''Ayyār'' (, pl. ''ʿayyārūn''; , pl. ''Ayyârân'') refers to a person associated with a class of warriors in Iraq and Iran from the 9th to the 12th centuries. The word literally means vagabond.
Ayyars were associated with ''
futuwwa
Futuwwa (Arabic: فتوة, "young-manliness") was a conception of adolescent moral behavior around which myriad institutions of Medieval confraternity developed. With characteristics similar to chivalry and virtue, these communal associations of Ar ...
'', or medieval Islamic organizations located in cities.
Emergence
''
'Ayyarun'' are believed to predate Islam, since they are said to have distinct Iranian customs, and they were active in regions corresponding to the territories of the
Sasanian Empire
The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranian peoples, Iranians"), was an List of monarchs of Iran, Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651. Enduring for over four centuries, th ...
.
Most of the writing about them centers on their activities in Baghdad from the 10th to the 12th centuries. Baghdad was ruled by the
Buyids
The Buyid dynasty or Buyid Empire was a Zaydi and later Twelver Shi'a dynasty of Daylamite origin. Founded by Imad al-Dawla, they mainly ruled over central and southern Iran and Iraq from 934 to 1062. Coupled with the rise of other Iranian dyna ...
(945–1055) back then. They did many terrible things such as extorting taxes on roads and markets, burning wealthy quarters and markets, and looting the homes of the rich by night. For several years (1028–33),
al-Burjumi and
Ibn al-Mawsili, leaders of the 'ayyarun, ruled the city due to governmental instability.
See also
*
Javānmardi
*
Samak-e Ayyar, ancient Persian story about an Ayyār named Samak
*
Umro Ayyar, fictional Ayyār in the Islamic epic ''Hamzanama''
References
AYYĀR Encyclopædia Iranica
External links
Library reference
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayyar
Middle East
Military units and formations of the medieval Islamic world
Outlaws
Medieval history of Iran