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. 1Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus1451–1506 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures21 decades
  2. 2Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci1452–1519 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  3. 3Sandro BotticelliSandro Botticelli1445–1510 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  4. 4Girolamo SavonarolaGirolamo Savonarola1452–1498 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  5. 5Pope Julius IIPope Julius II1443–1513 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  6. 6Pope Pius IIPope Pius II1405–1464 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures21 decades
  7. 7Fra AngelicoFra Angelico1390–1455 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists21 decades
  8. 8Leon Battista AlbertiLeon Battista Alberti1404–1472 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  9. 9MasaccioMasaccio1401–1428 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  10. 10Piero della FrancescaPiero della Francesca1415–1492 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  11. 11Giovanni Pico della MirandolaGiovanni Pico della Mirandola1463–1494 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  12. 12Filippo BrunelleschiFilippo Brunelleschi1377–1446 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  13. 13Pope Sixtus IVPope Sixtus IV1414–1484 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures22 decades
  14. 14Donato BramanteDonato Bramante1444–1514 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  15. 15Antonello da MessinaAntonello da Messina1430–1479 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  16. 16Andrea MantegnaAndrea Mantegna1431–1506 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  17. 17Pope Innocent VIIIPope Innocent VIII1432–1492 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures20 decades
  18. 18Giovanni BelliniGiovanni Bellini1430–1516 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  19. 19Pietro PeruginoPietro Perugino1448–1523 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  20. 20Pope Pius IIIPope Pius III1439–1503 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  21. 21John CabotJohn Cabot1450–1498 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures16 decades
  22. 22Rita of CasciaRita of Cascia1381–1457 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics19 decades
  23. 23Marsilio FicinoMarsilio Ficino1433–1499 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  24. 24Pope Martin VPope Martin V1369–1431 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures5 decades
  25. 25Pope Nicholas VPope Nicholas V1397–1455 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures10 decades
  26. 26Pope Eugene IVPope Eugene IV1383–1447 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures3 decades
  27. 27Luca PacioliLuca Pacioli1440–1517 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  28. 28Paolo UccelloPaolo Uccello1397–1475 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  29. 29Antipope John XXIIIAntipope John XXIII1370–1419 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  30. 30PinturicchioPinturicchio1454–1513 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  31. 31Aldus ManutiusAldus Manutius1449–1515 · 🇮🇹 Italy22 decades
  32. 32Pope Paul IIPope Paul II1417–1471 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures11 decades
  33. 33Luca SignorelliLuca Signorelli1450–1523 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  34. 34Bartolomeo ColleoniBartolomeo Colleoni1400–1475 · 🇮🇹 Italy22 decades
  35. 35Agnolo PolizianoAgnolo Poliziano1454–1494 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  36. 36Filippino LippiFilippino Lippi1457–1504 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists21 decades
  37. 37Federico da MontefeltroFederico da Montefeltro1422–1482 · 🇮🇹 Italy22 decades
  38. 38Bernardino of SienaBernardino of Siena1380–1444 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  39. 39Caterina SforzaCaterina Sforza1463–1509 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians3 decades
  40. 40Galeazzo Maria SforzaGaleazzo Maria Sforza1444–1476 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  41. 41Simonetta VespucciSimonetta Vespucci1453–1476 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures10 decades
  42. 42Matteo Maria BoiardoMatteo Maria Boiardo1441–1494 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  43. 43Francesco I SforzaFrancesco I Sforza1401–1466 · 🇮🇹 Italy0 decades
  44. 44PisanelloPisanello1395–1455 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  45. 45Alfonso II of NaplesAlfonso II of Naples1448–1495 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures3 decades
  46. 46Poggio BraccioliniPoggio Bracciolini1380–1459 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics21 decades
  47. 47Francis of PaolaFrancis of Paola1416–1507 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Religious Figures0 decades
  48. 48Catherine of BolognaCatherine of Bologna1413–1463 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists21 decades
  49. 49Gentile BelliniGentile Bellini1429–1507 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  50. 50Lorenzo VallaLorenzo Valla1407–1457 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers14 decades
  51. 51Andrea del CastagnoAndrea del Castagno1420–1457 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  52. 52Francesco FoscariFrancesco Foscari1373–1457 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  53. 53Jacopo SannazaroJacopo Sannazaro1457–1530 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers22 decades
  54. 54Clarice OrsiniClarice Orsini1453–1488 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  55. 55Giuliano da SangalloGiuliano da Sangallo1445–1516 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  56. 56Jacopo della QuerciaJacopo della Quercia1374–1438 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  57. 57Giovanni GiustinianiGiovanni Giustiniani1418–1453 · 🇮🇹 Italy3 decades
  58. 58Erasmo of NarniErasmo of Narni1370–1443 · 🇮🇹 Italy22 decades
  59. 59Catherine CornaroCatherine Cornaro1454–1510 · 🇮🇹 Italy1 decades
  60. 60Domenico VenezianoDomenico Veneziano1410–1461 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  61. 61Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of GandiaGiovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandia1476–1497 · 🇮🇹 Italy22 decades
  62. 62Beatrice d’EsteBeatrice d’Este1475–1497 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians4 decades
  63. 63Francesco di GiorgioFrancesco di Giorgio1439–1501 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists20 decades
  64. 64MichelozzoMichelozzo1396–1472 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists18 decades
  65. 65Melozzo da ForlìMelozzo da Forlì1438–1494 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  66. 66Catherine of GenoaCatherine of Genoa1447–1510 · 🇮🇹 Italy21 decades
  67. 67FilareteFilarete1400–1469 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  68. 68Leonardo LoredanLeonardo Loredan1436–1521 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians21 decades
  69. 69SassettaSassetta1392–1450 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  70. 70Jacopo BelliniJacopo Bellini1400–1470 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  71. 71Cristoforo MoroCristoforo Moro1390–1471 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  72. 72Cristoforo LandinoCristoforo Landino1424–1498 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  73. 73Giovanni SantiGiovanni Santidied 1494 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists21 decades
  74. 74Bernardo RossellinoBernardo Rossellino1409–1464 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  75. 75Agostino di DuccioAgostino di Duccio1418–1481 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists14 decades
  76. 76Giovanni Antonio AmadeoGiovanni Antonio Amadeo1447–1522 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  77. 77Ercole de' RobertiErcole de' Roberti1450–1496 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  78. 78Benedetto da MaianoBenedetto da Maiano1442–1497 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects22 decades
  79. 79Nanni di BancoNanni di Banco1380–1421 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists17 decades
  80. 80Antonio RossellinoAntonio Rossellino1427–1479 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists20 decades
  81. 81Bertoldo di GiovanniBertoldo di Giovanni1435–1491 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists13 decades
  82. 82TaccolaTaccola1382–1453 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Scientists3 decades
  83. 83Bartolomeo della GattaBartolomeo della Gatta1448–1502 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  84. 84Giuliano da MaianoGiuliano da Maiano1432–1490 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  85. 85Baccio PontelliBaccio Pontelli1449–1494 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  86. 86Fra CarnevaleFra Carnevale1420–1484 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  87. 87Aloisio da MilanoAloisio da Milanoborn 1450 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architectsnot measured—
  88. 88Biagio RossettiBiagio Rossetti1447–1516 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  89. 89Matteo CivitaliMatteo Civitali1436–1501 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists21 decades
  90. 90Andrea BregnoAndrea Bregno1418–1503 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects13 decades
  91. 91BFBartolomeo Facio1400–1457 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Writers21 decades
  92. 92Simone del PollaioloSimone del Pollaiolo1457–1508 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  93. 93LFLuca Fancelli1430–1502 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects20 decades
  94. 94Baccio BaldiniBaccio Baldini1436–1487 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Actors21 decades
  95. 95Niccolò di Piero LambertiNiccolò di Piero Lamberti1370–1451 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  96. 96Giovanni Cristoforo RomanoGiovanni Cristoforo Romano1456–1512 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  97. 97Francesco FiorentinoFrancesco Fiorentino1439–1516 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Architects0 decades
  98. 98Guidoccio CozzarelliGuidoccio Cozzarelli1450–1517 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  99. 99Domenico PanettiDomenico Panetti1460–1530 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists0 decades
  100. 100Dello di Niccolò DelliDello di Niccolò Delli1403–1471 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artistsnot 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.