In Assassin's Creed Unity, which historical uprising forms the main backdrop of the story?

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

The game is set in Paris beginning in 1789, the year associated with the Revolution's outbreak. Its protagonist, Arno Dorian, becomes involved with the Assassin Brotherhood while investigating the death of his adoptive father. His personal story unfolds amid political violence, social upheaval, and the collapse of the old order.

Unity depicts several recognizable events and places connected with revolutionary Paris, including the storming of the Bastille, the execution of Louis XVI, and the Reign of Terror. These events provide historical context for missions, though the game also uses fictional characters and secret-society plots.

The Revolution should not be confused with the July Revolution of 1830, which occurred decades later. Unity's setting is also distinct from Assassin's Creed III, whose principal historical period is the American Revolution. Arno's story is therefore specifically tied to late-eighteenth-century France.