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. 3Henry II of EnglandHenry II of England1133–1189 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures12 decades
  4. 4Louis VII of FranceLouis VII of France1120–1180 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures5 decades
  5. 5Louis VI of FranceLouis VI of France1081–1137 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  6. 6Empress MatildaEmpress Matilda1102–1167 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures14 decades
  7. 7Stephen, King of EnglandStephen, King of England1095–1154 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  8. 8Henry VI, Holy Roman EmperorHenry VI, Holy Roman Emperor1165–1197 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  9. 9Henry V, Holy Roman EmperorHenry V, Holy Roman Emperor1086–1125 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  10. 10Manuel I KomnenosManuel I Komnenos1118–1180 · Historical Figures0 decades
  11. 11Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of AnjouGeoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou1113–1151 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures13 decades
  12. 12Conrad III of GermanyConrad III of Germany1093–1152 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  13. 13Afonso I of PortugalAfonso I of Portugal1109–1185 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures0 decades
  14. 14Roger II of SicilyRoger II of Sicily1095–1154 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures0 decades
  15. 15Guy of LusignanGuy of Lusignan1150–1194 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  16. 16Lothair II, Holy Roman EmperorLothair II, Holy Roman Emperor1075–1137 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures19 decades
  17. 17Emperor Huizong of SongEmperor Huizong of Song1082–1135 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures3 decades
  18. 18Constance, Queen of SicilyConstance, Queen of Sicily1154–1198 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  19. 19Sibylla, Queen of JerusalemSibylla, Queen of Jerusalem1160–1190 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  20. 20David I of ScotlandDavid I of Scotland1084–1153 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  21. 21Raynald of ChâtillonRaynald of Châtillon1120–1187 · Historical Figures22 decades
  22. 22Amalric of JerusalemAmalric of Jerusalem1136–1174 · Historical Figures0 decades
  23. 23Fulk, King of JerusalemFulk, King of Jerusalem1092–1143 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  24. 24Eleanor of EnglandEleanor of England1161–1214 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures1 decades
  25. 25William I of SicilyWilliam I of Sicily1120–1166 · Historical Figures1 decades
  26. 26Conrad of MontferratConrad of Montferrat1146–1192 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures6 decades
  27. 27Tancred, Prince of GalileeTancred, Prince of Galilee1072–1112 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  28. 28Baldwin V of JerusalemBaldwin V of Jerusalem1177–1186 · Historical Figures0 decades
  29. 29Benjamin of TudelaBenjamin of Tudela1130–1174 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures13 decades
  30. 30Imad ad-Din ZengiImad ad-Din Zengi1087–1146 · Historical Figures0 decades
  31. 31Adèle of ChampagneAdèle of Champagne1140–1206 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures7 decades
  32. 32Eric IX of SwedenEric IX of Sweden1120–1160 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  33. 33Abd al-Mu'minAbd al-Mu'min1100–1163 · Historical Figures0 decades
  34. 34Matilda of ScotlandMatilda of Scotland1080–1118 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures2 decades
  35. 35Alexios III AngelosAlexios III Angelos1153–1211 · Historical Figures0 decades
  36. 36Leopold V, Duke of AustriaLeopold V, Duke of Austria1157–1194 · Historical Figures0 decades
  37. 37Adela of NormandyAdela of Normandy1067–1137 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  38. 38Valdemar I of DenmarkValdemar I of Denmark1131–1182 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  39. 39Alexios V DoukasAlexios V Doukas1140–1204 · Historical Figures0 decades
  40. 40Marie of France, Countess of ChampagneMarie of France, Countess of Champagne1145–1198 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  41. 41Geoffrey IIGeoffrey II1158–1186 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  42. 42Matilda of England, Duchess of SaxonyMatilda of England, Duchess of Saxony1156–1189 · Historical Figures1 decades
  43. 43Alexios II KomnenosAlexios II Komnenos1169–1183 · Historical Figures0 decades
  44. 44William X, Duke of AquitaineWilliam X, Duke of Aquitaine1099–1137 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  45. 45Magnus BarefootMagnus Barefoot1073–1103 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Historical Figures5 decades
  46. 46Tancred, King of SicilyTancred, King of Sicily1138–1194 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  47. 47Theobald II of ChampagneTheobald II of Champagne1093–1152 · Historical Figures0 decades
  48. 48Henry II, Count of ChampagneHenry II, Count of Champagne1166–1197 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  49. 49Henry X, Duke of BavariaHenry X, Duke of Bavaria1108–1139 · Historical Figures0 decades
  50. 50Boniface I, Marquess of MontferratBoniface I, Marquess of Montferrat1150–1207 · Historical Figures0 decades
  51. 51Henry I, Count of ChampagneHenry I, Count of Champagne1127–1181 · Historical Figures22 decades
  52. 52Maria KomneneMaria Komnene1154–1208 · Historical Figures0 decades
  53. 53William III of SicilyWilliam III of Sicily1185–1198 · Historical Figures0 decades
  54. 54Agnes of CourtenayAgnes of Courtenay1136–1184 · Historical Figures0 decades
  55. 55Ramon Berenguer IVRamon Berenguer IV1113–1162 · Historical Figures0 decades
  56. 56Géza II of HungaryGéza II of Hungary1130–1162 · Historical Figures0 decades
  57. 57Jayavarman VIIJayavarman VII1125–1218 · Historical Figures7 decades
  58. 58Coloman, King of HungaryColoman, King of Hungary1070–1116 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  59. 59Frederick II, Duke of SwabiaFrederick II, Duke of Swabia1090–1147 · Historical Figures22 decades
  60. 60Qiu ChujiQiu Chuji1148–1227 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  61. 61Henry IX, Duke of BavariaHenry IX, Duke of Bavaria1075–1126 · Historical Figures11 decades
  62. 62Andrey BogolyubskyAndrey Bogolyubsky1111–1174 · Historical Figures0 decades
  63. 63Robert I, Count of DreuxRobert I, Count of Dreux1123–1188 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  64. 64Agnes of WaiblingenAgnes of Waiblingen1072–1143 · Historical Figures0 decades
  65. 65NiklotNiklot1100–1160 · Historical Figures0 decades
  66. 66Sweyn III of DenmarkSweyn III of Denmark1125–1157 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  67. 67Muhammad of GhorMuhammad of Ghor1144–1206 · Historical Figures0 decades
  68. 68Canute LavardCanute Lavard1096–1131 · Historical Figures0 decades
  69. 69Bohemond III of AntiochBohemond III of Antioch1144–1201 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  70. 70Hugh III, Duke of BurgundyHugh III, Duke of Burgundy1148–1192 · Historical Figures0 decades
  71. 71Béla II of HungaryBéla II of Hungary1108–1141 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  72. 72Conrad II of ItalyConrad II of Italy1074–1101 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  73. 73Theobald V, Count of BloisTheobald V, Count of Blois1130–1191 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  74. 74Irene of HungaryIrene of Hungary1088–1134 · Historical Figures0 decades
  75. 75Eupraxia of KievEupraxia of Kiev1071–1109 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  76. 76Frederick VI, Duke of SwabiaFrederick VI, Duke of Swabia1167–1191 · Historical Figures11 decades
  77. 77Joscelin IIJoscelin II1113–1159 · Historical Figures0 decades
  78. 78Go-ShirakawaGo-Shirakawa1127–1192 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Historical Figures1 decades
  79. 79HoelunHoelun1142–1210 · Historical Figures1 decades
  80. 80KötenKöten1101–1241 · Historical Figures0 decades
  81. 81Irene DoukainaIrene Doukaina1066–1123 · Historical Figures0 decades
  82. 82Ralph I, Count of VermandoisRalph I, Count of Vermandois1085–1152 · Historical Figures0 decades
  83. 83ADAenor de Châtelleraultborn 1103 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  84. 84Sviatoslav III of KievSviatoslav III of Kiev1123–1194 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  85. 85Eric II of DenmarkEric II of Denmark1090–1137 · Historical Figures0 decades
  86. 86Niels, King of DenmarkNiels, King of Denmark1065–1134 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  87. 87Isaac Komnenos of CyprusIsaac Komnenos of Cyprus1155–1196 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  88. 88Roman the GreatRoman the Great1150–1205 · Historical Figures0 decades
  89. 89Richenza of NortheimRichenza of Northeim1087–1141 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  90. 90Mstislav III of KyivMstislav III of Kyiv1150–1223 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  91. 91Leo I, King of ArmeniaLeo I, King of Armenia1150–1219 · Historical Figures17 decades
  92. 92Leopold, Duke of BavariaLeopold, Duke of Bavaria1108–1141 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  93. 93Sverker I of SwedenSverker I of Sweden1100–1156 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  94. 94Raymond IIRaymond II1115–1152 · Historical Figures0 decades
  95. 95Theodora Komnene, Duchess of AustriaTheodora Komnene, Duchess of Austria1132–1184 · Historical Figures0 decades
  96. 96Stephen II of HungaryStephen II of Hungary1101–1131 · Historical Figures0 decades
  97. 97Berthold V, Duke of ZähringenBerthold V, Duke of Zähringen1160–1218 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1 decades
  98. 98Magnus I of SwedenMagnus I of Sweden1106–1134 · Historical Figures0 decades
  99. 99Hugh II, Duke of BurgundyHugh II, Duke of Burgundy1084–1143 · Historical Figures2 decades
  100. 100Iziaslav II of KievIziaslav II of Kiev1097–1154 · Historical Figuresnot 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.