be ruled out. This error had a long-term effect in Hungarian popular culture and literature (see below) and even Russian–Ukrainian historiography regarding the history of the Kievan Rus' (see "Benedikt Bor"). Bánk started his court career during the reign of King Emeric. He is first referred to as ispán of Újvár County in 1199. It is plausible he supported the king in his struggle for the power against his younger brother Andrew, Duke of Slavonia. When Emeric captured Andrew near Varaždin in October 1203, Bánk was appointed ispán of Zala County, which then belonged to the duke's realm. Despite his former political alignment, Bánk managed to retain his influence and power after Andrew II ascended the Hungarian throne in 1205. He is mentioned as ispán of Újvár County again in 1206. He served as Ban of Slavonia from 1208 to 1209. He held the office of ispán of Bihar County, one of the most important counties during that time, from 1209 to 1212. Beside that, he also functioned as count (head) of the court of Queen Gertrude from 1210 to 1212. In this capacity, Bánk ("Banko") participated in the Hungarian military campaign against the Principality of Halych in the summer of 1211, when Andrew II intended to restore the child Danylo Romanovich to the Galician throne upon the request of a group of boyars. Thereafter, Bánk reached the peak of his career, serving as Palatine of Hungary from 1212 to 1213. Beside that, he was also ispán of Keve (1212) and Pozsony (1212–1213) counties. During his term, he judged over lawsuits in Szatmár and Bihar counties. Following the assassination of Queen Gertrude in September 1213 (see below), Bánk disappears from the sources for four years. He was replaced as Palatine already in that year, but he was able to retain the office of ispán of Pozsony County for a brief time. Bánk regained influence, when Andrew II led the Fifth Crusade to the Holy Land. He was installed Ban of Slavonia in 1217. It is possible he held the dignity in 1218 too, according to a non-authentic royal charter. Andrew II styled Bánk as "Our faithful baron" () in 1218. Bánk served as Judge royal from 1221 to the first half of 1222. Beside that, he was also ispán of Fejér County (1221–1222), and ispán of Bodrog County (1222). Together with his deputy Benedict, Bánk presided over local judicial summits