The Complete Assassin's Creed Timeline

Assassin's Creed Shadows might be the newest addition to the sprawling Assassin's Creed saga, but its feudal Japan setting places it chronologically near the series' midpoint. That's because the Assassin's Creed timeline isn't linear; this epic franchise jumps through history, exploring pivotal events from the Peloponnesian War in Ancient Greece to the brink of World War I.

With 14 mainline games and counting, the historical tapestry of Assassin's Creed is incredibly intricate. To untangle the centuries of intrigue, IGN has meticulously pieced together the series' rich lore, creating a comprehensive timeline that organizes the key events in chronological order. Let's dive in!

The Isu Era

75,000 BCE

Before we begin our journey through time, a bit of foundational lore is necessary. Eons ago, a technologically advanced civilization of god-like beings, known as the Isu, ruled the Earth. They created humanity to serve as their slaves, maintaining control through powerful artifacts called the Apples of Eden. Humanity, naturally averse to servitude, rebelled. Eve and Adam, two humans, stole an Apple of Eden, sparking a decade-long war. This conflict was abruptly ended by a devastating solar flare that wiped out the Isu, leaving humanity to inherit the Earth.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

431 to 422 BCE - Peloponnesian War

Amidst the chaos of the Peloponnesian War in Greece, mercenary Kassandra uncovers the Cult of Kosmos, a secret organization manipulating the conflict. She discovers her long-lost brother, Alexios, a demigod-like weapon created by the Cult. Kassandra learns the Cult targeted Alexios due to his Isu lineage, tracing back to the legendary Spartan King Leonidas. Kassandra confronts the Cult, destroying their Isu device that predicted futures and ending their control over the war. She reunites with her father, Pythagoras, another Isu descendant, who gifts her the Staff of Hermes, granting immortality, and tasks her with protecting Atlantis.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

49 to 43 BCE - Ptolemaic Egypt

During Cleopatra's reign, Bayek, a Medjay, and his wife Aya confront the Order of the Ancients, another shadowy organization working with the Cult of Kosmos. The Order seeks Bayek's bloodline to unlock an Isu vault, but Bayek’s son is tragically killed. Driven by vengeance, Bayek and Aya dismantle the Order, revealing its global reach and influence over politics and religion through the Apples of Eden. To combat the Order's oppression, they establish the Hidden Ones, a secret society of assassins operating across Egypt and Rome.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

861 - Islamic Golden Age

Centuries later, the Hidden Ones have expanded their influence, including Alamut in Iran. Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief from Baghdad, becomes an assassin, investigating the Order of the Ancients in his city. He uncovers their pursuit of an Isu temple beneath Alamut, aiding the assassins in their defense. Inside, he discovers a technologically advanced prison holding Loki, an Isu considered a god by the Norse. Basim, a reincarnation of Loki, vows revenge on those who imprisoned him.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

872 to 878 - Viking Invasion of England

Basim accompanies Vikings to England, continuing his hunt for the Order. Sigurd and Eivor, the Viking leader and sibling, establish Ravensthorpe while battling King Alfred, a Templar seeking to impose Christianity. Basim reveals Eivor and Sigurd are reincarnations of Odin and Týr, Loki's jailers, enacting his revenge. Eivor survives, trapping Basim in a simulated world within the Yggdrasil Isu computer. Sigurd, traumatized, relinquishes leadership to Eivor, who defeats Alfred and returns to Ravensthorpe.

Assassin’s Creed

1191 - Third Crusade

Over the next centuries, the Hidden Ones evolve into the Assassin Brotherhood, facing the Knights Templar, the evolved Order of the Ancients. Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad steals an Apple of Eden, but his arrogance leads to a fellow assassin's death. He is tasked with assassinating nine Templar leaders. He discovers Al Mualim, his mentor, planned to use the Apple for world domination, leading Altaïr to kill his master and take control of the Brotherhood.

Assassin’s Creed 2

1476 to 1499 - Italian Renaissance

Ezio Auditore da Firenze joins the Assassins to avenge his family, battling the Borgia family and the Templars. He obtains an Apple of Eden, revealing an Isu vault beneath the Vatican. He confronts Rodrigo Borgia, the Templar Pope, securing the vault and a vision from Minerva, warning of an impending apocalypse in 2012 and the importance of Isu vaults.

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood

1499 to 1507 - Italian Renaissance

Following the Borgias' theft of the Apple of Eden, Ezio rebuilds the Assassin Brotherhood in Rome, reclaiming the Apple and hiding it in an Isu vault beneath the Colosseum.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations

1511 to 1512 - Ottoman Civil War

Ezio investigates Altaïr's library in Masyaf, thwarting the Templars' efforts to obtain the keys. He discovers Altaïr's remains and a message from Jupiter revealing the Grand Temple and its crucial data. Ezio leaves the Apple untouched and retires, dying shortly after.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

1579 - Sengoku Period

In 16th-century Japan, an African mercenary, Yasuke, allies with Oda Nobunaga, unifying warring clans. Yasuke and Naoe, daughter of a shinobi master, unite despite their opposing sides.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

1715 to 1722 - Golden Age of Piracy

Edward Kenway becomes entangled in a Templar conspiracy involving the Observatory, an Isu device used for blackmail. He allies with Bartholomew Roberts, the Sage, to obtain the Observatory, ultimately defeating the Templars and securing the device.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue

1752 to 1776 - French and Indian War

Shay Patrick Cormac, after causing an earthquake in Lisbon, defects to the Templars, hunting Assassins and preventing them from finding Isu temples. He works with Haytham Kenway, injuring Achilles but leaving him alive.

Assassin’s Creed 3

1754 to 1783 - American Revolution

Haytham Kenway seeks the Grand Temple, but his son, Connor, becomes an Assassin, fighting the Templars during the American Revolution. Connor ultimately kills Haytham and secures the Grand Temple key.

Assassin’s Creed Liberation

1765 to 1777 - Spanish Occupation of Louisiana

Aveline de Grandpré confronts Templars using slaves to uncover an Isu temple, obtaining a Prophecy Disk revealing Eve's story and killing her Templar stepmother.

Assassin’s Creed Unity

1789 to 1794 - French Revolution

Arno Dorian seeks revenge for his father's murder, uncovering a Templar plot during the French Revolution. He confronts François-Thomas Germain, the Sage, whose death leaves Arno heartbroken.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

1868 - Victorian England

Jacob and Evie Frye battle the Templars in Victorian London, recovering the Shroud and thwarting a plot to create a living Isu. Evie later kills Jack the Ripper, and Lydia, Evie's daughter, kills the next Sage during World War I.

Transition Period

1914 to 2012

The Templars establish Abstergo Industries, using the Animus to explore the memories of their ancestors.

Assassin’s Creed 1, 2, Brotherhood, Revelations, and 3

2012

Desmond Miles, an Assassin, uses the Animus to locate Isu artifacts, preventing the apocalypse but sacrificing himself to stop Juno.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag

2013

Abstergo explores Edward Kenway's memories to find the Observatory, with John Standish, the Sage, attempting to use The Noob as a host for Juno.

Assassin’s Creed Unity

2014

An initiate relives Arno Dorian's life to locate the remains of François-Thomas Germain, ensuring the Sage remains safe from Abstergo.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

2015

The initiate explores Jacob and Evie Frye's memories to find the Shroud, learning of Abstergo's and Juno's plans to use it.

Assassin’s Creed Origins

2017

Layla Hassan, an Abstergo researcher, uses Bayek and Aya's DNA to relive the origins of the Hidden Ones and later joins the Assassin Brotherhood.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

2018

Layla explores Kassandra's memories, discovering Atlantis and receiving the Staff of Hermes. Kassandra reveals Layla's role in bringing balance between Assassins and Templars.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

2020

Layla explores Eivor's memories, discovering Yggdrasil and working with Basim and Desmond's consciousness to prevent future apocalypses.