=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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: THE GREAT COMET OF 1882, ON OCTOBER 9, AT 4 A. M.]