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. He was also a half brother of the Sultan Tughril and Chagri Bey with whom he shared the same mother. He was the Seljuk governor of Mosul (Iraq) and Gence (Azerbaijan). Ibrahim Yinal went on various expeditions and conquests for the Great Seljuk Empire, and for his Sultan, Sultan Tughril. He had various battles with the Ghaznavid Empire, Roman (Byzantine) Empire and Buyid Empires. He heavily contributed to the Seljuk conquest of Persia, even capturing the throne city of Rey, which is now a part of modern-day Tehran. In 1047, Ibrahim wrested Hamadan and Kangavar from the Kakuyid ruler Garshasp I. Ibrahim Yinal during his service to the Great Seljuk Empire was appointed the Seljuk Governor of Mosul and Gence. His dominion stretched from Iraq to Azerbaijan, effectively ruling all of the western side and western frontiers of the Seljuk Empire. All raids against the Byzantine, Armenian and Georgian lands would use Yinal's lands as a headquarters. Notable raids were the Seljuk conquest of Vaspurakan. A highlight of his military career can be that Ibrahim Yinal commanded a successful raid against the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire which culminated in the Battle of Kapetron in September 1048. This battle was a decisive victory for the Seljuk Empire. The Arab chronicler Ibn al-Athir reports that he brought back 100,000 captives and a vast booty loaded on the backs of ten thousand camels.