Part 11

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.