Having gained independence from the Eastern caliphate, the concentration of political and religious power vested in the new sovereigns brought with it the desire to emulate their Eastern counterparts by building luxurious palace complexes. Almost all rulers made use of this exclusive attribute and built centres of power for themselves or for their governors.
Palatial complexes were traditionally located outside the city as spectacular walled 'palace cities', or at the highest point within the city itself, separated from it by a wall. These 'palace citadels' were used to control the town's population and to defend the vital mechanisms of power.