Nicolas Flamel (1330 - 1418) is a prosperous scribe shop owner in Paris, France. He marries well and lives an illustrious life. At his death, his writings show no sign of the notoriety he achieves for discovery of the philosophers' stone and eternal life.
Nicolas Flamel
Nicolas Flamel is not born into wealth. He works diligently, offers his skills as scribe and eventually owns two scribal businesses. At this time before the printing press, good scribes are never out of a job.
His business acumen, and demand for written works such as religious texts, legal documents, and literary manuscripts allow Flamel to thrive in a competitive marketplace. Marriage to the daughter of a wealthy merchant in 1388 helps bring stability and prosperity.
Twice previously married to affluent men, Parenelle Flamel is known for philanthropy. She and Nicolas are generous patrons. They funds churches and hostels. Both devout Roman Catholics, they finance the creation of religious sculptures. Their images can be found in some.
It's a good marriage, with both Nicolas and Parenelle working at aspects of the business. They buy properties, which would pass onto their children, if they had any. The marriage remains childless. This may have started rumors even before the deaths of the couple.
Childlessness is viewed badly. Either one or the other fails to do the duty, or occult arts are involved. Later in the Renaissance of France, Catherine de' Medici (1518 - 1589) is suspected of messing in dark magic with the help of her astrologer.
This is partly due to her childless marriage with the King of France. For ten years they're barren. Then, Catherine has eight children one after another. Today it's believed Henry's penile deformity causes lack of pregnancy in the Queen. In Renaissance France its witchcraft.
Back in 14th century Paris Flamel builds his image as a public figure and contributes to the vibrant intellectual milieu of Paris. In his scribal houses he works with texts of philosophy, literature and alchemy, and gleans much knowledge from them.
He circulates among intellectual elites. The combination of profession, education, and position allows Flamel to cultivate a reputation of esteem in the literary community. Only after his death does his activity come into question.
The alchemical reputation of his wife Perenelle Flamel comes from the 1612 Booke of Hieroglyphicall Figures, allegedly written by Nicolas. Perenelle figures prominently in the introduction, where the character of Nicolas outlines his quest for the philosopher's stone.
In this story, Perenelle witnesses alchemical projections and aids in chrysopoeia. Nicolas' reputation as an author of alchemy and immortal adept is considered an invention of the 17th century, but everyone loves a good story.
Alchemy tends to arise in centers of intellect, such as Alexandria in the early centuries AD, the Islamic Golden Age and the vitality of the Renaissance. Alchemists are considered natural philosophers. The first appearance of the philosophers' stone in writing is in the 13th century.
By the time Nicholas is working, it's an idea whose time has come. Upon his death in 1418, rumors spread through Paris. Talk of alchemy, the mystic lapis and the elixir of immortality mold his image as a seeker of eternal life.
The lapis philosophorum, said to have or give the ability of turning base metals into gold, curing disease, providing eternal life, synthesizing purple and many more miraculous feats becomes synonymous with the legacy of Flamel. But how does this happen?
Nicolas Flamel is inexorably linked to alchemy even though no evidence of alchemical experiments, texts or even a weird symbol is found among his effects. Yet, people believe Flamel and his wife know the secrets to a powerful magical medium.
One reason stories circulate is due to the wealth of Monsieur and Madame Flamel. There are those who do not believe the Flamels come into money due to hard work and keen business sense. There must be a supernatural connection.
Sociologically speaking this is a common assumption of many non-moneyed individuals, who also work hard but get pittance for it. Later in history, stories of the magical stone are replaced or bolstered with those of selling one's soul to the devil for wealth.
Mention of soul-selling is found in c. 680, the 16th and 17th centuries, and is the subject of Goethe's Faust in 1808. Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (c. 1480 -1540). Selling one's soul is now a timeworn cliché.
It's probable Flamel and/or his wife indulge in alchemy experiments. Alchemy is a major object of discussion and practice within the social circles they frequent. It's considered natural philosophy, part of the reason alchemists are rarely persecuted as witches.
By the 14th century alchemy has been practiced for centuries. Alchemy comes from ancient metallurgy and techniques of coloring metal and gems. Metallurgists already have reputations for mystical chthonic connections. Alchemy also comes from ancient herbology and medicine.
In some tales, Flamel gains his knowledge from a Jew he meets on his travels. The man tells Flamel the nature and manifestation of the stone of philosophers. It's odd for a medieval Jew to dump secrets of wealth and life into the lap of a staunch Catholic, but so the story goes.
In another version the Jewish traveler gives Flamel a book holding the secrets of eternal life and wealth, which Flamel and Perenelle study at home. Many more stories are concocted. It's not so much superstition as supposition.
The first recorded alchemist is Mary the Jewess. Her legacy is widely known in alchemical circles, having passed from Alexandria to Islam and thence through Europe. After the 16th century Mary is called Maria the Prophetess or Maria Prophitessa, and she is a legend.
Among the connections of Jews to gold are the limitations imposed by authorities on Jews, restricting them to lower-status occupations like tax collection, rent collection, and moneylending. Catholic doctrines prohibit Christians from lending money for interest.
Jews are often linked to gold in popular culture and history. Due to persecution Jews in the Middle Ages are secretive about their activities. This creates an aura of mystique but also rouses suspicion among nobles and commoners alike, and imagination adds the details.
Imaginations of academics and intellectuals also create invisible Rosicrucians in the 1600s. They invent Bernard Trevisan, not to mention a 2000-year basis for fabrication of alchemical mysticism. Isaac Newton (1642-1727) risks his reputation in the quest to turn lead to gold.
After Flamel, information and speculation trickle into the greater populace, and once the gossip gets started there's no stopping it. Suddenly every move Flamel makes when he's alive becomes rife with alchemical significance and hidden meaning.
By the 17th century talk of Flamel and his fictional secret again make the rounds of the intelligentsia. He's now a historical figure, and interest in his tale is the hope for a glimpse into the mystic. By the 18th century he's a Romantic figure, larger in death than ever in life.
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