Ertuğrul Bey is the main protagonist in the Turkish TV series, Diriliş: Ertuğrul, portrayed by Engin Altan Düzyatan. He also appears in the sequel, Kuruluş: Osman, where he is played by Tamer Yiğit and is referred to as Ertuğrul Gazi. The character is based on Ertuğrul, the father of Osman I.
Background
Ertuğrul was born as the third son of Süleyman Şah and the second biological son of Hayme Hatun. He was originally looked after by his uncle, Korkut Bey, when his father was fighting in a war. As a youngster, he found three orphaned boys in a forest, Turgut Alp, Bamsı Beyrek and Doğan Alp, bringing them to the tribe and growing up with them as adoptive brothers. Ertuğrul had a taste of tragedy early in his life as his brother Sungurtekin Bey was captured by Mongols and presumed dead, not to return for many years. Growing up, he was the subject of romantic affection from his adoptive sister Gökçe, before rescuing a Selçuk princess, Halime, from Templars while out on a hunt.
Personality
Ertuğrul's official character description on the TRT 1 website states; "The son of Suleyman Shah, Ertugrul is a brave warrior who fights for his dreams and ideals. He is the protector of the oppressed, willing to sacrifice his life for the cause of justice."
Storyline
Season 1
Süleyman Şah, Bey of the Kayı sends his son, Ertuğrul, to ask for land from the Emir of Aleppo. This is made almost impossible when the Kayı are put in a series of problems with the Templars after saving Şehzade Numan, Halime Sultan, and Şehzade Yiğit because of the traitor in the Emir's palace, Nasır, who works for the Templars but is later killed by Ertuğrul and the truth is shown to the Emir, with Ertuğrul having to stay hidden for days as a fugitive in Aleppo to show this. Ertuğrul also rids the tribe of his devious uncle, Kurdoğlu, Süleyman Şah's blood brother, after initially struggling to convince his father and his brother Gündoğdu of his evil. Ertuğrul, who loves Halime, marries her after much difficulty, including rivalry with El Aziz. Selcan's husband, Gündoğdu becomes jealous of his brother Ertuğrul as he is respected as the tribe hero but gradually calms down. Towards the end of the season, Kurdoğlu is beheaded by Ertuğrul , Ertuğrul successfully defeats the Templars and captures their castle, being nominated as Chief Alp in his father's will. This is followed by Süleyman Şah's death, much to Ertuğrul's sorrow, and the tribe's migration to Erzurum as part of Süleyman Şah's will before he died.
Season 2
Ertuğrul faces the Mongols, led by Baycu Noyan, who destroyed nearly his entire tribe. After Ertuğrul is captured and has his hand nailed by Noyan, when he escapes, he finds his tribe settled with his uncle Korkut of Dodurga. Due to his hand injury, the council Beys of both tribes, including Korkut, Hayme and Gündoğdu, select Ertuğrul’s cousin Tuğtekin as Chief Alp of both tribes, overriding Süleyman Şah’s will and angering Ertuğrul. As Ertuğrul’s alp Abdurrahman is falsely accused by the Dodurgas of treachery and is imprisoned. Ertuğrul, with the help of Artuk Bey, the only Dodurga to support him, breaks him out. Hayme, under pressure from the Dodurgas, exiles Ertuğrul for this. Whilst in exile, Ertuğrul learns his brother Sungurtekin is alive. Meanwhile, Korkut Bey’s brother-in-law, Gümüştekin, arrives and slanders Ertuğrul with various charges, sentencing him to death in a show trial, before Ertuğrul is saved by his alps. Gümüştekin later has Korkut Bey poisoned to death, and is only caught and executed after Ertuğrul convinces the new Dodurga Bey Tuğtekin of his evil, with the help of Sungurtekin, having returned to the tribe. Meanwhile, Halime prematurely gives birth to Ertuğrul’s first son Gündüz, while Noyan is thought-killed by Ertuğrul. As Ertuğrul refuses to accept Gündoğdu as the new Bey, he forms a breakaway tribe, migrating to the western border of the Selçuk state with various members of his family, Artuk Bey, a group of alps and 400 others.