The first subdivision among the soldiers (al-ʾajnād). They are the most important and highest soldiers, the closest to the sultan and they receive the most profitable iqṭāʿs of the soldiers. From among them the amirs are promoted, rank after rank. Their number depends on the preference of the sultan. During the reign of sultan al-Malik an-NāṢir Muḥammad b. Qalāwūn, and during the reign of sultan al-Malik aẓ-Ẓāhir Barqūq, they had an abundant number and plenty back-up because of the long period of both their reigns, and [because] of the concern of both of them for the importation and acquisition of mamlūks.