Valentine Dencausse
Encyclopedia
Valentine Dencausse was probably the most famous chiromancer in Paris
during the first half of the 20th century, under the name of "Madame Fraya". She would use a person's hand and handwriting to predict his/her future, but she admitted to not following the principles of traditional chiromancy
, and just making use of her instinctual knowledge. Her clients included important French
artists and politicians of the time, such as the Princess
of Saxe-Meninge (sister of emperor
Wilhelm II of Germany), to whom she reportedly predicted World War I
and the defeat of Germany
in it. She was subsequently called into the French
Ministry of War
, where she assured the government that the marching German
troops would not reach Paris
(they were in fact stopped at the First Battle of the Marne
). The abilities displayed by Valentine Dencausse were studied by prominent scientists such as Alfred Binet
, Eugene Osty, and Albert von Schrenck-Notzing
.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
during the first half of the 20th century, under the name of "Madame Fraya". She would use a person's hand and handwriting to predict his/her future, but she admitted to not following the principles of traditional chiromancy
Chiromancy
Palmistry or chiromancy , is the art of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as palm reading, or chirology. The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations...
, and just making use of her instinctual knowledge. Her clients included important French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
artists and politicians of the time, such as the Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
of Saxe-Meninge (sister of emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Wilhelm II of Germany), to whom she reportedly predicted World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the defeat of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in it. She was subsequently called into the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Ministry of War
Ministry of War
A Ministry of War or Ministry for War is an administrative, supply and services agency of an army, as opposed to the entire military establishment. Both Mexico and Brazil both still maintain a War Department for the support of their armies...
, where she assured the government that the marching German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
troops would not reach Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(they were in fact stopped at the First Battle of the Marne
First Battle of the Marne
The Battle of the Marne was a First World War battle fought between 5 and 12 September 1914. It resulted in an Allied victory against the German Army under Chief of Staff Helmuth von Moltke the Younger. The battle effectively ended the month long German offensive that opened the war and had...
). The abilities displayed by Valentine Dencausse were studied by prominent scientists such as Alfred Binet
Alfred Binet
Alfred Binet was a French psychologist who was the inventor of the first usable intelligence test, known at that time as the Binet test and today referred to as the IQ test. His principal goal was to identify students who needed special help in coping with the school curriculum...
, Eugene Osty, and Albert von Schrenck-Notzing
Albert von Schrenck-Notzing
Albert Freiherr von Schrenck-Notzing was a German physician, psychiatrist and notable psychic researcher, who devoted his time to the study of paranormal events connected with mediumship, hypnotism and telepathy...
.