The Emperor was a privateer ship during the War of the Spanish Succession, captained by Alexander Dolzell up until January 1713.
History
As a privateer ship
The Emperor was originally a merchant ship. At some point around the War of Spanish Succession, she was refitted to become a warship, carrying privateers of the British crown. The Emperor arrived in Bristol, and Dylan Wallace, the ship's 'recruit man' met Edward Kenway in the Auld Sheillagh and recruited him in the Emperor's crew. On the day it was supposed to leave harbor, the captain Alexander Dolzell wasn't present, so it left port the following day. Bernard Kenway's farm and house were attacked by a group of Templars, who also knocked out Edward in a fight. As a result, Edward was bought into the Emperor unconscious. After leaving Bristol, the new crew were given training and practice.
As a pirate ship
In 1712, foreseeing the end of the war, the crew turned to piracy. Dolzell asked the privateers who did not want to become pirates to step out of the ship. Edward decided to do so, but he was stopped by the ship's deckhand, Friday. The five other sailors who refused to become pirates were thrown overboard by the ship's first mate, Trafford.
Attacking the Amazon Galley
In January 1713, while flying the British Flag, the Emperor sailed near the Amazon Galley, a merchant ship of the East India Company. The crew of the Emperor used swords and guns to taunt to Amazon Galley's crew. Trafford called the Captain of the Amazon Galley, Captain Benjamin Pritchard to come to the main deck of the Emperor and was interrogated and tortured in the captain's cabin by Dolzell and Trafford. After the interrogation, Dolzell and crew boarded the Amazon Galley and began to loot it's cargo. Edward and Blaney were left to guard Pritchard. While guarding Pritchard, Edward noticed a Templar ring in Pritchard's finger, and Blaney snatched it, untying Pritchard in the process. Before Edward could fight back, Dolzell stormed in, informing the lads that Emperor was attacked by a privateer ship, captained by Edward Thatch, who was still loyal to the crown. The pirates were attacked by the privateers and the crew of the Amazon Galley. During the fight, majority of the crew were killed, Dolzell disappeared in the sea, Blaney, a crew member tried to betray his fellow pirates and tried to join Thatch's crew, but was killed in a fistfight by Edward, and Edward found himself a place in Thatch's crew.
Crew
- Alexander Dolzell - Captain (unknown – January 1713)
- Trafford - First mate (unknown – January 1713)
- Edward Kenway - Lookout (1712 – January 1713)
- Blaney - Sailor (unknown – January 1713)
- Melling - Sailor (unknown – January 1713)
- Friday - Deckhand (unknown – January 1713)