Miguel Carasso

"You think the Anarchists capable of taking down Franco's fascists? We must unite under the government against the greater threat."

―Miguel disputing with Dwight about their allegiance, 1937.^[src]^-[m]

Miguel Carasso was a priest and a member of the Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins active during the Spanish Civil War.

Biography

Spanish Civil War

During the Spanish Civil War, Miguel was part of Ignacio Cardona's cell consisting of Glaucia Acosta, Dwight Adams and Rosa Martinez fighting on the side of the Republicans during the war.^[1] After losing Rosa^[2] and witnessing the Bombing of Guernica in April 1937, Miguel and the cell, accompanied by Abdul Ortega, made their way towards the city of Barcelona. The group made camp to rest for the night and during the campfire, the group was attacked by Republican soldiers who had mistaken them for Nationalist soldiers. Abdul was killed though Ignacio was able to stop the firefight before any more were killed.^[1]

By May, Miguel and the group had reached and made camp in Barcelona. Both him and Dwight were woken by a commotion which they believed was an intruder. After Glaucia cornered the intruder, they interrogated him, who revealed that he was Norbert Clarke, an Assassin sent by the British Brotherhood to assist them, showing them a letter as proof. He claimed that he was responsible for eliminating the entire Templar branch in Tallinn in 1936. Convinced that he was an Assassin, Miguel and the Assassins introduced themselves to him.^[2]

The next day, Miguel and the Assassins trained with Norbert, who easily defeated them. They later followed Ignacio to a firefight between anarchists and nationalists. Miguel argued with Dwight as he believed that they should side with the government while Dwight believed that they should side with the anarchists. The two were later interrupted by Ignacio, who had unleashed the Koh-i-Noor which produced serpent-like projections. Before Miguel and Dwight were consumed by it, Ignacio managed to resist the artifact and throws it away.^[2]

As the Assassins checked on him, they were attacked by the Black Cross Albert Bolden, who targeted Norbert. While Miguel and the Assassins fought the Templar, they were unable to prevent him from taking Ignacio away. "Norbert", who was in fact the Templar Rufus Grosvenor, would later turn the Assassins against Ignacio, convincing them that their leader had been compromised by the Black Cross. Believing that both Ignacio and Albert would go after them, the Assassins later holed up in a war-torn village.^[3]

Manipulated by Grosvenor

Ignacio: "The gem is not meant for me. I can feel it. if I use it again, it could kill me!"

Miguel: "And?! What are our lives when weighed against millions?! Clarke told me about Germany... about Hitler. Do you know what that strutting deformity is planning to do to my people?!"

—Miguel disputing with Ignacio about using the Koh-i-Noor, 1937.^[src]^-[m]

As Ignacio and Albert approached the village, Miguel and Dwight launched a surprise attack on the both of them, though they were easily taken down. While Dwight questioned Ignacio for the truth, Miguel held Albert at gunpoint, who told him to go ahead and open fire. He pleaded Ignacio to use the gem so that they could end the war. Ignacio however, was unwilling to do so as it would cost him his life. In response, Dwight told him that their lives would weight nothing against millions, as "Clarke" had told him about Germany, about what Hitler was planning to his people.^[4]

During the conversation, Dwight attempted to attack Albert from behind, leading to a fight. As Dwight held the Black Cross, Miguel took the opportunity to slash Albert's stomach with his Hidden Blade. However, before Miguel could deliver the finishing blow, Albert deflected his attack and caused him to stab Dwight who was holding him from behind. As Dwight collapsed on the ground, Bolden punched Miguel in the face and rescued Ignacio from Glaucia, who had slipped behind her lover and held a knife under his throat.^[4]

Realizing that Miguel fled, two men then followed his tracks to the town church, where Grosvenor was waiting for them. The Templar was standing over a pit of anarchist bodies, killed by Franco's men, and who ranted about humanity needing the firm guiding hand of the gods. Entering the church too, Glaucia and Miguel took aim at them and had Ignacio and Albert to surrender their guns. Grosvenor told of how his master had followed Ignacio's bloodline, hoping for optimum conditions - but the fact that he was a male was a clear failing to fully controlling the gem.^[4]

Nevertheless, he offered Ignacio the Koh-i-Noor in the hope that he may still try. Upon touching the gem, the Assassin created the illusion of the diamond shattering under its own power and summoned creatures of energy who stampeded into the walls of the church bringing it crashing down upon all of them. The fate of Miguel remained unknown.^[4]

Behind the scenes

Miguel Carasso is a character and Assassin introduced in Assassin's Creed: Uprising.

It is implied Miguel is possibly Jewish based on the conversation he had during a standoff with Ignacio and Albert. Miguel telling Ignacio about what Adolf Hitler was planning to do his people references the persecution of the Jewish population in Germany, which ultimately culminated in the genocide of Jews in Holocaust.

His name Miguel is the Portugese and Spanish form of Michael, which is of Hebrew origin. His last name Carasso is derived from Karasu, meaning "black water" in Turkish. It is also the name of a prominent Sephardic Jewish family, further alluding Miguel's possible Jewish identity.