Fort Charles

"Apparently there's some sort of high-toned and fancy to-do up at the fort, eh?"

- Jack Sparrow to Murtogg and Mullroy

Fort Charles was the British Royal Navy fort at Port Royal, base of operations of the forces commanded by Commodore James Norrington, and later, Lord Cutler Beckett of the East India Trading Company. It was located on a bluff overlooking the main harbor.

History
The fort which later became known as Fort Charles was built immediately after the British conquest of Jamaica. Originally known as Fort Cromwell, the fort was renamed Fort Charles after the restoration of monarchy in England in 1660. Fort Charles was the only military fortification in Port Royal which survived the devastating earthquake in 1692. Fort Charles hosted Norrington's promotion ceremony, and was also used as the venue for public executions of criminals and pirates. Captain Jack Sparrow was set to be hanged at the gallows in the main courtyard, but was ultimately rescued by William Turner and escaped Port Royal aboard the Black Pearl. It was damaged during the earlier attack on Port Royal by the Pearl, at the time under the command of Captain Hector Barbossa.

During the rule of Lord Cutler Beckett in Port Royal, Fort Charles hosted countless executions of those convicted of committing or associating with persons guilty of piracy. The Pirate Lord, Capitaine Chevalle was held in the stocks here, prior to his execution, but was rescued by Jack Sparrow, who was visiting Tia Dalma.

The song Hoist the Colours, called forth by Hector Barbossa to unite the Brethren Court at Shipwreck Cove, was sung by those facing the gallows at Fort Charles.

Layout
The fort was dominated by a main courtyard used as a public execution area and a military command center. Closer to the port were the prisons, from which prisoners could see both the fort's battlements and the harbor. The battlement's stone parapets were lined with cannons. Near the gallows was a graveyard used to bury those who were executed. During it's early days of use the fort had a flag of Great Britain displayed, in it's later days a flag of the East India Company was placed alongside the British flag.

Notable inhabitants

 * James Norrington
 * Theodore Groves
 * Gillette
 * Carlos Cudgel
 * Henry Flint
 * Bingham

Behind the scenes

 * Though Fort Charles still exists today, the fort seen in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was constructed in California.
 * In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, the fort's layout is bit different from the movies. It is surrounded by an outer wall, the wall has a gate which leads to a path uphill where the entrance is located. A big staircase leads into the interior of the fort. A crew member of Jack Sparrow's crew, Gordon Greer, can be found imprisoned here.

Appearances

 * Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
 * Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (video game)
 * Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow
 * The Capture of Jack Sparrow!
 * The Buccaneer's Heart!
 * The Escape of Pintel and Ragetti!
 * Pirates of the Caribbean Online
 * Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
 * Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
 * Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)
 * Kingdom Hearts II