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Ban
Ban, king of Benwick [Brittany], father of sir Launcelot, and brother of Bors king of Gaul. This "shadowy king of a still more shadowy kingdom" came over with his royal brother to the aid of Arthur, when, at the beginning of his reign, the eleven kings leagued against him.
"Yonder I see the most valiant knight of the world, and the
man of most renown, for such two brethren as are king Ban and
king Bors are not living."
"KING BAN, of Brittany, the faithful ally of Arthur, was attacked
by his enemy Claudas, and, after a long war, saw himself reduced
to the possession of a single fortress, where he was besieged by
his enemy. In this extremity he determined to solicit
the assistance of Arthur, and escaped in a dark night, with his
wife Helen and his infant son Launcelot, leaving his castle in
the hands of his seneschal, who immediately surrendered the place
to Claudas. The flames of his burning citadel reached the eyes of
the unfortunate monarch during his flight, and he expired with
grief." Le Morte d'Arthur By Sir Thomas Malory. Book
IV Chapter I
"The Zeus of the later cycle, Emrys or Myrddin, appears in the Morte Darthur under both his names. The word "Emrys" becomes "Bors", and King Bors of Gaul is made a brother of King Ban of Benwyck--that is, Brân of the Square Enclosure, the ubiquitous underworld god. Myrddin we meet under no such disguise." Celtic Myth and Legend Poetry and Romance by Charles Squire
