Charles Vane

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"So, this is the new Libertalia, eh? Stinks the same as every other squat I've robbed this past year."

―Charles Vane upon arriving in Nassau, 1717.

Charles Van​e (c.1680 – 1721) was an English pirate captain who sailed the West Indies on his brigantine, the Ranger. He made a name for himself by targeting English, Spanish and French industry ships from 1716 until 1719, and was notorious for his harsh treatment of merchant seafarers and soldiers alike.

Biography

Early life

Like his compatriots Benjamin Hornigold, Edward Thatch and Edward Kenway, Vane worked as a privateer under the British crown. As late as 1715 he operated under the command of privateer Henry Jennings, who was most notable for attacking Spanish ships salvaging cargo from the Spanish Treasure Fleet shipwreck site. However, with the Treaty of Utrecht making the life of a privateer unsustainable, Vane sailed for Nassau in 1716.

Joining the Pirate Republic

After arriving in Nassau in 1717, where he and Jack Rackham informed Edward Kenway of a large prize in a nearby fort, Vane became a leading member of Nassau's pirate community.

He was present when Woodes Rogers arrived in Nassau to offer its residents the King's pardon, absolving them of their crimes if they chose to give up piracy. Unlike Benjamin Hornigold, Vane was not keen on accepting the pardon, and worked with Kenway to orchestrate an escape from the barricaded Nassau. Together, they planned to build a fireship with gunpowder to clear the blockade.

While Kenway stole the gunpowder from the British, Vane managed to secure the pine pitch. However, they overheard that Commodore Peter Chamberlaine intended to disregard Roger's orders and destroy all pirate ships in Nassau's harbors. In order to ensure the success of their plan, Vane suggested that Kenway deal with Chamberlaine.

After Chamberlaine was assassinated, Vane met up with Edward to load the gunpowder aboard Rackham's ship, the Royal Phoenix. Before they left, Vane violently berated Rackham for smoking a pipe near the gunpowder. The fireship proved to be successful, destroying the ships blockading one of Nassau's harbors, allowing the Jackdaw and the Ranger to escape.

Mutiny and marooning

When Edward Thatch announced his retirement from piracy, Vane sailed to North Carolina in a bid to dissuade him, and convince Thatch to help take back Nassau. However, his efforts were in vain and he departed, empty-handed and cursing Thatch.

After Thatch's death at the hands of the British, Vane decided to help Kenway find the Observatory. The pair tailed the Royal African Pearl, a slave ship belonging to the Royal African Company, in the hopes of finding information on the Sage Bartholomew Roberts. However, the Ranger was demasted and left adrift.

Following the Royal African Pearl's eventual capture, Rackham and the surviving crew mutinied against Vane and Kenway, commandeering the Jackdaw and marooning both of them on Isla Providencia. During their time on the island, Vane's behavior became increasingly erratic; he took to hiding in the jungle, only emerging to steal food that Kenway had gathered.

Growing frustrated with Vane's actions, Kenway pursued the man, and Vane fiercely retaliated with an arsenal of recovered weaponry. Despite this, Edward managed to neutralize Vane – but spared him – abandoning the man on the island while he escaped by commandeering a passing fisherman's schooner.

Imprisonment

Vane was later found by British soldiers and taken to Port Royal, where he remained for the next two years. Kenway, who was also captured due to Bartholomew Roberts' treachery, managed to escape his gibbet and found the delirious Vane in his cell. Knowing that Vane's state of mind was beyond repair, Kenway left him behind, lamenting how he wished the pair could have parted as friends. Shortly after Edward's escape, Vane was hanged for piracy. His body was later left on display in a gibbet outside the harbor as a warning to other pirates.

Trivia

• Historically, Vane was shipwrecked on an uninhabited island in 1719. When a Royal Navy ship arrived, its captain recognized the pirate and refused to save him. Soon after, a merchant ship arrived and Vane was allowed aboard, as no one recognized him. Unfortunately, the two ships met at sea soon after and the Navy captain decided to take Vane prisoner, eventually turning him over to the authorities in Port Royal.

Gallery

• 
  Concept art of Charles Vane
• 
  Edward Kenway showing a blood vial to Vane
• 
  Vane and Jack Rackham
• 
  Vane and Rackham arguing with Benjamin Hornigold
• 
  Vane knocking out an accomplice
• 
  Vane reminiscing about his father
• 
  Vane shooting a Spanish captain
• 
  Vane stealing food from Edward
• 
  Vane leveling a gun at Edward
• 
  Edward standing over the beaten Vane

Reference

• Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag