BAN, a title formerly used in south-eastern Europe, especially southern Hungary, to denote the governors of military districts known as banats. It is a Persian word meaning "lord" or "master" and was first introduced into Europe by the Avars. The last func tionary to bear this title was the governor of Croatia, who was known as the ban of Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia. He was appointed by the king of Hungary and sat in the Hungarian house of magnates. His functions were civil. With the collapse of the Habsburg monarchy in 1918 the office and title came to an end.