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.

BAN or BANN (from the Saxon bannan, to proclaim, to send forth) is a public notice or edict, whereby a thing is commanded or forbidden. In France the word ban has generally been confined to the simple sense of a public proclamation. The word banns is used in England and in Scotland in publishing matrimonial contracts; which is done in church before marriage, to the end that if any persons can speak against the intention of the parties, either in respect of kindred, precontract, or other just cause, they may take their exception before the marriage be consummated. The use of matrimonial bans is said to have been first introduced into the Gallican church, though something like it obtained even in the primitive times; and it is this that Tertullian is supposed to mean by trinundinae pronunciatio. The word is also used to denote proscription or banishment for a crime proved, because anciently published by sound of trumpet; or, as Vossius thinks, because those who did not appear at the above-mentioned summons were punished by proscription. Hence, "to put a prince under the ban of the empire," was to declare him divested of all his dignities. In an ecclesiastical sense, in like manner, it signifies a solemn anathema, or excommunication attended with curses. Such was the ban of the pope.