Originally from Sultanate of Rum, Khushqadam was a slave purchased by Al-Mu'ayyad Shaykh, and later served in the jâmdâr corps.

He later became the head of the court military in Cairo in 1450 and served as minister of war during Sayf al-Din Inal's reign in 1456, leading expeditions against the Karamanids.

[2] Upon Inal's death in February 1461, his son Shihab al-Din Ahmad succeeded him and Khushqadam assumed the role of atabeg.

Disputes over succession led to conflicts, with the Ottomans ultimately aiming to end the autonomy of these territories.

On 9 October 1467, Khushqadam succumbed to dysentery without naming a successor, leading to a power struggle between rival factions, notably emirs Bilbay and Timurbugha.