Nostradamus 

Born in 1503 Michele de Nostredame was the son of a grain dealer and notary in the town of St.-Rémy-de-Provence in the south of France.  His early university years were interrupted due to the outbreak of the plague and closing of the University of Avignon where he was enrolled.  He worked as an apothecary until he was able to resume medical studies at the University of Montpellier, but was later expelled for having practiced manual labor as an apothecarist. 
Nostredame worked diligently to develop a cure for the plague, which is reputed to have claimed the lives of his wife and children in 1534.  He traveled through France and Italy, and it was during his Italian travels that he began to move toward the occult and away from medicine.  As a result of the Latin-based influences in Italian culture, he changed his name to Nostradamus. 

Astrology and predictions were popular pursuits in the fabric of European life in the mid-16th Century, thus Nostradamus began production of a series of very successful prophetic almanacs and astrological calendars.  He was then compelled to begin a series of French quatrains – prophecies well disguised from religious zealots by the use of riddles and diverse Greek and Latin-based languages.  The three manuscripts were published between 1555 and 1558 and they have continued in publication into modern times. 
His reference works included the Bible, a 4th Century collection of Egyptian prophecies and collaborative works of prophetic visionaries produced in the early 16th Century.  Prophets and astrologists escaped prosecution for heresy during the Inquisition unless they included some sort of magical work in their practice.  Nostradamus was careful not to cross that line, especially while appointed Counselor and Physician-in-Ordinary to King Henry II of France.

Interestingly, Nostradamus made a point of documenting in letters and even in his texts his assertion that he was a simple astrologer – not a prophet.  His writings were based upon prophecies discovered in research to which he assigned astrological influences.  Through this “science” of charting stellar influence in relation to specific prophecies he believed he was able to clarify the timing of events, ultimately providing timely warning of things to come.

It is important to note, however, that while acting as an astrologer he routinely required his subjects to bring a star chart prepared by a qualified astronomer with them to the reading.  The star chart documents the situation of planets and constellations at the time of birth and requires adjustment for the place of birth to ensure accuracy.  Reports of inaccuracies in the star charts which Nostradamus prepared for clients prior to undertaking their reading validate the challenge of accounting for a host of influences in the process.  Of course, those chart inaccuracies throw off the results of the astrologer’s reading.

Modern interpretation of “The Propheties” by Michel Nostradamus has credited him with the accurate prediction of horrific events of modern times such as:

Some of these predictions are vague and only begin to achieve “validation” through the application of very broad interpretations.  Others specifically detail dates, names and places that are chilling in their accuracy.

Whether you consider the writings of Nostradamus to be documentation of prophetic visions, thought-provoking riddles or something in-between, it is indisputable that they have engaged global attention for hundreds of years.  Many of his prophecies have yet to be fulfilled.