Nostradamus Timeline

Timeline

—December 14, 1503: Michel de Nostredame is born in St. Remy-de-Provence.

—1522-25: Nostradamus studies medicine at the university in Montpellier.

—1529: Nostradamus begins doctoral studies in medicine at Montpellier Medical School.

—Early 1530s: Nostradamus is invited to the home of philosopher Julius-Cesar Scaliger in Agen and works as a healer there.

—Circa 1534: Nostradamus marries and has two children.

—Circa 1537: Nostradamus's wife and children are infected with the plague and die. His wife's family subsequently sues him for the return of her dowry and his friendship with Scaliger sours.

—Circa 1538: After being charged with heresy for an inadvertent remark he made about a church statue, Nostradamus leaves the region rather than stand trial before the Inquisition at Toulouse. He reportedly travels around Italy and other parts of France for a number of years.

—1544: Nostradamus studies plague treatments with physician Louis Serre in Marseilles. Around this time, major flooding in southern France leads to another serious plague outbreak in the following years.

—1546: Nostradamus treats plague victims in Aix and then goes to Salon to battle another outbreak.

—1547: Nostradamus marries Anne Ponsarde and settles in Salon, where the couple go on to have six children.

—1550: Nostradamus publishes his first almanac, which contains a general prediction for each month of the year. The almanac is a success and new versions appear annually until Nostradamus' death.

—1552: Nostradamus finishes a book about cosmetics and fruit preservatives that is popular when it's published three years later.

—1555: The first installment (centuries 1 through 3 and part of 4) of Nostradamus' most ambitious project, "Les Propheties," is published. The remainder of Century 4 along with centuries 5, 6 and 7 are published later that year.

—1556: Nostradamus is called to Paris for a consultation with the French queen Catherine de Medici.

—1558: Centuries 8, 9 and 10 are published in limited release. It's possible Nostradamus wanted this work more widely distributed only after his death.

—1559: King Henry II killed in a jousting accident. Nostradamus' supporters believe the monarch's death was predicted in Century 1, Quatrain 35.

—1560s: Nostradamus is named royal physician to French monarchy.

—1564: Catherine de Medici visits Nostradamus in Salon. She remains a loyal supporter despite criticism heaped upon Nostradamus by his detractors.

—July 1, 1566: Nostradamus is given last rites by Catholic priest. The prophet correctly predicts he'll be dead by the following day.

—July 2, 1566: Nostradamus dies at home in Salon at age 62.