In Assassin's Creed Unity, which historical event begins the game's main story in Paris?

The French Revolution begins Assassin's Creed Unity’s main story in Paris.

The game opens in 1789, when political and social upheaval is spreading through France. Its protagonist, Arno Dorian, becomes involved with the Assassin Brotherhood after the murder of his adoptive father, François de la Serre. Arno’s personal investigation unfolds against revolutionary violence, factional conflict, and the collapse of the old political order.

Assassin's Creed Unity does not cover every stage of the Revolution in equal detail. Its historical storyline includes recognizable figures and events connected with the period, while its central conspiracy remains fictional. The Reign of Terror is a later phase within the French Revolution, not the name of the broader event that frames the game’s opening. Likewise, the Paris Commune belongs to 1871, almost a century after Unity’s starting point. The game’s version of Paris emphasizes crowded streets, landmarks, political unrest, and cooperative missions designed around the city’s changing atmosphere.