He was a brilliant alchemist who, it is believed, discovered the secret of eternal life. He courted Europe's rich and famous for hundreds of years... and some believe he still lives.Is it possible that a man can achieve immortality - to live forever? That is the startling claim of a historical figure known as Count de Saint-Germain.
Records date his birth to the late 1600s, although some believe that his longevity reaches back to the time of Christ.
He has appeared many times throughout history - even as recently as the 1970s - always appearing to be about 45 years old.
He was known by many of the most famous figures of European history, including Casanova, Madame de Pampadour, Voltaire, King Louis XV, Catherine the Great, Anton Mesmer and others.
Who was this mysterious man? Are the stories of his immortality mere legend and folklore? Or is it possible that he really did discover the secret of defeating death?
Origins
When the man who first became known as Saint-Germain was born is unknown, although most accounts say he was born in the 1690s.
A genealogy compiled by Annie Besant for her co-authored book,
The Comte De St. Germain: The Secret of Kings, asserts that he was born the son of Francis Racoczi II, Prince of Transylvania in 1690.
Other accounts, taken less seriously by most, say he was alive in the time of Jesus and attended the wedding at Cana, where the young Jesus turned water into wine.
He was also said to be present at the council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.
What is almost unanimously agreed on, however, is that Saint-Germain became accomplished in the art of alchemy, the mystical "science" that strives to control the elements.
The foremost goal of this practice was the creation of "projection powder" or the elusive "philosopher's stone," which, it was claimed, when added to the molten form of such base metals as lead could turn them into pure silver or gold.
Furthermore, this magical power could be used in an elixir that would impart immortality on those who drank it.
Count de Saint-Germain, it is believed, discovered this secret of alchemy.
Ever Present,Never Aging
Saint-Germain traveled extensively throughout Europe over the next 40 years - and in all that time never seemed to age.
Those who met him were impressed by his many abilities and peculiarities:
* He could play the violin like a virtuoso.
* He was an accomplished painter.
Wherever he traveled, he set up an elaborate laboratory, presumably for his alchemy work.
* He seemed to be a man of great wealth, but was not known to have any bank accounts. (If it was due to his ability to transmute base metals into gold, he never performed the feat for observers.)
* He dined often with friends because he enjoyed their company, but was rarely seen to eat food in public. He subsisted, it was said, on a diet of oatmeal.
* He prescribed recipes for the removal of facial wrinkles and for dyeing hair.
* He loved jewels, and much of his clothing - including his shoes - were studded with them.
* He had perfected a technique for painting jewels.
* He claimed to be able to fuse several small diamonds into one large one. He also said he could make pearls grow to incredible sizes.
* He has been linked to several secret societies, including the Rosicrucians, Freemasons, Society of Asiatic Brothers, the Knights of Light, the Illuminati and Order of the Templars.
