Ayoubites
or AYYUBITES, the Saracenic dynasty founded by Saladin, which in Egypt supplanted the Fatimite caliphs, about 1171 A. D. Several of the descendants of Saladin, known as Ayoubites, afterward ruled in Egypt, Syria, Armenia and Arabia Felix. In the 13th century their power was destroyed by the Mamelukes.
AYR (ar), a town of Scotland, a royal and parliamentary borough and capital of Ayrshire, at the mouth of the river Ayr, near the Firth of Clyde. It was the site of a Roman station. William the Lion built a castle here in 1197 and constituted it a royal borough in 1202; and the Parliament which confirmed Robert Bruce's title to the crown sat in Ayr. Two bridges connect Ayr proper with with the suburbs of Newton and Wallacetown. One of the bridges, opened in 1879, occupies the place of the "new brig" of Burns" "Brigs of Ayr," the "auld brig" (built 1252) being still serviceable for foot traffic. Carpets and lace curtains are manufactured. There is a considerable shipping trade, especially in coals. AYRES The house in which Burns was born is within 1½ miles of the town, and a monument to him stands on a height between the kirk and the bridge over the Doon. Pop. about 35,000.