More than 900 quatrains in his 1555 book Les Prophéties have predicted major world events over time, his supporters believe. These interpretations of his work continue to keep his legacy alive all these years later.
For 2024, he predicted that King Charles II would abdicate, there would be a new pope, and that China would be involved in a war. With only days left of the year, the likelihood of these events occurring seems low – however, over the decades, many believe that Nostradamus correctly predicted several world events.
Others argue that because his prophecies have a tendency to be cryptic and vague – and because they reference general events that are likely to happen throughout history – there’s a high chance there will always be one to match a landmark event.
With his predictions for 2025 including medical breakthroughs and conflict in global politics, keep reading to discover the moments through history some believe the astrologer accurately predicted.
The Great Fire of London, 1666
“The blood of the just will be lacking in 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.”
The famous fire ripped through London for three days in 1666. As well as accurately foretelling the time of the fire, some believe that “blood of the just” refers to the Black Death – the deathly plague that was wiped out thanks to the fire.
The French Revolution, 1789
Another seemingly accurate prediction came with the French Revolution:
“From the enslaved people, songs, chants and demands.
Princes and Lords are held captive in prisons.
In the future these will be received
By headless idiots as divine prayers.”
Here, believers of his prophecies say Nostradamus predicted the French Revolution, where French citizens revolted against aristocratic rule. After taking control of Paris, members of the royal family were kidnapped – and some even beheaded.
Another one of his quatrains, people say, predicted the rise of Napoleon:
“Pau, Nay, Loron, more fire than blood,
Swimming in praise, the great man hurries to the confluence.
He will refuse entry to the magpies,
Pampon and Durrance will confine them.”
Famous for his use of anagrams, some say that Pau, Nay, Loron – which reference three areas of Paris – are Nostradamus predicting Napoleon’s rise during a coup.
“From the depths 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.”
This quatrain is said to predict Hitler’s rise to power in Germany and across much of Europe. Hitler was born to poor parents in Western Europe, built an army of around 13.6 million, and allied with Japan in the East.
The assassination of John F Kennedy, 1963
The murder of the 35th president of the United States was one of the biggest events of the 1960s. The man accused of shooting Mr Kennedy, Lee Harvey Oswald, was killed while in police custody – however, many people believe the murder was a conspiracy. It is said that the below quatrain predicts his assassination and the mystery surrounding it.
“The ancient task will be completed
From on high, evil will fall on the great man
A dead innocent will be accused of the deed
The guilty one will remain in the midst.”
Another historic moment said to be predicted by the French astrologer is the 1969 moon landing:
“He will come to go into the corner of Luna,
Where he will be captured and put in a strange land:
The unripe fruits will be the subject of great scandal,
Great blame, to one great praise.”
Luna is the Latin word for the Moon, with some believing that the “strange land” Nostradamus speaks of refers to astronauts travelling there.
One quatrain spookily seemed to predict the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York in 2001:
“The sky will burn at forty-five degrees.
Fire approaches the great new city.
By fire, he will destroy their city,
A cold and cruel heart, blood will pour.
Some interpret the mention of 45 degrees as a reference to New York City’s closeness to the 45th latitude or that, when the Twin Towers fell after being struck by two hijacked planes, they created a 45-degree angle.