Ban Gaunnes

**King Ban** was the ruler of Léon, a petty kingdoms in Armorica. He is the Armorican head of the House of Gaunnes.

## Early Life

Ban is the son of King Ganis of Léon, and Lady Ediva. He has two younger brothers, Sir Bors the Elder and Lord Gaunnes, and a younger sister, Lady Aefentid. He also had an older sister, Lewen, who died in infancy.

## Adulthood

Ban was betrothed to Lady Elaine, sister of the wife of his brother Bors the Elder, from a young age. They married when Ban became of age (twenty-one). They had four children together, Lucant, Heulyn, Lewen II, and Brioc. Lucant was their only child who made it to adulthood.

His father being the ruler of Léon, the House of Gaunnes had close ties with Emperor Aldroenus of Armorica. When Uther Pendragon, nephew of Emperor Aldroenus, went over to Albion from Armorica to conquer the Kingdom of Camelot, the family helped in his takeover.

Because of their help, King Uther gave the Gaunnes family the Brechfa, giving them lordship over the land.

King Ganis gave the hold to Bors the Elder, as he was the second born son, and Ban already has a male heir.

### The Purge

During The Great Purge the Albion side of the House of Gaunnes denounced the Old Religion, turning to Christianity. This created a rift in the family as the Léon side and main branch of the House of Gaunnes rule an Old Religion Kingdom, and are devoted members.

Talk of religion, the Purge, and magic in general became taboo between the sides. Ban also created a new written legal document that the ruler of Léon had to follow the Old Religion and keep the practice of the religion safe. He did this incase one of his brother's ended up inheriting the throne.

### The war

The year that Bors the Younger, Ban's nephew, became of age and a knight, was the same year that King Ganis died. Because of his death Ban inherited the throne. When King Ban became king, King Glaudas ruler of Bituria, a kingdoms in Armorica, delared war on him for Léon.

After many years of battles Sir Bors the Elder and Sir Clodio were called to Léon to help. Sir Bors the Elder asked King Uther for reinforcements for the war, and Uther promised that he would send them, a returing the favour that the Gaunnes family did decades ago.

King Uther did sent reinforcements and the kingdom of Léon won the war, gaining some of Bituria.

There was a great loss however, with Sir Bors the Elder, his nephew Prince Lucant and King Ban himself all lossing their lives on the battle fields.

A funeral was held in Léon, King Uther, Sir Bors the Younger, Squire Leon, Prince Arthur and many other Camelot nobles attended the funerals. They was also buried in Mâcon, their home town.

Due to Ban's only remaining heir was being illegitimate, Bors the Younger became the king of Léon. Bors the Elders other son, Sir Leon, passed the ownership of Brechfa to his uncle, Sir Clodio, not wanting the titles or lands himself.

Hector de Maris, Ban's illegitimate son, moved to Camleot to become a knight.

## Trivia

* Ban speaks Gaulish, Vulgar Latin, Old English, and Old French
	+ He originally only spoke Gaulish, basic Vulgar Latin, and Common Brittonic, but he dropped the celtic langauges during the purge, due to their association with the Old Religion
* Ban is right-handed

## In the Legends

First appearing by this name in the *Lancelot propre* part of the Vulgate Cycle, he is the father of Sir Lancelot and Sir Hector de Maris, and is the brother of King Bors. Ban largely corresponds to the other versions of the father of Lancelot, including Pant of Gennewis in *Lanzelet*, Haud of Schuwake in the English *Lancelot*, and Domorot of Lokva in *Provest o Tryschane*.