Bánk bán

Bánk bán (flourished 13th century) was one of the most powerful Hungarian nobles during the reign of Andrew (Endre) II (1205–35) and for a time his bán (viceroy).

Bánk bán joined the conspiracy that led to the murder of Queen Gertrude of Meran (Gertrudis of Andechs-Meran) in 1213, though his precise role in the deed is unclear. In 1208–09 and again in 1217–18 he was viceroy of Croatia and Slavonia. In 1213 he was palatine of Hungary, and in 1221–22 he was országbíró (justice of the realm). By the second half of the 13th century, legends had already begun to accrete around him. He was seen as a man of state who was torn between loyalty to his king and loyalty to his compatriots, who were incensed by the German queen’s prodigality and the growing influence of her entourage.

Many have written fictional accounts of his life, including Hans Sachs, Franz Grillparzer, Sándor Kisfaludy, and Sándor Petőfi. The best-known literary adaptation, however, is József Katona’s tragedy Bánk bán (1815, rev. ed. 1821), which served as the basis of the libretto for Ferenc Erkel’s famous opera of the same name (1861).