While the majority of Nostradamus’ prophecies are either totally wrong or so vague that they could literally mean anything, some of them have been singled out as being eerily correct. His many four-line quatrains, written from 1550 to 1566, do appear, at first glance, to have some correct predictions.
Of course, any list of predictions that Nostradamus got right needs to be taken with a bit of skepticism. Many of them depend on translations that aren’t supported by the original French. Others are loose interpretations, dependent on making predictions that are vague and making them specific. However, a few, seem like they’re correct.
Below are seven things that Nostradamus predicted and might have gotten spot on. Or maybe, not at all. It’s up to you!
Prediction
“The young lion will overcome the older one,
On the field of combat in a single battle;
He will pierce his eyes through a golden cage,
Two wounds made one, then he dies a cruel death.”
What Happened
In the summer of 1559, King Henry II of France (older one) lined up to joust the Comte de Montgomery (young lion)¸six years his junior, on the fields of France (field of combat).
Both men had lions on their shields. In their final pass, Montgomery’s lance tilted up, and burst through the king’s visor splintering into pieces. Two shards, one through the eye (pierce his eyes through a golden cage), and one through the temple, lodged in the King’s head (two wounds made one).
Henry suffered for 10 days before dying in his bed (then he dies a cruel death).
Prediction
“The blood of the just will be demanded by London,
Burnt up in the fire of ’66;
The ancient Lady will topple from her high place,
Many of the same sect will be killed.”
What Happened
On September the 2nd, 1666, a small fire (fire of ’66) that started in Thomas Farriner’s bakery on Pudding Lane in London turned into a three-day blaze that consumed the city. This fire became known as the Great Fire of London.
One of the explanations for the blood of the just, refers to the millions of flea carrying rats that perished. Peasant deaths were not recorded at the time, but it has long been held that six people died in the fire.
Prediction
“Songs, chants, and demands will come from the enslaved,
Held captive by the nobility in their prisons.
At a later date, headless idiots,
Will take these as divine utterances.”
What Happened
In 1789, the French people (the enslaved) decided that they had had enough of poor aristocratic rule. They revolted, storming the Bastille, a Paris fortress used as a prison and forced their demands on royalty.
The princes and lords (the nobility) were taken from power, locked up and some were even beheaded (headless idiots).
Prediction
“The lost thing is discovered, hidden for many centuries.
Pasteur will be celebrated almost as a God-like figure.
This is when the moon completes her great cycle,
But by other rumors he shall be dishonoured.”
What Happened
Louis Pasteur is credited with discovering microbial decay (lost thing is discovered, hidden for many centuries). This work of his eventually led to the creation of vaccines for anthrax and rabies.
However, in 1995, science historian Gerald L. Geison published a story that claimed that Pasteur gave a misleading account on his preparation of the anthrax virus (shall he be dishonoured).
Prediction
“From the depth of the West of Europe,
A young child will be born of poor people.
He who by his tongue will seduce a great troop;
His fame will increase towards the realm of the East.”
What Happened?
Hitler, who was born to poor parents in 1889 in Western Europe, used his intense oratory skills (he who by his tongue) to mobilize the Nazi party in Germany in the years following World War I. Germany, as part of the Axis powers, also allied with Japan in the East (the realm of the East).
Prediction
“Hercules King of Rome and Annemark,
Three times one surnamed de Gaulle will lead,
Italy and the one of St. Mark to tremble,
First monarch, renowned above all.”
What Happened
Charles de Gaulle (de Gaulle), was a three-time (three times) leader of France. First as leader of the Free French Forces, then as Prime Minister of the provisional post-WWII government, then as the first president of the French Fifth Republic.
“The great man will be struck down in the day by a thunderbolt,
An evil deed foretold by the bearer of a petition.
According to the prediction, another falls at night time.
Conflict at Reims, London and a pestilence in Tuscany
What Happened
The (great man) John Kennedy received many death threats (petition) and was gunned down (thunderbolt) in the afternoon on the 22nd November, 1963. Bobby Kennedy was murdered just after midnight on the 5th June, 1968 (another falls at night time). The world mourned (conflict at Reims, London).
Source: businessinsider