King Ban

Also known as: Ban / Sir Ban · Family: Benwick · Role: king · First appears: Book I, Chapter X

In Book I, Chapter X, Merlin urged King Arthur to seek the aid of the two brothers King Bors of Gaul and King Ban of Benwick, who were both kings and enemies of King Claudas. King Arthur sent Ulfius and Brastias with letters, and Ban and Bors agreed to come; “there are two brethren beyond the sea, and they be kings both, and marvellous good men of their hands.” They crossed to London with three hundred knights, and Ban gave the messengers good cheer and gifts. His brother Gwenbaus was a wise clerk, and the council later used Ban’s ring as a token while Merlin secretly brought ten thousand mounted men to England.

During the wars, Ban and Bors advised Arthur as his forces burned the country before them and later joined him in Merlin’s ambush at the forest of Bedegraine. Ban fought fiercely, driving back the northern forces, felling King of the Hundred Knights and King Morganore, and suffering enough damage that King Arthur gave him a recovered horse. With Arthur and Bors, he then withdrew to rest, received battle spoils for his knights, rescued Leodegrance in Cameliard, and departed to defend his own lands against Claudas. Leodegrance thanked the three kings for their aid, while Merlin foretold that Arthur would return when Ban and Bors had great need.

In Book IV, Chapter I, Ban is described as married to Elaine, and Sir Launcelot is seen as their young son. Later, Sir Launcelot declares himself “King Ban’s son of Benwick,” while Alice la Beale Pilgrim says she is of Ban’s blood; King Launcelot is likewise named as descended from him.