In Assassin’s Creed, which historical conflict forms the main setting of the original 2007 game?

The original Assassin’s Creed is set during the Third Crusade.

The game takes place mainly in 1191, when the Third Crusade was being fought in the Holy Land. Its historical cities include Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus, all presented through the memories of Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad.

The conflict began in response to the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin in 1187. Major European leaders involved in the crusade included Richard I of England, Philip II of France, and Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire. The game uses these real political tensions as the background for its fictional Assassin–Templar story.

The game does not attempt to reproduce every event of the crusade exactly. Instead, it places fictional assassinations and organizations alongside real rulers, cities, and military campaigns. This is why the setting is often described as historical fiction rather than a strict historical simulation.