Succession did not typically descend from a sultan to his sons, and the army usually chose the new sultan. The Ottomans routinely interfered in the choice of the new sultan. Mamluk sultans had numerous children who fought among themselves for the throne. Mamluk sultans rarely had children, so distant relatives competed who had no clear claim to the throne.

Succession did not typically descend from a sultan to his sons, and the army usually chose the new sultan.