DATES OF COMETS FOLLOWEDBY IMPORTANT EVENTS
DATES OF COMETS FOLLOWEDBY IMPORTANT EVENTS
A Comet preceded the death of Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome. Earthquake in Italy.
Suicide of Pontius Pilate, the judge who condemned Christ.
Halley’s Comet. Suicide of Nero, persecutor of Christians. Siege of Jerusalem.
A Comet shone 180 days over Cyprus. Earthquake in Cypress in which 10,000 persons perished.
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.
A Comet shone over Holy Land for 39 nights, followed by destructive earthquake in Holy Land.
One week’s Comet over Island of Rhodus. Earthquake in Rhodus, followed by famine and pestilence.
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.
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.
A Comet seen just before death of Constantine the Great.
Halley’s Comet. Beginning of tremendous migration of peoples which overran all Central Asia and Europe.
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.
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.
First appearance in Europe of Attila, “The Scourge of God,” and his Hunnic hordes.
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.
Death of Attila and end of his Hunnic empire.
Halley’s Comet. Merlin, the British seer, prophesied from this Comet. His prophesies came true.
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.
Terrible famine throughout civilized world, so that many people became cannibals.
A lance-shaped Comet over Italy. Ostro-Goths under Totila overrun Italy. Totila storms Rome.
Scimitar-shaped Comet over Arabia. Birth of Mohamet.
Another scimitar-shaped Comet over Arabia. Mohamet begins preaching the Koran.
Flight of Mohamet to Medina.
Fourth scimitar-shaped Comet over Arabia and Holy Land. Mohamet’s first battle for the new faith. His massacre of 700 Jews.
Last appearance of Mohamet’s Comet during first week of June. Death of Mohamet on June 8 at Medina.
A Comet seen during Coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of Rome.
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.
Halley’s Comet observed in France by King Louis the Debonair, who died from fear of it.
Disastrous flood in Italy, followed by plague.
Another Comet over Italy. Saracens invade Italy.
Comet with an immense tail over Italy, followed by disastrous earthquake.
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.”
A Comet over England and Scandinavia. Massacre of all Danes in England by King Ethelred.
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.
Comet over Italy and Germany. Emperor Henry IV. of Germany was excommunicated by the Pope, followed by war in Italy and Germany.
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.
Emperor Henry V. of Germany enters Rome and makes Pope prisoner.
Second crusade. Utter destruction of whole army of French and German crusaders.
Comet recorded by Hal Ben Rodoan, an Arab astronomer, over North Africa. Bloody revolt of Arab warriors in Morocco.
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.
Preaching of fifth crusade. Outbreak of “Guelph and Ghibelline” war between Emperor Frederick II. of Germany and Pope Gregory the IX.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A Comet of immense size shone for three months over northern Europe. Pestilence and famine in England, Poland and Russia.
Halley’s Comet. Pestilence in Germany. Holy Church is rent by the great schism, with rival popes at Rome and Avignon.
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.
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.
Chinese astronomers record a spear-shaped Comet over China. Tamerlane dies while invading China.
Halley’s Comet. Bloody war between the Christians and the Turks. Battle of Belgrade.
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.
Sword-shaped Comet over northern Europe, followed by Tartar invasion into Russia and Poland.
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.
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.
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.
St. Bartholomew’s Comet. Massacre of St. Bartholomew, when 30,000 Huguenots were slaughtered in France.
General persecution of Huguenots in France, followed by Civil War in France.
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.
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.”
“Eight things a Comet always brings,Wind, Famine, Plague and Death to Kings,War, Earthquake, Floods and Dire Things.”
“Eight things a Comet always brings,Wind, Famine, Plague and Death to Kings,War, Earthquake, Floods and Dire Things.”
“Eight things a Comet always brings,
Wind, Famine, Plague and Death to Kings,
War, Earthquake, Floods and Dire Things.”
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.
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.
Halley’s Comet. War in Italy. War in Hungary against the Turks.
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.
War between France, England and Spain.
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.
A Comet precedes earthquake of Lisbon, by which 40,000 people lost their lives.
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 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.
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.
THE GREAT COMET OF 1811.
“Napoleon’s Comet.” Seen one night only over France and over St. Helena the night before the death of Napoleon at St. Helena.
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.
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.
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.
Encke’s famous periodic Comet. Bloody revolutionary risings and civil wars in France, Hungary, Bohemia, Austria, Germany, Italy and Poland.
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.
“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.
“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 1843AS SEEN ON MARCH 17 FROM BLACKHEATH, KENT.
THE GREAT COMET OF 1843AS SEEN ON MARCH 17 FROM BLACKHEATH, KENT.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
THE GREAT COMET OF 1882,ON OCTOBER 9, AT 4 A. M.