In Assassin's Creed Unity, which historical event forms the backdrop for the story?

The French Revolution forms the historical backdrop for Assassin's Creed Unity.

Unity is set mainly in Paris from 1789 onward, when political upheaval, popular unrest, and the collapse of France's old social order reshape the city. The playable character, Arno Dorian, becomes involved in the Assassin-Templar conflict while investigating the murder of his adoptive father.

The game includes recognizable revolutionary figures and events, including the storming of the Bastille and the Reign of Terror. Its setting is distinct from Assassin's Creed Syndicate, which takes place in Victorian London during the Industrial Revolution. The Third Crusade belongs to the first Assassin's Creed, while the American Revolution is the setting most closely associated with Assassin's Creed III.