Andraste

Much of Andraste's life has faded into myth and legend, and the religion that deified her obviously portrays her somewhat differently than more secular accounts. What is known is that Andraste was born into an Alamarri tribe long before the events of the first Dragon Age game. She often claimed to have visions and hear things others could not, with these visions first occurring after the mysterious death of her half-sister when they were both children. Over time, Andraste came to believe that she had been anointed by the Maker himself, and alongside her husband Maferath would go on to lead a rebellion against the Tevinter Imperium, who had for a time enslaved her. Chantry teaching says, that Andraste was tasked by the Maker with spreading His word and belief in Him to all corners of Thedas. Once this was done, it was said, The Maker would at last fully forgive the peoples of Thedas that he had turned his back on. But part of this widespread conversion entailed bringing down the Teveinter Empire, which still worshipped the Old Gods and practiced slavery.

Andraste's timing was good; Tevinter at the time was still licking its wounds from the then only recently ended First Blight, and Andraste's Exalted March made gains quickly. Natural disasters that happened during this time that further weakened Tevinter were sometimes attributed to her. She also joined forces with Elves who had long been enslaved by Tevinter and were eager to strike back against the Imperium as well. The leader of these Elves, and according to some rumors a love of Andraste, was Shartan.

Unfortunately, after the Exalted March's massive victory at the Battle of the Valarian Fields, Andraste's husband Maferath grew discontent. According to Chantry teaching, he resented the fact that his wife had drawn the favor of the Maker himself and felt she was now no longer his. These feelings of rejection eventually festered into hatred, and he betrayed her to Tevinter. More secular accounts argue instead that Maferath's actual reason was that he feared his wife's zeal would cause her to overextend her crusade and in so doing cost them everything they had fought so hard to win. Whatever the motive, Maferath conspired with Archon Hessarian to capture her. Though Hessarian had wished to be lenient, his cruel wife Vasilia urged him to show no mercy, and so Andraste was condemned to be burned at the stake. However, it is said that Hessarian could not bear to see her suffer, and so killed her with his sword before she could fully succumb to the flames.

But of course, Andraste's legend would not die as easily as the woman herself. She has gone on to become a deified figure in the Chantry faith, considered to be the favorite of the Maker, the one who touched his heart, and who now sits at his side.

Possible Descendants

Though unable to have children for many years, Andraste eventually had two daughters with her husband named Ebris and Vivial. The former died young to plague, and her own daughter died before she could have any children. As for Vivial, she fell in love with a Tevinter mage named Regulan. As Tevinter had been her mother's great enemy, this was seen as a betrayal and Vivial and her husband were exiled. What became of them and their children is unknown, and it is unknown if any of Andraste's descendants through Vivial still live or not.

Parallels to Real-Life Figures

Andraste bears characteristics in common with Jesus, being as she is a figure who resisted and preached against the actions of a corrupt, decadent, slave-owning empire while gathering to her a group of disciples, only to be betrayed, executed by the Empire she resisted, and then deified post-mortem. As the Chantry as a whole bears similarities to real-life Medieval Christianity, it is likely that these similarities are intentional.

Andraste also bears some characteristics in common with Joan of Arc: like Joan, she had visions from a young age that she interpreted as messages and commands from a divine power to act on its behalf, became an inspirational figure in a war who wore armor but did little actual fighting herself, and was condemned to be burned at the stake only to afterwards become a revered martyr.