Edward Kenway is the pirate protagonist who later joins the Assassins in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
Edward begins the game as a Welsh privateer and pirate seeking wealth and recognition in the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Piracy. After taking the identity of an Assassin, he becomes entangled in the long-running struggle between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order.
His story takes place mainly in the West Indies, with ports and islands based on locations including Havana, Nassau, and Kingston. Edward's ship, the Jackdaw, is central to the game, and naval travel, ship combat, and exploration are among its defining features.
Edward is part of the Kenway family line. He is the father of Haytham Kenway and the grandfather of Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor, the protagonist of Assassin's Creed III. Adéwalé, another important character in Black Flag, is Edward's quartermaster rather than the main protagonist.