Nostradamus

Nostradamus Biography

Nostradamus began his medical practice in Agen in 1529 and moved to Salon in 1544, where he gained renown for his innovative medicine and treatment during outbreaks of the plague at Aix and Lyon in 1546–47. He began making prophecies about 1547, which he published in 1555 in a book entitled Centuries. The work consisted of rhymed quatrains grouped in hundreds, each set of 100 called a century. Astrology was then at a peak, and an enlarged second edition, dedicated to the French king, appeared in 1558.

Some of his prophecies appeared to be fulfilled, and his fame became so widespread that he was invited to the court of Catherine de Médicis, queen consort of Henry II of France, where he cast the horoscopes of her children. He was appointed physician-in-ordinary by Charles IX when Charles became king in 1560. The subject of many commentaries, Nostradamus' prophecies were condemned in 1781 by the Congregation of the Index, the body set up by the Roman Catholic church for the examination of books and manuscripts. Because of their cryptic style and content—commingling French, Spanish, Latin, and Hebrew words—the prophecies have continued to create much controversy. Some of them are thought to have foretold actual historical events that have occurred since Nostradamus' time, including certain details of the French Revolution of the 18th century. Others, having no apparent meaning, are said to foretell events that have not yet occurred.

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Nostradamus Facts

• Nostradamus treated plague victims with pills he made from rose petals. He instructed patients to keep the pills under their tongues at all times and also claimed the rose remedy helped fight bad breath and tooth decay.
• In addition to astrology and medicine, Nostradamus knew his way around a kitchen. In 1555, he published a book of recipes for cosmetics, perfumes and fruit preservatives.
• Nostradamus predicted the world will end in 3797.
• While living in Salon in the 1550s, Nostradamus invested heavily in an ambitious canal project designed by engineer Adam de Craponne to bring an irrigation system to the arid region. The canal was a success and still stands today.
• In late 1561, Nostradamus was arrested and briefly detained for failing to obtain proper permission from the authorities to publish his 1562 almanac.
• According to legend, Nostradamus once encountered a young Franciscan monk herding pigs in Italy. To the surprise of onlookers, Nostradamus respectfully addressed the lowly monk as "Your Holiness." In 1585, years after Nostradamus died, that monk, Felice Peretti, became Pope Sixtus V.
• Legend holds that Nostradamus was buried with a document containing the secrets to his prophecies. In 1700, officials in Salon decided to relocate his coffin to a more optimal location. In the process, they decided to look inside. No document was located; however, a medallion inscribed with "1700" was reportedly found around Nostradamus' skeleton, leading people to believe the prophet had correctly predicted the year his coffin would be opened.
• Although Nostradamus died in the middle of 1566, his 1567 almanac was published because he had the foresight to prepare it before his death.
• The house in Salon where Nostradamus lived with his second wife and their children still stands today and is open to the public as a museum. Every summer, the town holds a festival honoring its world-famous former resident.
• According to the New York Times, in the days following the 9/11 attacks, the top search term on Google was "Nostradamus."