Edward Braddock

"Were that we applied the sword more liberally and more often, the world would be a better place than it is today."

―Edward Braddock, 1755.

Edward Braddock (1695 – 1755), also known as "The Bulldog", was a Major General in the British Army and a member of the Templar Order. During his time serving the Order, he was a close associate of Grand Master Reginald Birch and developed a rivalry with fellow Templar Haytham Kenway, who disagreed with Braddock's violent methods. Eventually, Haytham assassinated Braddock while the latter led an expedition against the French at the onset of the Seven Years' War.

Biography

Early life

Braddock followed in his father's footsteps and joined the British Army in his teenage years, originally as an ensign in his father's regiment, before being promoted to lieutenant of the grenadier company in 1716. At some point, he also joined the British Rite of the Templar Order and became a close associate of Grand Master Reginald Birch.

Braddock meeting Haytham Kenway

In 1735, Braddock assisted Birch with his plans to acquire the journal of Edward Kenway, sending five mercenaries from his personal regiment to attack the Assassin's home. The mercenaries succesfully killed Edward and stole his journal, while also kidnapping his daughter Jennifer Scott, who was then sold into slavery.

Braddock later met Edward's son Haytham, whom Birch had taken under his wing, intending to indoctrinate the boy into the Templar Order. Birch claimed that Braddock would be leading the search for Jennifer and Haytham told him of his suspicions that his family's valet Jack Digweed was responsible for the attack on his home. Braddock and Birch soon discovered that Digweed had fled, providing them with someone to pin their crime on.

Siege of Bergen op Zoom

"When I met you, you were a man of honour, of discipline, of principle. You were the embodiment of everything that made our Order great. And now look at you. A sad old man obsessed with fairy stories. More interested in gobbledygook than peace."

―Braddock, in a letter to Reginald Birch, 1747.

While Haytham and Birch traveled around Europe looking for Digweed, Braddock focused on his military career and, by 1747, became a lieutenant colonel in the Coldstream Guards. That year, Haytham tracked one of the mercenaries who had attacked his home, Tom Smith, to Braddock's regiment in the Dutch Republic. Braddock had Smith hung on grounds of desertion before Haytham could interrogate him, but he gave his fellow Templar permission to investigate among his troops. He also requested his help against the French Army, who had commenced the siege of Bergen op Zoom.

In a letter to Birch, Braddock revealed that the true reason for Smith's execution was to cover up any loose ends regarding the attack on the Kenway mansion. He also expressed his distaste over Birch's fanatical obsession with Isu artifacts, which he believed went against the Order's principles, and claimed that, if an opportunity presented itself, he would not hesitate to deal with Haytham.

Two months after the beginning of the siege, the French had won. During the retreat, Braddock refused a young man's request to allow his family entry onto Braddock's and Haytham's boat. After the young man called him craven, Braddock ordered his executioner Slater to kill every last one of them, much to Haytham's horror.

Following this, Braddock and Haytham fought in several other campaigns although Braddock became increasingly violent and cruel to the point that he ruthlessly killed civilians and his own allies alike without the non-corrupt authorities knowing. Haytham later told Birch that he was concerned Braddock was turning away from the Order, but Birch was indifferent. Among his troops, Braddock's reputation for violence and blood-lust earned him the nickname, "The Bulldog".

Seven Years' War

"If we win this war—nay, WHEN we win this war—it will be because men like you obeyed men like me, and did so without hesitation. We must have order amongst our ranks, and a clear chain of command. Leaders and followers. Without such structure, there can be no victory. "

―Braddock to one of his soldiers, 1755.

Braddock with Haytham, Charles Lee and John Pitcairn

By 1754, Braddock had been promoted to general and was serving as Governor of Gibraltar when he was sent the Massachusetts colony with the Order's ally Charles Lee serving under his command. While in Boston, Braddock noticed John Pitcairn's unauthorized presence in Boston and had him arrested and charged with desertion and treason. Haytham and Lee arrived, revealing that both Lee and Pitcairn were in Haytham's service under Templar orders. Despite reluctantly consenting to give Lee to Haytham, Braddock acrimoniously refused to release Pitcairn.

In a plan to retrieve Pitcairn, Lee followed and pretended to be an angry citizen against the British Regulars, provoking Braddock into a chase by throwing horse manure on him. Once he had Braddock on his tail, Lee lured the general and his men to a dead end, which allowed him, Haytham, and Pitcairn to attack and eliminate Braddock's patrol. When Braddock was the last man standing, Haytham spared his life but warned he would show no mercy the next time they meet before leaving with Pitcairn.

The Braddock Expedition

"The French will leave or they will die!"

―Braddock to Washington, 1755.

Haytham holding Braddock at gunpoint

As conflict and territorial disputes between the British and the French colonies escalated, Braddock was given command of two regiments and was assigned to retake Fort Duquesne from the French. In order to navigate through the frontier, Braddock enlisted George Washington, a volunteer from the Virginia Militia, as a guide.

In the winter of 1755, France offered a truce, which Braddock refused. Instead, the general continued on his offensive, determined to defeat and drive the French from the land. While rallying his troops and supplies, Braddock brutally attacked several indigenous villages, driving the inhabitants out of their land. As a result, he became an enemy of several Iroquois clans, whom Haytham would eventually join forces with in a plan to assassinate Braddock.

Death

"Your death opens a door. It's nothing personal. Well, maybe it is a little personal. You've been a pain in my arse, after all."

―Haytham upon mortally wounding Braddock, 1755.

The expedition continued on until July of 1755, during which Braddock killed one of his own soldiers after accusing him of treasonous and insubordinate behavior. Braddock was then approached by Haytham, disguised as a British soldier, who held him at gunpoint. The expedition was then ambushed and attacked by a combined force of Iroquois warriors and the French Army, killing many Redcoats and leaving them scattered.

Haytham chasing Braddock

In the resulting chaos, Braddock attempted to flee on horseback while Haytham chased close behind. Washington briefly came to Braddock's defense, shooting Haytham's horse out from under him but was subdued by the Kanien'kehá:ka woman Kaniehtí:io. Haytham then continued to pursue Braddock on foot, quickly catching up and stabbing him with his Hidden Blade.

With Braddock mortally wounded, Haytham admitted that he had killed him out of necessity but that some semblance of personal grudge compelled it as well. Braddock defended his actions, believing that the world would only improve if violence was used liberally. Haytham told him that he agreed in this particular case and gave him a final stab intended as a coup de grâce. From there, Haytham departed, taking Braddock's Templar ring from his finger.

Braddock survived the wounds inflicted by Haytham, at least for the time being, and was carried away from the battlefield by his men. However, he would eventually succumb to his injuries four days later. To keep his body from being desecrated by the French, Washington ordered that it be buried in an undisclosed location. The British Army then marched over the grave to erase all evidence of the burial. His body was eventually discovered by workmen maintaining the very same road in 1804.

Legacy

George Washington kept Braddock's command sash after his death and reportedly took it with him wherever he went for the rest of his life.

In 2015, the Templar Isabelle Ardant included his name on a list of known British Templars. This list was later unveiled by the Assassins Rebecca Crane and Shaun Hastings when they infiltrated Ardant's office to plant a bug.

Personality and traits

"He killed and killed. Enemy or ally. Civilian or soldier. Guilty or innocent. It mattered not... If he perceived one to be an obstacle, they died. He maintained that violence was a more efficient solution. It became his mantra... and it broke my heart."

―Haytham Kenway, lamenting on Braddock's cruelty.

Braddock was originally described by Haytham as brave and bold. Over time, however, he changed into a definitively ruthless and violent man, driven by the belief that force was necessary to ensure resolution and success. He also expressed distaste over the need to rely on the Pieces of Eden, which strained his relationship with Birch. It was possible that this split between them cause Braddock's distancing from the Templar Order.

Braddock's reliance on force resulted in indiscriminate killings of enemies, civilian, and even his own allies. Braddock was also quick tempered and cruel. He applied strict discipline to the point of brutality against his own soldiers, executing one for expressing an opinion with which Braddock disagreed.

Behind the scenes

Edward Braddock is a historical character introduced in the 2012 video game Assassin's Creed III, where he was voiced by Canadian actor Carlo Mestroni. Due to a production oversight, Braddock wears the uniform of a British regular in-game despite being a general.

Braddock is one of the few assassination targets to be stabbed with the Hidden Blade while in the Memory Corridor, the others being Majd Addin in Assassin's Creed, Checco Orsi in Assassin's Creed II, and Shahkulu in Assassin's Creed: Revelations. Additionally, he is one of the few targets to say his final words in the Memory Corridor and then survive his wounds, albeit only for a short time.

Historically, Braddock did not arrive in North America until February 1755, but in the game, he is depicted as having already arrived in Boston by July 1754. Furthermore, Braddock reportedly died in real life from a gunshot wound inflicted by the American soldier Benjamin Bolling, who was trying to save the lives of his fellow American troops after Braddock's men had mistaken them for French soldiers.

Gallery

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  Charles Lee stopping Braddock's patrol
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  Haytham threatening Braddock
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  Braddock leading his expedition
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  Haytham standing over a mortally wounded Braddock
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  Haytham taking Braddock's Templar ring

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed III (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: Forsaken
• Assassin's Creed: Initiates (mentioned in Database entry only)
• Assassin's Creed: Rogue (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (mentioned only)