Cosimo Ruggeri is an Italian astrologer, alchemist, haruspex, favorite and advisor to the queen regent of France, Catherine de Medici. Cosimo Ruggeri is the focus of numerous legends and known as a skilled practitioner of the occult, black magic, and witchcraft.
In the volatile atmosphere of the 16th century French court, Cosimo Ruggeri stands out not for his mastery of the mystical arts and his scandalous reputation. An alchemist, haruspex, and astrologer, Ruggeri has influence over the French Queen Catherine de' Medici.
Catherine herself is a powerful woman known for fierce political acumen, rumors of dark magic, and her role in the French Religious Wars of Catholics vs. Huguenots. She's especially implicated in the St Bartholomew's Massacre of 1572, in which up to 25,000 are killed.
Cosimo Ruggeri is born in Italy and called Côme Ruggieri in France. Alchemy, a blend of early chemistry, medicine, metallurgy, gemology, mysticism, and philosophy is a prominent pursuit especially among the wealthy Italian families such as the Medici of Florence.
His charismatic, sinister charm opens doors. By the time he arrives at the French court, he has already carved a niche for himself as a trusted advisor to the rich and powerful. He is a haruspex, one who interprets omens in the entrails, especially liver, of a sacrificed animal.
As an astrologer he uses the stars and planets to provide insights and innuendo into the fateful decisions made by the ruling elite. Ruggeri's presence at the French court coincides
with a period marked by religious conflict and political maneuverings.
Cosimo Ruggeri comes to the French court in 1571, part of Tuscan ambassador Petrucci's entourage. Renowned for academic proficiency, he instructs Queen Elisabeth of Austria in the Italian language but later loses her favor due to his occult attachments.
He earns the confidence of the Austrian queen mother, who consults him on political affairs based on his professed prophetic talents. Rumor has it that he even influences her through his alleged mastery of the mystical arts.
Summoned by Catherine de Medici following a prophecy by Luca Gaurico, the Bishop of Civita-Ducale, that "St. Gervais shall see you [her] die," Because of his occult knowledge Ruggeri is invited by Catherine as an astrological advisor.
To persuade him to remain, Catherine grants him the Abbey of St. Mahé in Brittany. It's said Ruggeri accurately foretells the monarchy of three of her sons to Catherine de Medici, along with duration of their reigns, using an enchanted mirror at Chaumont-sur-Loire.
Catherine de' Medici is now a Queen regent in a time of hostility and strife. Catherine is disliked by the French who call her "the Italian woman." Her apparent involvement with the occult does nothing to improve her reputation.
Cosimo makes friends with queen's favorites Concino Concini and Leonora Dori. Ruggeri’s services are invaluable amidst the complexities of court life. The French admire his apparent gift of prophecy, and his knack for making alchemical potions with fun and fizzy effects.
His close ties to Catherine, a queen already under scrutiny for her unconventional methods and alliances, intensifies the gossip. The French court abounds with superstition, and Ruggeri, with his mysterious practices, becomes a target for suspicion.
Some courtiers believe his astrological readings influence Catherine's policies, such as when to engage in battle or to marry off her children. His success in providing guidance through turbulent political times fuels the perception he wields an unnatural control over fate.
Rumors swirl around his alchemical experiments. Many claim he dabbles in dark arts, including necromancy or communication with the dead, and witchcraft, the use of supernatural forces to harm others.
The climate of an increasingly paranoid court means Ruggeri's scandalous reputation quickly builds. Accusations of sorcery and manipulation reveal the fear of many courtiers regarding the extent of his influence over the queen's decisions.
Critics brand him as a charlatan trying to wield power through illusion and deceit. Others are drawn inexplicably to his charisma and inexplicable gifts.
In 1574, after the death of Charles IX, he's named in a plot to assassinate Joseph Boniface de La Môle by using sorcery to kill the king. He's arrested and sentenced to the galleys. It's not enforced and he's pardoned in 1585, believed due to his connection to the queen mother.
In 1589, Catherine de' Mecidi dies of complications from a lung infrection or pleursy. In 1598, Cosimo Ruggeri faces prosecution for supposedly creating a doll of Henry IV of France with the intention of using sorcery to cause harm. Ultimately, he is acquitted.
Upon the death of Cosimo in Paris 1615, rumors of his involvement in magic lead to riots. The rumors are fueled by his refusal to receive the sacrament on his deathbed, which prompts people to descry Cosimo Ruggeri as a sorcerer.
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