The testament of Alfonso leaving his kingdom to the three orders was dismissed out of hand by the nobility of his kingdoms, and possible successors were sought. Alfonso's only brother, Ramiro, had been a Benedictine monk since childhood, and his commitment to the church, his temperament and vow of celibacy made him ill-suited to rule a kingdom under constant military threat and in need of a stable line of succession. The step-son of the deceased king, Alfonso VII of León, as reigning monarch and legitimate descendant of Sancho III of Navarre, put himself forward but garnered no local support.
The testament of Alfonso leaving his kingdom to the three orders was rejected by the nobility, and potential successors were sought. Alfonso's only brother, Ramiro, had been a Benedictine monk since childhood, and his dedication to the church, temperament, and vow of celibacy made him unsuitable for ruling a kingdom under constant military threat and needing a stable line of succession. The step-son of the deceased king, Alfonso VII of León, as reigning monarch and legitimate descendant of Sancho III of Navarre, put himself forward but lacked local support.