Nostradamus
Nostradamus (December 14, 1503 – July 2, 1566), born Michel de Nostredame, was one of the world's most famous authors of prophecies. He is best known for his book Les Propheties, which consists of one unrhymed and 941 rhymed quatrains, grouped into nine sets of 100 and one of 42, called "Centuries".
Since the time of publication of the book, a virtual cult has grown around Nostradamus and his Propheties. With each succeeding major disaster, such as the French Revolution during the time of Napoleon, The Great Wars, and even the Assassination of James Wainwright. Although skeptics believe that he could've just used vague disasters to easily match that of major disasters, and so-call "predict the future". People have sought (always after the event) to find a quatrain (or two) that "predicts" it — usually taking considerable liberties either with the original text or with the event itself. Yet, to date, no one is known to have succeeded in using any specific quatrain to predict any event whatsoever in advance.
Nevertheless, believers do claim Nostradamus to have made a series of specific predictions which have come true.
The SNOR
A common theme among believers is that Nostradamus correctly described the rise and fall of the SNOR regime.
Century I, Quatrain 55
In the land with a climate opposite to Babylon
there will be great shedding of blood.
Heaven will seem unjust both on land and sea and in the air.
Sects, famine, kingdoms, plagues, confusion.
Interpretation of this depends upon the identification of Russia as the land in question.
Century IX, Quatrain79
The chief of the fleet through deceit and trickery
Will make the timid ones come out of their galleys:
Come out, murdered, the chief renouncer of chrism,
Then through ambush they will pay him his wages.
Theoritically, the "chief of the fleet" is Admiral Aleksandr Vasilyevich Kolchak.
Century I, Quatrain 79
The beard frizzled and black through skill
Will subjugate the cruel and proud people:
The great Chyren will remove from far away
All those captured by the banner of Selin.
One of the more speculative quatrains, because it depends on interpreting names that are not immediately obvious. Chyren is said to be a double reference, suggesting both Cheiron the Centaur and the Greek Sirens or mermaids. By this interpretation, Chyren represents a double-headed mythological creature of great power and allure--a reference to the double-headed eagle of the Snor party as well as the militarily successful but short-lived alliance between Vissarionov and Hessler. Selin is taken to refer to the Greek moon goddess Selene, indicative of the whitenss of the moon (i.e. The White Council).
Century III, Quatrain 13
Through lightning in the arch gold and silver melted,
Of two captives one will eat the other:
The greatest one of the city stretched out,
When submerged the fleet will swim.
The captives are said to refer to the Prussian and Russian peoples during the Second Great War, while the the last line describes the submarine warfare of that conflict.
Century IV, Quatrain 57
He who was well forward in the realm,
Having a red chief close to the hierarchy,
Harsh and cruel, and he will make himself much feared,
He will succeed to the sacred monarchy.
In theory this refers to Porfiri Bogolyubov, the Patriarch who rose to the title of Supreme Leader of the Russian People and then had himself proclaimed Czar.
The Second Great War
Another common belief is that Nostradamus predicted the second great war, with verses such as this:
Century X, Quatrain 80
From the sixth bright celestial splendor
it will come to thunder very fiercely in Burgundy:
Then of a very hideous beast will be born a monster.
March, April, May, June great tearing and clipping.
This is usually taken to hint at the French Stalemate. Meanwhile this is often said to predict aerial warfare:
Century I, Quatrain 100
For a long time a gray bird will be seen in the sky
near Dole and Tuscan land:
Holding in its beak a verdant sprig,
soon the great one will die and the war will end.
Assassinations
Believers also claim Nostradamus predicted several prominent murders, including that of the French King in his lifetime:
Century I, Quatrain 35
The young lion will overcome the old one
on the field of battle in single combat:
He will put out his eyes in a cage of gold:
Two fleets one, then to die a cruel death.
And this verse is said to refer to the double assassination of Jean-François Young and Empress Gacudai in August, 2006:
Century I, Quatrain 54
Two revolutions made by the wicked scythe-bearer,
change made in realm and centuries:
the movable sign so intrusive in its place
to the two equal and like-minded.
While the following is said to refer to the famous Masonic Plot which killed Prince Albert and may have been intended to assassinate Queen Victoria:
Century II, Quatrain 92
Fire color of gold from the sky seen on earth:
Heir struck from on high, marvelous deed done:
Great human murder: the nephew of the great one taken,
deaths spectacular the proud one escaped.
Other Prophecies
This verse is said to refer to the ascension of King Juan Carlos of Tejas:
Century V, Quatrain 39
Issued from the true branch of the fleur-de-lys,
Placed and lodged as heir of Etruria:
His ancient blood woven by long hand,
He will cause the escutcheon of Florence to bloom.
And these are supposed to refer to Florida-Caribbea, and the war which brought that nation to its end:
Century I, Quatrain 82
When the columns of wood trembling greatly,
led by the South Wind, covered with red ochre:
A very great assembly will empty outside,
Vienna and the land of Austria will tremble.
Century X, Quatrain 95
To the Spains will come a very powerful King,
By land and sea subjugating the South:
This evil will cause, lowering again the crescent,
Clipping the wings of those of Friday.
Critics
Others point out that the verses seem vague enough to fit into virtually any series of events stretched over history. And recent scholarship has shown that many claims about Nostradamus himself as well as his quatrains are unsubstantiated. Such reports have not received wide-spread publicity.
