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. 1SaladinSaladin1138–1193 · Politicians22 decades
  2. 2Frederick I, Holy Roman EmperorFrederick I, Holy Roman Emperor1122–1190 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians20 decades
  3. 3Nur ad-DinNur ad-Din1118–1174 · Politicians2 decades
  4. 4Enrico DandoloEnrico Dandolo1107–1205 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians1 decades
  5. 5Albert the BearAlbert the Bear1100–1170 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians7 decades
  6. 6Andronikos I KomnenosAndronikos I Komnenos1118–1185 · Politicians0 decades
  7. 7John II KomnenosJohn II Komnenos1087–1143 · Politicians0 decades
  8. 8Minamoto no YoritomoMinamoto no Yoritomo1147–1199 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  9. 9Isaac II AngelosIsaac II Angelos1155–1204 · Politicians0 decades
  10. 10Baldwin III of JerusalemBaldwin III of Jerusalem1130–1163 · Politicians0 decades
  11. 11David IV of GeorgiaDavid IV of Georgia1073–1125 · Politicians0 decades
  12. 12MelisendeMelisende1105–1161 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians3 decades
  13. 13Bolesław III WrymouthBolesław III Wrymouth1086–1138 · Politiciansnot measured—
  14. 14Yuri DolgorukiyYuri Dolgorukiy1090–1157 · Politicians0 decades
  15. 15Isabella of HainaultIsabella of Hainault1170–1190 · Politicians0 decades
  16. 16William the LionWilliam the Lion1143–1214 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  17. 17Henry of BurgundyHenry of Burgundy1066–1112 · Politicians4 decades
  18. 18William Marshal, 1st Earl of PembrokeWilliam Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke1146–1219 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  19. 19Matilda of BoulogneMatilda of Boulogne1105–1152 · Politicians1 decades
  20. 20Beatrice I, Countess of BurgundyBeatrice I, Countess of Burgundy1143–1184 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  21. 21Béla III of HungaryBéla III of Hungary1148–1196 · Politicians0 decades
  22. 22Kilij Arslan IKilij Arslan I1079–1107 · Politicians0 decades
  23. 23Philip I, Count of FlandersPhilip I, Count of Flanders1142–1191 · Politicians22 decades
  24. 24Theresa of LeónTheresa of León1080–1130 · Politiciansnot measured—
  25. 25Raymond of PoitiersRaymond of Poitiers1115–1149 · Politicians17 decades
  26. 26AbsalonAbsalon1128–1201 · Politiciansnot measured—
  27. 27Charles I, Count of FlandersCharles I, Count of Flanders1084–1127 · Politicians22 decades
  28. 28COConstance of Antioch1127–1163 · Politicians0 decades
  29. 29Ahmad SanjarAhmad Sanjar1084–1157 · Politicians0 decades
  30. 30Baldwin V, Count of HainautBaldwin V, Count of Hainaut1150–1195 · Politicians0 decades
  31. 31Malcolm IV of ScotlandMalcolm IV of Scotland1141–1165 · Politicians0 decades
  32. 32Thierry of Lorraine, Count of FlandersThierry of Lorraine, Count of Flanders1100–1168 · Politicians0 decades
  33. 33Mstislav I of KievMstislav I of Kiev1076–1132 · Politiciansnot measured—
  34. 34Suryavarman IISuryavarman II1094–1150 · Politicians1 decades
  35. 35William ClitoWilliam Clito1102–1128 · Politicians1 decades
  36. 36AOAlice of France1150–1190 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians6 decades
  37. 37Taira no KiyomoriTaira no Kiyomori1118–1181 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  38. 38Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of PembrokeRichard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke1130–1176 · Politicians20 decades
  39. 39Peter I of CourtenayPeter I of Courtenay1126–1183 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  40. 40Najm ad-Din AyyubNajm ad-Din Ayyub1113–1173 · Politicians0 decades
  41. 41Qutb al-Din AibakQutb al-Din Aibak1150–1210 · Politicians0 decades
  42. 42Alexander I of ScotlandAlexander I of Scotland1078–1124 · Politicians0 decades
  43. 43Margaret I, Countess of FlandersMargaret I, Countess of Flanders1145–1194 · Politicians8 decades
  44. 44Philip of FrancePhilip of France1116–1131 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  45. 45Baldwin IV, Count of HainautBaldwin IV, Count of Hainaut1108–1171 · Politicians13 decades
  46. 46Canute VI of DenmarkCanute VI of Denmark1163–1202 · Politicians0 decades
  47. 47Sibylla of AnjouSibylla of Anjou1112–1165 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  48. 48Abu Yaqub Yusuf IAbu Yaqub Yusuf I1138–1184 · Politiciansnot measured—
  49. 49Mieszko III the OldMieszko III the Old1126–1202 · Politicians0 decades
  50. 50Ferdinand II of LeónFerdinand II of León1137–1188 · Politicians0 decades
  51. 51Casimir II the JustCasimir II the Just1138–1194 · Politicians0 decades
  52. 52ShirkuhShirkuh1110–1169 · Politicians7 decades
  53. 53EdgarEdgar1074–1107 · Politiciansnot measured—
  54. 54Al-Aziz UthmanAl-Aziz Uthman1171–1198 · Politiciansnot measured—
  55. 55Canute V of DenmarkCanute V of Denmark1129–1157 · Politiciansnot measured—
  56. 56AAl-Adid1151–1171 · Politicians0 decades
  57. 57Canute I of SwedenCanute I of Sweden1150–1196 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politiciansnot measured—
  58. 58SOSimon of Sicily1093–1105 · Politiciansnot measured—
  59. 59Kilij Arslan IIKilij Arslan II1113–1192 · Politicians0 decades
  60. 60ASAl-Afdal Shahanshah1066–1121 · Politiciansnot measured—
  61. 61Henry IV, Count of LuxembourgHenry IV, Count of Luxembourg1113–1196 · Politicians22 decades
  62. 62BarkiyaruqBarkiyaruq1079–1104 · Politicians0 decades
  63. 63Rainald of DasselRainald of Dassel1114–1167 · Politicians16 decades
  64. 64Stephen III of HungaryStephen III of Hungary1147–1172 · Politicians0 decades
  65. 65Prithviraj ChauhanPrithviraj Chauhan1159–1192 · 🇮🇳 India · Politicians0 decades
  66. 66KulinKulin1163–1204 · Politiciansnot measured—
  67. 67Sebastiano ZianiSebastiano Ziani1102–1178 · Politicians21 decades
  68. 68Vsevolod III the Big NestVsevolod III the Big Nest1154–1212 · Politiciansnot measured—
  69. 69PCPhilippa, Countess of Toulouse1070–1118 · Politiciansnot measured—
  70. 70Vitale II MichielVitale II Michiel1150–1172 · Politicians1 decades
  71. 71Margaret of BloisMargaret of Blois1164–1230 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  72. 72BIBaldwin III, Count of Hainaut1088–1120 · Politicians11 decades
  73. 73Karl SverkerssonKarl Sverkersson1130–1167 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades
  74. 74Qin HuiQin Hui1090–1155 · Politicians0 decades
  75. 75Bolesław IV the CurlyBolesław IV the Curly1120–1173 · Politiciansnot measured—
  76. 76Baldwin VII, Count of FlandersBaldwin VII, Count of Flanders1093–1119 · Politicians0 decades
  77. 77ECErmengarde, Countess of Maine1096–1126 · Politiciansnot measured—
  78. 78Urraca of Castile, Queen of NavarreUrraca of Castile, Queen of Navarre1133–1179 · Politicians3 decades
  79. 79Hōjō MasakoHōjō Masako1157–1225 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  80. 80Eystein I of NorwayEystein I of Norway1088–1123 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Politiciansnot measured—
  81. 81Terken HatunTerken Hatun1151–1233 · Politiciansnot measured—
  82. 82Frederick, Duke of BohemiaFrederick, Duke of Bohemia1142–1189 · Politiciansnot measured—
  83. 83Constance of France, Princess of AntiochConstance of France, Princess of Antioch1078–1126 · Politicians0 decades
  84. 84AOAlice of Antiochborn 1110 · Politicians0 decades
  85. 85Adelaide, Countess of VermandoisAdelaide, Countess of Vermandois1065–1122 · Politiciansnot measured—
  86. 86Al-HafizAl-Hafiz1074–1149 · Politicians0 decades
  87. 87EVErmengarde, Viscountess of Narbonne1120–1196 · Politiciansnot measured—
  88. 88AOAdela of Flanders1065–1115 · Politicians0 decades
  89. 89Mahmud II of Great SeljuqMahmud II of Great Seljuq1104–1131 · Politiciansnot measured—
  90. 90GOGervase of Tilbury1152–1234 · Politicians13 decades
  91. 91Agnes of BabenbergAgnes of Babenbergdied 1163 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians0 decades
  92. 92Al-MustanjidAl-Mustanjid1116–1170 · Politicians0 decades
  93. 93Yaropolk II of KievYaropolk II of Kiev1082–1139 · Politiciansnot measured—
  94. 94DDuqaq1080–1104 · Politicians0 decades
  95. 95Ermengarde of AnjouErmengarde of Anjou1068–1146 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  96. 96Ladislaus II of HungaryLadislaus II of Hungary1131–1163 · Politiciansnot measured—
  97. 97Emperor KonoeEmperor Konoe1139–1155 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  98. 98Margaret of NavarreMargaret of Navarre1130–1183 · Politicians16 decades
  99. 99Al-RashidAl-Rashid1109–1138 · Politicians8 decades
  100. 100Henry BerengarHenry Berengar1137–1150 · 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.