Nostradamus, Michel de Nostredame, was born on December 14th, 1503 in St. Remy, France. He received education from his grandfather Jean who taught him mathematics and astrology as well as Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages. As the oldest son among four brothers, Nostradamus worked as a physician in France during a time of numerous epidemics. It is evident that he was homeschooled by his grandfather during his early life.
Throughout most of his adult years, Nostradamus dedicated himself to helping the afflicted French population during these outbreaks.
Nostradamus obtained a bachelor’s degree in medicine in 1532 and was acknowledged as an astrologer, despite not having formal education in astrology. While it is uncertain if he was highly respected during his lifetime, many writers acknowledge this aspect of his life. Nostradamus became famous primarily for his work Centuries, which consisted of mysterious four-line quatrains. Despite having few accomplishments, his well-known prophecies gained worldwide recognition. His prediction about the accidental death of the French king specifically boosted his reputation.
Four years later, King Henri II faced the count in a jousting tournament. He angered the mobs with his psychic abilities and they burned Nostradamus. Remarkably, he escaped and continued writing his book. One of his most famous predictions is about a world revolution, which he wrote in his book Centuries. It says, “In August 1999, from the sky, a great terror king will come. He will revive the life of the great Mongol king. Wars will reign both before and after.”
Astrologers claim that in August 1999, there will be a planetary alignment associated with the four beasts of the Apocalypse: Taurus the bull, Scorpio the scorpion, Leo the lion, and Aquarius the man. This alignment is believed to have the potential to cause extreme violence, unrest, and natural disasters.
One of Nostradamus’ predictions that still scares many people today is about the end of the world. It is said that he predicted this event would happen around 2000.
Initially, people tend to ignore Nostradamus’ prophecies until they come true. Currently, most of the world’s population does not trust Nostradamus’ predictions. While many see Nostradamus only as a famous prophet, it’s important to recognize that he also had a job like everyone else to make a living.
He used his medical education effectively, treating numerous plagues in France during the 16th century. Additionally, he gained recognition for practicing astrology and had notable clients such as the Queen of France. He extensively studied the stars and potentially discovered a constellation. In fact, he even received a letter from Julius-Cesar Scaliger at one point.
Julius invited Nostradamus to stay at his home in Agen, pleased with his response. Nostradamus married a woman of high social standing and had a son and daughter, although their names are unknown. Tragically, the plague struck Agen, taking the lives of Nostradamus’ wife and children despite his desperate attempts to save them. He also lost Julius’ friendship during this time. Additionally, he created an annual almanac called The Prognostications after 1550. Eventually, this renowned seer passed away peacefully without being assassinated; however, the exact date or estimate of his death remains unknown. He was buried upright within the walls of Salon’s Church of the Cordeliers.
Although soldiers disturbed his grave during the Revolution, Nostradamus was later buried again in Salon’s Church of St. Laurent. Within the church, visitors can still observe his final resting place alongside a portrait of him. Despite the absence of a logical justification for his ability to predict future events, I personally find most of Nostradamus’ predictions that I have come across to be credible.
I am highly skeptical of Nostradamus’ prophecy about the end of the world. Despite seeming fearful, I am not actually afraid. My disbelief stems from my belief that the nuclear holocaust he describes will not happen. While there are many nuclear weapons, it is likely that humanity will disarm before they can be detonated. Numerous individuals fabricate false predictions and wrongly attribute them to Nostradamus, either to instill fear or due to misinterpreting his ambiguous prophecies.
You should not dismiss the truth of those predictions because it is uncertain if he simply conceived them and labeled them as prophecies. Given that his prophecies lack specific names or locations, they can apply to various situations or individuals. Conversely, if you place belief in most of his predictions, as I do, you may regard him as someone deserving great respect for his prophecies. All of his predictions might appear reasonable to you. It is said that he attempted to destroy his book but reconsidered after losing pages 43-100 in Centurie VII, which were also partially damaged.
As a result of the devastating loss of his wife and children, along with the betrayal by Julius-Cesar Scalinger, it is my belief that he committed this act. These occurrences caused him to doubt the value of his own accomplishments and lose faith in society. Considering the present conditions, there is a chance that a third global conflict might occur. He prophesied that an antichrist hailing from the Middle East would be responsible for instigating this war. In my viewpoint, Slobodan Milosevic could potentially fulfill this role as the antichrist.
In his country, there is an issue involving the U.S. and France in a war, with speculation of China’s involvement. Although it is not predicted to be apocalyptic by Nostradamus, it is expected to be highly fatal. As for his intellect, he is regarded as highly intelligent due to his accomplishments as an Astrologer and doctor. Despite being unable to save his own family from diseases, he did make efforts to assist others in France.
I maintain my strong belief in his predictions and acknowledge his exceptional intelligence. I have acquired knowledge from this paper and eagerly look forward to gaining further understanding of this extraordinary seer.
