Nostradamus, born Michel de Nostredame in 1503, was a French astrologer, physician, and reputed seer. He is best known for his book, Les Prophéties, published in 1555, which contains a collection of 942 poetic quatrains. These quatrains are often interpreted as predictions of future events, leading to his lasting fame as a prophet. Despite his popularity, many scholars argue that Nostradamus's writings are vague and open to interpretation. His work has been analyzed for centuries, with various interpretations linking his quatrains to historical events, such as the rise of Napoleon and the World Wars.