PORTRAIT OF NOSTRADAMUS

BIOGRAPHY

Nostradamus, who today is known the world over by a single name, just like a rock star, was a 16th century French doctor and astrologer credited with predicting everything from the rise of Adolph Hitler to the terrorist attacks of September 11. Nostradamus (a Latinized version of his birth name, Michel de Nostredame) laid out his prophet-of-doom predictions, which often dealt with cataclysmic tragedies such as natural disasters and war, in a series of books originally published in 1555. Covering events from his lifetime to the end of the world, these prophecies have been a subject of controversy since they were first produced and their enigmatic creator, who has been labeled both a genius and a quack, remains an ongoing source of fascination.

Nostradamus was born on December 14, 1503, in Saint-Remy-de-Provence. Located in southern France, Saint-Remy's magnificent landscape and light later served as an inspiration to another man with an enduring legacy: Vincent Van Gogh. The artist spent a year in Saint-Remy, from 1889 to 1890, and experienced one of the most important, prolific periods of his career.

Nostradamus arrived in the world during the early years of the French Renaissance, a time of renewed interest in learning and exploration. Christopher Columbus made his famed voyage of discovery in the decade before Nostradamus' birth. Details about the prognosticator's childhood are sketchy. His father was a merchant and notary whose family converted from Judaism to Christianity. In the early 1500s, the French King Louis XII forced Jews to be baptized or leave the region. As a boy, Nostradamus is believed to have studied classical languages, astrology and possibly occult Jewish literature. As a teenager, he was educated in Avignon and later studied medicine at the well-regarded Montpellier Medical School.

After his student years, Nostradamus traveled around southern France caring for plague victims. The plague pandemic, also referred to as the Black Death, likely began in Asia in the 14th century and spread to Europe, where repeated outbreaks decimated the populations of various countries through the 17th century. The disease, which was transmitted through fleas and rodents, was highly contagious, fast-acting and painful, often causing delirium and leaving large black pustules all over a victim's body. Nostradamus began to develop a reputation for curing gravely ill patients with his innovative methods. He advocated clean water, air and bedding and reportedly didn't bleed patients, as was customary at the time. Additionally, he was said to have shunned the multi-colored "magic" robe worn by some plague doctors as a means of protection.

Following these years as a wandering healer, Nostradamus eventually returned to Montpellier to pursue doctoral studies in medicine. In the early 1530s, he was invited to live in the town of Agen by Julius-Cesar Scaliger, a leading French scholar and philosopher. Around 1534, Nostradamus married a local woman (her exact identity remains unconfirmed) and they had a daughter and son. The plague subsequently hit Agen and Nostradamus labored tirelessly to treat its victims. However, when his wife and children were struck down by the disease, probably around 1537, the healer's effectiveness was called into question. His wife's family allegedly sued him to get her dowry back and his friendship with Scaliger soured. To add to his troubles, around this time Nostradamus, a devout Catholic, was charged with heresy for an inadvertent remark he'd made about a church statue. He was called by the Church Inquisitors at Toulouse, but opted to leave the area instead of standing trial. He spent the next six years traveling, most likely through Italy and other parts of France.

By 1544, Nostradamus returned to France and studied plague treatments with Louis Serre, a physician in Marseilles. Major flooding in the region during this time caused serious sanitation problems and led to another plague outbreak over the next few years. Nostradamus treated plague victims in Aix in 1546 and then moved to Salon. In 1547, he married for a second time, to Anne Ponsarde, with whom he would have six children. Upon settling in Salon, Nostradamus' study of astrology and the occult intensified. He would work late into the night in his study and reportedly go into a trancelike state in which he'd have visions. In 1550, he published his first almanac, which contained a general prediction for each month of the year. The book was a success and he went on to produce a new almanac annually until his death. As Nostradamus' fame grew, members of the elite flocked to him for horoscopes.

In 1555, Nostradamus published the first installment of his most ambitious project, a 10-part series of long-term predictions known as "Les Propheties" ("The Prophecies"). The work was divided into 10 "centuries," with each century consisting of 100 prophetic rhyming quatrains, or four lines of verse. For some unknown reason, Century VII only had 42 predictions. The centuries, which had nothing to do with 100-year spans of time, were intentionally cryptic and written in a variety of languages (French, Greek, Latin, Italian), as well as anagrams and riddles, in order to protect Nostradamus from accusations of being a magician.

The centuries brought Nostradamus greater celebrity and attracted the attention of the French queen, Catherine de Medici, who called the seer to the royal court in 1556 for a consultation. The queen became an admirer and Nostradamus was later appointed court physician and asked to produce horoscopes for the seven royal children. One prophecy said to be of particular interest to the queen was Quatrain 1.35, which was widely believed to predict the accidental death of her husband, King Henry II: "The young lion will overcome the older one/On the field of combat in single battle/He will pierce his eyes through a golden cage/Two wounds made one, then he dies a cruel death." Nostradamus reportedly warned the king he shouldn't engage in any duels in his 41st year. Nostradamus' reputation was furthered when this prediction appeared to come true in 1559, when the king, in his 41st year, was killed in a jousting accident. In the wake of this event, some detractors called Nostradamus evil and destructive; however, his supporters continued to seek him out and the queen remained a fan, even visiting him in Salon in 1564.

In the summer of 1566, Nostradamus' health was in decline. On July 1 of that year the prophetic healer, who had suffered from gout in the past, called for a Catholic priest to give him last rites. Nostradamus reportedly announced to a friend that he wouldn't survive another day. As predicted, he was found dead the following day, possibly from edema. Today, he is buried at the Church of St. Laurent in Salon.

Nostradamus' fame has only increased since his death. His followers claim he had true prophetic powers and foretold a long list of world events, including the French Revolution, the Great Fire of London, World War I, the deaths of President John F. Kennedy and Princess Diana, and the U.S. space shuttle Challenger disaster. Critics charge his predictions were mere guesswork and have been manipulated for propaganda purposes and misinterpreted by overenthusiastic believers. Additionally, his name has been attached to predictions he didn't write. The debate surrounding the man and his mysterious prophecies began over 400 years ago and will likely continue for years to come.

Throughout the history of mankind there has been a fascination with the future. People have always sought to look into the future to discern what will happen. Even in our technological society the practice of divination is present. Whether it is a fortune cookie, horoscope, Ouija board or a Magic Eight Ball people want to know what has yet to occur. Some even look at ancient predictions to try to find a reason or plan that would explain the many wars and tragedies throughout history. There are many people who make the claim that they can push back the veil of time and see the future but one name stands above the rest, Nostradamus. The man lived in France in the early 1500’s but his legend is now known throughout most of the world. Some may think he was a true seer. Others may feel that he was just a man who made a lot of ambiguous predications and got lucky with some. Another group may explain his trance like predictions as a side effect of either an organic medical problem or perhaps some pharmacologic enhancement. Which ever camp you belong to the man has had a real effect on millions of people. The History Channel takes another look at the man, the myths and the facts with their documentary, ‘Lost Book of Nostradamus’. With their usual mixture of entertainment and facts the History Channel probes the predictions of this man and how they may relate to historical events.

In 1503 a man named Michel de Nostredame was born. He would come to be known but the more familiar spelling of Nostradamus. In 1555 he published his best known work, Les Propheties which has been read constantly throughout the many centuries. Today this name is synonymous with prophecy. People send years pouring over every little detail of his book to try to glean and understanding of the past and a glimpse of the future. In 1994 an Italian journalist, Enza Massa, was doing research in the Italian National Library in Rome. Much to her surprise and delight she happened upon a tome that it authenticated would be a rare historical find. The book was titled ‘Nostradamus Vatinicia Code’ and signed by the author, Michel de Nostredame. Within the cryptic codex were strange written images accompanied by some 80 watercolor paintings. The warnings contained within were so blasphemous and frightening that this work may have been purposely suppressed for all these centuries. If true this was a key to understanding when and how the world would end.

Recent years has seen almost unprecedented increase in terrorism, wars, new diseases and natural disasters. Man is on the brink of destruction on a scale that is almost impossible to conceive. Peter Lemesurier, a scholar who has examined the works of Nostradamus for years states that there is no one who can measure up to this man. Scarlett Rose, a Metaphysical writer expresses the claim that no on has taken divination and prophecy to the heights of Nostradamus. Among his many believed correct predictions are the great London fire of 1666, Napoleon III and Adolph Hitler. His career as a seer started relatively late in life. Starting in 1550 he published an annual almanac and soon came to the attention of the queen of France, Catherine de Medici, wife of Henry II. His name became well known throughout Europe. In more recent years there is a belief that his predictions included the destruction of the World Trade Center towers, global warming and the new deadly diseases. When the experts on this mysterious man found out that there may be a lost book they were elated. The chance to decipher new text and images from the famous seer was a chance of a life time.

One of the most ‘startling’ paintings in the lost book is that of the burning tower. He depicts a great tower with flames pouring out of the top and through the windows. Researchers look at this painting comment that the flames are not those of a building on fire, they are shooting out of the structure as if an explosion was responsible. Of course there was only one tower shown in the painting so there is a bit of doubt possible. If two towers were shown a lot more people would become believers. Those that do believe relate this image to quatrain IV:66 which speaks about seven saboteurs or revolutionaries. Part of some translations includes the phrase ‘under the false guise of faith’. This leads people to connect this drawing to the radical religious doctrine of the terrorist who brought down the twin towers. Also included in the verses that purportedly foretell this tragedy is quatrain I:87 which speaks of a central fire that will cause trembling in the ‘new city’. The translation used in the special refers to a ‘world center’ but a quick search of numerous online translations will yield different wordings.

Many of those interviewed for this special express the opinion that the reason for the paintings is simple. The predictions were so extreme that if they were expressed clearly Nostradamus would have been in danger. In his day saying the wrong thing to the wrong person could prove to be fatal. The prophecies seem to cover an approximately four hundred year span beginning in the 1700’s and extending to the twenty-first century. If this is correct we should see the realization of many of the predictions expressed in the lost book. Some of the most vivid images in this lost book show the loss of political power of the Church. This would be a good reason to hide the work and for believers the fulfillment of the prediction points to the validation of those prophecies yet to occur. Other predictions included the identification of the anti-Christ, assassination of political figures and various wars that have broken out.

If the content of a prediction are vague enough some world events will occur that will match some of the details provided. Hind sight is twenty-twenty and many people feel that the events were matched to the prophecies after the fact. For others the specific details are plain and obvious. They are sure there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that Nostradamus was gifted far beyond normal abilities. Whatever side you happen to be on this documentary will fascinate you. Typical of anything the History Channel this show is extremely well done. There is the usual mixture of talking head experts and reenactments that bring you back in time. The experts range from scholars who have studied Nostradamus and his works for decades in a scientific context. There are also those whose approach is more on the metaphysical side of the issues. Included is Enza Massa, the woman who discovered the lost book. Keep and open mind and watch this show and decide for yourself whether Nostradamus was the real deal or not. In any case you will be highly entertained and informed.

LOST BOOK IMAGES

St. Francis of Sales grants rules to St. Joan of Chantal and Urban VIII Barberini.

A king portrayed as a monster riding waves of flames

A king and monk portrayed as victims during the French Revolution.

A Naked King, Without Soldiers

hands on the City

The Wheel of Destiny

The Pope with Lions and Lilies

The Pope Riding a Dragon and Battling a Bear

A Soldier Bows to the Pope

A Queen, a Female Pontiff and Sainted Nun

An Eel with a Man's Face

A Fortress in Flames

A Dragon and the Sun

A Pope with a Cross on Fire

A Pope with Kings and Cardinals