The reign of King Benjamin was a long one when he died in Zarahemla at a very advanced age. Some time during his tenure upon the throne, the aggressive Lamanites, not content with occupying the Land of Nephi, actually followed the Nephites into the Land of Zarahemla, and invaded that also. The war that followed was a bloody one. King Benjamin led his forces, and with his own strong arm slew many of the enemy. He was armed with the historic Sword of Laban, which appears to have been handed down from monarch to monarch from the day that Nephi first wielded it. King Benjamin was ultimately successful in driving the invading Lamanites out of all the regions belonging to his people. Many thousands of the Lamanites were slain.