AYUB KHAN (1855-1914), Afghan prince, son of Sher Ali (formerly amir of Afghanistan) and cousin of Abdur Rahman, was born about 1855. During his father's reign little is recorded of him, but after Sher Ali's expulsion from Kabul by the English, and his death in Jan. 1879, Ayub took possession of Herat. In 188o he invaded Afghanistan with the intention of asserting his claims to the sovereignty, and in particular of gaining possession of Kandahar, still in the occupation of the British. He encountered the British force commanded by General Burrows at Maiwand (July 27) and was able to gain one of the very few pitched battles that have been won by Asiatic leaders over an army under European direction. His triumph, however, was short-lived; while he hesitated to assault Kandahar he was attacked and defeated (Sept. 20 188o) by Sir Frederick (afterwards Lord) Roberts, at the close of the latter's memorable march from Kabul, and utterly discomfited. He made his way back to Herat, where he remained for some time unmolested. In the summer of 1881, he again in vaded Afghanistan, and on the anniversary of the battle of Mai wand defeated Abdur Rahman's lieutenants, mainly through the defection of a Durani regiment. Kandahar fell into his hands, but Abdur Rahman now took the field in person, totally defeated Ayub, and expelled him from Herat. He took refuge in Persia, and received an allowance from the Persian Government. In 1887, internal troubles in Afghanistan tempted him to make an other effort to seize the throne. Defeated and driven into exile, he wandered for some time about Persia, and in November gave himself up to the British agent at Meshed. He was sent to India to live as a State prisoner and died at Lahore on April 6 1914.