Background
Nostradamus was born as Michel de Nostradame on the 14th of December 1503 in St. Remy de Provence, France. Nostradamus’ predecessors’ religious beliefs were Jewish, however, he grew up with Christianity after his family had converted. He was intelligent during his younger years being educated by his two grandfathers in various languages such as Hebrew and Greek as well as in subjects such as astrology and mathematics.
Education:
At the age of 14 he studied medicine at the University of Avignon until the Bubonic Plague forced the school to close. Following his experience in Avignon he had become an apothecary for several years and had later attended the University of Montpellier where he diligently studied medicine. On the issue of Nostradamus completing his schooling in Montpellier, there is a belief that he was expelled once it was discovered that he had worked as an apothecary, which was not thought of highly by the university. Alternatively, many other perspectives conclude that Nostradamus did complete his education and received a licence to practice medicine in 1525. Following this, he changed his name to “Nostradamus”, the Latin form of his name as it was a common custom among academics.
Education:
At the age of 14 he studied medicine at the University of Avignon until the Bubonic Plague forced the school to close. Following his experience in Avignon he had become an apothecary for several years and had later attended the University of Montpellier where he diligently studied medicine. On the issue of Nostradamus completing his schooling in Montpellier, there is a belief that he was expelled once it was discovered that he had worked as an apothecary, which was not thought of highly by the university. Alternatively, many other perspectives conclude that Nostradamus did complete his education and received a licence to practice medicine in 1525. Following this, he changed his name to “Nostradamus”, the Latin form of his name as it was a common custom among academics.
Apothecary Work:
After concluding his education, Nostradamus continued his apothecary work and became well known for his abilities in treating the victims of the Bubonic Plague that was widespread in Europe. He spent several years travelling through France, prescribing simple treatments that promoted healthy hygiene such as having clean drinking water and low-fat diets. He was also accountable for providing a herbal remedy called the “rose pill” which contained high doses of vitamin C that helped to lessen the severity of intense cases of the plague. Through Nostradamus’ efforts, he was able to cure large communities and had attributed a great name for himself with the locals. In 1531 he worked in Southwestern France with his patron Jules-Cesar Scaliger, a prominent scholar at the time. During 1534, he married and had two children. However, due to poor timing, when his family had been infected by the plague he was not present and hence, his wife and children had passed away. Because of his inability to save his family he had lost the good graces of his in-laws, patron and the communities he had visited.
Later Life:
In 1538 Nostradamus had been accused of heresy after commenting on a religious statue. He had then left for several years, avoiding the Church Inquisition by travelling through Italy, Turkey and Greece. When he had finally concluded that it was safe to return to France, he continued to treat victims of the plague and later remarried in 1547 having six children. He published medical works while back in France, publishing a medical cookbook for the treatment of the plague and a translation of another medical text into French.
It was soon at this point, after having settled down, that Nostradamus had felt a weakened connection to the world of medicine and a strong compulsion towards the Occult.
After concluding his education, Nostradamus continued his apothecary work and became well known for his abilities in treating the victims of the Bubonic Plague that was widespread in Europe. He spent several years travelling through France, prescribing simple treatments that promoted healthy hygiene such as having clean drinking water and low-fat diets. He was also accountable for providing a herbal remedy called the “rose pill” which contained high doses of vitamin C that helped to lessen the severity of intense cases of the plague. Through Nostradamus’ efforts, he was able to cure large communities and had attributed a great name for himself with the locals. In 1531 he worked in Southwestern France with his patron Jules-Cesar Scaliger, a prominent scholar at the time. During 1534, he married and had two children. However, due to poor timing, when his family had been infected by the plague he was not present and hence, his wife and children had passed away. Because of his inability to save his family he had lost the good graces of his in-laws, patron and the communities he had visited.
Later Life:
In 1538 Nostradamus had been accused of heresy after commenting on a religious statue. He had then left for several years, avoiding the Church Inquisition by travelling through Italy, Turkey and Greece. When he had finally concluded that it was safe to return to France, he continued to treat victims of the plague and later remarried in 1547 having six children. He published medical works while back in France, publishing a medical cookbook for the treatment of the plague and a translation of another medical text into French.
It was soon at this point, after having settled down, that Nostradamus had felt a weakened connection to the world of medicine and a strong compulsion towards the Occult.