The Complete Assassin's Creed Timeline

Assassin's Creed Shadows might be the newest addition to the sprawling franchise, but its feudal Japan setting places it chronologically near the middle of the series' historical timeline. That's because the Assassin's Creed games don't follow a strict chronological order; this epic series jumps back and forth through history, exploring pivotal events from the Peloponnesian War in Ancient Greece to the cusp of World War I.

With 14 mainline games and counting, the timeline of these events is incredibly complex. IGN has meticulously researched every detail of the series' rich lore to create this comprehensive chronological timeline, clarifying the overarching narrative and how each game fits into the larger picture.

The Isu Era: 75,000 BCE

Before we delve into the historical timeline, a little background is necessary. Eons ago, a highly 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. However, humanity rebelled. Eve and Adam, two humans, stole an Apple of Eden, sparking a decade-long war. This conflict ended abruptly with 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

During the Peloponnesian War in Greece, mercenary Kassandra uncovers the Cult of Kosmos, a shadowy organization secretly manipulating the conflict. She discovers her long-lost brother, Alexios, was kidnapped as a child and transformed into a demigod-like weapon by the Cult. Kassandra learns the Cult targeted Alexios due to his Isu lineage, tracing back to the legendary Spartan King Leonidas. Kassandra thwarts the Cult's plan to dominate Greece, destroying an Isu device used to predict the future and control the war. She is reunited with her father, Pythagoras, another Isu descendant, who gifts her the Staff of Hermes, granting immortality and appointing her guardian of Atlantis.

Assassin’s Creed Origins: 49 to 43 BCE - Ptolemaic Egypt

In Cleopatra's Egypt, Bayek and his wife Aya confront The Order of the Ancients, another shadowy organization working with the Cult of Kosmos. After a personal tragedy involving the kidnapping and death of their son, Bayek and Aya dedicate themselves to dismantling The Order, which controls Egypt through its puppet Pharaoh, Ptolemy, and its influence over Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. Uncovering The Order's global conspiracy to manipulate politics and religion, Bayek and Aya establish the Hidden Ones, a secret society of assassins operating in Egypt and Rome.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: 861 CE - Islamic Golden Age

Centuries later, the Hidden Ones, now based in Alamut, Iran, train Basim Ibn Ishaq, a street thief from Baghdad. Basim investigates The Order of the Ancients in Baghdad and uncovers their plan to access an Isu temple beneath Alamut. He helps defend Alamut and discovers a technologically advanced prison holding Loki, an Isu considered a god by the Norse. Basim learns he's a reincarnation of Loki and vows revenge.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: 872 to 878 CE - Viking Invasion of England

Basim accompanies a Viking clan to England, continuing his pursuit of The Order of the Ancients. Eivor and Sigurd, the clan's leaders, encounter King Alfred, a Templar aiming to establish a Christian order. Basim reveals Eivor and Sigurd are reincarnations of Odin and Týr, who imprisoned Loki, triggering a confrontation. Eivor prevails, trapping Basim in a simulated world within the Yggdrasil Isu computer. Eivor defeats King Alfred and returns to Ravensthorpe as a hero.

Assassin’s Creed: 1191 CE - Third Crusade

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, leading to a mission to assassinate nine Templar leaders. He ultimately confronts and defeats his mentor, Al Mualim, who sought to use the Apple for his own ends.

Assassin’s Creed 2: 1476 to 1499 CE - Italian Renaissance

Ezio Auditore da Firenze joins the Assassin Brotherhood to avenge his family. He battles the Borgia family, securing an Apple of Eden revealing an Isu vault beneath the Vatican. He confronts and defeats Rodrigo Borgia, the Templar Grand Master and Pope, gaining access to the vault and a vision from Minerva warning of a future catastrophe in 2012.

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood: 1499 to 1507 CE - Italian Renaissance

Following the loss of the Apple of Eden, Ezio rebuilds the Italian Brotherhood, reclaiming the Apple and hiding it in an Isu vault beneath the Colosseum.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations: 1511 to 1512 CE - Ottoman Civil War

Ezio travels to Masyaf to investigate Altaïr's library, thwarting the Templars' efforts to access it. He discovers Altaïr's remains and a message from Jupiter revealing the location of the Grand Temple, knowledge he deems not for himself.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: 1579 CE - Sengoku Period

In 16th-century Japan, Yasuke, an African mercenary, becomes a samurai under Oda Nobunaga, encountering Naoe, the daughter of a shinobi master. Their paths converge in pursuit of a common goal.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag: 1715 to 1722 CE - Golden Age of Piracy

Edward Kenway becomes embroiled in a Templar conspiracy involving The Observatory, an Isu device, and the Sage, Bartholomew Roberts. Edward ultimately secures The Observatory and eliminates the Templar threat.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue: 1752 to 1776 CE - French and Indian War

Shay Patrick Cormac, disillusioned by the Assassins after causing an earthquake in Lisbon, joins the Templars, hunting down his former brethren and preventing them from finding more Isu artifacts. He suggests the Templars instigate a revolution in France.

Assassin’s Creed 3: 1754 to 1783 CE - American Revolution

Connor Kenway, son of Haytham Kenway (Edward's son), becomes an Assassin, fighting against the Templars during the American Revolution and ultimately killing his father.

Assassin’s Creed Liberation: 1765 to 1777 CE - Spanish Occupation of Louisiana

Aveline de Grandpré, an Assassin in New Orleans, uncovers a Templar plot involving slaves and an Isu artifact, the Prophecy Disk, ultimately confronting and defeating her stepmother.

Assassin’s Creed Unity: 1789 to 1794 CE - French Revolution

Arno Dorian seeks revenge for his adoptive father's murder, uncovering a Templar plot to incite the French Revolution. He confronts and defeats François-Thomas Germain, a Sage, ultimately saving Paris from further chaos.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate: 1868 CE - Victorian England

Jacob and Evie Frye battle the Templars in Victorian London, recovering The Shroud and preventing the Templars from using it to achieve their goals. Evie later assassinates Jack the Ripper, and her daughter, Lydia, plays a role in World War I, eliminating a Templar spy network.

Transition Period: 1914 to 2012

The Templars establish Abstergo Industries, using the Animus to explore the memories of their ancestors in an attempt to control the future.

Assassin’s Creed 1, 2, Brotherhood, Revelations, and 3: 2012

Desmond Miles, an Assassin descendant, uses the Animus to locate Isu artifacts, ultimately sacrificing himself to prevent a catastrophic event.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag: 2013

Abstergo continues its research using Desmond's DNA, exploring Edward Kenway's memories and encountering the modern-day Sage.

Assassin’s Creed Unity: 2014

An Abstergo initiate explores Arno Dorian's memories, locating the remains of François-Thomas Germain.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate: 2015

The initiate explores the Frye twins' memories, discovering the location of The Shroud and Abstergo's plans to create a living Isu.

Assassin’s Creed Origins: 2017

Layla Hassan, an Abstergo researcher, uses Bayek and Aya's DNA to explore their memories and is later recruited by the Assassins.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: 2018

Layla explores Kassandra's memories, discovering Atlantis and receiving the Staff of Hermes.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: 2020

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

This timeline represents the chronological order of events within the Assassin's Creed universe.