Claim profile
1400–1499

The 15th century

Whose working lives fell in the 15th 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 15th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇮🇹 Italy🇹🇷 Turkey🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇪🇸 Spain🇯🇵 Japan🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇭 Switzerland🇵🇹 Portugal
FieldAllHistorical FiguresPoliticiansWritersArtistsReligious FiguresAcademicsModelsMusiciansArchitectsScientists
  1. 1Joan of ArcJoan of Arc1412–1431 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  2. 2Louis XI of FranceLouis XI of France1423–1483 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians8 decades
  3. 3Louis XII of FranceLouis XII of France1462–1515 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  4. 4François VillonFrançois Villon1431–1463 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers20 decades
  5. 5Charles VII of FranceCharles VII of France1403–1461 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  6. 6Charles VI of FranceCharles VI of France1368–1422 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures4 decades
  7. 7Charles VIII of FranceCharles VIII of France1470–1498 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians11 decades
  8. 8Richard II of EnglandRichard II of England1367–1400 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  9. 9Edward IV of EnglandEdward IV of England1442–1483 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  10. 10Charles the BoldCharles the Bold1433–1477 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  11. 11Mary of BurgundyMary of Burgundy1457–1482 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  12. 12Philip the GoodPhilip the Good1396–1467 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  13. 13Charles, Duke of OrléansCharles, Duke of Orléans1394–1465 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers22 decades
  14. 14John the FearlessJohn the Fearless1371–1419 · 🇫🇷 Francenot measured—
  15. 15Margaret of AnjouMargaret of Anjou1430–1482 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  16. 16Gilles de RaisGilles de Rais1405–1440 · 🇫🇷 France17 decades
  17. 17Isabeau of BavariaIsabeau of Bavaria1370–1435 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  18. 18Catherine of ValoisCatherine of Valois1401–1437 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  19. 19Joan of ValoisJoan of Valois1464–1505 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  20. 20René of AnjouRené of Anjou1409–1480 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures3 decades
  21. 21Josquin des PrezJosquin des Prez1455–1521 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians16 decades
  22. 22Agnès SorelAgnès Sorel1422–1450 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  23. 23Louis I, Duke of OrléansLouis I, Duke of Orléans1372–1407 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  24. 24Isabella of ValoisIsabella of Valois1389–1409 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  25. 25Marie of AnjouMarie of Anjou1404–1463 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  26. 26Amadeus VIII, Duke of SavoyAmadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy1383–1451 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  27. 27Francis IIFrancis II1435–1488 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians12 decades
  28. 28CharlesCharles1459–1496 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures11 decades
  29. 29Jacqueline, Countess of HainautJacqueline, Countess of Hainaut1401–1436 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians5 decades
  30. 30Louis II of NaplesLouis II of Naples1377–1417 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  31. 31Jean de DunoisJean de Dunois1403–1468 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  32. 32René II of LorraineRené II of Lorraine1451–1508 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures15 decades
  33. 33La HireLa Hire1390–1443 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  34. 34Arthur III, Duke of BrittanyArthur III, Duke of Brittany1393–1458 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  35. 35Charles I of BourbonCharles I of Bourbon1401–1456 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  36. 36John VJohn V1389–1442 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  37. 37FrancisFrancis1470–1495 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  38. 38Pierre CauchonPierre Cauchon1371–1442 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  39. 39Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-AdamPhilippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam1464–1534 · 🇫🇷 Francenot measured—
  40. 40Maria of ClevesMaria of Cleves1426–1487 · 🇫🇷 France · Writers0 decades
  41. 41Louis III of NaplesLouis III of Naples1403–1434 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  42. 42Isabella, Duchess of LorraineIsabella, Duchess of Lorraine1400–1453 · 🇫🇷 France21 decades
  43. 43Charles de Valois, Duc de BerryCharles de Valois, Duc de Berry1446–1472 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures9 decades
  44. 44Jacquetta of LuxembourgJacquetta of Luxembourg1415–1472 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  45. 45Amadeus IX, Duke of SavoyAmadeus IX, Duke of Savoy1435–1472 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures21 decades
  46. 46John I, Duke of BourbonJohn I, Duke of Bourbon1381–1434 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  47. 47Francis I, Duke of BrittanyFrancis I, Duke of Brittany1414–1450 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  48. 48Peter II, Duke of BourbonPeter II, Duke of Bourbon1438–1503 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures3 decades
  49. 49Gian Giacomo TrivulzioGian Giacomo Trivulzio1440–1518 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  50. 50John, Count of AngoulêmeJohn, Count of Angoulême1399–1467 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  51. 51Charles I of AlbretCharles I of Albret1368–1415 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  52. 52John II, Duke of BourbonJohn II, Duke of Bourbon1426–1488 · 🇫🇷 France14 decades
  53. 53Jeanne HachetteJeanne Hachetteborn 1454 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  54. 54Peter II, Duke of BrittanyPeter II, Duke of Brittany1418–1457 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  55. 55Louis, Dauphin of France, Duke of GuyenneLouis, Dauphin of France, Duke of Guyenne1397–1415 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures5 decades
  56. 56BXBenedict XIV (Bernard Garnier)1370–1430 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures3 decades
  57. 57Yolande of AnjouYolande of Anjou1428–1483 · 🇫🇷 France17 decades
  58. 58Michelle of ValoisMichelle of Valois1395–1422 · 🇫🇷 Francenot measured—
  59. 59Marie of Berry, Duchess of AuvergneMarie of Berry, Duchess of Auvergne1375–1434 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  60. 60Philibert I, Duke of SavoyPhilibert I, Duke of Savoy1465–1482 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  61. 61Pierre d'AubussonPierre d'Aubusson1423–1503 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  62. 62Catherine of France, Countess of CharolaisCatherine of France, Countess of Charolais1428–1446 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  63. 63Nicholas I, Duke of LorraineNicholas I, Duke of Lorraine1448–1473 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures11 decades
  64. 64Charles IV, Duke of AnjouCharles IV, Duke of Anjou1446–1481 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  65. 65Charles II, Duke of BourbonCharles II, Duke of Bourbon1434–1488 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures0 decades
  66. 66Jean HeyJean Hey1455–1505 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists3 decades
  67. 67Saint ColetteSaint Colette1381–1447 · 🇫🇷 France11 decades
  68. 68James II, Count of La MarcheJames II, Count of La Marche1370–1438 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  69. 69Johannes CiconiaJohannes Ciconia1370–1412 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians3 decades
  70. 70Philippa of GueldersPhilippa of Guelders1464–1547 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures8 decades
  71. 71Margaret of FoixMargaret of Foix1453–1487 · 🇫🇷 Francenot measured—
  72. 72Joan of France, Duchess of BrittanyJoan of France, Duchess of Brittany1391–1433 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  73. 73Georges d'AmboiseGeorges d'Amboise1460–1510 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  74. 74Marguerite de BourbonMarguerite de Bourbon1438–1483 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  75. 75John, Dauphin of France, Duke of TouraineJohn, Dauphin of France, Duke of Touraine1398–1417 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  76. 76Bonne of ArtoisBonne of Artois1396–1425 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  77. 77Gilbert, Count of MontpensierGilbert, Count of Montpensier1443–1496 · 🇫🇷 France9 decades
  78. 78Odette de ChampdiversOdette de Champdivers1390–1425 · 🇫🇷 France7 decades
  79. 79Nicolas JensonNicolas Jenson1420–1480 · 🇫🇷 France18 decades
  80. 80Louis II de la TrémoilleLouis II de la Trémoille1460–1525 · 🇫🇷 France1 decades
  81. 81Jean Poton de XaintraillesJean Poton de Xaintrailles1390–1461 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  82. 82COCatherine of Foix, Countess of Candale1460–1490 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians10 decades
  83. 83JOJohn of Foix, Viscount of Narbonne1450–1500 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures21 decades
  84. 84Joan II, Countess of AuvergneJoan II, Countess of Auvergne1378–1424 · 🇫🇷 France · Politiciansnot measured—
  85. 85Alanus de RupeAlanus de Rupe1428–1475 · 🇫🇷 France · Actors0 decades
  86. 86Guillaume d'EstoutevilleGuillaume d'Estouteville1403–1483 · 🇫🇷 France · Religious Figures17 decades
  87. 87Peter I, Count of Saint-PolPeter I, Count of Saint-Pol1390–1433 · 🇫🇷 Francenot measured—
  88. 88Jean MalouelJean Malouel1370–1415 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists8 decades
  89. 89Richard, Count of ÉtampesRichard, Count of Étampes1395–1438 · 🇫🇷 France0 decades
  90. 90Louis de Luxembourg, Count of Saint-PolLouis de Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol1418–1475 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  91. 91John V, Count of ArmagnacJohn V, Count of Armagnac1420–1473 · 🇫🇷 France6 decades
  92. 92Jean BourdichonJean Bourdichon1457–1521 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists14 decades
  93. 93Jean ColombeJean Colombe1430–1493 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0 decades
  94. 94Jean BureauJean Bureau1390–1463 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  95. 95Bonne of BerryBonne of Berrydied 1435 · 🇫🇷 France13 decades
  96. 96Margaret of LorraineMargaret of Lorraine1463–1521 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  97. 97Antoine BrumelAntoine Brumel1460–1512 · 🇫🇷 France · Musicians0 decades
  98. 98Jacques d'Armagnac, Duke of NemoursJacques d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours1433–1477 · 🇫🇷 France22 decades
  99. 99Elizabeth of NeversElizabeth of Nevers1439–1483 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  100. 100Antoinette de MaignelaisAntoinette de Maignelais1434–1470 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures6 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.