Jan van Aert

"I'll work with anyone so long as they fill my pockets."

―Jan to Edward Kenway, 1725.

Jan van Aert was a Dutchman who served as Chief Navigator for the Dutch East India Company during the 1720s. He primarily operated out of the company's headquarters in the Portuguese colony of Macau.

In 1725, Jan, under the Templars' influence, allied with fellow businessmen Alan Jacob and Sun to sabotage a rival trading company led by Lee Huiyin. However, Jan eventually betrayed his allies and established a lucrative partnership with the Assassin Edward Kenway and his organization, the Zhang Wei Union, whom he later accompanied in their search for the lost city of Angkor, rumored to house a valuable treasure.

During their investigation in the Philippines, Jan saw an opportunity to secure an alliance with the Sultanate of Sulu. As such, he went behind the Zhang Wei Union's back and made a deal with Sultan Badarud-Din I, promising to deliver him a crescent amulet – a Piece of Eden – that the Union had found. Although Jan did not see this act as a betrayal, as he still intended to continue his search alongside the Union, his associates thought otherwise. During their escape from Sulu, the Union's captain Rupiya knocked out Jan for his duplicity, marking the end of their short-lived partnership.

Biography

Supervising Hendrik

"He was our man in Southeast Asia who was gathering bits and bobs of information on behalf of the company. It goes without saying that everything he learned was reported directly to me."

―Jan talking about Hendrik, 1725.

During his tenure as Chief Navigator, Jan had one of his men, Hendrik, investigate various rumors around Southeast Asia concerning possible treasures and ancient sites that could benefit the company's interests. Although Hendrik reported all of his findings directly to Jan, the latter dismissed most of his discoveries as little more than "old fisherman's tales".

One of the legends Hendrik told Jan about concerned an ancient temple supposedly located in the lost Khmer city of Angkor, which was said to house a powerful artifact. However, Jan dismissed this story as false like the rest of the legends Hendrik had uncovered, and decided to focus on more practical pursuits. Hendrik would later be killed under mysterious circumstances in February 1725, bringing an end to the Dutch East India Company's search for treasures in Asia.

Alliance against Madam Lee

Jan: "And I suppose you have a plan, Alan?"

Alan: "Naturally. I always have a plan. However, there's a catch. Unless you both lend me your support... the plan is meaningless."

—Jan and Alan Jacob discussing the latter's plan to deal with Lee, 1725.

That same year, Jan began collaborating with Alan Jacob, a representative of the Far East Company, and Sun, the head of the Hualien Trading Company, to sabotage a rival trading company led by Lee Huiyin and benefit their own respective businesses in the process. To this end, they hired Shimazu ninja led by the Templar Shimazu Saito to eliminate Lee at her own residence, the Mandarin's House.

Jan meeting with Alan and Sun to discuss about Lee

After the ninja failed to kill Lee, Alan called an emergency meeting with Jan and Sun at St. Dominic's Church to discuss their next course of action. During the meeting, Jan remarked that the ninja's failure might be a sign they were not as strong as they had thought, but Alan pointed out that all the ninja had been allegedly killed by a single warrior. Unbeknowst to them, the Assassin Edward Kenway was watching the meeting from above after following Alan there and suspected one of them of being a Templar.

Jan listened to Alan's plan to cripple Lee's company, which required Jan to use his standing in the Dutch East India Company to detain Lee's ships in the Macau harbor. Jan remarked that his role in the operation was suspiciously easy and questioned Alan's motives. Seeing that Sun was just as hesitant to follow his lead, Alan showed them a "treasure" he had acquired to entice their cooperation, promising them unprecedented wealth.

Having been convinced to go along with Alan's plan, Jan later did as he had been told and, when several of Lee's ships were attacked by pirates at sea, he prevented the Dutch Navy from sending any ships to their rescue. He also contributed to Alan's plan to frame Lee's company for opium trafficking, having her ships detained in the harbor under the pretense of being investigated for smuggling illegal narcotics.

Jan meeting with Alan and Sun at the harbor

However, this plan was thwarted by Edward Kenway, who exposed the Far East Company for smuggling the opium into Macau. Unable to cover this up due to the large number of witnesses, Jan had no choice but to comply to the orders of the Dutch East India Company's resident officials and detain one of the Far East Company's ships.

When Jan later met with Alan and Sun at the harbor to discuss, he was accused by the former of betraying their agreement and attempting to sabotage his company. Their fight was broken up by Sun, who suspected that Lee had somehow learned about their plan and had sabotaged it. He then reminded Jan and Alan that they could not end their alliance until they had dealt with Lee.

Partnership with the Zhang Wei Union

Jan: "I look forward to working together, Mr. Zhang."

Zhang: "Likewise. I hope that our partnership may be prosperous."

—Jan and Zhang securing a partnership between their companies, 1725.

After Edward and his organization, the Zhang Wei Union, protected a Dutch East India Company ship from pirates near the Philippines, Jan met with the Assassin upon his return to Macau. Claiming that he was in Edward's debt for bringing his vessel back safely, Jan asked him to talk in private.

Jan making Edward a business proposition

Aware of Edward's former activities in the Caribbean, Jan requested his aid in riding the Paracel Islands of pirates who had overrun them, in order to allow his company to resume trade operations there. In exchange, he promised to let the Assassin keep any goods he looted from the pirates and to secure a five-year partnership between the Dutch East India Company and the Zhang Wei Union, which led Edward to accept his offer.

Edward was ultimately successful in his task, eliminating the pirates and taking their ships for himself. Upon the Assassin's return to Macau, an impressed Jan offered to help him register his new ships and kept his promise of a five-year contract between his company and the Union. However, Edward referred him to his associate Zhang, who he claimed was the true head of the Union. This amused Jan, but he nonetheless shook hands with Zhang, marking the beginning of a lucrative partnership between their organizations.

Sometime later, Jan intervened in a fight between Madam Lee and Sun, after being informed of the situation by Edward's friend John Young. Arriving with several armed men to back up Edward, Jan warned both Lee and Sun to stand down or else they would face the consequences for disrupting the order in Macau. Ultimately, both merchants retreated, and Edward thanked Jan for his assistance in breaking up the fight.

Journey to the Philippines

"You will not be leaving us out of a good old adventure! Lead the way, you salty dog!"

―Jan to Edward after saving him from Lee's ship, 1725.

Jan talking to Edward aboard the Fenghuang

Shortly after Sun's death, which allowed Madam Lee to become Macau's dominant merchant, Jan learned that Edward and his associates had left Macau to pursue a possible lead to Angkor's location. Realizing that there must be some truth to the legend of Angkor's treasure, Jan decided to follow them and took command of one of the company's vessels. After tracking down the Zhang Wei Union members, he came to their rescue when their ship, the Fenghuang, was attacked by one of Lee's vessels near the Philippines.

After sinking the enemy ship, Jan spoke to Edward aboard the Fenghuang and revealed his knowledge of the true purpose of the Assassin's expedition. He then expressed his love of adventures and his willingness to join the Union in their search for Angkor. Believing they needed the Dutch East India Company's protection in case they encountered Lee's fleet again, Edward reluctantly allowed Jan to accompany them.

Before long, however, both Jan's ship and the Fenghuang came under attack by two Spanish Men O' War, forcing them to surrender. The crews of the two ships were brought to Manila, where Edward blamed Jan for their predicament. Although the navigator claimed that he was just as clueless as Edward about the reason behind their arrest, a representative of the Governor-General of the Philippines soon arrived and accused Jan of orchestrating the assassination of the previous governor, Fernando Manuel de Bustillo Bustamante y Rueda, six years prior.

Edward rescuing Jan and his crew from Fort Santiago

Jan and his men were subsequently imprisoned in the dungeon underneath Fort Santiago, where they awaited their sentencing. As Jan lamented his fate, he suddenly heard a commotion outside and, moments later, Edward arrived to free the Dutchmen from their cells, much to Jan's relief. As the crew was being escorted out of the dungeon, Edward decided to ask Jan if he was indeed responsible for Governor Bustamante's assassination. Before the navigator could respond, he was interrupted by a riot which had broken out in the streets of Manila. Edward went to investigate the cause of this riot, leaving Jan and his men behind.

Despite being abandoned by Edward, Jan and his crew managed to make their way back to the Manila harbor, where they saw that the remaining Zhang Wei Union members were engaged in a fight with several Spanish soldiers. As he made his way to back to his ship, Jan greeted the Union members and thanked them for their help while promising not to leave without them.

True to his word, Jan waited for Edward and Shimazu Saito to return to the Fenghuang, whereupon both ships set sail away from Manila. When the Spanish Navy gave chase, Jan volunteered to distract their pursuers to give the Union members time to escape. After telling Edward to reconvene at the Sultanate of Sulu, an island kingdom south of the Philippines, Jan parted ways with the Assassin and proceeded with his distraction, allowing the Fenghuang to escape from the Spanish fleet.

Trading alliances

Jan: "By the might of the Dutch East India Company and the Sultanate of Sulu combined... we shall sail these seas and answer to no man from this day on!"

Rupiya: "I-I'll drink to that...!"

Jan: "After all, there may be honor among thieves, but who has ever heard of honor among sailors?"

—Jan to Rupiya, 1725.

Jan meeting with the Sultan

Following his arrival in Sulu, Jan sought an audience with Sultan Badarud-Din I. Aware that Edward's crew had acquired a crescent amulet – a Piece of Eden – Jan told the sultan about it and decided to negotiate a deal. As the Dutch East India Company and the Sultanate shared a common enemy in Spain and wished to see its dominion over the Philippines brought to an end, Jan offered to deliver the amulet into the sultan's hands. This would grant the Sultanate a major advantage in its fight against the Spanish, and would also allow Jan and his associates to continue their search for Pieces of Eden undisturbed.

When the Fenghuang arrived in Sulu, Jan greeted the crew alongside a fleet of Suluese ships. After the Sultanate's fleet fired several warning shots at the Fenghuang, Jan informed his allies of the deal he had made with the sultan and advised them to surrender the amulet for their own safety.

After John Young angrily called him out for his duplicity, Jan insisted that he had not betrayed the Zhang Wei Union, as he still intended to continue his search for Pieces of Eden alongside them. In the end, the Union members reluctantly agreed to surrender their artifact and were escorted by Jan into Sulu.

Later, Jan went to celebrate with the Fenghuang's captain Rupiya, who managed to convince him that he hailed from a royal family and had abandoned his luxurious life for the freedom of being a pirate. While drinking together, Rupiya pretended to wish to defect to the Dutch East India Company, so that he and Jan could search for the Pieces of Eden without Edward's crew.

Jan being knocked out by Rupiya

Jan readily accepted the proposal, commenting that there was no such thing as "honor among sailors", but as he turned around to tell a servant to pour him another drink, he failed to notice Rupiya grab an empty bottle. After expressing his disgust at Jan's duplicity and selfishness, Rupiya smashed the bottle on his head, knocking him unconscious. He then left the palace and went to free his fellow crew members, so that they could escape from Sulu together.

Personality and traits

"You may see in me a company man who toils only for the satisfaction of a stead wage nowadays... but I'll have you know, I've always admired those free spirits who brave the perils of the sea in pursuit of thrill and adventure!"

―Jan to Edward Kenway, 1725.

Jan was a greedy businessman motivated mainly by his desire to increase his company's profits by any means necessary. As such, he had no real loyalties and would work with anyone as long as it benefited him. Jan was willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve his goals and was not above breaking the law or sabotaging his rivals for his personal benefit. However, he was limited in what he could do due to having to obey the orders of his higher-ups in the company.

Jan was the most reluctant member of the alliance against Madam Lee, frequently doubting the others' plans, and eventually betrayed his associates by forming a partnership with Edward Kenway. As shown during his meeting with Edward, Jan was a skilled negotiator, maintaining a friendly façade throughout and appealing to the Assassin's interests to get him to accept his offer. However, he was also prone to anger when confronted or accused of doing something he had not done, as shown during his fight with Alan Jacob.

Jan leading company soldiers to help Edward

Despite his questionable loyalty, Jan did appear to hold Edward in high regard due to the stories he had heard about the Assassin's exploits in the Caribbean. As such, he maintained his partnership with him and his organization and came to their aid more than once. His decision to join Edward in his quest for Angkor also stemmed from his own love of adventures, as despite his desk job at the Dutch East India Company, he always admired the freedom of seafarers who answered to no one but themselves.

However, all of this did not prevent Jan from ultimately betraying Edward and his crew in favor of an alliance with the Sultanate of Sulu. Although Jan tried to paint this action as a deal that would benefit both him and the Zhang Wei Union, in reality he only had his own self-interest at heart and had no qualms about abandoning his allies the moment a better opportunity presented itself. This was because, in Jan's opinion, lacking any real sense of honor or loyalty was what made someone truly "free".

Behind the scenes

Jan van Aert is a character introduced in Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple.

Etymology

Jan is a variation of the name John, which used to be one of the most popular given first names in the Netherlands and Flanders before the 20th century. Van Aert is a Dutch and Flemmish surname meaning "from Aert", with Aert being an alternate spelling of the toponym Aard (from the Dutch word "aarde", meaning "earth, ground").

Gallery

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  Close-up of Jan
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  Sun breaking up Jan and Alan's fight
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  Jan asking Edward to talk in private
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  Jan being impressed by Edward's haul
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  Jan and Zhang shaking hands
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  Jan and Edward being arrested in Manila
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  Jan greeting the Fenghuang's crew in Sulu
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  Jan drinking with Rupiya

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple