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. 1Isabella I of CastileIsabella I of Castile1451–1504 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models19 decades
  2. 2Pope Alexander VIPope Alexander VI1431–1503 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures22 decades
  3. 3Ferdinand II of AragonFerdinand II of Aragon1452–1516 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Models14 decades
  4. 4Juan Ponce de LeónJuan Ponce de León1460–1521 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures20 decades
  5. 5Tomás de TorquemadaTomás de Torquemada1420–1498 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  6. 6Henry IV of CastileHenry IV of Castile1425–1474 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures22 decades
  7. 7Alfonso V of AragonAlfonso V of Aragon1396–1458 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures21 decades
  8. 8Pope Callixtus IIIPope Callixtus III1379–1458 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures0 decades
  9. 9Isabella of Aragon, Queen of PortugalIsabella of Aragon, Queen of Portugal1470–1498 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
  10. 10John II of AragonJohn II of Aragon1398–1479 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Modelsnot measured—
  11. 11Ferdinand I of AragonFerdinand I of Aragon1380–1416 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures17 decades
  12. 12Joanna la BeltranejaJoanna la Beltraneja1462–1530 · 🇪🇸 Spain22 decades
  13. 13Ferdinand I of NaplesFerdinand I of Naples1423–1494 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures16 decades
  14. 14Muhammad XII of GranadaMuhammad XII of Granada1459–1533 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
  15. 15Francisco Jiménez de CisnerosFrancisco Jiménez de Cisneros1436–1517 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures20 decades
  16. 16Gonzalo Fernández de CórdobaGonzalo Fernández de Córdoba1453–1515 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians15 decades
  17. 17Antonio de NebrijaAntonio de Nebrija1444–1522 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics22 decades
  18. 18John, Prince of AsturiasJohn, Prince of Asturias1478–1497 · 🇪🇸 Spain0 decades
  19. 19John II of CastileJohn II of Castile1405–1454 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
  20. 20Bartholomew ColumbusBartholomew Columbus1460–1515 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures16 decades
  21. 21Enrique III of CastileEnrique III of Castile1379–1406 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0 decades
  22. 22Nicolás de OvandoNicolás de Ovando1451–1511 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures20 decades
  23. 23Peter Martyr d'AnghieraPeter Martyr d'Anghiera1457–1526 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  24. 24Ascanio SforzaAscanio Sforza1455–1505 · 🇪🇸 Spain13 decades
  25. 25Pedro BerruguetePedro Berruguete1450–1504 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists22 decades
  26. 26Juan de FlandesJuan de Flandes1450–1519 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists13 decades
  27. 27João de NóvoaJoão de Nóvoa1450–1509 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  28. 28JDJuan de Bermúdez1401–1600 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures15 decades
  29. 29ADAlonso de Salazar1401–1526 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures21 decades
  30. 30Gomes Eanes de ZuraraGomes Eanes de Zurara1410–1474 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0 decades
  31. 31Juan PachecoJuan Pacheco1419–1474 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  32. 32Fadrique Álvarez de ToledoFadrique Álvarez de Toledo1460–1531 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  33. 33ASAbraham Senior1412–1496 · 🇪🇸 Spain4 decades
  34. 34Juan Rodríguez FonsecaJuan Rodríguez Fonseca1451–1524 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0 decades
  35. 35John of SahagúnJohn of Sahagún1419–1479 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures14 decades
  36. 36Francisco de CarvajalFrancisco de Carvajal1464–1548 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians21 decades
  37. 37Hernando de TalaveraHernando de Talavera1428–1507 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures22 decades
  38. 38Alfonso Carrillo de AcuñaAlfonso Carrillo de Acuña1410–1482 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures1 decades
  39. 39Diego DezaDiego Deza1444–1523 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures22 decades
  40. 40DDDiego de Nicuesa1464–1511 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures22 decades
  41. 41Fernando GallegoFernando Gallego1440–1507 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists15 decades
  42. 42HDHernando de Luque1450–1533 · 🇪🇸 Spain22 decades
  43. 43FRFrancisco Roldán1462–1502 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures15 decades
  44. 44Bernardino López de CarvajalBernardino López de Carvajal1456–1523 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0 decades
  45. 45HDHernando del Pulgar1436–1492 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  46. 46ADAdrián de Moxica1453–1499 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  47. 47TeguesteTeguesteborn 1401 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  48. 48Lo SpagnaLo Spagna1450–1528 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists0 decades
  49. 49Fernando Yáñez de la AlmedinaFernando Yáñez de la Almedina1459–1537 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists0 decades
  50. 50PelinorPelinor1450–1505 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians7 decades
  51. 51Antonio Osorio de AcuñaAntonio Osorio de Acuña1459–1526 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures22 decades
  52. 52MacíasMacías1401–1401 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musiciansnot measured—
  53. 53Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, 1st Duke of the InfantadoDiego Hurtado de Mendoza, 1st Duke of the Infantado1417–1479 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians1 decades
  54. 54ÍFÍñigo Fernández de Velasco, 2nd Duke of Frías1462–1528 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  55. 55Alonso SánchezAlonso Sánchezborn 1401 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
  56. 56Lucio Marineo SículoLucio Marineo Sículo1444–1533 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers21 decades
  57. 57SISolomon ibn Verga1460–1554 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers2 decades
  58. 58EEEnrique Egas1455–1534 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists18 decades
  59. 59Fadrique Enríquez de VelascoFadrique Enríquez de Velasco1460–1538 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  60. 60Íñigo López de Mendoza y QuiñonesÍñigo López de Mendoza y Quiñones1440–1515 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politiciansnot measured—
  61. 61Diego de ValeraDiego de Valera1412–1488 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0 decades
  62. 62Juan RejónJuan Rejón1401–1481 · 🇪🇸 Spain0 decades
  63. 63Juan de CarvajalJuan de Carvajal1400–1469 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  64. 64Antonio RinconAntonio Rincon1450–1541 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0 decades
  65. 65Simón de ColoniaSimón de Colonia1450–1511 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Architects14 decades
  66. 66DDDiego de Arana1468–1493 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures21 decades
  67. 67Jorge InglésJorge Inglés1420–1500 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists10 decades
  68. 68Martín BernatMartín Bernat1450–1505 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists3 decades
  69. 69SDSebastián de Ocampo1460–1514 · 🇪🇸 Spain11 decades
  70. 70PelicarPelicarborn 1450 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures1 decades
  71. 71ISIbn Shaprutborn 1400 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Actors11 decades
  72. 72JLJoshua Lorki1400–1419 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Doctors11 decades
  73. 73Ferdinando d' Aragona y Guardato, 1st Duke of MontaltoFerdinando d' Aragona y Guardato, 1st Duke of Montalto1460–1542 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  74. 74Giacopo Antonio VenierGiacopo Antonio Venier1422–1479 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  75. 75FDFrancisco de las Casas1461–1536 · 🇪🇸 Spain22 decades
  76. 76Juan de VeraJuan de Vera1453–1507 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures19 decades
  77. 77JDJosef della Reina1418–1472 · 🇪🇸 Spain4 decades
  78. 78RSRodrigo Sánchez de Arévalo1404–1470 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers0 decades
  79. 79JAJuan Alfonso Pérez de Guzmán, 3rd Duke of Medina Sidonia1464–1507 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  80. 80IDIsabel de Guevaradied 1501 · 🇪🇸 Spain14 decades
  81. 81IAIsaac Aboab of Castile1432–1493 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writersnot measured—
  82. 82HDHanequin de Bruselasdied 1494 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists0 decades
  83. 83Enyego d'ÀvalosEnyego d'Àvalos1414–1484 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writersnot measured—
  84. 84Lope de BarrientosLope de Barrientos1382–1469 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  85. 85Pedro de AlcaláPedro de Alcalá1455–1600 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  86. 86RCRodrigo Cota de Maguaque1434–1498 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writers22 decades
  87. 87AOAlonso Ortiz1455–1503 · 🇪🇸 Spain22 decades
  88. 88Alonso MansoAlonso Manso1460–1539 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures0 decades
  89. 89Íñigo López de Mendoza, 1st count of TendillaÍñigo López de Mendoza, 1st count of Tendilla1419–1479 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  90. 90HDHernando de Grijalva1401–1537 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures14 decades
  91. 91Lorenzo Vázquez de SegoviaLorenzo Vázquez de Segovia1401–1600 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Architects0 decades
  92. 92Alonso Suárez de la Fuente del SauceAlonso Suárez de la Fuente del Sauce1450–1520 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Writersnot measured—
  93. 93Diego Ramírez de FuenlealDiego Ramírez de Fuenleal1459–1537 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figures0 decades
  94. 94Juan de la AbadíaJuan de la Abadía1450–1498 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists6 decades
  95. 95RARodrigo Alemán1446–1542 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists8 decades
  96. 96JCJuan Cornago1450–1500 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Musicians0 decades
  97. 97Juan Fernández de Híjar y CabreraJuan Fernández de Híjar y Cabrera1419–1491 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  98. 98Mencía de Mendoza y FigueroaMencía de Mendoza y Figueroa1421–1500 · 🇪🇸 Spainnot measured—
  99. 99MDMartín de Alcantara1401–1541 · 🇪🇸 Spain13 decades
  100. 100Francisco de CabreraFrancisco de Cabrera1401–1529 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Religious Figuresnot 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.