What if the quietest man in the tribe is not ordinary at all—but a hidden prince? And what if the woman everyone believes is gone forever is still alive, waiting for the right moment to return? Episode after episode, Kuruluş Orhan has avoided giving direct answers. Instead, it plants clues. Small details. Repeated lines. Objects that don’t belong. When those hints are connected, two powerful theories begin to take shape—Dursun Alp’s true identity and Bala Hatun’s unresolved fate. And none of it appears accidental.
Is Dursun Alp Really Who He Claims to Be?
At first glance, Dursun Alp looks harmless. A survivor. A man simply searching for belonging. That is the image the series presents—but it is not the full truth.
Dursun is:
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Not a horse keeper
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Not a wandering soldier
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Not a Karasi military commander
He is something far more dangerous.
Dursun Alp: A Hidden Shahzada
Dursun Alp is strongly implied to be a shahzada, a prince of the Karasi Emirate. Royal blood runs through him, and the show has already given subtle proof.
One key detail viewers noticed early on was the royal handkerchief in Dursun’s possession—an item no common man would ever carry. He later gives it to Halime Hatun, quietly revealing his origins without speaking a word. In Kuruluş Orhan, silence often carries more weight than dialogue.
Why Did Dursun Lie to Orhan Bey?
The answer is simple: fear. Dursun was captured, beaten, and interrogated by Halime Hatun. His cover was already slipping. If the truth had fully emerged, he would not have been treated as a guest. He would have been labeled a political threat.
So Dursun chose a half-truth:
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He admitted he was from Karasi
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He hid the fact that he was a prince
Once Orhan Bey hears the word “shahzada,” trust turns into calculation. Help becomes strategy. And Dursun knows Orhan Bey is already surrounded by enemies.
Is Dursun a Traitor or an Ally?
Everything points to one answer—Dursun is not a traitor.
He is not spying for Karasi.
He is not feeding information to his father.
And he is not here to betray the Kayı tribe.
In fact, the letter that helped Orhan Bey—the one that changed the balance—most likely reached him because of Dursun. His role is not infiltration. It is protection from the shadows.
While his feelings for Halime Hatun are real, love is not the reason he is here.
Dursun Alp’s Real Mission
Dursun’s true goal is much larger than personal survival. He wants to save his state.
Soon, the ruler of Karasi—his father—will die. When that happens:
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Chaos will erupt
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Dursun’s brother will take power
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Karasi will fall under Mongol control
Not as an ally—but as a servant.
Dursun cannot allow this future.
The Future Alliance
The path ahead seems clear:
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Dursun will stand beside Orhan Bey
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He will fight against his own brother
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Karasi and the Ottomans will unite
Two powers will become one. And when that moment arrives, Bursa will fall. This is how a tribe transforms into a sultanate.
Why Dursun Hasn’t Revealed the Truth Yet
The reason is timing.
Orhan Bey is already fighting battles on multiple fronts. Enemies surround him from within and beyond the borders. If Dursun reveals his identity now, Orhan would be forced into another war before he is ready.
So Dursun waits.
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Watching
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Protecting
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Waiting for the moment history demands the truth
Is Bala Hatun Really Dead?
Historically, Bala Hatun passed away in 1324. But the series timeline has already moved beyond that year. And Kuruluş Orhan has never been fully bound by historical exactness.
Mehmet Bozdağ has always taken creative freedom—and used it carefully.
The Silence Around Bala Hatun
For two episodes straight, Halime Hatun repeats the same words:
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“If my mother were here…”
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“If my mother were alive…”
And yet, the series has shown:
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No grave
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No farewell
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No final confirmation
Only silence.
In storytelling, silence often signals return.
Media Rumors and Casting Speculation
Turkish media has added fuel to the theory. A magazine first claimed Bala Hatun would return, though the report felt uncertain. Later, a journalist revealed that a well-known Turkish actress had been offered the role—older, more mature, more experienced.
Nothing is confirmed. But the conversation itself is telling.
Who Should Play Bala Hatun?
For many fans, there is only one answer: Özge Törer.
She defined Bala Hatun across five seasons. From her introduction to her legacy, the role belongs to her.
Age is not a problem in television:
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Makeup transforms time
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We’ve seen it with Malhun Hatun
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We’ve seen it with Selcan Hatun
Time can be created on screen. Emotion cannot.
If Bala Hatun returns, bringing her back with a different face would weaken the impact. Bringing her back with Özge Törer would change everything.
