Javier Milei’s Italian Roots: A Surprising Discovery

San Severino Marche, a charming town in Italy with just 13,000 residents, recently made headlines when it proudly claimed not only Lionel Messi’s ancestors but also the great-grandfather of Argentine President Javier Milei. The discovery of Milei’s deep-rooted Italian heritage traces back to his great-grandfather, Rufino Bracaglioli, who left the village in 1914. This genealogical revelation followed Milei’s recent visit to Italy, where Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni granted him Italian citizenship in recognition of his ancestry.

The investigation into Milei's family history gained momentum after a remark he made during Meloni's trip to Argentina. He mentioned that he and his sister were “75 percent Italian” due to their grandparents' origins. Although his paternal grandfather’s Calabrian roots were known, the Italian ancestry on his maternal side remained a mystery. Fiorenzo Santini, a sociologist specializing in the migration of Marche people to Argentina, took on the task of uncovering Milei's Italian connections.

A Journey Through History

The search led Santini to Rufino Bracaglioli, born in 1899 in San Severino. Rufino, along with his parents Francesco and Caterina Campodimonte, emigrated to Argentina in 1914, shortly after the outbreak of World War I. The family sailed from Genoa aboard the Regina Elena, arriving in Buenos Aires in December of that year. Rufino, just 15 at the time, began his life as an agricultural worker. He later married Nazzarena Antonini, another descendant of San Severino, and together they had two children, including Elia Matilde Bracaglioli, Milei’s grandmother.

Interestingly, the Marche region's connection to the family extends beyond Italy, as Elia Matilde Bracaglioli married Nicolás Lucich Bosikovic, whose roots were in Croatia. Their daughter, Alicia Luján Lucich, would go on to marry Horacio Nelson Milei, whose family hailed from Calabria. Their children, Javier Milei and his sister Karina, were born in Argentina.

A Rich Heritage Unveiled

This discovery was officially confirmed by the municipality of San Severino Marche, adding yet another famous name to the town's list of distinguished descendants, alongside Messi and football coach Lionel Scaloni. The news has sparked discussions in Italy, with the local press eagerly highlighting the significance of these ties.

For Santini, tracing Milei’s maternal ancestry was a less challenging task than his previous research into Messi’s family. The breakthrough came when Santini realized the surname "Coccittini" had been mistakenly recorded as "Cuccittini" upon their arrival in Argentina, a common error in migration records.

• Great-Grandfather: Rufino Bracaglioli, born in 1899 in San Severino Marche.
• Migration: Rufino emigrated to Argentina in December 1914 with his parents.
• Marriage: Rufino married Nazzarena Antonini, another descendant of San Severino.
• Granddaughter: Elia Matilde Bracaglioli, Milei’s maternal grandmother.
• Maternal Family Lineage: Elia married Nicolás Lucich Bosikovic, and their daughter, Alicia Luján Lucich, married Horacio Nelson Milei.
• Milei’s Birth: Javier Milei was born on October 22, 1970, and his sister Karina on March 28, 1972.
• Honoring the Past: San Severino Marche has recognized Milei's ancestral ties, adding him to a list of notable figures from the region.