Edward Kenway became an Assassin after a long shift from selfish pirate to someone who finally believed in the Brotherhood’s cause. In Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag , he starts out chasing wealth and status, then changes after being betrayed, imprisoned, and seeing the death of Mary Read, which pushes him to join the Assassins in her honor.

Quick Scoop

Here’s the short version:

  • Edward first lived as a privateer and then a pirate in the Caribbean.
  • He got pulled into the conflict between Assassins and Templars while mostly looking out for himself.
  • His turning point came after betrayal, imprisonment, and Mary Read’s death.
  • After that, he committed to the Assassins and later helped lead the London Brotherhood.

How It Happened

Edward did not begin as a noble Assassin. He was originally motivated by profit and ambition, so he often worked with both sides if it benefited him. Over time, the people around him and the consequences of piracy forced him to rethink what he wanted.

A key part of his change was the loss of Mary Read, whose death deeply affected him and helped push him toward a real commitment to the Assassin cause. After that, he joined the Brotherhood and eventually settled in London, where he became one of its leaders.

In One Line

Edward became an Assassin when greed stopped being enough, and personal loss made him choose a purpose bigger than himself.