Ibn al-Athir (1166–1234) describes Alfonso as a tireless soldier who would sleep in his armor without benefit of cover, whom when asked why he did not take his pleasure from one of the captives of Muslim chiefs, responded that the man devoted to war needs the companionship of men not women.
Ibn al-Athir (1166.-1234.) opisuje Alfonsa kao neumornog vojnika koji bi spavao u oklopu, bez olakšica i pokrivača, na upit zašto nije sam sebi priuštio zadovoljstvo s jednom od zarobljenica od muslimanskih poglavara, odgovoriti je da čovjek posvećen ratu treba društvo muškaraca, a ne žena.