Sunday, May 8, 2011

Historical astrological predictions


In modern Mundane Astrology it is a matter of considerable debate whether the purpose of astrology is elucidation of meaning, or a tool to make predictions about events.
Throughout history many astrologers have made predictions about the future course of world events, and these are often remarkable either for their fulfillment, or for the ruin and confusion they brought upon their authors.
A favourite topic of a minority of astrologers around the world has been the immediate end of the world. As early as 1186 the Earth had escaped one threatened cataclysm of the astrologers.
Stöffler predicted a universal deluge for the year 1524, a year, as it turned out, distinguished for drought. His study of the heavens told him that in that year three planets would meet in the aqueous sign of Pisces. The prediction was widely believed and President Aurial, at Toulouse, built himself a Noah's ark--a curious realization of Chaucer's merry invention in the Miller's Tale.


The most famous predictions about European and world affairs were made by the French astrologer Nostradamus (1503–66), however many astrologers dispute whether many of his prophecies were based on astrology. Nostradamus became famous after the publication in 1555 of his work Centuries , which was a series of prophecies in cryptic verse. The obscure predictions have been interpreted as relating to a great variety of events, including the French and English Revolutions, and the Second World War. In 1556 Nostradamus was summoned to the French court by Catherine de Medici and commissioned to draw up the horoscopes of the royal children.
According to Francis Bacon in his essay Of Prophesies Nostradamus foretold the death of King Henry II of France: "When I was in France, I heard from one Dr Pena, that the queen mother, who was given to curious arts, caused the king, her husband's, nativity to be calculated, under a false name; and the astrologer (Nostradamus) gave a judgment, that he should be killed in a duel; at which the queene laughed, thinking her husband to be above challenges and duels; but he was slaine, upon a course at tilt, the splinters of the staffe of Montgomery going in at his beaver." Although Nostradamus later fell out of favour with many in the court and was accused of witchcraft, Catherine continued to support him and patronized him until his death.
Tycho Brahe was devoted to astrology, and adjoining his observatory at Uranienburg, the astronomer-royal of Denmark had a laboratory built. The astronomer Kepler, who in his youth made almanacs, and once prophesied a hard winter which came to pass, made an astrological interpretation of the disappearance of the brilliant star of 1572, which Tycho had observed. Another prediction of Kepler was the appearance of a comet in 1577. Brahe wrote that in the north, in Finland, there would be born a prince who would lay waste to Germany and vanish in 1632. Gustavus Adolphus was in fact born in Stockholm, Sweden, overran Germany, and died in 1632. Brahe predicted this Finland not Sweden, but the partial fulfillment of the prophecy is cited as evidence of astrological accuracy. Brahe, appeared to foresee the advent of some great northern hero; he was likely well acquainted with an ancient tradition, that heroes generally came from the northern frontiers of his native land, where they are hardened struggle with soil, climate, and barbarian neighbours.
Theodore Beza thought that this star, which in December 1573 equaled Jupiter in brilliancy, predicted the second coming of Christ. Astronomers were only then beginning to study variable and periodic stars, and disturbances in that part of the heavens, which had till then, on the authority of Aristotle, been regarded as incorruptible, combined with the troubles of the times, must have given a new stimulus to belief in the signs in heaven.

Montaigne (Essais, lib. i. chap, x.) related a singular episode in the history of astrology. Charles V and Francis I, who both bid for the friendship of the infamous Pietro Aretino, surnamed the divine, both likewise engaged astrologers to fight their battles.
In Italy those who prophesied the ruin of France were sure to be listened to. These prophecies affected the public funds much as telegrams used to in 1911. "At Rome," Montaigne wrote, "a large sum of money was lost on the Change by this prognostication of our ruin."
The Marquis of Saluces, notwithstanding his gratitude to Francis I for the many favours he had received, including his marquisate, of which the brother was despoiled for his benefit, was led in 1536 to betray his country, being scared by the glorious prophecies of the ultimate success of Charles V which were then rife.
During World War II the British and German governments (among others) hired astrologers to make predictions about the opposing side. One Swiss astrologer, Karl Ernst Krafft, attracted the attention of the Nazis due to his predictions.

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