Fatimides
or FATIMITES (named from Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed and wife of Ali, from whom the founder of the dynasty described in the definition professed to have sprung), a race of Mohammedan kings, whose founder, Abu Obeidallah (El Madhi), was born in A. D. 882, and began to reign in 910, making Mahadi, the ancient Aphrodisium, about 100 miles S. of Tunis, his capital. The place was called from the name Mahadi, or Director of the Faithful, which he had assumed. The dynasty there founded continued to reign till 1171, and produced in all 14 kings.