There was no central court in Syria and Northern Iraq during the 4th–6th / 10th–12th centuries, rather a plethora of smaller courts co-existed with complex political alliances. The rulers often began as atabegs appointed by the Seljuqs of Iran (r. 429–590 / 1038–1194), but they soon established courts of their own. They built their palaces within citadels to protect them from the constant threat of the Crusaders, the best surviving example of which is the palace within Aleppo Citadel.