Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag begins in 1715.
The game opens during the Golden Age of Piracy and follows Edward Kenway, a Welsh privateer who becomes involved with both the Assassins and Templars. Its Caribbean setting includes islands and ports influenced by historical locations such as Havana, Nassau, and Kingston.
Edward is the grandfather of Connor Kenway, the protagonist of Assassin's Creed III. Unlike Connor's eighteenth-century colonial setting, Black Flag focuses heavily on naval exploration, ship combat, piracy, and the pirate republic of Nassau.
The story covers several years rather than remaining in a single calendar year. Its opening date is therefore different from the game's full historical span. The title was released in 2013 and is set earlier than Assassin's Creed III.