In Assassin's Creed Unity, which historical event begins in Paris in 1789?

In Assassin's Creed Unity, the French Revolution begins the Paris setting in 1789.

The game follows Arno Dorian through Paris during the upheaval that began in 1789. The Revolution brought the collapse of the old political order, intense conflict between factions, and major changes to French society. Unity uses these events as the historical environment for Arno's personal story and the continuing Assassin-Templar struggle.

The game is set primarily in Paris and includes recognizable locations such as the Bastille, Notre-Dame, and the Palace of Versailles. Its crowds, public unrest, and changing political atmosphere are designed around the period's instability.

The French Revolution should not be confused with the later July Revolution of 1830, which also affected Paris, or with the American Revolution featured in Assassin's Creed III. Assassin's Creed Unity was released in 2014 and stars Arno, who becomes involved with the Brotherhood after the death of his adoptive father.