Mathematical verification of an anagram by Miguel de Cervantes: Cide Hamete Benengeli.

Abstract

The article analyzes one of the most persistent enigmas of Don Quixote de la Mancha: the identity of the supposed Arab chronicler Cide Hamete Benengeli. Using an interdisciplinary approach that combines literary, linguistic, and mathematical studies, the author hypothesizes that this name is a deliberate anagram of “Miguel de Cervantes.” After reviewing previous etymological interpretations—mainly of Arabist origin—that have proved contradictory or inconclusive, the study proposes an anagrammatic analysis based on mathematical ratios and statistical tests (binomial and hypergeometric distribution). Considering the phonetic and consonantal peculiarities of the Arabic language, a high structural concordance between the two names is demonstrated, which can hardly be attributed to chance. The statistical results indicate an extremely low probability of fortuitous coincidence, reinforcing the thesis of an intentional construction by Cervantes. The study concludes that Cide Hamete Benengeli functions as a perfect, impure, and hybrid anagram, through which Cervantes concealed his authorship under the figure of the fictional chronicler, thus consolidating a sophisticated literary and self-referential game within the novel. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)