Nicolas Flamel: Medieval French Alchemist, Philanthropist and Immortal

Nicolas Flamel, a figure shrouded in mystery and legend, is often remembered as one of history’s most enigmatic alchemists. Born in the 14th century in Paris, Flamel’s life and legacy have become intertwined with tales of alchemy, mystical pursuits, and the quest for the philosopher’s stone.

While much of Flamel’s life remains clouded in historical ambiguity, his contributions to alchemy and his enduring influence on literature and popular culture make him a fascinating subject of study.

Nicolas Flamel was born around 1330 into a humble family, likely in the region of Pontoise, France. Little is known about his early life.

There is no indication that the real Flamel of history was involved in alchemy, pharmacy or medicine.

According to one theory, Flamel was a real person, and he may have dabbled in alchemy, but his reputation as an author and immortal adeptcould bean invention of the seventeenth century.

The historical Flamel lived in Paris in the 14th and 15th centuries. He ran two shops and established himself as a scribe and manuscript-seller.

Flamel’s association with books and written knowledge would later play a crucial role in his alchemical pursuits. Central to his alchemical endeavors was the elusive quest for the philosopher’s stone, a legendary substance believed to have the power to transmute base metals into gold and grant immortality.

He married a lady named Perenelle in 1368. She brought the wealth of two previous husbands to the marriage.

The French Catholic couple owned several properties and contributed financially to churches, sometimes by commissioning sculptures. Later in life, they were noted for their wealth and philanthropy.

One of the most famous stories surrounding Flamel involves an encounter with a mysterious stranger who allegedly handed him a book containing the secrets of alchemy. According to texts ascribed to Flamel almost 200 years after his death, he had learned alchemical secrets from a Jewish converso on the road to Santiago de Compostela.

An alchemical book, published in Paris in 1612 as Livre des figures hiéroglyphiques and in London in 1624 as Exposition of the Hieroglyphical Figures was attributed to Flamel.

It is a collection of designs purportedly commissioned by Flamel for a tympanum at the Cimetière des Innocents in Paris, long disappeared at the time the work was published. In the publisher’s introduction, Flamel’s search for the philosopher’s stone was described.

According to that introduction, Flamel had made it his life’s work to understand the text of a mysterious 21-page book he had purchased in 1357, at the cost of two florins.

The introduction claims that, around 1378, he traveled to Spain for assistance with translation. On the way back, he reported that he met a sage, who identified Flamel’s book as being a copy of the original Book of Abramelin the Mage.

According to legend, Flamel and his wife, Pernelle, devoted themselves to deciphering the enigmatic text and, after years of study, successfully created the philosopher’s stone.

With this knowledge, over the next few years, Flamel and his wife allegedly decoded enough of the book to successfully replicate its recipe for the Lapis Philosophorum, producing first silver in 1382 and then gold.

The essence of his reputation are claims that he succeeded at the two goals of alchemy: that he made the philosopher’s stone, which turns base metals into gold, and that he and his wife, Perenelle, achieved immortality through the “Elixir of Life”.

While historical evidence for these claims is scarce, they have contributed to the enduring mystique surrounding Flamel.

Flamel lived into his 80s, and in 1410 designed his own tombstone, which was carved with the images of Jesus Christ, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The tombstone is preserved at the Musée de Cluny in Paris.

Records show that Flamel died in 1418. He was buried in Paris at the end of the nave of the former Church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie. His will, dated 22 November 1416, indicates that he was generous but that he did not have the extraordinary wealth of later alchemical legend.

One of Flamel’s houses still stands in Paris, at 51 rue de Montmorency. It is the oldest stone house in the city. There is an old inscription on the wall, which states, “We, plowmen and women living at the porch of this house, built in 1407, are requested to say every day an ‘Our Father’ and an ‘Ave Maria’ praying God that His grace forgive poor and dead sinners.”

As of 2008, the ground floor housed a restaurant. A Paris street near the Tour Saint-Jacques, the rue Nicolas Flamel, has been named after him; it intersects with the rue Perenelle, named after his wife.

Contrary to the stereotypical portrayal of alchemists as reclusive and secretive, Flamel was known for his philanthropy. He used his wealth, whether acquired through alchemical pursuits or other means, to fund various charitable endeavors in Paris.

Flamel established hospitals, chapels, and schools, leaving a lasting impact on the community. His charitable acts not only endeared him to the public but also served to perpetuate the legend of his alchemical success.

Flamel’s reputation transcends historical accounts, finding a prominent place in literature and popular culture. His character has been featured in numerous works, including novels, plays, and films, often portrayed as a wise and mysterious alchemist.

The concept of the philosopher’s stone and the pursuit of immortality continue to captivate the imagination of storytellers and audiences alike, with Flamel serving as a symbol of the alchemical quest for knowledge and transformation.

Nicolas Flamel’s life remains shrouded in mystery, with historical records often blending with myth and legend.

Whether or not Flamel achieved the alchemical feats attributed to him is a matter of debate, but his legacy endures through the impact of his charitable contributions and the enduring fascination with the mystical pursuit of the philosopher’s stone.

Flamel’s story serves as a testament to the human desire for knowledge, transformation, and the enduring power of myth and legend in shaping our understanding of history.

And you, what do you think about Flamel’s story and alchemy and immortals in general? Let us know in the comments below and share the post!!!

Video version here:

Nicolas Flamel – Medieval French Alchemist, Philanthropist and Immortal

Interesting sources, additional info, images, credits, attributions and other points of views here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Flamel

https://alchemywebsite.com/flamel.html

Étienne François Villain, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nicolas_Flamel_Histoire_critique.jpg

Musée de Cluny, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pierre_tombale_de_Nicolas_Flamel.jpeg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:House_of_Nicolas_Flamel,_Paris_June_2005.jpg

Thiebes at English Wikipedia, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons