Claim profile
1580–1589

The 1580s

Whose working lives fell in the 1580s. 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 1580s, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Miguel de CervantesMiguel de Cervantes1547–1616 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  2. 2Giordano BrunoGiordano Bruno1548–1600 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  3. 3Henry IV of FranceHenry IV of France1553–1610 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures10 decades
  4. 4Henry III of FranceHenry III of France1551–1589 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures4 decades
  5. 5Boris GodunovBoris Godunov1552–1605 · Politicians22 decades
  6. 6Tycho BraheTycho Brahe1546–1601 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Scientists22 decades
  7. 7Margaret of ValoisMargaret of Valois1553–1615 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  8. 8Pope Paul VPope Paul V1552–1621 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  9. 9Rudolf II, Holy Roman EmperorRudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor1552–1612 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures22 decades
  10. 10Vasili IV of RussiaVasili IV of Russia1552–1612 · Historical Figures21 decades
  11. 11Walter RaleighWalter Raleigh1552–1618 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  12. 12Murad IIIMurad III1546–1595 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Models6 decades
  13. 13Matteo RicciMatteo Ricci1552–1610 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  14. 14Francisco SuárezFrancisco Suárez1548–1617 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures14 decades
  15. 15Tomás Luis de VictoriaTomás Luis de Victoria1548–1611 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians14 decades
  16. 16John NapierJohn Napier1550–1617 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Academics22 decades
  17. 17Pope Gregory XVPope Gregory XV1554–1623 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures6 decades
  18. 18Henry I, Duke of GuiseHenry I, Duke of Guise1550–1588 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  19. 19Alexander Farnese, Duke of ParmaAlexander Farnese, Duke of Parma1545–1592 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians21 decades
  20. 20Anna of Austria, Queen of SpainAnna of Austria, Queen of Spain1549–1580 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  21. 21Agrippa d'AubignéAgrippa d'Aubigné1552–1630 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers8 decades
  22. 22Willem BarentszWillem Barentsz1550–1597 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Historical Figures0 decades
  23. 23Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of TuscanyFerdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany1549–1609 · Religious Figures18 decades
  24. 24Yi Sun-sinYi Sun-sin1545–1598 · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Historical Figures0 decades
  25. 25Lavinia FontanaLavinia Fontana1552–1614 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  26. 26Safiye SultanSafiye Sultan1550–1618 · 🇹🇷 Turkey0 decades
  27. 27Charles IX of SwedenCharles IX of Sweden1550–1611 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Historical Figures0 decades
  28. 28Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of FranceElisabeth of Austria, Queen of France1554–1592 · 🇫🇷 France14 decades
  29. 29Francis, Duke of AnjouFrancis, Duke of Anjou1555–1584 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures14 decades
  30. 30Simon StevinSimon Stevin1548–1620 · Academics20 decades
  31. 31Camillus de LellisCamillus de Lellis1550–1614 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  32. 32Edmund SpenserEdmund Spenser1552–1599 · Writers22 decades
  33. 33Ahmad al-MansurAhmad al-Mansur1549–1603 · Historical Figures0 decades
  34. 34Vincenzo ScamozziVincenzo Scamozzi1548–1616 · Architects22 decades
  35. 35Louise of LorraineLouise of Lorraine1553–1601 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  36. 36Mateo AlemánMateo Alemán1547–1614 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers21 decades
  37. 37Justus LipsiusJustus Lipsius1547–1606 · Writers22 decades
  38. 38Philip SidneyPhilip Sidney1554–1586 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  39. 39Veronica FrancoVeronica Franco1546–1591 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers20 decades
  40. 40Giulio CacciniGiulio Caccini1551–1618 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Musicians22 decades
  41. 41Wilhelm V, Duke of BavariaWilhelm V, Duke of Bavaria1548–1626 · Historical Figures0 decades
  42. 42Hans von AachenHans von Aachen1552–1615 · Artists10 decades
  43. 43Joachim Frederick, Elector of BrandenburgJoachim Frederick, Elector of Brandenburg1546–1608 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Religious Figures22 decades
  44. 44Tang XianzuTang Xianzu1550–1616 · Writers7 decades
  45. 45Jacques ClémentJacques Clément1567–1589 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  46. 46Albert Frederick of PrussiaAlbert Frederick of Prussia1553–1618 · Historical Figures22 decades
  47. 47Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of LermaFrancisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma1553–1625 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  48. 48Maria Anna of BavariaMaria Anna of Bavaria1551–1608 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1 decades
  49. 49Paolo SarpiPaolo Sarpi1552–1623 · Academics22 decades
  50. 50Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of OxfordEdward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford1550–1604 · Writers9 decades
  51. 51Seonjo of JoseonSeonjo of Joseon1552–1608 · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  52. 52John DavisJohn Davis1550–1605 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures22 decades
  53. 53Karel van Mander the ElderKarel van Mander the Elder1548–1606 · Artistsnot measured—
  54. 54Johan van OldenbarneveltJohan van Oldenbarnevelt1547–1619 · Politicians0 decades
  55. 55Archduke Ernest of AustriaArchduke Ernest of Austria1553–1595 · Politicians5 decades
  56. 56Balthasar GérardBalthasar Gérard1557–1584 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  57. 57AHAyşe Hümaşah Sultan1547–1598 · 🇹🇷 Turkeynot measured—
  58. 58Nicholas HilliardNicholas Hilliard1547–1619 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Artists9 decades
  59. 59Patriarch Philaret of MoscowPatriarch Philaret of Moscow1553–1633not measured—
  60. 60Giorgio BastaGiorgio Basta1550–1607 · Writers12 decades
  61. 61Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich of RussiaTsarevich Ivan Ivanovich of Russia1554–1582 · Musiciansnot measured—
  62. 62Richard HakluytRichard Hakluyt1552–1616 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers22 decades
  63. 63Petrus PlanciusPetrus Plancius1552–1622 · Scientists0 decades
  64. 64Stanisław ŻółkiewskiStanisław Żółkiewski1547–1620 · Politicians0 decades
  65. 65Ismihan SultanIsmihan Sultan1545–1585 · 🇹🇷 Turkey0 decades
  66. 66Justo TakayamaJusto Takayama1552–1615 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  67. 67Diego, Prince of AsturiasDiego, Prince of Asturias1575–1582 · 🇪🇸 Spain0 decades
  68. 68Honda TadakatsuHonda Tadakatsu1548–1610 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  69. 69Karin MånsdotterKarin Månsdotter1550–1612 · 🇸🇪 Sweden0 decades
  70. 70Charles of Lorraine, duke of MayenneCharles of Lorraine, duke of Mayenne1554–1611 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures20 decades
  71. 71Chief PowhatanChief Powhatan1549–1618 · Politicians1 decades
  72. 72Bianca CappelloBianca Cappello1548–1587 · Historical Figures2 decades
  73. 73John the Younger, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-SonderburgJohn the Younger, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg1545–1622 · Historical Figures0 decades
  74. 74William CamdenWilliam Camden1551–1623 · Writers22 decades
  75. 75Abu'l-Fazl ibn MubarakAbu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak1551–1602 · 🇮🇳 India · Writersnot measured—
  76. 76Takeda KatsuyoriTakeda Katsuyori1546–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  77. 77Edward CokeEdward Coke1552–1634 · Politicians22 decades
  78. 78Marie Eleonore of ClevesMarie Eleonore of Cleves1550–1608 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  79. 79Francis SolanusFrancis Solanus1549–1610 · 🇪🇸 Spain22 decades
  80. 80John LylyJohn Lyly1554–1606 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Writers21 decades
  81. 81Juan de OñateJuan de Oñate1550–1626 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures22 decades
  82. 82Mōri TerumotoMōri Terumoto1553–1625 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  83. 83OichiOichi1547–1583 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Politicians0 decades
  84. 84Richard HookerRichard Hooker1554–1600 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Actors22 decades
  85. 85John FlorioJohn Florio1553–1625 · Academics22 decades
  86. 86Malik AmbarMalik Ambar1548–1626 · Politicians6 decades
  87. 87Philip William, Prince of OrangePhilip William, Prince of Orange1554–1618 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  88. 88Bahāʾ al-dīn al-ʿĀmilīBahāʾ al-dīn al-ʿĀmilī1547–1621 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academicsnot measured—
  89. 89JWJack Ward1553–16224 decades
  90. 90John SpeedJohn Speed1551–1629 · Writers22 decades
  91. 91False Dmitry IIIFalse Dmitry III1550–1613not measured—
  92. 92Oda NobutadaOda Nobutada1557–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  93. 93Francesco Maria del MonteFrancesco Maria del Monte1549–1627 · Writersnot measured—
  94. 94Oda NobutakaOda Nobutaka1558–1583 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  95. 95Jost BürgiJost Bürgi1552–1632 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics0 decades
  96. 96Kuroda YoshitakaKuroda Yoshitaka1546–1604 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  97. 97Mori RanmaruMori Ranmaru1565–1582 · 🇯🇵 Japan0 decades
  98. 98KeumalahayatiKeumalahayati1550–1615 · 🇮🇩 Indonesianot measured—
  99. 99Damat Ibrahim PashaDamat Ibrahim Pasha1550–1601 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  100. 100George I, Landgrave of Hesse-DarmstadtGeorge I, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt1547–1596 · Historical Figures22 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.