barbossa were mentioned in any canon source.[7]
- An early sketch of Barbossa showed him with an eyepatch on his left eye and armed with a rapier. Another sketch showed him with his hairs and beard tied to a knot under his chin.[12]
- Zizzle made a "Captain Barbossa" basic figure with a sword, the captain's hat and a pistol for it’s Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest series and a "Battling Barbossa" (with sword, coat and hat) basic figure and a "Battling Captains 3-Pack" featuring Barbossa. (the other two are Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones). [47]
- Barbossa was made into several action figures by the National Entertainment Collectibles Association. He appeared in the first wave of Curse of the Black Pearl figures in his human form; that same figure would be re-released as part of the fourth wave of Dead Man's Chest toys. Barbossa's Cursed form was released as a box set, which also featured a skeletal Jack Sparrow, and the chest of cursed Aztec gold.[8]
- Barbossa was made as a plush for the M&M Dead Man's Chest promotion. He was the blue M&M.[9]
- 7 cards in the Pirates of the Caribbean Trading Card Game features Barbossa: the "ally" card "Captain Barbossa - Cursed Mutineer" (Number 135) and six chamber cards (Numbers 176 to 181). He is a "Dark" character and his abilities are "Mind" and "Sail".[34]
- "Cursed Captain Barbossa" is a "crew" card in the Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel game.[10]
- When it was announced that Tim Powers' novel On Stranger Tides was used as the basis of the fourth film, speculations arose that Barbossa would be based on Blackbeard. However, it was debunked when Ian McShane was confirmed as Blackbeard in the film.
- In On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide, it was said that Hector Barbossa became an admiral during the quest for the Fountain of Youth. However, it was confirmed that Barbossa was given the rank of "captain" rather than "admiral" in On Stranger Tides itself.
Appearances
Non-canon appearances
- Pirates of the Caribbean (ride) (post-2006 revamp)
- A Pirate's Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas
- LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
- Pirates of the Caribbean (game) (Indirect mention only)
- Kingdom Hearts II
- Disney Infinity
- Pirates of the Caribbean Trading Card Game
- Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel game
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Master of the Seas Strategy Game
- German Disney comic
Sources
- Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (junior novelization)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (junior novelization)
- The Pirates' Guidelines
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide
- Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide
- Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean
External links
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Pirates of that age tended to come from England's West Country, and I decided that Barbossa's mother was Irish" - Geoffrey Rush
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 An Epic At Sea: The Making of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl"
- ↑ Estimation based on Geoffrey Rush's age during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and the fact that Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides takes place in 1750, a few years after the events of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, itself a year and a few months after The Curse of the Black Pearl. Also, according to The Price of Freedom, Barbossa was in his early forties when Jack Sparrow was twenty.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Since Barbossa speaks with a distinct West Country Accent, he must have been born and raised there. The Price of Freedom also confirms this when Jack Sparrow assumes from Barbossa's accent that he came from West Country or Cornwall.
- ↑ 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 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30 5.31 5.32 5.33 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End official site.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Visual Guide,Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Kingdom Hearts II
- ↑ The Price of Freedom Chapter Two.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9 Pirates of the Caribbean presskit, accessed Dec 9, 2006
- ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 13.15 13.16 13.17 13.18 13.19 13.20 13.21 13.22 13.23 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean, p71.
- ↑ The Price of Freedom Chapter Two.
- ↑ The Price of Freedom Chapter 10: "Revelations"
- ↑ Pirates Secrets Revealed special feature on the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End special DVD/BD
- ↑ 18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 18.11 18.12 18.13 18.14 18.15 18.16 18.17 18.18 18.19 18.20 18.21 18.22 18.23 18.24 18.25 18.26 18.27 18.28 18.29 18.30 18.31 18.32 18.33 18.34 18.35 18.36 18.37 18.38 18.39 18.40 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
- ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: Legends of the Brethren Court
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Six Sea Shanties: Strangers Bearing Gifts
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Inside the Brethren Court" featurette on the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End DVD/BD
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Pirates of the Caribbean Online
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End video game
- ↑ Barbossa reveals this in a deleted scene.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide, p16-17 "Hector Barbossa"
- ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide, p45.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide, p14-15: "The British"
- ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: The Complete Visual Guide, p.32-33: "Barbossa"
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Becoming Barbossa, The Curse of the Black Pearl featurette
- ↑ Caviar are abundant in the Caspian sea, so this may be a reference to his position as the pirate lord of this area.
- ↑ Fluch der Karibik ISBN 978-3-8025-3540-6 , a German novelization of The Curse of the Black Pearl by Wolfgang and Rebecca Hohlbein.
- ↑ The Price of Freedom
- ↑ This symbolises that he became an ally of the main characters now.
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Pirates of the Caribbean Trading Card Game
- ↑ James Norrington was equally skilled and only William Turner was better.
- ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow
- ↑ Robert De Niro, B105 FM interview on September 20 2007
- ↑ Geoffrey Rush Talks THE EYE OF THE STORM, THE BEST OFFER, and the Development of PIRATES 5
- ↑ The Curse of the Black Pearl Audio Commentary with Screenwriters Stuart Beattie, Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio and Jay Wolpert
- ↑ The Curse of the Black Pearl Audio Commentary with Director Gore Verbinski and Actor Johnny Depp
- ↑ Box Office Mojo: Interview: Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio on 'At World's End'
- ↑ Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean, p46.
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 The original scriptplay draft of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
- ↑ Was Ist Was Band 071: Piraten
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Pirates of the Caribbean video game
- ↑ Zizzle
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