A knight from Trebe in the service of kings Ban (Lancelot’s father) and Bors. He accompanied his lieges to Britain to assist in Arthur’s wars against the rebellious kings and the Saxons. He fought in the battle of Bedegraine. King Bors banished Pharien after Pharien killed another knight to avenge his uncle’s death. Pharien took service with King Claudas, the enemy of Ban and Bors, but still retained his loyalty to Bors and his family.

After Ban and Bors died during Claudas’s invasion of their lands, Pharien guided Bors’s widow to a monastery and then looked after her children, Bors and Lionel, whom he hid from Claudas. Claudas had an affair with Pharien’s wife and found out about the princes from her. Claudas agreed to take care of them and made Pharien heir to their lands until they were grown. In time, however, the people of Gannes (Bors’s former land) revolted and Pharien found himself in the uneasy situation of protecting King Claudas against his former allies and friends. This led to a temporary rift between Pharien and his nephew, Lambegue. Pharien lived long enough to see Bors and Lionel placed in the care of the Lady of the Lake.

It is possible that this character is the same as Phariance, probably a name adopted by him following his exile by Bors and allegiance to Claudas.