Assassin's Creed Unity's main story begins in Paris in 1789.
The year 1789 marks the beginning of the French Revolution, the major historical backdrop for Unity. The game follows Arno Dorian, who becomes involved with the Assassin Brotherhood while political unrest, social upheaval, and factional conflict transform Paris.
Unity uses recognizable locations from revolutionary Paris, including the Bastille, the Tuileries, and Notre-Dame. Its missions often place the player within historically inspired crowds and public events, emphasizing the scale of the city and the period's instability.
The story continues through later years of the Revolution, so 1789 is the starting point rather than the only year represented. Players may also associate Unity with Napoleon Bonaparte, who appears in the game, but Napoleon's rise occurs within the broader revolutionary-era timeline.