Claim profile
1200–1299

The 13th century

Whose working lives fell in the 13th 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 13th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇯🇵 Japan🇮🇹 Italy🇸🇪 Sweden🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇪🇸 Spain🇳🇴 Norway🇹🇷 Turkey🇵🇹 Portugal
FieldAllHistorical FiguresPoliticiansWritersReligious FiguresModelsAcademicsArtistsActorsMusiciansScientists
  1. 1Francis of AssisiFrancis of Assisi1182–1226 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  2. 2RumiRumi1207–1273 · Writers22 decades
  3. 3Ibn TaymiyyahIbn Taymiyyah1263–1328 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers2 decades
  4. 4Snorri SturlusonSnorri Sturluson1179–1241 · Writers13 decades
  5. 5Saadi ShiraziSaadi Shirazi1210–1292 · Writers0 decades
  6. 6Ramon LlullRamon Llull1232–1316 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers3 decades
  7. 7Alfonso X of CastileAlfonso X of Castile1221–1284 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers1 decades
  8. 8Guido CavalcantiGuido Cavalcanti1258–1300 · Writers22 decades
  9. 9Yunus EmreYunus Emre1241–1321 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Writers3 decades
  10. 10Shams TabriziShams Tabrizi1185–1248 · Writers0 decades
  11. 11NichirenNichiren1222–1282 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers15 decades
  12. 12Jacopone da TodiJacopone da Todi1236–1306 · Writers22 decades
  13. 13Gertrude the GreatGertrude the Great1256–1302 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers6 decades
  14. 14Saint SavaSaint Sava1169–1235 · Writers0 decades
  15. 15Manfred, King of SicilyManfred, King of Sicily1232–1266 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured—
  16. 16Amir KhusrowAmir Khusrow1253–1325 · 🇮🇳 India · Writers0 decades
  17. 17Theobald I of NavarreTheobald I of Navarre1201–1253 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  18. 18Henry of GermanyHenry of Germany1211–1242 · Writersnot measured—
  19. 19Guido GuinizelliGuido Guinizelli1230–1276 · Writers22 decades
  20. 20Francesca da RiminiFrancesca da Rimini1259–1285 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  21. 21Adam de la HalleAdam de la Halle1237–1288 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers4 decades
  22. 22Jean de JoinvilleJean de Joinville1224–1317 · Writers0 decades
  23. 23Shota RustaveliShota Rustaveli1172–1216 · Writers0 decades
  24. 24Gottfried von StrassburgGottfried von Strassburg1180–1215 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers22 decades
  25. 25Marguerite PoreteMarguerite Porete1250–1310 · Writers4 decades
  26. 26RRutebeuf1245–1285 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  27. 27Gonzalo de BerceoGonzalo de Berceo1196–1260 · Writers0 decades
  28. 28Zhang SanfengZhang Sanfeng1200–1301 · Writersnot measured—
  29. 29Henry IIIHenry III1215–1288 · Writers22 decades
  30. 30Jean de MeunJean de Meun1240–1304 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers18 decades
  31. 31Bar HebraeusBar Hebraeus1226–1286 · Writers9 decades
  32. 32Thomas of CelanoThomas of Celano1190–1260 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers15 decades
  33. 33John the VictoriousJohn the Victorious1252–1294 · Writers22 decades
  34. 34Go-TobaGo-Toba1180–1239 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers2 decades
  35. 35Robert de BoronRobert de Boron1200–1300 · Writers16 decades
  36. 36Giacomo da LentiniGiacomo da Lentini1210–1260 · Writers14 decades
  37. 37Guillaume de LorrisGuillaume de Lorris1200–1238 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  38. 38MechtildeMechtilde1241–1298 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers10 decades
  39. 39Jean BodelJean Bodel1167–1210 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers19 decades
  40. 40Enzio of SardiniaEnzio of Sardinia1220–1272 · Writers0 decades
  41. 41QGQol Ghali1183–1236 · Writersnot measured—
  42. 42HadewijchHadewijch1200–1260 · Writers4 decades
  43. 43Safi-ad-din ArdabiliSafi-ad-din Ardabili1252–1334 · Writersnot measured—
  44. 44JuntokuJuntoku1197–1242 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  45. 45Zakariya al-QazwiniZakariya al-Qazwini1203–1283 · Writers0 decades
  46. 46Henryk IV Probus, Duke of WrocławHenryk IV Probus, Duke of Wrocław1256–1290 · Writersnot measured—
  47. 47Gürcü HatunGürcü Hatun1227–1286 · Writersnot measured—
  48. 48Ulrich von LiechtensteinUlrich von Liechtenstein1200–1275 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers20 decades
  49. 49Dino CompagniDino Compagni1255–1324 · Writers22 decades
  50. 50IKIbn Khallikan1211–1282 · Writers13 decades
  51. 51William II of VillehardouinWilliam II of Villehardouin1211–1278 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  52. 52BusiriBusiri1213–1294 · Writers0 decades
  53. 53Otto IV, Margrave of Brandenburg-StendalOtto IV, Margrave of Brandenburg-Stendal1238–1308 · Writers16 decades
  54. 54Peire VidalPeire Vidal1175–1205 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers2 decades
  55. 55WSWang Shifu1250–1307 · Writers6 decades
  56. 56Ibn al-FaridIbn al-Farid1181–1235 · Writers2 decades
  57. 57WOWilliam of Moerbeke1215–1286 · Writers5 decades
  58. 58Minamoto no SanetomoMinamoto no Sanetomo1192–1219 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writers0 decades
  59. 59Der von KürenbergDer von Kürenberg1200–1200 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers3 decades
  60. 60Nizamuddin AuliyaNizamuddin Auliya1238–1325 · Writers0 decades
  61. 61Jordan of SaxonyJordan of Saxony1190–1237 · Writers0 decades
  62. 62Konrad von WürzburgKonrad von Würzburg1225–1287 · Writers22 decades
  63. 63BDBenoît de Sainte-Maure1200–1200 · Writers0 decades
  64. 64Eike von RepgowEike von Repgow1180–1233 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writers19 decades
  65. 65Bele Regis NotariusBele Regis Notarius1200–1300 · Writersnot measured—
  66. 66Song CiSong Ci1186–1249 · Writersnot measured—
  67. 67Baba FaridBaba Farid1175–1265 · Writers5 decades
  68. 68Salimbene di AdamSalimbene di Adamborn 1221 · Writers0 decades
  69. 69JayadevaJayadeva1170–1245 · Writers20 decades
  70. 70Ata-Malik JuvayniAta-Malik Juvayni1226–1283 · Writers0 decades
  71. 71Henry of LatviaHenry of Latvia1187–1259 · Writers0 decades
  72. 72IMIbn Manzur1233–1312 · Writers0 decades
  73. 73ZRZhao Rukuo1170–1231 · Writersnot measured—
  74. 74Henry I, Count of AnhaltHenry I, Count of Anhalt1170–1252 · Writers22 decades
  75. 75Guillaume de SonnacGuillaume de Sonnac1200–1250 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers1 decades
  76. 76RDRobert de Clari1170–1216 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers15 decades
  77. 77Guan HanqingGuan Hanqing1210–1298 · Writers9 decades
  78. 78Ibn Said al-MaghribiIbn Said al-Maghribi1213–1286 · Writers0 decades
  79. 79Thomas of CantimpréThomas of Cantimpré1201–1270 · Writers1 decades
  80. 80Elias of CortonaElias of Cortona1180–1253 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers0 decades
  81. 81Yehuda AlhariziYehuda Alharizi1165–1225 · Writers19 decades
  82. 82OVOtto V, Margrave of Brandenburg-Salzwedel1246–1298 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Writersnot measured—
  83. 83Sordello de MantoueSordello de Mantoue1200–1250 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writersnot measured—
  84. 84LLayamon1200–1300 · Writers22 decades
  85. 85Roger of HowdenRoger of Howden1200–1201 · Writers4 decades
  86. 86Rodrigo Jiménez de RadaRodrigo Jiménez de Rada1170–1247 · Writers0 decades
  87. 87CACecco Angiolieri1260–1312 · Writers0 decades
  88. 88Nikephoros Kallistos XanthopoulosNikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos1256–1335 · Writers0 decades
  89. 89Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-SalamIzz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam1181–1262 · Writersnot measured—
  90. 90Brother LeoBrother Leo1195–1271 · Writers13 decades
  91. 91Beatrice of NazarethBeatrice of Nazareth1200–1268 · Writers0 decades
  92. 92Hayton of CorycusHayton of Corycusborn 1235 · Writersnot measured—
  93. 93MMinhaj-i-Siraj1193–1260 · Writers0 decades
  94. 94Munetaka-shinnōMunetaka-shinnō1242–1274 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writersnot measured—
  95. 95AAAbu-Shama al-Maqdissí1203–1267 · Writersnot measured—
  96. 96Trần Nhân TôngTrần Nhân Tông1258–1308 · Writers0 decades
  97. 97Guittone d'ArezzoGuittone d'Arezzo1235–1294 · Writers0 decades
  98. 98Roger-Bernard III, Count of FoixRoger-Bernard III, Count of Foix1243–1302 · Writers0 decades
  99. 99GNGo-Fukakusa-in no Nijō1258–1306 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Writersnot measured—
  100. 100TTTrần Thánh Tông1240–1290 · Writersnot 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.