Who is the playable protagonist of the first Assassin's Creed game?

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad is the playable protagonist of the first Assassin's Creed game.

The 2007 game follows Altaïr, a Syrian Assassin operating during the Third Crusade. After a failed mission, he is demoted and must regain his rank by carrying out missions for the Brotherhood.

Altaïr is distinct from later heroes because he belongs to the early historical era of the Assassin Order. The game presents his story through the Animus, a device that lets modern users experience ancestral memories.

Players sometimes confuse Altaïr with Ezio Auditore, who became the central hero of Assassin's Creed II and two related games. Altaïr also appears in later series entries, including Assassin's Creed: Revelations, where his life is explored further.