BAN, BANUS, a Slavonian word signifying lord, an ancient title belonging to the wardens of the eastern marches of Hungary, and corresponding somewhat in dignity to that of the ancient margraves of the empire. The ban was equal in dignity to the palatine of Hungary, and took rank next to the king, with whom he had in his own province equal powers. The country under his jurisdiction was called a banat. This dignity is confined in modern times to the viceroy of Temesvar, who is called the ban of Croatia, and holds the third rank among the secular nobles of Hungary.