The smaller Western Palace (sometimes referred to as the Lesser Palace[1]) was initially built as a residence for one of Caliph al-Aziz's daughters, Sitt al-Mulk (who was also de facto ruler between 1021 and 1023).[4] It covered about 4.5 hectares and had two wings which wrapped around the south and north sides of the Bayn al-Qasrayn plaza.[4] Less is known overall about this palace, as it was quickly replaced by other structures in the post-Fatimid era.[4] The palace was built on the site of a vast, previously-existing garden called al-Bustan al-Kafur (or al-Bustan al-Kafuri),[2] which was originally established here by the Ikhshidid ruler Abu'l-Misk Kafur, who ruled Egypt before the Fatimids. The western part of the garden was retained for the Fatimids' pleasure and was initially reserved for the caliph's family.[5][3] The Eastern and Western Palaces, as well as these gardens to the west, were all connected by large tunnels that allowed the caliphs to get from one to the other by horse.[2][4] The Western Palace was refurbished in 1064 by Caliph al-Mustansir who had hoped to house the Abbasid caliphs, his Sunni rivals, after having briefly deposed them in Baghdad for a year (in 1058-59); however, this purpose was never served.[4][9] The palace was also known as Qasr al-Bahr ("Palace of the Sea/River") in reference to the fact that it lay near the ancient canal (the Khalij), which passed next to Cairo and which once extended to the Red Sea.[5]