Finally, we move into the phase of Nostradamus’ life when he had the most peace and comfort — at least on the outside. Even while Nostradamus grew famous for his supposedly predictive powers, garnered the favor of Catherine de Medici, wife of King Henry II, and got appointed Counselor and Physician-in-Ordinary to the king’s court, his body was failing him. Every moment of the day as he sat, wrote, and spoke he suffered from a host of debilitating, painful illnesses that grew worse year by year. Namely: arthritis, gout, and eventually dropsy.
Arthritis might be the most well-known of these conditions. There are various types of arthritis, all with different causes but centering around inflammation of the joints. Gout, meanwhile, is a specific form of arthritis involving intense and painful flare-ups. Dropsy, the last condition that Nostradamus developed in his final years, more often goes by the name “edema” nowadays. It’s characterized by an accumulation of fluid in and between bodily tissues, particularly the lower legs, ankles, and feet. If left untreated it can cause heart failure.
Nostradamus died in 1566, 11 years after he penned his book of prophecies. He left his final prophecy for himself. Perhaps sensing the end coming, he drafted his will in late June 1566. Come July 1 he allegedly told his secretary, “You will not find me alive at sunrise.” The following morning Nostradamus was dead.
