What historical revolution forms the backdrop of Assassin's Creed Unity?

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

Released in 2014, Unity is set primarily in Paris during the late eighteenth century. Its story begins in 1789, the year commonly associated with the Revolution's outbreak, and follows Arno Dorian as he becomes involved in the conflict between Assassins and Templars.

The game recreates major Parisian landmarks, including Notre-Dame de Paris, the Louvre, and the Bastille. Historical figures and events appear alongside the fictional struggle, allowing the campaign to move through a city shaped by political upheaval, public unrest, and rapid changes in power.

Unity is not a complete historical simulation of the Revolution. It uses real events as a framework for an adventure story, and its central characters are fictional. The French Revolution should therefore be distinguished from the American Revolution, which provides the setting for Assassin's Creed III.