Top 10 Interesting Facts about Nostradamus

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Nostradamus

Nostradamus was a French astrologer, physician, and reputed seer. His prophecies continue to fascinate modern scholars centuries after his death.

He was born on 14^th or 21st December 1503 in saint-Remy-de-Provence in France. His parents were Jaume de Nostradame and Reyniere de Saint-Remy.

Nostradamus is well known for his book Les Prophéties, published in 1555, and a collection of 942 poetic quatrains, all predicting future events.

Today, some people believe in his predictions while others ridicule them in equal measure. Here are some of the top interesting facts about Nostradamus.

1. Nostradamus was of Jewish Ancestry

Nostradamus’s family was of Jewish ancestry and had converted to Catholicism during a period of religious intolerance. His maternal grandfather was a physician while his paternal grandfather was a classical languages scholar. 

His father was a grain and money dealer in Avignon and had converted to Catholicism around 1459–60, taking the Christian name “Pierre” and the surname “Nostredame”.

The earliest ancestor who can be traced on the paternal side is Astruge of Carcassonne, who died around 1420 A.D.

It is believed young Nostradamus had secretly learned some mystical areas of Jewish wisdom, including the Kabbalah and alchemy from his grandfathers.

2. The university Banned Him

Photo by Léonard Gaultier from Wikipedia

Nostradamus entered the University of Avignon at the age of 14, to study astronomy and arithmetics. But the university closed down in the first years of his studies due to the outbreak of bubonic plague.

In the next eight years, Nostradamus traveled across the country practicing apothecary, and later joined the University of Montpellier to study medicine.

The university expelled him after he was discovered to be an apothecary. It was a banned practice by the university at that time.

After his expulsion, Nostradamus continued working as an apothecary and helped in creating a “rose pill” that purportedly protected people against the plague.

3. His First Wife and two Children Died from Plague

In 1531, an Italian scholar and physician, Jules Cesar Scaliger, invited Nostradamus to southwest France. He met and married his first wife with whom he had two children.

His wife and children died three years later from bubonic plague, an infection spread to humans by infected fleas from rodents.

In 1547 Nostradamus married his second wife, Anne Ponsarde, with whom they had three daughters and three sons.

4. Nostradamus was the Physician to Charles IX of France

Image Source: Wikipedia Drawing by Amédée, engraving by Damours, after a painting by Anna Rimbaut-Borrel

 In 1555, Nostradamus published his book “Les prophecies”,  which received mixed reactions from the French people and the neighboring territories.

One of the biggest supporters of Nostradamus’s writings was Catherine de Medici, wife of Henry II of France.

After reading his prophecies, which hinted at unknown threats to the royal family, she summoned him to Paris to explain them and to draw up horoscopes for her children.

She also made Nostradamus a counselor and the physician-in ordinary to her son, the young King Charles IX of France. A position he held until the king’s death in 1556.

It is surprising that all of the Catherine de Medici sons died without leaving any heirs. This was a few years after Nostradamus had predicted unnamed tragedies would befall the royal family.

5. Nostradamus Predicted the Great Fire of London

Nostradamus has been credited with predicting numerous world events including the Great Fire of London. In one of his quatrains, he wrote:

“The blood of the just will be lacking in London,

 Burnt up in the fire of ’66:

The ancient Lady will topple from her high place,

On Sept. 2, 1666, a small fire in Thomas Farriner’s bakery on Pudding Lane in London turned into a three-day blaze that consumed the city. It became known as the Great Fire of London.

The fire burned down thousands of houses and businesses,  but the exact number of fatalities was not recorded.

Many critics dismiss the event as just a coincidence, but those who believe his prophecy, view the fire as Nostradamus’s accuracy in his predictions.

6. Nostradamus Wrote in Coded Language

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Nostradamus used coded language in his writings, for fear of being accused of heresy which was punishable by death, 

His Jewish background also made him a target, due to anti-Semitism that existed from the Catholic Church and French authorities at that time.

Nostradamus kept away from practicing magic which would have placed him in danger. 

7. Nostradamus was Professional Healer

Before Nostradamus began to move away from medicine toward the occult, he had mostly worked as a professional healer.

He assisted the prominent physician Louis Serre in his fight against a major plague outbreak in Marseille and then tackled further outbreaks of disease on his own in Salon-de-Provence.

Nostradamus wrote at least two books on medical science, in which he included a description of the methods he had used to treat the plague.

8. Most of his Prophecies are about Disasters

Most of Nostradamus’s predictions are about natural disasters and conflict-related events which has occurred or will occur in the future.

His supporters believe that his prophecies are genuine. And he had predicted actual events that have occurred in the past.

The death of Henry II, the French Revolution, the rise of Napoleon, the great fire of London, and the rise of Adolf Hitler are Some of his predictions to have occurred. 

9. Nostradamus had a Degree in Medicine

Nostradamus successfully completed his medical doctorate, when he returned to the university of Montepillier for the second time.

He also lectured in the medical faculty at the same university.

10. Nostradamus Died at the age of 62

Photo by BlueBreezeWiki from Wikipedia

Nostradamus was suffering from gouts which later developed into Edema. It made his movement very difficult and restricted his regular travels.

Edema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body’s tissues. Although edema can affect any part of the human body, it commonly affects hands, arms, feet, ankles, and legs.

In July 1566,  Nostradamus died aged 62 years and was buried in the local Franciscan chapel in Salon.