If you have seen the hit Turkish drama Diriliş: Ertuğrul, then you should probably be familiar with Kurtoglu, the character. He was among the number of people who were on the opposite side of Ertuğrul and his Kayı tribe, which had caused the most trouble.
But was Kurtoglu a real person in history, or just a character made for the show? Let’s take a closer look.
Is Kurtoglu a Real Historical Character?
Quite simply, the answer is no, Kurtoglu is not a real historical character. The producers of Diriliş: Ertuğrul derived real-life characters and events from history, but they also added lots of fictional characters and stories to make the show more energetic and attractive.
The character of Kurtoglu is entirely a work of fiction. While Ertugrul’s period featured many enemies, traitors, and inner tribal clashes waiting to explode among the Oghuz Turkic tribes, there is no reliable source of Kurtoglu being a real person in the history of that time.
The inclusion of the role, Kurtoglu, reflected Ertuğrul’s struggles and the disloyalties he experienced when he was leading the tribes.
Who played the role of Kurtoglu in Diriliş: Ertuğrul?
Hakan Vanlı was the one who performed the role of Kurtoglu in the Diriliş: Ertuğrul series. An actor of great reputation in Turkey, he did a good job in the character of Kurtoglu, so that the character became a negative, unforgettable one for the viewers of the series.
Born in Ankara, Turkey, on March 1, 1963, Hakan Vanlı is not only a highly recognized Turkish TV and film actor but also a very experienced one.
As regards the earlier parts of the series, his interpretation as Kurtoglu was very satisfactory.
Kurtoglu was not a real person in history, yet his character in the play helped the story a lot. By this character, the display succeeds in showing Ertugrul’s character, who is brave and loyal to his people to the core, and this brings in an interesting atmosphere for the audience to watch.