He was installed to the throne while a child by the senior Mamluk emirs after they had rebelled against and killed al-Mansur Ali's father, Sultan al-Ashraf Sha'ban (r. 1361–1377).

Al-Mansur Ali died about four years into his reign and was succeeded by his younger brother, as-Salih Hajji, although real power was still held by Barquq, who usurped the throne in 1382.

[1] His father was Sultan al-Ashraf Sha'ban (r. 1363–1377) and his mother was Khawand bint Manklibugha, the daughter of a Mamluk emir.

Barquq had taken part in the mamluk revolt against al-Ashraf Sha'ban,[3] and was formally appointed to the powerful post of atabeg al-asakir (commander in chief) by al-Mansur Ali in 1378.

[4] Al-Mansur Ali died on 19 May 1381,[2] and were it not for the strong objections of the other senior emirs, Barquq would have assumed the sultanate and thereby bring an end to the Qalawunid dynasty that been in power since 1277.