Ibrahim Inal

Ibrahim Inal (also spelled Ibrahim Yinal, died 1060) was a Seljuk warlord, governor and prince (melik). He was the son of Seljuk's Son Yûsuf Yinal, thus being a grandson of the Seljuk Gazi.

Death In 1058, for various reasons, including believing that he wasn't appropriately acknowledged for his contributions to the empire, and not being named the heir to the throne, he revolted against Sultan Tugrul. He raised a large army based out of Hamedan, Iran, and was allied with the then Fatimid military commander, Arslan al-Basasiri. In 1060 Ibrahim Yinal's rebellion was eventually defeated. In some sources, it is stated that the battle was fought in the vicinity of Rey and the troops under the command of Alp Arslan, Yakuti and Kavurd defeated and captured Ibrahim Yinal. After Ibrahim Yinal's defeat, he was personally strangled by Tughril with his bowstring at Baghdad, though some sources say this was in the Seljuk throne city of Rey which is part of modern-day Tehran. Strangling a noble, or someone with ruling blood with a bowstring was a common practice in the medieval world.

Aftermath The Legacy of Ibrahim Yinal would continue to affect the world even after his death. His victory in the Battle of Kapetron was crucial in opening the gates of Anatolia for the Muslim Turks and was crucial for the Battle of Malazgrit. It is also a famous quote by Sultan AbdulHamid II (the Last Ottoman Sultan before the Young Turk Revolution) that "In order for the Ottomans (Muslims) to be where they went today (conquest of Constantinople, Battle of Vienna etc.) there needed to be Malazgrit (Battle of Manzikert) and in order to be at Malazgrit, there needed to be a Pasinler (Battle of Kapetron )

The rebellion of Ibrahim Yinal also likely encouraged his cousin Qutalmish's rebellion against Alp Arslan.

Still despite his short comings and rebellions, Ibrahim Yinal is regarded as a hero in Turkic, Seljuk, and Muslim history. He was considered (along with Alp Arslan) the best fighter in the Great Seljuk Empire of his time.

In popular media he is played by Uygar Özçelik in the popular TRT1 drama Alparslan: Buyuk Sulcuklu.