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. 1Hildegard of BingenHildegard of Bingen1098–1179 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Doctors15 decades
  2. 2Henry VI, Holy Roman EmperorHenry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165–1197 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  3. 3Henry the LionHenry the Lion1129–1195 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  4. 4Henry V, Holy Roman EmperorHenry V, Holy Roman Emperor1086–1125 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  5. 5Conrad III of GermanyConrad III of Germany1093–1152 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  6. 6Lothair II, Holy Roman EmperorLothair II, Holy Roman Emperor1075–1137 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures19 decades
  7. 7Albert the BearAlbert the Bear1100–1170 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians7 decades
  8. 8Hartmann von AueHartmann von Aue1160–1210 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  9. 9Otto of FreisingOtto of Freising1111–1158 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  10. 10Valdemar I of DenmarkValdemar I of Denmark1131–1182 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  11. 11Hendrik van VeldekeHendrik van Veldekedied 1184 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  12. 12Richenza of NortheimRichenza of Northeim1087–1141 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  13. 13Leopold, Duke of BavariaLeopold, Duke of Bavaria1108–1141 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  14. 14Hermann IHermann I1155–1217 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  15. 15Berthold V, Duke of ZähringenBerthold V, Duke of Zähringen1160–1218 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1 decades
  16. 16Berthold IV, Duke of MeraniaBerthold IV, Duke of Merania1153–1204 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures17 decades
  17. 17Gertrude of SüpplingenburgGertrude of Süpplingenburg1115–1143 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  18. 18Berthold IV, Duke of ZähringenBerthold IV, Duke of Zähringen1125–1186 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures17 decades
  19. 19Elizabeth of SchönauElizabeth of Schönau1129–1164 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  20. 20Heinrich Walpot von BassenheimHeinrich Walpot von Bassenheimdied 1200 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  21. 21Theophilus PresbyterTheophilus Presbyter1070–1125 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  22. 22Honorius AugustodunensisHonorius Augustodunensis1080–1154 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Actors1 decades
  23. 23Judith of Bavaria, Duchess of SwabiaJudith of Bavaria, Duchess of Swabia1100–1130 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  24. 24Louis IIILouis III1151–1190 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  25. 25Agnes of BabenbergAgnes of Babenbergdied 1163 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians0 decades
  26. 26Adolf III of HolsteinAdolf III of Holstein1160–1225 · 🇩🇪 Germany19 decades
  27. 27Conrad of WittelsbachConrad of Wittelsbach1125–1200 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  28. 28Dedi III, Margrave of LusatiaDedi III, Margrave of Lusatiadied 1190 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  29. 29Hermann JosephHermann Joseph1150–1241 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  30. 30Floris II, Count of HollandFloris II, Count of Holland1091–1122 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  31. 31EEmicho1100–1200 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  32. 32HIHerman III1105–1160 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models20 decades
  33. 33CIConrad I, Count of Württemberg1081–1110 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  34. 34Saint HomobonusSaint Homobonus1117–1197 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Business Professionals0 decades
  35. 35Judith of ThuringiaJudith of Thuringia1135–1174 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  36. 36Otto IV, Count of WittelsbachOtto IV, Count of Wittelsbach1104–1156 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  37. 37ArchpoetArchpoet1130–1165 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  38. 38Hermann BalkHermann Balk1101–1239 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  39. 39Judith of BabenbergJudith of Babenberg1115–1168 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  40. 40Eleazar of WormsEleazar of Worms1160–1238 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Actorsnot measured—
  41. 41Herman IV, Margrave of BadenHerman IV, Margrave of Baden1135–1190 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Models17 decades
  42. 42Ekkehard of AuraEkkehard of Aura1080–1125 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers15 decades
  43. 43Dietmar von AistDietmar von Aist1115–1171 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers16 decades
  44. 44Bernard II, Lord of LippeBernard II, Lord of Lippe1140–1224 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures21 decades
  45. 45Friedrich von HausenFriedrich von Hausen1150–1190 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers18 decades
  46. 46GudaGuda1101–1199 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  47. 47Maria of BohemiaMaria of Bohemia1124–1170 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  48. 48HCHartmann, Count of Württemberg1160–1240 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures7 decades
  49. 49LILudwig I, Count of Württemberg1119–1158 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  50. 50ClariciaClariciaborn 1150 · 🇩🇪 Germany2 decades
  51. 51OIOtto I, Count of Salm1080–1150 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  52. 52LILudwig II, Count of Württemberg1137–1181 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  53. 53EIEberhard I, Count of Berg-Altena1140–1180 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  54. 54Adalbert of MainzAdalbert of Mainz1100–1137 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  55. 55Saint ErnestSaint Ernest1116–1148 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  56. 56Judith of HohenstaufenJudith of Hohenstaufen1133–1191 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  57. 57Henry I, Count of SchwerinHenry I, Count of Schwerin1160–1228 · 🇩🇪 Germany22 decades
  58. 58AOArnold of Lübeck1150–1211 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers20 decades
  59. 59Rudolf of ZähringenRudolf of Zähringen1130–1191 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  60. 60HVHerman van Stahleck1128–1156 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures10 decades
  61. 61Berthold II, Count of AndechsBerthold II, Count of Andechs1105–1151 · 🇩🇪 Germany20 decades
  62. 62Conrad of BavariaConrad of Bavaria1105–1154 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  63. 63EIEngelbert I, Count of Berg1160–1189 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures18 decades
  64. 64FIFrederick I, Count of Berg-Altena1160–1199 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  65. 65Konrad of QuerfurtKonrad of Querfurt1158–1202 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures10 decades
  66. 66Henry of KaldenHenry of Kalden1145–1214 · 🇩🇪 Germany11 decades
  67. 67Gerhoh of ReichersbergGerhoh of Reichersberg1092–1169 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics0 decades
  68. 68Uta of SchauenburgUta of Schauenburg1115–1197 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians0 decades
  69. 69EEckebert1120–1184 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  70. 70EVEilhart von Oberge1100–1101 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  71. 71Diepold III. von VohburgDiepold III. von Vohburg1075–1146 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  72. 72FCFrederick, Count of Saarbrücken1100–1135 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  73. 73Wolfger von ErlaWolfger von Erla1140–1218 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures5 decades
  74. 74Arnold I, Count of ClevesArnold I, Count of Cleves1100–1147 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures19 decades
  75. 75Gunzelin I, Count of SchwerinGunzelin I, Count of Schwerin1130–1185 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  76. 76Hartmann von BrixenHartmann von Brixen1090–1164 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures9 decades
  77. 77Ruthard of MainzRuthard of Mainz1100–1109 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures22 decades
  78. 78AOAnselm of Havelberg1099–1158 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  79. 79CIConrad II, Duke of Merania1145–1182 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  80. 80RORainald of Urslingen1101–1231 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians0 decades
  81. 81AOArnold of Selenhofen1095–1160 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures2 decades
  82. 82Heilika of Pettendorf-LengenfeldHeilika of Pettendorf-Lengenfeld1103–1170 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  83. 83Mechtildis of EdelstettenMechtildis of Edelstetten1125–1160 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  84. 84RTRatislaus the Wise1105–1141 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  85. 85BIBruno II von Berg1102–1137 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  86. 86Gottfried of CappenbergGottfried of Cappenberg1096–1127 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  87. 87GIGiso IV, Count of Gudensberg1070–1122 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  88. 88Gualfardo of VeronaGualfardo of Verona1070–1127 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  89. 89Gottfried von SpitzenbergGottfried von Spitzenberg1132–1190 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Actors0 decades
  90. 90BIBernard I, Lord of Lippe1090–1158 · 🇩🇪 Germany21 decades
  91. 91HVHelperich von Plötzkau, Margrave of the Nordmark1075–1118 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  92. 92Ulrich II of AquileiaUlrich II of Aquileia1150–1182 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figuresnot measured—
  93. 93MOMiroslava of Pomerelia1150–1240 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  94. 94Arnold I of CologneArnold I of Cologne1100–1151 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  95. 95GIGottfried II of Raabs1100–1137 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot measured—
  96. 96JIJohann I of Kraichgau1100–1104 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures22 decades
  97. 97COCaesar of Speyer1101–1237 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures0 decades
  98. 98HRHeinrich Raspe I.1095–1130 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  99. 99HRHeinrich Raspe III.1155–1180 · 🇩🇪 Germany0 decades
  100. 100JOJudith of Backnang1080–1123 · 🇩🇪 Germanynot 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.