Claim profile
1100–1199

The 12th century

Whose working lives fell in the 12th century. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 12th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇫🇷 France🇯🇵 Japan🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇳🇴 Norway🇮🇹 Italy🇪🇸 Spain🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇳 China🇹🇷 Turkey
FieldAllHistorical FiguresWritersPoliticiansReligious FiguresAcademicsModelsActorsArtistsMusiciansDoctors
  1. 1Genghis KhanGenghis Khan1162–1227 · Historical Figures22 decades
  2. 2Richard I of EnglandRichard I of England1157–1199 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  3. 3SaladinSaladin1138–1193 · Politicians22 decades
  4. 4Hildegard of BingenHildegard of Bingen1098–1179 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors15 decades
  5. 5AverroesAverroes1126–1198 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  6. 6Frederick I, Holy Roman EmperorFrederick I, Holy Roman Emperor1122–1190 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians20 decades
  7. 7Henry II of EnglandHenry II of England1133–1189 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures12 decades
  8. 8Bernard of ClairvauxBernard of Clairvaux1091–1153 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics19 decades
  9. 9Zhu XiZhu Xi1130–1200 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers8 decades
  10. 10MaimonidesMaimonides1138–1204 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academicsnot measured—
  11. 11Henry I of EnglandHenry I of England1068–1135 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom6 decades
  12. 12Louis VII of FranceLouis VII of France1120–1180 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures5 decades
  13. 13Peter AbelardPeter Abelard1079–1142 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics20 decades
  14. 14Pope Innocent IIIPope Innocent III1160–1216 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  15. 15Eleanor of AquitaineEleanor of Aquitaine1124–1204 · 🇫🇷 France19 decades
  16. 16Chrétien de TroyesChrétien de Troyes1135–1181 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers21 decades
  17. 17Louis VI of FranceLouis VI of France1081–1137 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  18. 18Empress MatildaEmpress Matilda1102–1167 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures14 decades
  19. 19Thomas BecketThomas Becket1119–1170 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Religious Figures22 decades
  20. 20Baldwin IV of JerusalemBaldwin IV of Jerusalem1161–11850 decades
  21. 21Stephen, King of EnglandStephen, King of England1095–1154 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  22. 22Muhammad al-IdrisiMuhammad al-Idrisi1110–1166 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Scientists0 decades
  23. 23Henry VI, Holy Roman EmperorHenry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165–1197 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  24. 24Henry the LionHenry the Lion1129–1195 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  25. 25Pope Alexander IIIPope Alexander III1100–1181 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  26. 26Henry V, Holy Roman EmperorHenry V, Holy Roman Emperor1086–1125 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  27. 27Marie de FranceMarie de France1101–1300 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  28. 28Manuel I KomnenosManuel I Komnenos1118–1180 · Historical Figures0 decades
  29. 29Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of AnjouGeoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou1113–1151 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures13 decades
  30. 30Conrad III of GermanyConrad III of Germany1093–1152 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  31. 31Afonso I of PortugalAfonso I of Portugal1109–1185 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures0 decades
  32. 32Alfonso VIII of CastileAlfonso VIII of Castile1155–1214 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models21 decades
  33. 33Roger II of SicilyRoger II of Sicily1095–1154 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0 decades
  34. 34Abdul Qadir GilaniAbdul Qadir Gilani1078–1166 · Writers0 decades
  35. 35Guy of LusignanGuy of Lusignan1150–1194 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  36. 36Lothair II, Holy Roman EmperorLothair II, Holy Roman Emperor1075–1137 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures19 decades
  37. 37Adrian IVAdrian IVdied 1159 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Religious Figures22 decades
  38. 38Pope Callixtus IIPope Callixtus II1065–1124 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  39. 39Henry the Young KingHenry the Young King1155–1183 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Models0 decades
  40. 40Geoffrey of MonmouthGeoffrey of Monmouth1100–1155 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  41. 41Alphonse I of AragonAlphonse I of Aragon1073–1134 · Models16 decades
  42. 42HéloïseHéloïse1101–1164 · 🇫🇷 France · Academics16 decades
  43. 43Pope Honorius IIIPope Honorius III1148–1227 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures19 decades
  44. 44Pope Innocent IIPope Innocent II1100–1143 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures13 decades
  45. 45Emperor Huizong of SongEmperor Huizong of Song1082–1135 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures3 decades
  46. 46Constance, Queen of SicilyConstance, Queen of Sicily1154–1198 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  47. 47Sibylla, Queen of JerusalemSibylla, Queen of Jerusalem1160–1190 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  48. 48Anna KomneneAnna Komnene1083–1153 · Writers1 decades
  49. 49Nur ad-DinNur ad-Din1118–1174 · Politicians2 decades
  50. 50Attar of NishapurAttar of Nishapur1145–1221 · Writers0 decades
  51. 51Ismail al-JazariIsmail al-Jazari1164–1206 · Academicsnot measured—
  52. 52David I of ScotlandDavid I of Scotland1084–1153 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  53. 53Enrico DandoloEnrico Dandolo1107–1205 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1 decades
  54. 54Albert the BearAlbert the Bear1100–1170 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians7 decades
  55. 55William of TyreWilliam of Tyre1130–1186 · Religious Figures22 decades
  56. 56Andronikos I KomnenosAndronikos I Komnenos1118–1185 · Politicians0 decades
  57. 57Saxo GrammaticusSaxo Grammaticus1150–1206 · Writers22 decades
  58. 58Raynald of ChâtillonRaynald of Châtillon1120–1187 · Historical Figures22 decades
  59. 59William IX, Duke of AquitaineWilliam IX, Duke of Aquitaine1071–1126 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers4 decades
  60. 60SugerSuger1080–1151 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  61. 61Amalric of JerusalemAmalric of Jerusalem1136–1174 · Historical Figures0 decades
  62. 62Fulk, King of JerusalemFulk, King of Jerusalem1092–1143 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  63. 63Balian of IbelinBalian of Ibelin1135–1193 · 🇮🇱 Israel0 decades
  64. 64John II KomnenosJohn II Komnenos1087–1143 · Politicians0 decades
  65. 65Minamoto no YoritomoMinamoto no Yoritomo1147–1199 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  66. 66Pope Celestine IIIPope Celestine III1106–1198 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures2 decades
  67. 67Eleanor of EnglandEleanor of England1161–1214 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures1 decades
  68. 68BBörte1161–12300 decades
  69. 69Isidore the LaborerIsidore the Laborer1079–1130 · 🇪🇸 Spain22 decades
  70. 70Sancho III of CastileSancho III of Castile1134–1158 · Models17 decades
  71. 71William I of SicilyWilliam I of Sicily1120–1166 · Historical Figures1 decades
  72. 72Isaac II AngelosIsaac II Angelos1155–1204 · Politicians0 decades
  73. 73Hartmann von AueHartmann von Aue1160–1210 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  74. 74Lu YouLu You1125–1210 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers8 decades
  75. 75Conrad of MontferratConrad of Montferrat1146–1192 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures6 decades
  76. 76Nizami GanjaviNizami Ganjavi1141–1209 · Writers0 decades
  77. 77Tancred, Prince of GalileeTancred, Prince of Galilee1072–1112 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  78. 78Hugues de PayensHugues de Payens1074–1136 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  79. 79Baldwin III of JerusalemBaldwin III of Jerusalem1130–1163 · Politicians0 decades
  80. 80Ibn TufailIbn Tufail1110–1185 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics0 decades
  81. 81Baldwin V of JerusalemBaldwin V of Jerusalem1177–1186 · Historical Figures0 decades
  82. 82Edgar ÆthelingEdgar Æthelingdied 12000 decades
  83. 83David IV of GeorgiaDavid IV of Georgia1073–1125 · Politicians0 decades
  84. 84Benjamin of TudelaBenjamin of Tudela1130–1174 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures13 decades
  85. 85Imad ad-Din ZengiImad ad-Din Zengi1087–1146 · Historical Figures0 decades
  86. 86Adèle of ChampagneAdèle of Champagne1140–1206 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures7 decades
  87. 87Pope Gregory VIIIPope Gregory VIII1100–1187 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  88. 88MelisendeMelisende1105–1161 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians3 decades
  89. 89Pope Lucius IIIPope Lucius III1110–1185 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures3 decades
  90. 90Eric IX of SwedenEric IX of Sweden1120–1160 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  91. 91Urraca of LeónUrraca of León1081–1126 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models0 decades
  92. 92Saint RosaliaSaint Rosalia1130–1170 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  93. 93Otto of FreisingOtto of Freising1111–1158 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  94. 94William II of SicilyWilliam II of Sicily1153–1189 · 🇮🇹 Italy0 decades
  95. 95Peter LombardPeter Lombard1100–1160 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  96. 96Abd al-Mu'minAbd al-Mu'min1100–1163 · Historical Figures0 decades
  97. 97Minamoto no YoshitsuneMinamoto no Yoshitsune1159–1189 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  98. 98Bernard de VentadourBernard de Ventadour1140–1190 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades
  99. 99Matilda of ScotlandMatilda of Scotland1080–1118 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures2 decades
  100. 100Bolesław III WrymouthBolesław III Wrymouth1086–1138 · Politiciansnot measured—

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.