Ibrahim Mirza bin Ala-ud-Daulah

Who was Ibrahim Mirza bin Ala-ud-Daulah?

Ibrahim Mirza bin Ala-ud-Daulah was a Timurid ruler of Herat in the fifteenth century. He was the son of Ala-ud-Daulah Mirza bin Baysonqor, a great-grandson of Timur.

Ibrahim came to power in Herat in the aftermath of the death of Mirza Abul-Qasim Babur bin Baysonqor. Babur's son Mirza Shah Mahmud had succeeded him but, as he was still a boy, his hold on power was weak. Ibrahim overthrew Shah Mahmud weeks after Babur's death and therefore became the ruler of Khurasan.

In July 1457, however, the Timurid ruler of Transoxiana, Abu Sa'id Mirza, invaded. Abu Sa'id occupied Balkh but was unable to conquer Herat. Ibrahim's troubles were increased when Jahan Shah of the Black Sheep Turkmen invaded as well. After occupying Gurgan, he defeated Ibrahim outside Astarabad. Ibrahim's father Ala-ud-Daulah Mirza bin Baysonqor met up with him in Herat to offer assistance, but in the end they both fled from the region. Jahan Shah entered Herat on June 28, 1458 but soon withdrew. But Ibrahim was not able to recover his realm; Khurasan instead fell to Abu Sa'id Mirza.

Shortly after, Ibrahim and Ala-ud-Daulah Mirza bin Baysonqor formed an alliance with Sultan Sanjar Mirza against Abu Sa'id Mirza. The opposing forces met during the Battle of Sarakhs in March 1459, where Abu Sa'id defeated them. Ibrahim and his father fled, while Sultan Sanjar Mirza was executed. Ibrahim died only a few months later; his father died the following year.