In the investigation, two assumptions were made :

      1 - All data, given by Nostradamus, are according to the Julian calendar, which was used in his lifetime.
      2 - Nostradamus calculated the zodiacal longitude of the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Caput Draconis (also called Dragon’s Head, North Lunar Node or Mean Lunar Node). He also calculated the zodiacal longitudes of the Fixed Stars and used the conjunction, the square and the opposition.¹

   In the Epistle to Henry II, Nostradamus writes that the beginning date of the first set of predictions in this Epistle is in the present time, i.e. March 14, 1557. This set of predictions seems to be based on the quatrains in the eighth, ninth and tenth century and covers a period, which ends at the beginning of the seventh millennium.

   At first sight, there are two possibilities regarding the beginning date of the time span of the quatrains: March 1, 1555 and March 14, 1557. Quatrain 03-56 contains the clue to the actual beginning date.

   The fourth line refers to a period of 607 years and 23 days. If this period is added to March 1, 1555, the date of the letter to Cesar, the fulfilment date of this quatrain is March 24, 2162. This date corresponds with the second line, in which it reads that things will occur close to the end of March.

   If the period of 607 years and 23 days is added to March 14, 1557, the date in the Epistle to Henry II, the fulfilment date is April 6, 2164. This date does not correspond with the second line.

   The conclusion is that the time span of the quatrains begins at March 1, 1555. Nostradamus wrote this in his letter to Cesar, it is confirmed by quatrain 03-56.

   The Epistle to Henry II precedes the eighth, ninth and tenth century, the remaining part of the quatrains. The earliest date on which one of these quatrains will be fulfilled, is March 14, 1557.

   The date on which the world has been created, can not be derived from the letter to Cesar. In this letter, Nostradamus gives an astrological reference to the date on which the world will end. We saw already that, according to this letter, the final date of the time span of the quatrains is in 3797.

   In the Epistle to Henry II, one can also find an astrological reference to the date on which the world will end. From the Epistle, the date of the creation of the world is derived.

   Nostradamus presents two timetables regarding the time span of the Old Testament. The first timetable, based on the Bible, astrology and ideas of Nostradamus, has two totals: 4757 and 4758 years. The difference of one year is caused by various estimations of the time span of the period Abraham - Moses. Addition to 3797, the end year of the time span of the quatrains, results in an existence of the world of 8554 or 8555 years.

   The second timetable, based on the Bible, covers a time span of 4092 years. Addition to 3797 results in an existence of the world of 7889 years.

   Next to the second timetable, Nostradamus gives a total of 4173 years and 8 months. Addition to 3797, this results in an existence of the world of 7970 years and 8 months.

   Since Nostradamus counts 8000 years for the existence of the world, the first timetable is obsolete. The second timetable can not be used without alterations. The period Creation - Noach counts 1506 years (mil cinq cens et six), according to the second timetable. According to data, given in the Old Testament (Genesis 5,3 until 5,28), this period counts 1056 years (mil cinquante et six). Here we find a printer’s error. Next, the time span of 490 years of the period Temple - Jesus is not correct. The period Temple - End Babylon exile covers a time span of 502 years and 3 months, according to data, given in 1 Kings 11,42 until 2 Chronicle 36,21. According to the calculation, given by Nostradamus in his Almanach povr l’an m.d.lxvi, the period Temple - Jesus covers a time span of 1087 years. According to the Dutch 1941-Vreede-translation of the prophecies, this period covers a time span of 1020 years, but it is not clear on what calculations the total of 1020 years is based. Joseph Juste Scaliger, historian, son of Jules Cesar Scaliger, counts for this period 1014 years.²

   The total of 4173 years and 8 months is the only total which can be used to determine the date of the creation of the world according to Nostradamus.³ The end of the period of 4173 years and 8 months is marked by the birth of Jesus. In the investigation, His birth is dated on December 25, 1 BC. This means that the date of the creation of the world is 4173 years and 8 months before the birth of Jesus, i.e. April 25, 4174 BC.

   Nostradamus counts eight millennia, 8000 years, for the existence of the world. Counting from April 25, 4174 BC, this means that the world will end on April 25, 3827.

   In the Epistle to Henry II, Nostradamus writes that Saturn will bring a golden age. The nature of this age corresponds with the nature of the biblical kingdom of 1000 years, when Satan will be imprisoned for about 1000 years and then will be released.

   On the base of the contents of the letters, the conclusion is that Nostradamus writes about the planets in their function of millennium rulers. The Moon rules the sixth millennium, in which Nostradamus lives. The Sun rules the seventh millennium and Saturn rules the last millennium, the eight. The sixth millennium runs from April 25, 827, until April 25, 1827. The seventh millennium runs from April 25, 1827, until April 25, 2827. The eighth millennium runs from April 25, 2827, until April 25, 3827.

   Nostradamus does not write which planets rule the first, second, third, fourth and fifth millennium. In the investigation, it is assumed that Saturn rules both the eighth and first millennium. In astrology Saturn rules time. Ruling the first and the last millennium, he is the “alpha and omega”. One cann not say anything about the rulers of the second, third, fourth and fifth millennium. In the investigation, the hypothesis is maintained that Jupiter rules the second millennium, Mars the third, Venus the fourth and Mercury the fifth millennium.

   Quatrain 01-48 and quatrain 10-74

   In two quatrains, one can read that Nostradamus counts with 8000 years for the existence of the world and uses the planets in the function of millennium rulers.

   The first line. The twenty years of reign of the Moon (vingt ans du règne de la Lune) are twenty years in the life of Nostradamus. He lived in the sixth millennium, which was ruled by the Moon.

   The second line. The other who holds his monarchy (autre tiendra sa monarchie) is Satan. Satan rules humanity from the moment of the original sin until the beginning of the kingdom of 1000 years. The kingship of Satan lasts 7000 years.

   The third line. The tired days of the Sun (les jours lassés du Soleil) refer to the end of the rulership of the Sun over the seventh millennium. This line refers to 2827, the fulfilment year of this quatrain, the year in which the seventh millennium turns into the eighth.

   The first line. The turn of the great seventh number (révolu du grand nombre septième) refers to the turning of the seventh millennium into the eighth. This line gives the fulfilment year of this quatrain: 2827, the year in which the seventh millennium turns into the eighth..

   The second line. The “game of slaughter” (Jeux d’Hécatombe) is a phrasing of the war which is described in Revelations 19,21. There it reads that the supporters of the Beast and the false prophet are killed. In his letter to Cesar, Nostradamus refers also to this war, writing that Saturn will bring a revolution (revolution anagorique) which brings death.

   The third line. The “great millennium age” (grand age millième) is the biblical kingdom of 1000 years, the eighth millennium. In the Epistle to Henry II, this age is called the “golden age, brought by Saturn”.

   The fourth line. Those who entered and go out of their tombs (les entrés sortiront de leur tombe) are the ones who, according to Revelations 20,4, have died because of their testimony of Jesus. They rise from the dead and rule with Jesus for 1000 years like kings. In his letter to Cesar, Nostradamus refers also to these events, writing that Saturn will bring a revolution (revolution anagorique) which brings life. In the Epistle to Henry II, he also refers to these events, writing that the Church will have her greatest power.

   These quatrains are one with the letters, regarding the number of years of existence of the world and the time structure which Nostradamus made.

      1 - Astrology has no function in the determination process of the nature of the events, described in the quatrains. The nature of the events is determined by the nature of the “imaginations” (visions) and “inspiration”, which in the Epistle to Henry II is called “natural instinct”.
      2 - Nostradamus used astrology to determine where the predictions will be fulfilled.
      3 - Nostradamus used astrology to determine when the predictions will be fulfilled.

   The use of astrology to determine when predictions will be fulfilled, indicates the application of a progression system. A progression system can be defined as an astrological system in which distance is converted in time by means of a time enlargement factor.

   In his letter to Cesar, Nostradamus gives an astrological reference to the date on which the world will end. He writes about the last conflagration, when Mars completes his cycle and is in the last part of it and will begin a new one. This “last conflagration” refers to a conjunction of a planet with the Sun (the Moon excepted). Nostradamus briefly specifies the configuration circumstances of this conjunction: Mars completes its cycle, is in the last part of it and will begin a new one. This means: Mars is in Pisces, heading for Aries, being direct, i.e. not retrograde. The words “last conflagration” can also be interpreted as a conjunction in Pisces, the last sign of the Zodiac. In that case, the Sun is in Pisces, which means that Mars is direct. In addition, it can be postulated that Mars is behind the Sun, not involved in the “last conflagration”. It also means that after this “last conflagration” there are no more conjunctions of the Sun with a planet in the remaining part of Pisces.

   Such a situation occurred indeed in Nostradamus lifetime : on February 27, 1554. On that date, the zodiacal longitude of Mars was 15:38:00 Pisces. The Sun was conjunct Saturn on 18:50:37 Pisces. There were no other planets between the 19th and the last degree of Pisces.

   The words “last conflagration” are also a reference to the “second death”, which is described in Revelations 20,14-15. This “second death” is a death by fire, which takes place after the Last Judgment. This is the last death by fire (last conflagration) in the Bible. Next (cf. Revelations 21,1 and next verses) there will be a new heaven and a new earth. This is all at the end of the eighth millennium, April 25, 3827.

   In his letter to Cesar, Nostradamus refers to February 27, 1554, the end date of the period in which he got imaginations, and April 25, 3827, the date on which the world will end. There is a connection between these data. In astrological sense, such a connection can only be a connection on the base of a progression system.

   According to quatrain 01-48, Nostradamus got imaginations during at least 20 years. Checking the zodiacal longitudes of Saturn which are given in the quatrains, directly or indirectly, this assumption has to be adjusted to a period of at least 24 years. Quatrain 08-49 is the quatrain with the earliest astrological reference: August 11, 1527. On that date, Saturn was in Taurus, Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Sagittarius, according to the first line of this quatrain. Quatrain 05-91 is the quatrain with the latest astrological reference : June 6, 1551. On that date, Saturn retrograde was in Aquarius in opposition with Mars in Leo, according to the fourth line of this quatrain.

   Nostradamus does not mention the beginning date of the “imagination period”. In the investigation, this date is calculated on the base of linear extrapolation of the movement of the Caput Draconis. The beginning date is fixed at October 16, 1524. The end date of the “imagination period” is February 27, 1554.⁴

   Nostradamus got imaginations during more than 29 years. He composed the quatrains on the base of the contents of these imaginations. The Caput Draconis is the astrological factor with which he calculated fulfilment data. The time enlargement factor is 4. The progression system is called the “CD4-system” :

   The first line. In the imagination period (October 16, 1524 - February 27, 1554) only once a Mars-Jupiter conjunction occurred when Saturn was in Cancer. This was around December 26, 1532. On that day, the zodiacal longitude of the Caput Draconis was 7:07:36 Virgo. The distance between this longitude and 15:36:51 Aquarius, the longitude on October 16, 1524, was converted in years and days by multiplication with 4. The result was added to March 1, 1555, the beginning date of the time span of the quatrain. This results in February 10, 2189, the fulfilment date of this quatrain, which corresponds with the second line of this quatrain.

   The second line. Nostradamus specifies the date: February 6. He does not give a year.

   The first line. In the imagination period, on August 11, 1527, there was a configuration in which Saturn was in Taurus, Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Sagittarius. The zodiacal longitude of the Caput Draconis was 21:07:48 Sagittarius. Its distance to 15:36:51 Aquarius, the longitude on October 16, 1524, was converted in years and days by multiplication with 4. The result was added to March 1, 1555, the beginning date of the time span of this quatrain. This results in February 6, 1773, the fulfilment date of this quatrain, which corresponds with the second line of this quatrain.

   Nostradamus does not give data. The investigation showed that the zodiacal positions, listed by Nostradamus, occurred shortly before midnight in the night of December 31, 1605 to January 1, 1606 (Julian calendar). The retrogradation periods occurred during 1606.

   After the Mercury-Jupiter conjunction on January 6, 1606, there were four squares between Mars and Mercury: January 6, March 13, August 11 and November 1, 1606. Nostradamus does not write which of these squares is the relevant one.

   On January 19, 1606, there is a Sun-Jupiter conjunction in Aquarius. This conjunction is in trine aspect with the Caput Draconis in Libra with an orb of 6 degrees of arc. But no progression system can be derived from whatever astrological factor in the period December 31, 1605 - January 19, 1606.

   On February 24, 1607, the Sun is conjunct Jupiter on 15:25:10 Pisces. This conjunction is in opposition with the Caput Draconis on 12:40:49 Virgo.

   A period is at stake, which runs from December 31, 1605, until February 24, 1607. This period is called the “aspect period”.

   On December 31, 1605, the zodiacal longitude of the Caput Draconis is 4:53:36 Libra. Until February 24, 1607, he covers a distance of 22:12:47. In decimals: 22,2131.

   The fulfilment period of the second set of predictions in the letter to Henry II runs from January 1, 1606, until April 25, 3827. This is 2221 years and 115 days. In decimals: 2221,31.

   In the case of the second set of predictions to Henry II, the Caput Draconis is the factor by which fulfilment data are calculated. The time enlargement factor is 100. The progression system has been called: the CD100-system :

   The CD4-system and the CD100-system confirm the arithmetical correctness of the millennium model as reconstructed in the investigation. April 25, 3827, the end date of the millennium model, is the end date of the time span of the second set of predictions in the Epistle to Henry II and corresponds by progression with the “last conflagration” in the letter to Cesar.

   Nostradamus writes to Henry II that Satan is imprisoned for about 1000 years. This does not correspond with Revelations 20,3 and 20,7, in which it reads that Satan will be released “as the 1000 years have passed”. Since the end of the world, i.e. the Last Judgment and the second death, coincide with the end of the eighth millennium, it has been assumed that Nostradamus counted 29 years and 167 days for the last war of Satan and the heavenly armies, i.e. the average time span of a full rotation of Saturn. Counting backwards from April 25, 3827, this results in November 9, 3797, being the date of release of Satan. This also means that November 9, 3797, is the closing date of the quatrains.

   Nostradamus writes to Cesar that his “late arrival” was the reason to elaborate his quatrains. By itself, this line means that all quatrains were composed before his birth. These data confirm this.

   A serious point of discussion might be whether or not these results are like cornerstones of fundaments.

   These results invite us also to discuss other themes. For instance, one might say that the letter to Cesar is indeed directed to Cesar and the Epistle to Henry II is indeed directed to Henry II. The Epistle indeed preceded the last three centuries. Both the letter to Cesar and the Epistle to Henry II were written by Nostradamus, given the fact that both refer to April 25, 3827, being the date on which the world will end.

   Another point of discussion is whether astrology plays a major role in the composing of the quatrains by means of calculating fulfilment data. Such a role would be according to a remark in the Epistle to Henry II, that astrological calculations were added to most of the quatrains. It also would mean that Nostradamus considered his imaginations (visions) as chronological, since astrology is chronological and fulfilment data were calculated by means of a progression system. In the end, he arranged the quatrains at random. Hence, do we get a glimpse on the composing process of the quatrains ?

   The quatrains

   The first set of predictions to Henry II

   The second set of predictions to Henry II

   Nostradamus gives astrological configurations only for the date on which the world will end. The configuration of February 27, 1554, is the end date of the “imagination period”. The configuration of February 24, 1607, is the end date of the “aspect period”.

   According to Nostradamus, the end of the world coincides with the end of the eighth millennium. Because of this, he counts 970 years for the time span of the biblical kingdom of 1000 years. He writes to Henry II that this time span is around 1000 years. In the Bible, the time span of the kingdom of 1000 years is 1000 years. Satan is released after the end of these 1000 years.