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. 1AverroesAverroes1126–1198 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  2. 2Zhu XiZhu Xi1130–1200 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers8 decades
  3. 3Chrétien de TroyesChrétien de Troyes1135–1181 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers21 decades
  4. 4Marie de FranceMarie de France1101–1300 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  5. 5Abdul Qadir GilaniAbdul Qadir Gilani1078–1166 · Writers0 decades
  6. 6Geoffrey of MonmouthGeoffrey of Monmouth1100–1155 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  7. 7Anna KomneneAnna Komnene1083–1153 · Writers1 decades
  8. 8Attar of NishapurAttar of Nishapur1145–1221 · Writers0 decades
  9. 9Saxo GrammaticusSaxo Grammaticus1150–1206 · Writers22 decades
  10. 10William IX, Duke of AquitaineWilliam IX, Duke of Aquitaine1071–1126 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers4 decades
  11. 11SugerSuger1080–1151 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  12. 12Hartmann von AueHartmann von Aue1160–1210 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  13. 13Lu YouLu You1125–1210 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers8 decades
  14. 14Nizami GanjaviNizami Ganjavi1141–1209 · Writers0 decades
  15. 15Otto of FreisingOtto of Freising1111–1158 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  16. 16WaceWace1100–1174 · Writersnot measured—
  17. 17Alfonso II of AragonAlfonso II of Aragon1157–1196 · Writers0 decades
  18. 18AIAli ibn al-Athir1160–1233 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers0 decades
  19. 19Abraham ibn EzraAbraham ibn Ezra1092–1167 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0 decades
  20. 20Sancho I of PortugalSancho I of Portugal1154–1211 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Writers0 decades
  21. 21Gerard of CremonaGerard of Cremona1114–1187 · Writers10 decades
  22. 22Bertran de BornBertran de Born1140–1215 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers8 decades
  23. 23Xin QijiXin Qiji1140–1207 · Writers7 decades
  24. 24Geoffrey of VillehardouinGeoffrey of Villehardouin1148–1213 · Writers0 decades
  25. 25Yue FeiYue Fei1103–1142 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers3 decades
  26. 26Orderic VitalisOrderic Vitalis1075–1142 · Writers5 decades
  27. 27Ahmad YasawiAhmad Yasawi1100–1166 · Writers0 decades
  28. 28Niketas ChoniatesNiketas Choniates1155–1217 · Writers1 decades
  29. 29MarcabruMarcabru1110–1150 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers6 decades
  30. 30IJIbn Jubayr1145–1217 · Writers3 decades
  31. 31Arnaut DanielArnaut Daniel1150–1210 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers7 decades
  32. 32Paschal IIIPaschal III1110–1168 · Writers0 decades
  33. 33William of MalmesburyWilliam of Malmesbury1095–1143 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  34. 34Imad ad-Din al-IsfahaniImad ad-Din al-Isfahani1125–1201 · Writersnot measured—
  35. 35Rashid ad-Din SinanRashid ad-Din Sinan1130–1193 · Writers0 decades
  36. 36John TzetzesJohn Tzetzes1110–1180 · Writers3 decades
  37. 37Comtesse de DieComtesse de Die1140–1212 · Writers0 decades
  38. 38Hendrik van VeldekeHendrik van Veldekedied 1184 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  39. 39Li QingzhaoLi Qingzhao1084–1155 · 🇨🇳 China · Writers8 decades
  40. 40Usama ibn MunqidhUsama ibn Munqidh1095–1188 · Writers0 decades
  41. 41JienJien1155–1225 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers4 decades
  42. 42Gallus AnonymusGallus Anonymus1066–1145 · Writers0 decades
  43. 43Aelred of RievaulxAelred of Rievaulx1110–1167 · Writers4 decades
  44. 44Al-NasirAl-Nasir1158–1225 · Writers0 decades
  45. 45SanaiSanai1080–1131 · Writersnot measured—
  46. 46Gregory VIIIGregory VIII1100–1137 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  47. 47AÞAri Þorgilsson1067–1148 · Writers0 decades
  48. 48Michael the SyrianMichael the Syrian1126–1199 · Writers5 decades
  49. 49HelmoldHelmold1120–1177 · Writersnot measured—
  50. 50Abraham ibn DaudAbraham ibn Daud1110–1180 · Writers0 decades
  51. 51Pietro ZianiPietro Ziani1153–1229 · Writers21 decades
  52. 52HOHenry of Huntingdon1080–1160 · Writers22 decades
  53. 53Walter MapWalter Map1140–1210 · Writers17 decades
  54. 54Elizabeth of SchönauElizabeth of Schönau1129–1164 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  55. 55Kamo no ChōmeiKamo no Chōmei1155–1216 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  56. 56Fujiwara no TeikaFujiwara no Teika1162–1241 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  57. 57SaigyōSaigyō1118–1190 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  58. 58Gampopa Sonam RinchenGampopa Sonam Rinchen1079–1153 · Writers0 decades
  59. 59GKGeorgios Kedrenos1100–1100 · Writers0 decades
  60. 60CDConon de Béthune1150–1219 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  61. 61Theophilus PresbyterTheophilus Presbyter1070–1125 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  62. 62Petrus ComestorPetrus Comestor1100–1179 · Writers1 decades
  63. 63Mkhitar GoshMkhitar Gosh1130–1213 · Writers0 decades
  64. 64Liang HongyuLiang Hongyu1102–1135 · Writersnot measured—
  65. 65Azalaïs de PorcairaguesAzalaïs de Porcairagues1102–1102 · 🇫🇷 France · Writersnot measured—
  66. 66AAl-Mustazhir1078–1118 · Writers0 decades
  67. 67William LongchampWilliam Longchamp1101–1197 · Writers11 decades
  68. 68BOBernard of Cluny1101–1200 · Writers2 decades
  69. 69JKJiang Kui1155–1221 · Writersnot measured—
  70. 70Jacopo TiepoloJacopo Tiepolo1160–1249 · Writers0 decades
  71. 71Guiraut de BornelhGuiraut de Bornelh1138–1215 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  72. 72Walter of ChâtillonWalter of Châtillon1135–1201 · Writers0 decades
  73. 73JKJohn Kinnamos1143–1185 · Writers0 decades
  74. 74Minamoto no YorimasaMinamoto no Yorimasa1106–1180 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  75. 75Konstantinos ManassesKonstantinos Manasses1130–1187 · Writers0 decades
  76. 76Nerses IV the GraciousNerses IV the Gracious1102–1173 · Writersnot measured—
  77. 77ABAbu Bakr ibn al-Arabi1076–1148 · Writersnot measured—
  78. 78Al-MuqtafiAl-Muqtafi1096–1160 · Writers0 decades
  79. 79Wincenty KadłubekWincenty Kadłubek1150–1223 · Writers0 decades
  80. 80KhaqaniKhaqani1121–1199 · Writers0 decades
  81. 81DGDominicus Gundissalinus1115–1190 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers12 decades
  82. 82Rabbeinu TamRabbeinu Tam1100–1171 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers21 decades
  83. 83Robert of TorigniRobert of Torigni1100–1186 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers3 decades
  84. 84MahsatiMahsati1089–1181 · Writers0 decades
  85. 85Folquet de MarseilleFolquet de Marseille1155–1231 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  86. 86IQIbn Quzman1078–1160 · Writers0 decades
  87. 87SSomadeva1100–1100 · Writers14 decades
  88. 88Isaac the BlindIsaac the Blind1160–1235 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers20 decades
  89. 89Han ShizhongHan Shizhong1089–1151 · Writers0 decades
  90. 90ADAndronikos Doukas Angelos1133–1185 · Writersnot measured—
  91. 91Demetrius I of GeorgiaDemetrius I of Georgia1093–1156 · Writersnot measured—
  92. 92POPeter of Blois1120–1210 · Writers22 decades
  93. 93AHAbu Hamid al-Gharnati1080–1170 · Writers0 decades
  94. 94ArchpoetArchpoet1130–1165 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers0 decades
  95. 95AnvariAnvari1126–1190 · Writers4 decades
  96. 96JXJohn Xiphilinusborn 1100 · Writers0 decades
  97. 97Kim PusikKim Pusik1075–1151 · Writers0 decades
  98. 98BSBernard Silvestris1085–1160 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  99. 99Baha ad-Din ShoiebBaha ad-Din Shoieb1145–1234 · Writersnot measured—
  100. 100Michael ChoniatesMichael Choniates1138–1222 · Writers0 decades

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.