Alp Arslān was only sixteen years old when he succeeded his father as sultan of Aleppo on 10 December 1113.[3][4] As a result, according to Ibn al-Athīr, he "had only the semblance of authority as sultan, while" his atabeg Luʾluʾ al-Yaya "had the reality".[3] After coming to power, he ordered the death of his full brother Malikshāh and his paternal half-brother Mubārakshah in imitation of his father, who had also ordered the death of his brothers upon coming to power.[3]