Assassin's Creed (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Joseph murdered Mary to protect Callum from Abstergo Industries, who were hunting the Lynch family to use them in their Animus experiments. Mary sacrificed herself so that Joseph and Callum could escape, but Joseph, being an Assassin, was coerced into killing her to prevent Abstergo from using her as leverage against them.

Foreshadowing: The opening scene shows young Callum witnessing his father's violent departure, establishing the traumatic family secret that drives the narrative.

• joseph lynch
• mary lynch
• abstergo
• assassin
• family murder

The Animus is a sophisticated machine developed by Abstergo Industries that reads genetic memories stored in DNA. Since Callum is a descendant of Aguilar de Nerha, the device can decode and project his ancestor's experiences directly into his mind, allowing Callum to physically experience 15th-century Spain while his body remains stationary in the present.

• animus
• genetic memory
• abstergo
• technology
• aguilar

The Apple of Eden is an ancient artifact created by a precursor civilization, containing the genetic code that allowed humanity to gain knowledge of good and evil. The Templars want it to control free will and eliminate violence worldwide, while the Assassins want to prevent this by keeping it hidden, believing that free will, even with its potential for violence, is essential to humanity.

Foreshadowing: The opening narration establishes the Apple as the central MacGuffin driving the conflict between Templars and Assassins.

• apple of eden
• templars
• assassins
• artifact
• free will

Abstergo, the modern face of the Templar Order, needs descendants of historical Assassins to access their genetic memories. These memories contain the location of the Apple of Eden, which was hidden after the Spanish Inquisition. Callum's bloodline connects directly to Aguilar, who physically handled the Apple, making him essential to locating it.

Foreshadowing: The timeline establishes that Abstergo has been hunting Assassin families for generations.

• abstergo
• cal lynch
• descendant
• genetic memory
• templars

During the execution in Granada's public square, Aguilar and Maria triggered explosions they had secretly prepared beforehand. The chaos allowed them to break free from their chains and leap across rooftops while the Templars and onlookers scrambled. This dramatic escape showcased their signature Assassin agility and marks one of the film's most iconic sequences.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show the Assassins preparing hidden explosives, hinting at their escape plan.

• aguilar
• maria
• execution
• escape
• granada

The Leap of Faith is a signature Assassin technique where practitioners jump from great heights into small spaces like hay bales below. In the film, it represents complete trust in one's abilities and faith in the Assassin's code. For Callum, watching Aguilar perform it creates a powerful psychological connection to his ancestral heritage.

Foreshadowing: The Leap of Faith appears twice, once during the execution escape and again as a symbolic moment linking past and present.

• leap of faith
• assassin
• tradition
• aguilar

Sophia turns against Callum after he kills her father, Alan Rikkin, during the climactic battle at Abstergo. Though initially sympathetic to Callum's plight, the death of her father transforms her into a vengeful antagonist. Her final scene shows her beginning to plot retaliation, suggesting she will continue the Templar mission against the Assassins.

Foreshadowing: Sophia's evolving relationship with Callum throughout the film hints at her underlying Templar loyalty overriding personal connection.

• sophia rikkin
• alan rikkin
• revenge
• templars
• confrontation

The Apple falls into Abstergo's hands during the final confrontation. While Aguilar successfully retrieves it from the Templars in 1492, the modern-day Templars, led by the Rikkins, obtain it in the present timeline. Callum's victory is therefore partial; he defeats his enemies but fails to keep the Apple out of Templar possession.

Foreshadowing: The recurring motif of the Apple being passed between factions establishes that neither side achieves permanent victory.

• apple of eden
• abstergo
• templars
• assassins
• climax

The Templars believe humanity's violence stems from free will and that absolute control is necessary for peace. The Assassins counter that free will, even with its capacity for harm, is fundamental to human identity and freedom. Both groups have fought for centuries, each believing their philosophy serves humanity's best interests.

Foreshadowing: The opening narration explicitly frames the conflict as one between free will and control.

• templars
• assassins
• free will
• conflict
• philosophy

Callum was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, though the specific victim is not detailed in the summary. This conviction is what brought him into Abstergo's custody, they arranged for his execution so they could 'rescue' him and force him into the Animus program, using his imminent death as cover for his disappearance.

Foreshadowing: The opening childhood scene establishes Callum as someone surrounded by violence and death from a young age.

• cal lynch
• death row
• conviction
• abstergo

Mary allowed Joseph to kill her rather than be captured by Abstergo. She knew that if Abstergo took her, they would use her to force Joseph and Callum to cooperate with their experiments. Her sacrifice is revealed during Callum's confrontation with his father, explaining why Joseph has carried such guilt throughout Callum's life.

Foreshadowing: The murder scene at the beginning is shown from young Callum's perspective, obscuring the true motivations until later.

• mary lynch
• sacrifice
• abstergo
• protection
• joseph

Ojeda is a Spanish Templar enforcer directly ordered by Tomas de Torquemada to eliminate the Assassins and recover the Apple of Eden. He serves as Aguilar's primary physical antagonist in 1492, personally leading the pursuit to capture or kill the Assassin brotherhood. His relentless vendetta against Aguilar makes him a key antagonist in the historical timeline.

Foreshadowing: Ojeda's introduction establishes him as a physical threat to match Aguilar's skills.

• ojeda
• templars
• torquemada
• aguilar
• hunt