# King Ban — Le Morte d’Arthur character guide

> King Ban in Le Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Ban, King Ban of Benwick

**First appearance:** 0004-i

## Who they are

King of Benwick and father of Launcelot.

## In the story

### [King Arthur Seeks Alliance with Kings Ban and Bors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/x)

Receives Arthur's messengers and agrees to aid Arthur against his enemies.

### [Of a dream of the King with the Hundred Knights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xiii)

Councils Arthur to burn and destroy the countryside ahead of the northern host.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xv)

King Ban makes ready with his shield and harness, showing great courage.

### [The Battle Against the Eleven Kings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xvi)

Allied with Arthur, fights with great prowess, slays many knights, and receives a horse from Arthur after his own is killed.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xvii)

Fights alongside Arthur and Bors; receives goods from the battle to reward his knights.

### [How King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors rescued King Leodegrance, and other incidents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/xviii)

Joins Arthur and King Bors in rescuing King Leodegrance, then returns to his own country to resist King Claudas.

### [How Merlin was assotted and doted on one of the ladies of the lake, and how he was shut in a rock under a stone and there died.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/i)

King of Benwick, at war with King Claudas, father of Launcelot.

### [How Sir Launcelot and Sir Turquine fought together](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/viii)

Mentioned as Launcelot's father.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as Launcelot's father, the last of the seven kings.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/characters/king_ban
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/le_morte_d_arthur_se/characters