Which historical event is the opening setting of the original Assassin’s Creed?

The Third Crusade is the historical event forming the opening setting of the original Assassin’s Creed.

The game begins in 1191, during the Third Crusade, with Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad operating in the Holy Land. Major locations include Masyaf, Jerusalem, Acre, and Damascus. The historical conflict provides the setting for a fictional struggle between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templars.

The Third Crusade is generally dated from 1189 to 1192 and involved European rulers including Richard I of England, Philip II of France, and the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. The game uses real places and figures while adding its own secret-history narrative.

This setting is distinct from later games that use the French Revolution, the Peloponnesian War, or the American Revolution. The original game’s medieval date and Holy Land locations identify the Third Crusade as its opening historical backdrop.