FAMOUS COMETS OF OLDEN TIMES
Bacon, the great English thinker, has said: “Comets have some action and effect on the universality of things.”
All Comets recorded in history, so Lubienitius has shown in his “Universal History of All Comets,” appeared in connection with some great event or catastrophe in the History of Man.
George F. Chambers, one of the most up-to-date writers on Astronomy and Comets, on the second page of his “Story of the Comets” (1909), declares:
“It is the general testimony of History during many hundreds of years, one might even say during fully 2,000 years, that Comets were always considered to be peculiarly ‘ominous of the wrath of Heaven and as harbingers of wars and famines, of the dethronement of Monarchs and the dissolution of Empires.’”
Reaching back into remotest history, the sacred books of India show that the births of Krishna and of Buddha were foretold by moving lights in the Heavens.
The ancient records of China tell of the appearance of a moving beacon in Heaven at the birth of Yu, the first ruler of the Celestial Empire, and again at the birth of the great Chinese prophet, Lao-Tse.
The ancient Greeks have recorded similar appearances of Comets. Aesculapius, the divine healer and first physician, was born under a Comet.
The oldest traditions of the Jews tell us that when Abraham was born a moving star was seen in the East.
Another moving star with long radiant gleams of light streaming behind it shone forth at the birth of Moses. This Comet was seen by the Magi of Egypt, who pointed it out to the King as an omen meant for him. Hence Pharaoh’s order, as recorded in the Old Testament, for the slaughter of all male Jewish infants then born in Egypt.
GREAT EVENTS CONNECTED WITH
HISTORIC COMETS IN ANTIQUITY
The earliest Comet of which there is any historic record was a Comet mentioned in the oldest cuneiform inscriptions of Babylonia several thousand years before our Christian era, recently found on the north bank of Nahr-al-Kalb, near Beyrut in Syria. This Comet is recorded to have been visible to the naked eye for 29 nights.
At the time Lubienitius wrote his big “History of all the Comets” the exact date of this Comet had not been fixed. Lubienitius, though, had a record of this same Comet, the date of which he fixes at the year 2312 before Christ, the date computed by him and other writers for the beginning of the deluge.
In modern times the great French astronomer Laplace credited a Comet with causing huge floods at the time of the great Deluge.
Two hundred and eighty-eight years after the great Deluge, according to the records of the Chaldean star gazers, there appeared another Comet. This is the date, computed by Lubienitius, for the building of the Tower of Babel and the confusion of tongues.
Two thousand and sixty-four years before Christ, another Comet appeared, as recorded by the Chaldeans. This is the date given for the birth of Abraham.
When Abraham was seventy years old, in the year 1949 B. C., a Comet was seen shining over the Valley of Siddim for twenty-two nights. This is the date given by Bible historians for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the two cities of iniquity which lay in the Vale of Siddim.
Jewish annalists record a Comet in Egypt in the year corresponding to B. C. 1841. This Comet shone at the time of the bitter persecution of the Jews by the Egyptians.
Arabian star gazers have recorded a Comet shining over Arabia 1732 B. C. In that year there was a terrible famine, of which mention is made in the Old Testament.
The ancient Chinese year books record the appearance of a Comet over northern China and Manchuria in the year corresponding to 1537 B. C. The appearance of the Comet, so the Chinese chronicles tell, was followed by a great flood and disastrous famine.
The next Comet of which we have any record, appeared 1515 B. C. This was at the time of the expulsion of the Jews from Egypt.
In the year B. C. 1194, we are told by Hyginus that “On the fall of Troy, one of the Pleiades group of stars rushed along the Heavens toward the Arctic pole, where the star remained visible with dishevelled hair, to which the name of Comet is applied.”
We are informed by Pliny, the Roman historian, that in B. C. 975, the “Egyptians and Ethiopians suffered from a terrible famine, the dire effects of a Comet. It appeared all on fire, and was twisted in the form of a wreath, and had a hideous aspect. It seemed not to be a star, but rather a knot of fire.”
Babylonian cuneiform inscriptions tell us that about 575 B. C., when Nebuchadnezzar overran Elam, “a star arose whose head was bright as day, while from its luminous body a tail extended like the sting of a scorpion.”
According to Pliny, again, a Comet in the form of a horn was seen in the year B. C. 480, just before the great invasion of Greece by Xerxes ending in the bloody sea fight of Salamis.
The next Comet mentioned by Lubienitius appeared in B. C. 466, when it was seen for 75 nights all over Greece. In that year Greece was ravaged by war between the Spartans and Athenians, and the city of Sparta was all but destroyed by an earthquake.
The next Comet appeared one generation later in 431 B. C., and was seen through 60 nights all over the ancient world. This Comet was followed by a terrible pestilence which swept over Aethiopia, Egypt, Athens, and Rome. War broke out all over Greece. It was the beginning of the great Peloponnesian War, which devastated Greece for a generation to follow.
In the year 394 B. C., there was another Comet seen in Greece, followed by the great Corinthian War with the bloody battles of Knidus and Koronea.
Aristotle records a Comet seen by him in his fifteenth year, 371 B. C. The sight of it inspired the youth to a special study of astronomy. The Comet was visible until the end of the first week of July. On July eighth was fought the great battle between the Thebans and Spartans, when Epaminondas, one of the greatest generals of antiquity, overthrew the Spartans.
The next Comet, that of 338 B. C., which was likewise observed by Aristotle, who had then become the teacher of Alexander the Great, marked Alexander’s first public entry into the history of the world. The Comet blazed its brightest on the eve of the bloody battle of Chaeronea, Alexander’s first victory and achievement in war.
In the year 344 B. C., there was another Comet, followed by another war in Greece and Sicily. Diodorus of Sicily wrote of this Comet: “On the departure of the expedition of Timoleon from Corinth for Sicily with all his war ships, the Gods foretold success by an extraordinary prodigy: A burning torch appeared in the Heavens for an entire night and went before the fleet into Sicily.”
The Comets of Carthage.
Nearly a hundred years passed before the appearance of another Comet in 240 B. C. This is the first recorded appearance of Halley’s Comet. By the light of this Comet, Hamilcar, the great Carthaginian general, made his young son Hannibal swear eternal enmity to the Romans. Hamilcar was then in the midst of preparations for the war against Rome, which broke out soon afterward.
Comets appear to have been stars of special omen to Hannibal and to his native city, Carthage. Twenty years later, appeared another Comet which shone over Carthage for 22 nights. Its appearance was followed by the outbreak of the great war between Hannibal and the Romans, and by a terrible earthquake in Greece.
The next Comet shone in 204 B. C., when Hannibal suffered his first bloody defeat by Sempronius, while Scipio, Hannibal’s arch enemy, was crossing over to Africa, for the first attack upon Carthage.
The appearance of the next Comet, twenty years later, 184 B. C., which shone through 88 nights over Asia Minor “with a horrible lustre” was followed by the death of Hannibal. Soothsayers at the court of King Prusias of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, whither Hannibal had fled from the Romans, told the King that the Comet betokened Hannibal’s early death. This so wrought on Hannibal’s spirit that he ended his life with poison.
In the year 150 B. C., appeared another Comet “of horrible size.” It was seen for many nights running all over the Mediterranean Sea. Its appearance was followed by the outbreak of the third great Punic War between Rome and Carthage.
Within four years another Comet, blazing over northern Africa in 146 B. C., was followed by the fall of Carthage, which was stormed and utterly destroyed by the Romans.
Mithridates’ Star.
Mithridates, King of Pontus, and conqueror of Asia Minor, another arch foe of the Romans, having been born under a Comet, seems to have fallen under the bane of Comets.
During the Winter of 134-135 B. C., preceding Mithridates’ birth, a Comet of unusual lustre flared over Asia Minor through 72 days. This Comet was so bright that its long, flaming tail was plainly visible even in day time. The ancient historian Justinus thus described it:
“Its splendour eclipsed that of the midday sun and occupied the fourth part of Heaven.”
The next Comet, burning through 72 nights again, preceded Mithridates’ accession to the throne of Pontus, 119 B. C.
Mithridates’ fourth Comet, now identified as Halley’s Comet, was seen over Asia Minor through the Winter months of 87-88 B. C., just before the horrible massacre of 150,000 Italians ordered by Mithridates.
Twenty-five years later, 63 B. C., Mithridates saw his Comet for the last time when his own son rose up in arms against him. The omen of the Comet so wrought on Mithridates that he first poisoned himself and then had one of his own soldiers despatch him with his sword.
No other Comet is recorded in ancient history during this century, except the one which was seen shining over Italy preceding the birth (July 11, 100 B. C.) of Julius Caesar, destined to become “The foremost man of all this world,” as Shakespeare calls him.
“Caesar’s Comet” as it came to be known (now identified as Halley’s Comet) appeared again over Italy during the great Civil War between Marius and Sylla, when Caesar was first entering into public affairs and earned his spurs as a warrior.
“Caesar’s Comet” shone again over Rome in the year 60 B. C., when Julius Caesar, together with Pompey and Crassus, took charge of the government of Rome and presently seized supreme power as Consul of Rome.
Ten years later “Caesar’s Comet” was seen once more in Italy in the Winter months of 49-50 B. C., when Caesar, returning from his conquest of Gaul, crossed the Rubicon and began the great Civil War against his rival for power, Pompey.
The last appearance of “Caesar’s Comet,” was in 44 B. C., on the death of Caesar. Its coming was foreseen in a dream by Caesar’s wife Calpurnia, who warned him of the omen, as immortalized in Shakespeare’s lines, put into the mouth of Caesar’s wife:
“When beggars die, there are no Comets seen,
The Heavens themselves blaze forth the death of Princes”;
followed by Caesar’s famous answer, as culled from Plutarch by Shakespeare:
“What can be avoided,
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.”
On the following morning Caesar was murdered at the foot of Pompey’s statue in the Curia.
Immediately after Caesar’s death, records the Roman historian Suetonius in his “Life of Caesar”: “A Comet blazed for seven nights together, rising always about eleven o’clock, visible to all in Rome. It was taken by all to be the soul of Caesar, now received into Heaven; for which reason, accordingly, Caesar is represented in his statue with a star on his brow.”
Only one more Comet is recorded in ancient history before the birth of Christ. This was the Comet, now identified as Halley’s Comet, which shone over the dense forests of Germany, eleven years before the birth of Christ, when Drusus, the brother of Tiberius, was warring against the ancient Germans and robbing them of their last vestige of liberty. At the same time fell the death of Agrippa, who ruled over the Roman Empire in the absence of Augustus.
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM
The coming of the Messia, according to the sacred legends of the Jews, was to be foretold by a flaming star.
Many sacred writers have held, and many still hold, as did the distinguished American astronomer R. A. Proctor, that the “Star of Bethlehem,” whose shining trail guided the Wise Men from The East, was a Comet. Lubienitius in his “History of Comets” expressly mentions the Star of Bethlehem as the most important Comet of history.
As a matter of fact our modern astronomical computations prove that a Comet appeared in that year so as to be visible to the naked eye over Arabia, Syria, and the Holy Land.
When this Comet appeared Herod was King of Judea. On the appearance of the Comet, Herod consulted the oracle of the Sibyl in Rome. She told him that the Comet shone in token of a boy destined to be far greater than he.
Herod grew so afraid at this that he caused to be murdered his own two infant sons, Aristobolus and Alexander, and after that his eldest son, the boy Antipater. Herod further ordered the massacre of all male infants born in Judea under this Comet, as told in the Gospel of Matthew (Chap. II., Verse 1). As the Comet kept on blazing in the sky, Herod, becoming desperate, tried to kill himself. Five days after this he died of a loathsome disease.
Christian painters and writers from olden times until now, accordingly have pictured the Star of Bethlehem as a Comet.
Take for instance this description of “The Light in the Sky” as given by Lew Wallace in his “Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ”:
“About midnight some one on the roof cried out: ‘What light is that in the sky? Awake, brethren, awake and see!’
The people, half asleep, sat up and looked; then they became wide awake, though wonder struck.... Soon the entire tenantry of the house and court and enclosure were out gazing at the sky.
And this is what they saw: A ray of light, beginning at a height immeasurably beyond the nearest stars, and dropping obliquely to the earth; at its top, a diminishing point; at its base, many furlongs in width; its sides blending softly with the darkness of night; its core a roseate electrical splendour. The apparition seemed to rest on the nearest mountain southeast of the town, making a pale corona along the line of the summit. The khan was touched luminously so that those upon the roof saw each others’ faces all filled with wonder.
Steadily the ray lingered....
‘Saw you ever the like?’ asked one.
‘Can it be that a star has burst and fallen?’ asked another, his tongue faltering.
‘When a star falls its light goes out.’
After that there was silence on the housetop, broken but once again while the mystery continued.
‘Brethren!’ exclaimed a Jew of venerable mien, ‘what we see is the ladder our father Jacob saw in his dream. Blessed be the Lord God of Our Fathers!’”
Meanwhile the Wise Men from the East, as described in the same story, were travelling over the desert, on the alert for the apparition of the star, whose coming had been revealed to them.
“Suddenly, in the air before them, not farther up than a low hill-top,” writes Lew Wallace, “flared a lambent flame; as they looked at it, the apparition contracted into a focus of dazzling lustre. Their hearts beat fast; their souls thrilled; and they shouted as with one voice: ‘The Star! the Star! God is with us!’”
GREAT EVENTS LINKED WITH
COMETS SINCE CHRIST
Since the time of Christ, thanks to the spread of Christianity and learning, with the growing zeal for keeping records and studying the stars, a far greater number of Comets and events connected therewith have been recorded.
A number of learned writers have made a special study of the history of Comets and their effect upon man. Long before Lubienitius’ ponderous work on the subject there were other histories written in Latin and Arabic, with references to which his book abounds.
Since then others have followed in the same direction, notably Pingré, Hind, Lalande, Messier, Chambers and latterly Messrs. Crommelin and Cowell, of the Greenwich Observatory.
The number of known Comets has grown immeasurably since Galileo’s invention of the telescope, 300 years ago, and our later perfections of this instrument, together with latter-day devices for photographing Comets invisible to the naked eye.
It would carry us too far to trace the possible connection between modern events and Comets that were seen only by astronomers. Since our record of Comets is already too full, we shall limit our story of the Comets and their influence upon man to a bare recital of the most important events connected with the more memorable and conspicuous Comets from the time of Christ until now.
DATES OF COMETS FOLLOWED
BY IMPORTANT EVENTS
| A. D. | |
| 14— | A Comet preceded the death of Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome. Earthquake in Italy. |
| 55— | Suicide of Pontius Pilate, the judge who condemned Christ. |
| 68— | Halley’s Comet. Suicide of Nero, persecutor of Christians. Siege of Jerusalem. |
| 73— | A Comet shone 180 days over Cyprus. Earthquake in Cypress in which 10,000 persons perished. |
| 79— | Death of Emperor Vespasian, who began the siege of Jerusalem. The Roman historians Dion Cassius and Suetonius relate that Vespasian, when taken sick, heard his astrologers discussing in a low tone of voice the Comet which was then visible, which they said predicted his death. The Emperor roused angrily and said: “This hairy star is not meant for me. It must be meant for my enemy, the King of the Parthians, for he is hairy, while I am bald.” |
On the following night Vespasian died in great pain, and the Comet was seen no more. | |
Shortly after Vespasian’s death followed the fierce eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, Nov. 1, which destroyed the two flourishing cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. | |
| 130— | A Comet shone over Holy Land for 39 nights, followed by destructive earthquake in Holy Land. |
| 145— | One week’s Comet over Island of Rhodus. Earthquake in Rhodus, followed by famine and pestilence. |
| 217— | From a Comet which shone for eighteen nights soothsayers predicted the death of the Roman Emperor, Caracalla. The Emperor was murdered immediately afterwards by his rival Macrinus. |
| 312— | A Comet in the sign of a cross seen by Constantine the Great during battle of Saxa Rubra under the walls of Rome. Constantine was victorious and afterward turned to Christian faith. |
| 337— | A Comet seen just before death of Constantine the Great. |
| 373— | Halley’s Comet. Beginning of tremendous migration of peoples which overran all Central Asia and Europe. |
| 399— | This Comet was described by Nicephorus as “of prodigious magnitude and horrible aspect, with a point like a sword and fiery hair reaching nearly to the ground, from which a great peril to the people was predicted.” Its appearance was followed by the conquest and capture of Rome by Gainas. |
| 410— | A sword-shaped Comet shone over Italy for four months until the third week in August. On Aug. 24 Rome was taken and plundered by Alaric, King of the Visigoths. This marks the end of the old Roman Empire. |
| 442— | First appearance in Europe of Attila, “The Scourge of God,” and his Hunnic hordes. |
| 449-50— | Two Comets (now believed to be coming and going of Halley’s Comet) were observed over England and France. First invasion of England by the Anglo-Saxons under Hengist and Horsa. Attila overthrown in the great battle on the Catalaunian Fields, at which a hundred and eighty thousand warriors fell, among them Theoderic, the King of the Goths. The Roman historian Callimachus recorded that this battle was preceded by a brilliant Comet and an earthquake. |
| 453— | Death of Attila and end of his Hunnic empire. |
| 530— | Halley’s Comet. Merlin, the British seer, prophesied from this Comet. His prophesies came true. |
| 531— | Comet observed in Constantinople by the astronomers of Emperor Justinian. Earthquake in Constantinople followed by famine and uprising of the people in which two thousand were killed. Pestilence. |
| 538— | Terrible famine throughout civilized world, so that many people became cannibals. |
| 547— | A lance-shaped Comet over Italy. Ostro-Goths under Totila overrun Italy. Totila storms Rome. |
| Mohamet’s Star. | |
| 570— | Scimitar-shaped Comet over Arabia. Birth of Mohamet. |
| 610— | Another scimitar-shaped Comet over Arabia. Mohamet begins preaching the Koran. |
| 622— | Flight of Mohamet to Medina. |
| 624— | Fourth scimitar-shaped Comet over Arabia and Holy Land. Mohamet’s first battle for the new faith. His massacre of 700 Jews. |
| 632— | Last appearance of Mohamet’s Comet during first week of June. Death of Mohamet on June 8 at Medina. |
| 800— | A Comet seen during Coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of Rome. |
| 814— | Torch-shaped Comet seen in Germany during the first three weeks of January. Death of Charlemagne on Jan. 28, at Aix la Chappelle. The monk Eginard relates in his chronicles that on the appearance of the Comet all those at Charlemagne’s court feared for the Emperor’s life. Eginard preached to them from the text of Isaiah not to believe in the signs of the heathens. But Charlemagne reproved him, saying that he felt that he had reason to thank God for having sent him a timely warning of his impending death. Thereupon the Emperor made his testament and divided his empire among his successors. On the day following the disappearance of the Comet, he died. |
| 837— | Halley’s Comet observed in France by King Louis the Debonair, who died from fear of it. |
| 876— | Disastrous flood in Italy, followed by plague. |
| 900— | Another Comet over Italy. Saracens invade Italy. |
| 944— | Comet with an immense tail over Italy, followed by disastrous earthquake. |
| 1000— | In January of this year a Comet was observed all over Europe. Gigibertus describes it “shaped like a horrible serpent and so bright that its light was seen even indoors.” It was generally taken to foretell the end of the world,—the millennium prophesied in the Apocalypse. When it was followed soon by earthquakes, floods and famine there was universal panic which was not allayed until the end of the “fateful year.” |
| 1002— | A Comet over England and Scandinavia. Massacre of all Danes in England by King Ethelred. |
| 1066— | Halley’s Comet. It appeared in May at Easter time and shone for forty nights, waxing and waning with the moon. William the Conqueror haled it as an omen of destruction to Harold of England just before the battle of Hastings. |
| 1077— | Comet over Italy and Germany. Emperor Henry IV. of Germany was excommunicated by the Pope, followed by war in Italy and Germany. |
| Crusaders’ Comets. | |
| 1099— | Arabic astronomers record a Comet in the shape of a scimitar over Arabia and the Holy Land for six weeks in Spring and early Summer. First crusade and storming of Jerusalem by the crusaders on July 15 after a siege of five weeks. Bloody massacre of Mohammedans. |
| 1109— | Emperor Henry V. of Germany enters Rome and makes Pope prisoner. |
| 1148-9— | Second crusade. Utter destruction of whole army of French and German crusaders. |
| 1200— | Comet recorded by Hal Ben Rodoan, an Arab astronomer, over North Africa. Bloody revolt of Arab warriors in Morocco. |
| 1212— | Lance-shaped Comet shining over western Europe for eighteen nights. The Children’s Crusade. Thousands of German and French boy crusaders perished or were sold into slavery. Bloody invasion of Tartar hordes into Russia and Poland. |
| 1223— | Preaching of fifth crusade. Outbreak of “Guelph and Ghibelline” war between Emperor Frederick II. of Germany and Pope Gregory the IX. |
| 1264— | Very bright Comet observed shining all over Europe for three months. Pope Urban IV. died on the night of the Comet’s disappearance. A Latin verse gained great currency in which it was said that the Comet portended “disasters, sickness, hunger, and war.” The chronicles of that age ascribe to this Comet besides the death of the Pope a famine and pestilence in Italy, the ravages of the Russians into Poland and of the Slavs into Prussia. |
| Comets of Bloodshed. | |
| 1282— | An immense Comet over Italy. Disastrous earthquake in southern Italy. On March 30, a fortnight after the first appearance of the Comet followed the massacre of all Frenchmen in Sicily on the evening of Easter Monday, known in history as the “Sicilian Vespers.” |
| 1298— | Because of the appearance of a Comet over middle Germany, there were riots in Nuremberg and other neighbouring cities followed by a general massacre of the Jews in those cities. |
| 1300— | A brilliant Comet preceded the Jubilee of Pope Boniface the VIII. The Pope interpreted the Comet as a happy omen, but because of the popular dread of the Comet there were riots and blood shed in Rome and elsewhere in Italy. The chroniclers of the times pointed out the significant fact that shortly after his jubilee Pope Boniface was made a prisoner by King Philip of France, causing him to die of rage. |
| Plague Comets. | |
| 1305— | A Comet “of horrible aspect” burning all through Passion Week preceded the outbreak of the terrible black plague which swept from the Orient all over Europe and Asia. |
| 1333— | Chinese and Arab astronomers record a bright Comet over China, Turkestan and Persia. Birth of Tamerlane, the “Scourge of the Nations” at Samarkand, in Turkestan. |
| 1347— | A Comet precedes the “Black Death,” a terrible pestilence followed by famine all over the world. One-fourth of all the people of Europe died. Fifteen million deaths in China,—twenty-five million in Europe. |
| 1363— | A Comet of immense size shone for three months over northern Europe. Pestilence and famine in England, Poland and Russia. |
| 1378— | Halley’s Comet. Pestilence in Germany. Holy Church is rent by the great schism, with rival popes at Rome and Avignon. |
| Tamerlane’s Star. | |
| 1382— | Arab astronomers and Chinese report a very bright Comet which shone a fortnight. Tamerlane and his hordes overrun Central Asia. Pestilence breaks out there and spreads all over the world. |
| 1402— | Arab astronomers report another Comet seen all over the East. Tamerlane carries war into Europe and takes Constantinople by storm. Sultan Bayezid is taken prisoner by Tamerlane and is carried to Asia in a cage. |
| 1405— | Chinese astronomers record a spear-shaped Comet over China. Tamerlane dies while invading China. |
| 1456— | Halley’s Comet. Bloody war between the Christians and the Turks. Battle of Belgrade. |
| 1492— | Arab astronomers record a Comet over northern Africa and Spain. Final conquest of Granada from the Moors by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. Discovery of the New World. |
| 1500— | Sword-shaped Comet over northern Europe, followed by Tartar invasion into Russia and Poland. |
| 1528— | A Comet noted by Ambroise Paré, who recorded that many people fell sick and died of fright. War between Emperor Charles V. of Germany and Francis I. of France, with fighting in France, Germany and Italy. |
| 1531— | Halley’s Comet. Plague in Italy. Great schism in the Church. Defection of German Protestants from Rome. Henry VIII. of England declares English Church independent of Rome. Sultan Soleyman ravaged Hungary. Disastrous floods in Holland, where 400,000 people were drowned. |
| 1556— | Emperor Charles V. of Germany and Spain, on account of his fear of the Comet that appeared in that year, abdicated his throne and became a monk. Wide-spread wars all over Europe. The Turks ravaged Hungary. Persecutions of English Protestants under “Bloody Mary.” Many Protestants burned at the stake, beheaded or broken on the rack. |
| 1572— | St. Bartholomew’s Comet. Massacre of St. Bartholomew, when 30,000 Huguenots were slaughtered in France. |
| 1577— | General persecution of Huguenots in France, followed by Civil War in France. |
| 1607— | A Comet seen over Constantinople for several weeks. Wide-spread war on the part of the Turks against the Persians on one side, the Poles on another, and against Venice on the third. |
| 1618— | A blood-coloured Comet observed just before the execution of Sir Walter Raleigh in England. A bloody rising of the Protestants in Bohemia, followed by the outbreak of the terrible Thirty Years’ War in Germany and the Netherlands. This was the Comet which gave rise to the German school rhyme: |
“Eight things a Comet always brings, Wind, Famine, Plague and Death to Kings, War, Earthquake, Floods and Dire Things.” | |
| Louis XIV.’s Star. | |
| 1661— | Inspired by the appearance of a Comet, a horde of fanatics under Venner, a cooper, preached the coming of the “Fifth Monarchy” in England, and proclaimed Jesus Christ as their only King. The fanatics were routed and put to death. Death of Mazarin, the “Master of France.” Rise of Louis XIV., the most powerful ruler of France. French war against the Pope. |
| 1680— | This Comet was studied by Halley, in Paris, and by Newton, in England. It was called “Heaven’s Chariot.” Plague in Europe. The French overrun Alsace and carried war into Germany. War between Venice and the Turks. |
| 1682— | Halley’s Comet. War in Italy. War in Hungary against the Turks. |
| 1689— | A remarkable Comet observed all over Europe, followed by war all over Europe. Wars between France, Germany, England, Spain and Italy. The Rhine lands were harried by the French with fire and sword, rendering 4,000,000 people homeless. Burning of the castle of Heidelberg by the French. Religious war in Ireland and Scotland. Siege of Londonderry and Dundee. Battle of Newton Butler in Ireland. |
| 1729— | War between France, England and Spain. |
| Frederick the Great’s Star. | |
| 1744— | A six-tailed Comet observed in Germany just before the death of Emperor Charles VII. His death followed by war between Frederick the Great and Maria Teresa of Austria. War spreads to England, Holland, France, Spain and Italy. A British fleet beaten by French and Spaniards off Toulon. |
| 1755— | A Comet precedes earthquake of Lisbon, by which 40,000 people lost their lives. |
| 1759— | Halley’s Comet. Seven Years’ War in Germany. Frederick the Great overthrown in four bloody battles. French lose Canada by their disastrous defeat of the plains of Abraham, and lose India by the loss of their fleet through three successive defeats on the sea. |
| Napoleon’s Star. | |
| 1769— | “Napoleon’s Comet.” A Comet of unusual red lustre was observed over Italy and France. French overrun Corsica. Bloody massacre of Corsicans. Birth of Napoleon on August 15 in Corsica, just after the Comet was seen no more. |
| 1811-12— | This huge Comet was one of the most famous Comets of modern times. It was first seen in France on March 26, 1811, and was last observed over southern Russia on August 17, 1812—an appearance of seventeen months, the longest on record. For a while it had two tails, then only one. The length of this tail was estimated as 100,000,000 miles. It was called “Napoleon’s Comet.” Under its lustre Napoleon gathered his “grand armée,” the greatest army assembled in Europe since Xerxes, and invaded Russia. Wars were fought at the same time in Portugal and Spain, where the British stormed Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajos; and in America, where Harrison’s victory over the Indians under Tecumseh at Tippecanoe, and the seafight between the “President” and “Little Belt” ushered in the War of 1812. In Egypt the Comet was taken as an omen of the bloody massacre of the Mamelukes perpetrated at Cairo. |
THE GREAT COMET OF 1811.
| 1821— | “Napoleon’s Comet.” Seen one night only over France and over St. Helena the night before the death of Napoleon at St. Helena. |
| 1823— | A Comet much mentioned by Spanish writers. While it shone over Spain, South America and the Mediterranean, the French overran Spain and reinstated the Spanish king. Revival of the Spanish Inquisition and bloody persecutions of the revolutionists. War of Independence in Central and South America. Bloody war of Greek Independence. |
| 1835-6— | Halley’s Comet. New York City all but destroyed by fire. Zulu massacre of Boers at Weenen. Mexican massacre of Americans at the Alamo. Wars throughout South America. |
| 1843— | Another famous Comet seen all over the world during the Spring of that year. Especially brilliant in the Southern Hemisphere and in India. War in India on the part of the British against Afghanistan, Beluchistan, Scinde and against the Sikhs. |
| 1848— | Encke’s famous periodic Comet. Bloody revolutionary risings and civil wars in France, Hungary, Bohemia, Austria, Germany, Italy and Poland. |
| 1858-9— | Donati’s Comet. This Comet, which appeared to be charging straight down from the zenith, and had a curved tail, was observed from June 1858 to April 1859. It was seen at its brightest in the South, in Italy, Mexico and in the Far East. While it shone over the Far East there were bloody wars between the British and the risen people of India; between the British and the Chinese, who objected to having opium thrust upon them; while Japan was in the throes of revolution and civil war. In Mexico the standard of revolt against the clericals was raised by Juarez, thus plunging Mexico into civil war and war with France. Immediately after the disappearance of the Comet war broke out in Italy between the French and Italians on one side and the Austrians on the other, ending in the bloody Battle of Solferino. |
| Civil War Comets. | |
| 1861— | “First Civil War Comet.” The brightest Comet of the nineteenth century. Sir John Herschel, the great English astronomer, said of this Comet: “It far exceeded in brightness any Comet I have before observed, those of 1811 and the recent splendid one of 1858 not excepted.” The Comet was first seen by a layman, and appeared at its brightest during the Summer months in North America. Its coming was heralded as a token of the great Civil War which broke out then in America. |
| 1862— | “Second Civil War Comet.” Another Comet of very peculiar appearance, with jets of flame flaring from its head, showed itself during the Summer months in North America. The Civil War was then at its height. The coming of the Comet was taken to herald the bloody battles of Shiloh, Williamsburg, Seven Days, Seven Pines, Cedar Mountain and Antietam, all fought that year after the Comet’s appearance. |
THE GREAT COMET OF 1843
AS SEEN ON MARCH 17 FROM BLACKHEATH, KENT.
| 1874— | Coggia’s Comet. This Comet was seen at its brightest over Southern France and Spain during the Summer months of that year. Spain was then in the throes of the bloody Carlist War. |
| Garfield’s Comet. | |
| 1881— | Garfield’s Comet. This Comet showed itself for a few nights only in March during the week following President Garfield’s inauguration. It was observed also in Russia. On March 13, Emperor Alexander II. of Russia, was assassinated with a bomb. Three months later President Garfield was assassinated in Washington. |
| War Comets. | |
| 1882— | Comet of Tel-el-Kebir. A Comet with two tails was seen at its brightest over Egypt during the first two weeks of September. Egypt was then in the midst of Arabi Pasha’s uprising against the British. On September 18, when the Comet was last seen, Arabi Pasha was overthrown by General Wolseley in the bloody battle of Tel-el-Kebir. |
| 1904-5— | Manchurian War Comet. From the early part of February, 1904, until Midsummer, 1905, Chinese observers recorded the appearance of a Comet over Northern China. Throughout that period Manchuria was ravaged by the bloody war between the Japanese and Russians. |
| Earthquake Comets. | |
| 1906— | San Francisco Comet. A Comet discovered by Ross on March 17, remaining visible for one month. Observed from the Lick Observatory in California. On April 17 came the California earthquake and burning of San Francisco. |
| 1908— | Morehouse’s Comet. Visible for more than a month, during the autumn. In Italy it was interpreted afterward as an omen foreboding the Messina earthquake late in the year. |
| This Year’s Comets. | |
| 1910— | Inness’ Comet, otherwise known as “1910 A”. An unexpected Comet of short duration during January. On the appearance of this Comet Madame de Thebes, a French astrologer, predicted floods and general disaster for France. The disappearance of the Comet in France was followed by unprecedented rains and floods which covered one-fourth of France with water and inundated Paris, completely submerging all the bridges over the Seine. Floods also in Italy and Germany. This Comet was likewise observed in China late in January, where it caused universal consternation. |
| 1910— | Pidoux’s Comet. Another unexpected Comet was first observed by Pidoux, in Geneva, during a few nights late in February. It is recorded astronomically as “1910 B”. Its fleeting observations by astronomers were followed by Socialist franchise riots in Germany and by the labour riots of Philadelphia, with widespread bloodshed between the rioters and the constabulary. |
| 1910— | Halley’s Comet of this year was first “picked up” by Dr. Wolf, in Germany. Already various astrologers have foretold disaster from its coming. It remains to be seen whether their predictions will come true. |
THE GREAT COMET OF 1882,
ON OCTOBER 9, AT 4 A. M.