What is the name of Assassin's Creed's first playable protagonist, introduced in the 2007 game?

Assassin's Creed's first playable protagonist is Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, the central character of the 2007 original game.

Altaïr is a Syrian-born Assassin operating in the Holy Land during the Third Crusade. The game follows his fall from rank after a failed mission, followed by a series of assignments intended to restore his position within the Brotherhood.

The historical storyline takes place mainly in cities including Masyaf, Acre, Damascus, and Jerusalem. Altaïr's name is sometimes confused with later protagonists such as Ezio Auditore, who leads Assassin's Creed II, or Bayek, who stars in Assassin's Creed Origins.

Altaïr also appears in later series material, especially Assassin's Creed: Revelations, where his life and legacy are explored through Ezio's discoveries. His role established the recurring pattern of linking a modern character with historical memories.