 Barquq's reign saw the mass recruitment of Circassians (estimated at 5,000 recruits) into the mamluk ranks and the restoration of the Mamluk state's authority throughout its realm in the tradition of the early Mamluk sultans, Baybars and Qalawun.A major innovation to this system by Barquq was the division of Egypt into three provinces ("niyabat") similar to the administrative divisions in Syria.The new Egyptian "niyabas" were Alexandria, Damanhur and Asyut.