Edward Kenway is the pirate-captain protagonist of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
Edward is a Welsh privateer who becomes involved with the Assassins and Templars while pursuing wealth in the Caribbean. He acquires the identity and equipment of the Assassin Duncan Walpole, then becomes entangled in a conflict much larger than his original ambitions. His journey gradually changes him from a self-interested pirate into a committed ally of the Assassin Brotherhood.
The game is set during the Golden Age of Piracy, mainly in the West Indies. Edward sails the Jackdaw, attacks forts and ships, explores islands, and encounters historical pirates including Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read. Naval travel and ship combat are among the title's most prominent features.
Edward belongs to the same Kenway family seen elsewhere in the series, but the relatives are different characters. Haytham is his son, and Connor is his grandson. Black Flag therefore serves as a prequel to the colonial family story presented in Assassin's Creed III.