Andrei was a prince of the Griffin Dynasty in the Holy Griffin Empire. He is mentioned in Heroes of Might and Magic V and its expansions, but never appears on-screen.
After King Nicolai's death, rebel forces lead by Duke of Stag Duncan and Archbishop Randall wage civil war against the Holy Griffin Empire, arguing that Andrei is the rightful heir to the throne instead of Isabel. During Biara's rein over the Holy Griffin Empire (disguised as Queen Isabel), she pursues Andrei to secure her place on the throne. The rebels evacuate Andrei to the Stag Duchy and later the Dwarven city of Tor Hrall in order to protect him. However, he is ultimately extradited to the Holy Griffin Empire by Dwarf King Tolghar, and subsequently executed by Biara.
His relationship to Nicolai is unclear. According to Markal in Heroes of Might and Magic V, he is Nicolai's cousin; according to Randall in Hammers of Fate, he is Nicolai's nephew.
History[]
After the death of King Nicolai, Duke of Stag Duncan and Archbishop Randall believe that Andrei should lead the Griffin Empire instead of Queen Isabel, waging a civil war against the Holy Griffin Empire. After Isabel's alliance with Markal, a group of rebels lead by Lord Caldwell take refuge in the borderlands of Irollan.
After Biara (disguised as Queen Isabel) took over the Holy Griffin Empire, the empire's official church was changed from the Church of Light (who worship Elrath) to the Red Church (who worship Isabel herself as a saint). Concerned by this development, Lord Caldwell and Archbishop Randall (who are taking asylum in the Irollan borderlands) evacuate Andrei to the Stag Duchy. From there, Duncan has Andrei evacuated to the Dwarven city of Tor Hrall, located just across the border, where he is under the protection of his friend Wulfstan.
When the Imperial forces discover that Andrei is in Tor Hrall, their leader Freyda is sent to negotiate with them for the extradition of Andrei. Impatient, Lazlo invades during the negotiations, starting a war between Grimheim and the Holy Griffin Empire.
Rolf, half-brother of Wulfstan, advocates handing Andrei over to the Imperial army to end the war, but Wulfstan refuses. Furious, Rolf kidnaps Andrei by killing Wulfstan's shieldguards and heads to meet with Dwarf King Tolghar and High Priest Hangvul. After Tolghar and Hangvul are informed of Wulfstan's asylum of Andrei causing a war, false Queen Isabel projects her image into the meeting to propose a deal with Grimheim, wherein Andrei is handed over to the Imperial forces in exchange for the Griffin Empire declining to support the dark elves of Ygg-Chall against Grimheim. Tolghar agrees, then declares war against Ygg-Chall and brands Wulfstan a traitor and outlaw.
After Tolgar is defeated by Wulfstan and his allies at Tor Hrall, Biara (disguised as Queen Isabel) has Andrei executed.