Assassin’s Creed III begins in 1754, before moving into the American Revolutionary era.
The game opens with Haytham Kenway in London and then follows events in the American Colonies. Its central historical storyline later focuses on Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor, whose life is shaped by the conflict between the Assassins and Templars and by the American Revolution.
The game’s timeline covers multiple decades rather than a single year. Important events include the French and Indian War, colonial unrest, and the Revolutionary War. The year 1776 is therefore strongly associated with the game, but it is not the starting year of the overall story.
Assassin’s Creed III was released in 2012. Haytham is Connor’s father, while Edward Kenway, the protagonist of Black Flag, is Haytham’s father. This makes the Kenway family central to several connected chapters.