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Once in a while a spectacular individual walks on the world stage, with the ability to dazzle and confuse in equal measure. The Comte de Saint Germain was such a person. Although he proclaimed to have a French title, no one knew his name and his origins remained a unknown throughout his life. He charmed the high society of Europe with his vast knowledge and wit, which only made the mystery all the more enticing to all whom met him.
Comte de Saint Germain: Man of Mystery
A talented violinist, painter, jeweler, alchemist and proficient in at least seven languages; there seemingly wasn't anything the Comte de Saint Germain couldn't do. For all of his talents, there was one aspect of his life that really got the tongues wagging. Like most things, his exact birth date was unknown and this fact led to rumours developing that he was immortal. Some even speculated that he had met Jesus and that he was present at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE.
Voltaire would feed these whispers when he said of him, "a man who knows everything and never dies". Voltaire had meant this as a criticism of the famous conversationalist's loquaciousness, although many took this seriously and the Comte de Saint Germain seemed not to have discouraged the speculation. In fact, when prodded about his age , he would remark that he may well be at least a century old. Be that as it may, his first documented appearance occurred in 1743, when he was arrested in London for being a spy.
He left Britain approximately two years later and his whereabouts for the next decade remain unknown. We pick up the scent again in 1758, when he emerges in France after fulfilling diplomatic missions for this nation, where his many talents also made a him fixture at the Palace of Versailles. France would also be where some of the more outlandish tales begin to clump around him. For example, it was reported that he was never seen eating and only drank a mysterious liquid from a vial, which many believed was his elixir of youth. By 1760 the mysterious man had become a favourite of Louis XV and Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, the king's mistress, but accusations of spying forced him to flee once again.
The Comte de Saint Germain would travel around Europe, entertaining the courts of Europe with his skills and tall tales. In 1776 he would appear in Germany. Three years later he would travel to Hamburg, where he befriended Prince Karl of Hess-Kassel, who would let him live as a guest at his residence at Eckernförde. On February 27, 1784 pneumonia killed the man thought to be immortal, though not before a surprise confession. Using his last breath, the Comte de Saint Germain stated that he was in fact the third son of Francis II Rákóczi, the prince of Prince of Transylvania. He also claimed he had spent much of his early life at the University of Siena, which was a explanation his vast knowledge.
A great number of stories grew up after the Comte de Saint Germain's death. It was reported that he was seen with Anton Mesmer in 1785, and that it was the enigmatic immortal who imparted to him the knowledge of hypnosis. Comtesse d'Adhémar said that he informed her of France's future after the storming of the Bastille in 1789. By the late 1800's, the occultist Helena Blavatsky would claim that he was still alive and was still working towards the spiritual development of the West.
Who was Comte de Saint Germain? The period he lived in was pervaded with larger than life figures such as Alessandro Cagliostro and Giacomo Casanova, who created notoriety almost through sheer force of personality alone. In all likelihood, the Comte de Saint Germain was a aristocrat who had fallen on hard times and who used his skills to scratch out a living, but his fantastical tales found fertile ground and continued to blossom even to this day.
Thank you for reading!
Once in a while a spectacular individual walks on the world stage, with the ability to dazzle and confuse in equal measure. The Comte de Saint Germain was such a person. Although he proclaimed to have a French title, no one knew his name and his origins remained a unknown throughout his life. He charmed the high society of Europe with his vast knowledge and wit, which only made the mystery all the more enticing to all whom met him.
Comte de Saint Germain: Man of Mystery
A talented violinist, painter, jeweler, alchemist and proficient in at least seven languages; there seemingly wasn't anything the Comte de Saint Germain couldn't do. For all of his talents, there was one aspect of his life that really got the tongues wagging. Like most things, his exact birth date was unknown and this fact led to rumours developing that he was immortal. Some even speculated that he had met Jesus and that he was present at the Council of Nicea in 325 CE.
Voltaire would feed these whispers when he said of him, "a man who knows everything and never dies". Voltaire had meant this as a criticism of the famous conversationalist's loquaciousness, although many took this seriously and the Comte de Saint Germain seemed not to have discouraged the speculation. In fact, when prodded about his age , he would remark that he may well be at least a century old. Be that as it may, his first documented appearance occurred in 1743, when he was arrested in London for being a spy.
He left Britain approximately two years later and his whereabouts for the next decade remain unknown. We pick up the scent again in 1758, when he emerges in France after fulfilling diplomatic missions for this nation, where his many talents also made a him fixture at the Palace of Versailles. France would also be where some of the more outlandish tales begin to clump around him. For example, it was reported that he was never seen eating and only drank a mysterious liquid from a vial, which many believed was his elixir of youth. By 1760 the mysterious man had become a favourite of Louis XV and Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, the king's mistress, but accusations of spying forced him to flee once again.
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| "Decoration for a Masked Ball at Versailles, on the Occasion of the Marriage of Louis, Dauphin of France, and Maria Theresa, Infanta of Spain" by Charles Nicolas Cochin I. |
The Comte de Saint Germain would travel around Europe, entertaining the courts of Europe with his skills and tall tales. In 1776 he would appear in Germany. Three years later he would travel to Hamburg, where he befriended Prince Karl of Hess-Kassel, who would let him live as a guest at his residence at Eckernförde. On February 27, 1784 pneumonia killed the man thought to be immortal, though not before a surprise confession. Using his last breath, the Comte de Saint Germain stated that he was in fact the third son of Francis II Rákóczi, the prince of Prince of Transylvania. He also claimed he had spent much of his early life at the University of Siena, which was a explanation his vast knowledge.
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| "Portrait of Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II" by Ádám Mányoki. |
A great number of stories grew up after the Comte de Saint Germain's death. It was reported that he was seen with Anton Mesmer in 1785, and that it was the enigmatic immortal who imparted to him the knowledge of hypnosis. Comtesse d'Adhémar said that he informed her of France's future after the storming of the Bastille in 1789. By the late 1800's, the occultist Helena Blavatsky would claim that he was still alive and was still working towards the spiritual development of the West.
Who was Comte de Saint Germain? The period he lived in was pervaded with larger than life figures such as Alessandro Cagliostro and Giacomo Casanova, who created notoriety almost through sheer force of personality alone. In all likelihood, the Comte de Saint Germain was a aristocrat who had fallen on hard times and who used his skills to scratch out a living, but his fantastical tales found fertile ground and continued to blossom even to this day.
Thank you for reading!
I found your blog after reading an article you wrote about sea shanties. I enjoy your content. I'm disappointed to see you haven't made any new posts in a while. I wish you luck with your future writing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind comment.
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