<p>In the manga chapter 27 page 41, it was shown that Ciel Phantomhive was born in 1875. Googling with the key phrase "the first cell phone" tells us that the first mobile-phone was created in 1973 by Motorola, which is 100 years after Ciel was born.</p>

<p>Since Ciel was 13 (12 during the first 14 chapters) in the story, mobile phones should not have existed. Thus, like <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/33884/when-does-black-butler-take-place#comment46621_33884">lentinant said in his comment</a>, it is likely that the story takes place in an alternate reality.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-23T15:38:33.513Z
2018-04-21T11:06:57.293Z
2018-04-21T11:06:57.293Z
絢瀬絵里
<p>They say that the two brothers in the tower were imprisoned in 1483, and when Ciel talks about it, he refers to this event as having taken place 400 years ago, so it must've been in the 1850s and plus.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-21T11:18:52.113Z
This could be one of the answers. Could you provide some references to this scene (manga chapter/anime episode)?
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-21T10:43:20.897Z
2018-04-21T11:12:45.797Z
2018-04-21T11:12:45.797Z
klea
<ul>
<li>In episode 10, they go to a Frost Fair on the Thames, the last of which was in 1814.</li>
<li>Jack the Ripper's murders were in 1888.</li>
<li>Queen Victoria reigned from 1839-1901.</li>
</ul>

<p>Presumably, some research either wasn't done, or 100% historical accuracy was ignored in favor of including all the elements the author wanted in the series.  </p>

<p>It's a pretty silly series too, so what does it matter? Can't complain about dates not lining up when people run through stone walls and get consumed by fire for several seconds without lasting burns.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-14T04:45:20.157Z
2018-04-21T11:10:46.847Z
2018-04-21T11:10:46.847Z
UghJustUgh
<p>As <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/33884/when-does-black-butler-take-place#comment46621_33884">lentinant has commented above</a>, <em>Black Butler</em> does not have a set time. The place is established as England and the era is clearly Victorian due to the architecture, theme, clothes and general behavior. But as it is a fantasy genre manga/anime, there are several inconsistencies such as chainsaws, cell-phones and semiautomatic weapons that are incorporated. </p>

<p>In most fantasy themed works, history is paid homage and is eluded to rather than portrayed accurately. </p>

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2016-06-23T16:22:29.533Z
2018-04-21T11:13:23.983Z
2018-04-21T11:13:23.983Z
Callat
<p>I haven't read the manga, but as mentioned in <a href="https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/40210/2516">another answer</a>, it couldn't have been a cellphone. As shown in the anime, it isn't a cellphone and they quite can't change the plot that much.</p>

<p>If I'm right, this all was when Ciel was captured.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-14T23:10:02.327Z
Do you mean read the manga?
Jon Lin
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2017-04-14T20:50:39.853Z
2018-04-21T11:14:12.497Z
2018-04-21T11:14:12.497Z
Karamell
<p>While searching up "cell phones" will come up with 1973, Sebastian was not using a cell phone. Cell phones and the phone he used is different, and cell phones were not invented back then. However, the did have phones and it was invented in 1876.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-06T19:29:05.920Z
If you're saying it's not a cell phone, can you provide some proof of that (a screenshot, etc.)?
kuwaly
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-06T07:16:31.007Z
2018-04-21T11:09:19.643Z
2018-04-21T11:09:19.643Z
Sara stanic
<p><em>Black Butler</em> does take place as it says. Searching up "When was the first phone invented?" will return March 10, 1876.</p>

<p>I remember in the second episode of the anime, they had one of the phones that are shown in the images, but it wasn't a cell phone. I just had it in a bag to help transport it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-26T21:31:37.077Z
Says who? You should try citing sources instead of tell ppl to search for phrases.
кяαzєя
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-26T17:45:47.107Z
2018-04-21T11:16:39.680Z
2018-04-21T11:16:39.680Z
maskless_love
<p>It's 1888 since Ciel is 13 years old (12 in the first 14 chapters) and born in 1875. 1875+13=1888.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-29T04:10:49.707Z
If its in 1888, then in episode 5 season one, how did grell have fake eyelashes yet they werent invented in till 1911?
Emily
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2017-12-29T10:05:19.877Z
Death Gods have advanced technology that isn't available to humans. Chainsaws, weedwackers etc etc.
Bryan Tan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-21T11:22:52.780Z
Other than calculating the exact year, this doesn't add any new insight compared to the [existing answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/33902/2516) which has also mentioned about Ciel's age and date of birth.
Aki Tanaka
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-23T01:07:48.623Z
2018-04-21T11:11:39.517Z
2018-04-21T11:11:39.517Z
DeAnna Root
<p>In chapter 3 or 4 of <em>Black Butler</em>, Sebastian is using a mobile phone when talking to those guys who are holding Ciel captive. </p>

<p>Is this a mistake by the author or something else? Isn't <em>Black Butler</em> in the 1800s?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-23T09:21:02.900Z
As far as I know, anime contains multiple things, that should not exist in implied time, like advanced firearms, or chainsaw. So, mobile phone is not actual case. It may be actually some sort of alternative reality, which shares features from both past and present time (like FMA, being majorly about first part of XX century, but featuring advanced artificial limbs).
lentinant
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-03T10:42:20.800Z
Jack the ripper was in the 1870 - 80's i think and queen Elizabeth was also around that time so my guess would be 1880.
Connie Shylen
<black-butler>
When does Black Butler take place?
# When does Black Butler take place?
Posted by: username_0 on 2016-06-22
In chapter 3 or 4 of *Black Butler*, Sebastian is using a mobile phone when talking to those guys who are holding Ciel captive.

Is this a mistake by the author or something else? Isn't *Black Butler* in the 1800s?
**Tags:** black-butler
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: As far as I know, anime contains multiple things, that should not exist in implied time, like advanced firearms, or chainsaw. So, mobile phone is not actual case. It may be actually some sort of alternative reality, which shares features from both past and present time (like FMA, being majorly about first part of XX century, but featuring advanced artificial limbs).  
> **username_2**: Jack the ripper was in the 1870 - 80's i think and queen Elizabeth was also around that time so my guess would be 1880.  
---
## 8 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2016-06-23. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
In the manga chapter 27 page 41, it was shown that Ciel Phantomhive was born in 1875. Googling with the key phrase "the first cell phone" tells us that the first mobile-phone was created in 1973 by Motorola, which is 100 years after Ciel was born.

Since Ciel was 13 (12 during the first 14 chapters) in the story, mobile phones should not have existed. Thus, like [lentinant said in his comment](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/33884/when-does-black-butler-take-place#comment46621_33884), it is likely that the story takes place in an alternate reality.
---
### Answer by username_4 on 2018-04-21. Score: 1
They say that the two brothers in the tower were imprisoned in 1483, and when Ciel talks about it, he refers to this event as having taken place 400 years ago, so it must've been in the 1850s and plus.
> **Comments:**
> **username_5** (2018-04-21): This could be one of the answers. Could you provide some references to this scene (manga chapter/anime episode)?  
---
### Answer by username_6 on 2018-03-14. Score: 1
* In episode 10, they go to a Frost Fair on the Thames, the last of which was in 1814.
* Jack the Ripper's murders were in 1888.
* Queen Victoria reigned from 1839-1901.

Presumably, some research either wasn't done, or 100% historical accuracy was ignored in favor of including all the elements the author wanted in the series.

It's a pretty silly series too, so what does it matter? Can't complain about dates not lining up when people run through stone walls and get consumed by fire for several seconds without lasting burns.
---
### Answer by username_7 on 2016-06-23. Score: 1
As [lentinant has commented above](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/33884/when-does-black-butler-take-place#comment46621_33884), *Black Butler* does not have a set time. The place is established as England and the era is clearly Victorian due to the architecture, theme, clothes and general behavior. But as it is a fantasy genre manga/anime, there are several inconsistencies such as chainsaws, cell-phones and semiautomatic weapons that are incorporated.

In most fantasy themed works, history is paid homage and is eluded to rather than portrayed accurately.
---
### Answer by username_8 on 2017-04-14. Score: 0
I haven't read the manga, but as mentioned in [another answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/40210/2516), it couldn't have been a cellphone. As shown in the anime, it isn't a cellphone and they quite can't change the plot that much.

If I'm right, this all was when Ciel was captured.
> **Comments:**
> **username_9** (2017-04-14): Do you mean read the manga?  
---
### Answer by username_10 on 2017-05-06. Score: 0
While searching up "cell phones" will come up with 1973, Sebastian was not using a cell phone. Cell phones and the phone he used is different, and cell phones were not invented back then. However, the did have phones and it was invented in 1876.
> **Comments:**
> **username_11** (2017-05-06): If you're saying it's not a cell phone, can you provide some proof of that (a screenshot, etc.)?  
---
### Answer by username_12 on 2016-10-26. Score: -1
*Black Butler* does take place as it says. Searching up "When was the first phone invented?" will return March 10, 1876.

I remember in the second episode of the anime, they had one of the phones that are shown in the images, but it wasn't a cell phone. I just had it in a bag to help transport it.
> **Comments:**
> **username_13** (2016-10-26): Says who? You should try citing sources instead of tell ppl to search for phrases.  
---
### Answer by username_14 on 2017-07-23. Score: -1
It's 1888 since Ciel is 13 years old (12 in the first 14 chapters) and born in 1875. 1875+13=1888.
> **Comments:**
> **username_15** (2017-12-29): If its in 1888, then in episode 5 season one, how did grell have fake eyelashes yet they werent invented in till 1911?  
> **username_16** (2017-12-29): Death Gods have advanced technology that isn't available to humans. Chainsaws, weedwackers etc etc.  
> **username_5** (2018-04-21): Other than calculating the exact year, this doesn't add any new insight compared to the [existing answer](https://anime.stackexchange.com/a/33902/2516) which has also mentioned about Ciel's age and date of birth.  
---
