History and etymology of Menfi

We observe at first that the small and famous town of Menfi poses particular difficulties about the etymology; in fact, on this intricate problem area there are very few specialized studies and there is almost nothing on a popular level. The "New Town" of Menfi was born with this name until 1638, following a "licentia populandi" granted to Diego Tagliavia. In the Middle Ages the town was born around a castle built by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia (1194-1250), near the hamlet of Arab origin known as "Burgimill", variously named over the centuries as "Burgimill", "Burgimelluso", "Burgibelluso", "Marpimelluso" "Burgio Melluso", "Burgello", "Burgetto" and "Borgetto.”  We trace the first mention of the "Burgimill"  hamlet in a register of Frederick II, who wanted to build a castle that served as his hunting lodge, an activity to which the emperor was particularly faithful.

We read in this register that he ordered the construction of an “habitacio”.  "[...] Ut apud Burgimill ad opus nostrum tantum habitacio fieret super fontem magnum qui ibi est, et inter Saccam et Agrigentum in flumine Sancti Stephani prope mare [...]" ["in order that there was  near Burgimill a lodge exclusively dedicated to our hunts over a large fountain that was there, between Sciacca and Agrigento, on the river ‘Santo Stefano’, near the sea" [(See“Historia diplomatica Friderici Secundi”,  Edidit J.L.A. Huillard Bréholles, Parisiis, 1857, Tomus V, Pars I: 505). "Habitacio" is a term that could be translated as "hamlet" (F. Maurici).

Through this document, we do not have a undoubtable proof about the existence of a castle; however, some  studies have shown that  it certainly was built by Frederick II. One of the greatest scholars of the castle, G. Agnello, wrote: " […] Not being able to give to the  ‘Burgimilluso’ Castle an ancient origin in the Norman period, nor assign to it an origin in subsequent ages to the reign of Frederick II, it is logical to admit that its construction took place under the rule of this monarch, who ordered the building of the hamlet with the diploma of the November 17, 1234[…].” Thus, the letter of Frederick II referred to a potential "castrum" dedicated “ad nostra solacia et Curie Nostre commoda” ["to our hunts and for the convenience of our Curia."] In fact, these areas were particularly lush and full of animals. As written by H. Bresc, Emperor Frederick II began “[...] la construction de nouveaux châteaux de plaisance comme 'Burgimill[usi]', aujourd'hui Menfi, près de la forêt de Berribaida et Modione, Santo Stefano [...]” ["The construction of new pleasure castles  as  'Burgimill', now Menfi, near the forest called ‘Berrabaida’ and ‘Modione’, on the River ‘Santo Stefano’"] (See H. Bresc, "Politique et société en Sicile”, XIIe-XVe Siècles ", 1990: 142).

But what does the "Burgimill" name mean? All studies and popular Websites repeat in unison that the word is of Arabic origin; which is true, but perhaps some readers would also like to know on what data this statement is based. In fact, the first part of the word "Burg" is certainly Arabic, and this is evidenced by the large repertoire of Arabic terms prepared by Professor Girolamo Caracausi, who writes: "[...] 'Burgium' is present in the Iberian place names, and in Sicily we have the Arabic term 'Burg', with the meaning of 'arcis',' Turris' [Fortress] ‘propugnaculum’ '[defensive work] (...) 'Habitation en pierre dans un jardin' [stone house situated in a garden]. 'Burgium' has left many evidences, either alone, or wedded to a determinative name of which  not in all cases we can identify the source [...]".

Then, about "Burgimilluso," Caracausi observes:"[...]The 'Burgimillusi Land' (year 1264), also called the 'Burgimillusium' hamlet (1283), 'Burchimilluso' (1408) 'feudum seu fortilicium Burgimillusi' [ Burgimillusi fortress or stronghold'],'Burgius Millusius' (Pirri, Fazello) corresponds to the current Menfi[…]” (See Girolamo Caracausi, “Arabismi Medievali in Sicilia”, Palermo, “Centro di studi filologici e linguistici siciliani”, 1983: 134-136). Established that "Burgium" is the "fortress", "arx", Caracausi explains later also the meaning of the term "Millusius" on which he enlarges with many details: [...] Despite some differences of detail, there is a substantial agreement in attributing a Latin origin  to the Sicilian term ‘Muddisa’, almonds, nuts and  similar (...) soft fruits, the exact opposite of hard (…), from the Latin 'mollis', from which derives <'mellensis' <'Mel, Mellis' (...)

However, if  we can not completely ruled out an influence from the Latin "mollis" (...) the ancient Sicilian form 'millisius' (...) and 'middisi' <'muddisi' <'mollensis', leads us to seriously consider the possibility that the origin of the Sicilian and southern forms mentioned above is the Arabic term ‘Mallasi’ ('fondant (fruit), qui a beaucoup d'eau et qui se fond dans la bouche') [sweet and tender (fruit) , plenty of water and that melts in your mouth]; “ ‘mallasi im lisi’ designe une variété de certains fruits, de granades, de caroubes, de chàtaignes, de noix, de noisettes et semble signifier ' qui a la peau lisse '” (Dozy, II, 612) [‘mallasi im lisi’  indicates a variety of fruits, such as grenades, locust beans, chestnuts and walnuts, and the term seems to mean 'fruit that has a soft and smooth skin']. Moreover ' Mallasi in lisi' has a more precise semantic corrspondence with the Maltese term 'Melliesi levè’, that is a sort of almond with a tender shell' (Barbera III 692, 732); hence the Arabic term "Mallasi im lisi" derives [...]". In conclusion, "Burgi-millusius" means a "fortress located on a soft and marshy ground."

However, the "etymological torment" of Menfi does not end here. In fact, if "Burgimillusius" has acquired a sense, we can not just say it with regard to "Menfi", the name by which the new town was named since 1637. Truth to tell, how we'll see,  the town was first called "Borgetto” [small village] and then by various names such as “Me-n-frici”, “Me-m-frici”, “Menfis”, “Menf-r-is” and then "Menfi". However, we do not believe that making comparisons with the famous  “Memphis” (Italian “Menfi”) in Egypt to be a rewarding work. We observe that, with regard to the etymology of Menfi  in Sicily we did not find much leads, although undoubtedly important.

A greater part of websites restrict themselves to patter that the etymology of “Menfi” is "obscure."  It is an undeniable fact that it is "obscure"; however, "Menfi" should have a meaning. The only two “ancient” authors  who engaged in speculation with the etymology of the Sicilan  "Menfi" both lived in the eighteenth century, and one depends on the other. Francesco Testa (“Opuscoli di Autori Siciliani”, Palermo 1762, 325 note 97), said that the Arabic term “[…] ‘Miregia’ (...) may perhaps correspond to ‘Menfi’; the Arabic word ‘Moraga’ corresponds to the Latin expression ‘Pascere sivit’, ‘pastum misit (...) iumentum’ [a place that allows the grazing of cattle], and with the change of some vowels we get the word ‘Pratum’ [meadow] (the green and tender grass of a meadows), which gave rise to a name (Menfi) wich was reminiscent of the variety of grass, of which Menfi abounds. "

After a few years, Emanuele Villabianca, belonging to the noble family owned Menfi, wrote :"[...] The ancient State of the mighty  Barony of ‘Borgetto’, located in ‘Val di Mazzara’, now increased by a ‘ vassalage land’ with the special name of ‘Land of Menfris’; we think [that Menfris] takes its origin from the famous house formerly called ‘Miregia’, which at the time of the Saracens was still standing, and that was mentioned in a Arabic book, in which there was a description of all the places and countries that exist in those days in Sicily. Borgetto is a country that abounds in pastures of cattle and very rightly so, the word "Menfris" seems equivalent to the same "Miregia", which in Arabic language means "Pratum" (meadow), "Pascere sivit, pastum misit (…) iumentum" (with large pastures for the cattle) [...]" (see Emanuele Villabianca“Della Sicilia Nobile”, 1775: 523). "Menfris" therefore means the "city rich in pastures", derived from the Arabic name "Miregia" or "Moragia."

The perceptiveness of our two figures of the eighteenth century was essentially correct, and it is confirmed by the highly accurate studies of Professor Caracausi, who followed with extremely scrupulousness the alteration of the term "margium" which, as we shall see, took forms very close to those indicated by Testa and Emanuele Villabianca: "[...] The Sicilian word 'margiu' (a low place, where stands, or stops the water, and in summer for good measure it drains: ‘swamp’), together with 'maggiu' ('mud, clay') and 'Margiari' (walking in devy places') and finally with ‘margignu’ and ‘margium’ (marshy, watery) (...)  mean 'the marshland'. "Margium" dates back to the Arabic term 'Marg' (Pratum) (…) From "Margium" derive vayous different names: Margo (Pantano), (Valley) Margiogrande, Margi, Margimillusi ( 1264, Pirri 705), Margidirami (1305), Margimorone (1305), Margiferaci, Margicanali [...]” (See: 282). Therefore, “Menfi” derives from the Arabic word 'marg', with the meaning of “Land rich in water”, adapted to the pasture because of the presence of “prata” [meadows].

To the erudite comments of Professor Caracausi, we just add a brief note on “millisius.” As pointed out by Professor Caracausi , it is a term of Latin origin that we find also in several Sicilian and Calabrian surnames (such as "Melluso") (p. 135). At the root of the name could be the term "mel-mellis" (honey), from which the Latin word "mellitus" (sweet as honey) and also "mellosus" (full of honey), attested in Late Latin in Caelius Aurelianus (5th century) [“De morb. Acut.”, 2, 29, 151. See "Ausführliches Lateinische-Deuthsches Handworterbuch"], with the meaning of "dulcedo", "full of honey."

In essence, the etymology relating to the honey could perfectly fit to the historical data transmitted by the letter of Frederick II, in which the emperor was referring to places very pleasant, dedicated to its "solacia", a term which is related to the entertainment game, where there was one of many "châteaux de plaisance," or places "sweet and pleasant as honey”, which he built in Sicily. In conclusion, if we have hit the mark, we can translate "Burgimilluso" as the "Pleasure Castle", a pleasure-ground.

As a stimulus for further deepenings into this matter, and remaining in the semantic domain realating to the "pleasure", referred to the "pleasant spot,"  we have identified some Arabic words that always refer to the Arabic root “marg” , but not in the sense of “damp environment, suitable for grazing”, but in the sense of "green grass" and "pleasant spot." For example, the Arabs have the  "Mer-ghzar", "Mur-ghzar" and "Mer-ghuzar" words ("meadow", "place of vegetables", "garden", "thicket where birds sing"); an Arabic term that would refer conceptually to the "quality" of the places that Frederick II was trying  at "Burgimill", or the "pleasant spot", “hunting lodge” (See A. Ciadyrgy, “Dizionario Turco, Arabo e Persiano”, Nervetti, Milano, 1832, p. 551). Finally (but this is a perfecly detail, which almost certainly not has anithing to do with the etymology), there are some Arabic words that faithfully reproduce the spelling of "Menfi". For example, "Men-a-fi" in the plural “Menfi-at”, in the sense of “useful things”, “earnings”,  “fruits”, “merchandise”, “goods”, “food product.” Then there's “Menfi-atlu”, meaning “useful”, “profitable” and also “salubrious place”(See Ciadyrgy, pp. 546-547 and 557).

As we have seen, the hamlet of ‘Burgimilluso’ was built by Frederick II as a hunting lodge for himself and his Court, where previously the Arabs built a powerful fortress called “Burgimillius.” Later the castle was involved in the history of wars between Aragon and Anjou, and in all the struggles involved in the fourteenth and fifteenth century the nearby town of Sciacca. The castle was later given by Charles I of Anjou (1226-1285) to the Provençal Pietro Nigrello; according to documents collected by Antonino Marrone, in 1283 Peter I of Aragon (1239-1285) "[...] given to notary Stefano di Nicola and Filippo Guarichi from Sciacca, on their own merits, two hamlets in the valley of Girgenti, that is 'Burgibilluso' near Sciacca, and 'Turboli' with the neighboring lands, which in the time of Charles of Anjou was owned by the Provençal Pietro Nigrello [...] "(See Antonino Marrone, “Repertorio degli atti della Cancelleria del Regno di Sicilia dal 1282 al 1377”, Mediterranea, Palermo, 2010: 17).

After the war of the Sicilian Vespers, in the late fifteenth century, the hamlet became the property of Emmanuele Family, with the privilege of inheritance for a decree of Frederick II of Aragon (1272-1337). By operation of the marriage between the daughter of Antonio Emmanuele II with Francesco Ventimiglia, Earl of Gerace,  Burgimilluso passed to the Counts of Gerace, to whom it was subsequently removed by King Martin I (1374-1409) and granted to Guglielmo Peralta (died 1392), husband of Eleanor of Aragon (1358-1382). In 1399 it then returned to the Ventimiglia. The various property transfers are delineated schematically in the “Repertorio della feudalità siciliana” (Mediterranea, 2006:  470): "[...] ‘Burgimilluso’ (‘Burgi-b-illuso’) (1254). Once a hamlet and now it is the town of Menfi. It was an estate belonging to Giovanni di Rocca Imperiale (1254), then passed to Filippo Guarichi and to notary Stefano di Nicola (1283). Then it belonged to Rodolfo Manuele (1286), passing to>  Antonio Manuele> Corrado Manuele (1335)> Aloisio Manuele (c. 1362)> Antonio Manuele>, Arnaldo Branciforti (1358)> Antonio Manuele (before 1374)> Eufemia Manuele and Francesco Ventimiglia> Guglielmo Peralta (1392) [...]".

Finally, for low of marriage the estate became a  possession of the Tagliavia family. In fact, Stefania Cortes married Diego Tagliavia (1590-1654), and their daughter, Jane, married Ettore Pignatelli, Count of Caronia; so the estate passed to  Counts Caronia. In 1518 Vincenzo Giovanni Caronia obtained by Charles V (1500-1558) a "licentia populandi", with the opportunity to build  in the locality called "Burgium" an "oppidum sive casale" [a fortified village or hamlet]. Thanks to a subsequent "licentia populandi"  Diego Tagliavia  in 1638 had the opportunity  to build a village around the castle, to which was given the name of Menfi (See G. Agnello, , “L'architettura civile e religiosa in Sicilia nell'età sveva”, 1961:  161 ff.).  Diego Tagliavia himself  called at the first the new town "Borgetto", then "Menfri", "Menfrici” and “Menfi”, by the name of a nearby estate. It was still known in the maps as "Menfrici" until the eighteenth century.

Under  the Tagliavia the village life  had considerable momentum; in fact,  the Baronial house, the first church dedicated to Our Lady of Grace were building, and the squares and streets were extended. Then the county passed to  Diego Pignatelli Fardella (1774-1827), who had the title of Baron of “Belice.” This was the last ruler of the town. The earthquake of 1968 destroyed much of the town, traditionally devoted to agribusiness, now enriched by the wine production of prestige and by tourism, thanks to the many cultural initiatives that have enhanced the area and the local history of the town.