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. 1Jan HusJan Hus1370–1415 · Academics9 decades
  2. 2Nicholas of CusaNicholas of Cusa1401–1464 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics13 decades
  3. 3Giovanni Pico della MirandolaGiovanni Pico della Mirandola1463–1494 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  4. 4Rita of CasciaRita of Cascia1381–1457 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics19 decades
  5. 5Marsilio FicinoMarsilio Ficino1433–1499 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  6. 6Luca PacioliLuca Pacioli1440–1517 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  7. 7RegiomontanusRegiomontanus1436–1476 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics22 decades
  8. 8Agnolo PolizianoAgnolo Poliziano1454–1494 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  9. 9Bernardino of SienaBernardino of Siena1380–1444 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  10. 10Johann ReuchlinJohann Reuchlin1455–1522 · Academics17 decades
  11. 11Antonio de NebrijaAntonio de Nebrija1444–1522 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Academics22 decades
  12. 12Poggio BraccioliniPoggio Bracciolini1380–1459 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics21 decades
  13. 13Basilios BessarionBasilios Bessarion1403–1472 · Academics0 decades
  14. 14Isaac AbrabanelIsaac Abrabanel1437–1508 · Academics22 decades
  15. 15Pietro PomponazziPietro Pomponazzi1462–1525 · Academics22 decades
  16. 16Ciriaco de' PizzicolliCiriaco de' Pizzicolli1391–1452 · Academics22 decades
  17. 17Jacques Lefèvre d'ÉtaplesJacques Lefèvre d'Étaples1450–1536 · Academics0 decades
  18. 18Jerome of PragueJerome of Prague1380–1416 · Academics17 decades
  19. 19Georg von PeuerbachGeorg von Peuerbach1423–1461 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Academics0 decades
  20. 20Conrad CeltesConrad Celtes1459–1508 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics1 decades
  21. 21Rodolphus AgricolaRodolphus Agricola1443–1485 · Academics21 decades
  22. 22Abraham ZacutoAbraham Zacuto1450–1515 · Academics10 decades
  23. 23Gennadius ScholariusGennadius Scholarius1400–1473 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academics0 decades
  24. 24Cristoforo LandinoCristoforo Landino1424–1498 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Academics22 decades
  25. 25Francesco FilelfoFrancesco Filelfo1398–1481 · Academics22 decades
  26. 26Joseph AlboJoseph Albo1380–1444 · Academics22 decades
  27. 27Judah Leon AbravanelJudah Leon Abravanel1460–1530 · Academics18 decades
  28. 28Albert BrudzewskiAlbert Brudzewski1445–1497 · Academics0 decades
  29. 29Mark of EphesusMark of Ephesus1392–1445 · Academics6 decades
  30. 30RamanandaRamananda1400–1470 · Academics11 decades
  31. 31George of TrebizondGeorge of Trebizond1395–1472 · Academics11 decades
  32. 32Theodoros GazaTheodoros Gaza1398–1475 · Academics0 decades
  33. 33Theodoros II PalaiologosTheodoros II Palaiologos1396–1448 · Academicsnot measured—
  34. 34RavidasRavidas1450–1520 · Academics5 decades
  35. 35Annius of ViterboAnnius of Viterbo1437–1502 · Academics4 decades
  36. 36Julius Pomponius LaetusJulius Pomponius Laetus1428–1498 · Academics0 decades
  37. 37NSNilakantha Somayaji1444–1501 · 🇮🇳 India · Academics0 decades
  38. 38Nilus of SoraNilus of Sora1433–1508 · Academics0 decades
  39. 39UUhwudong1430–1480 · Academicsnot measured—
  40. 40Kim Chong-jikKim Chong-jik1431–1492 · Academics0 decades
  41. 41Lawrence GiustinianiLawrence Giustiniani1381–1456 · Academics0 decades
  42. 42Johannes WidmannJohannes Widmann1462–1505 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics2 decades
  43. 43YYangnyeong1394–1462 · Academics0 decades
  44. 44Gregory of SanokGregory of Sanok1406–1477 · Academics0 decades
  45. 45Sin SukchuSin Sukchu1417–1475 · Academics0 decades
  46. 46Benedikt KotruljevićBenedikt Kotruljević1416–1469 · Academics6 decades
  47. 47NCNicolas Chuquet1445–1488 · Academics0 decades
  48. 48RORaymond of Sabunde1385–1436 · Academics2 decades
  49. 49Guru JambheshwarGuru Jambheshwar1451–1536 · Academics0 decades
  50. 50Bernardine of FeltreBernardine of Feltre1439–1494 · Academics0 decades
  51. 51Amadeus of PortugalAmadeus of Portugal1420–1482 · Academics0 decades
  52. 52HMHan Myŏnghoe1415–1487 · Academicsnot measured—
  53. 53Ermolao BarbaroErmolao Barbaro1453–1493 · Academics1 decades
  54. 54Paweł WłodkowicPaweł Włodkowic1370–1435 · Academics0 decades
  55. 55Stanisław KazimierczykStanisław Kazimierczyk1433–1489 · Academicsnot measured—
  56. 56Yahya al-Shirvani al-BakubiYahya al-Shirvani al-Bakubi1410–1462 · Academicsnot measured—
  57. 57AAAbū al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī al-Qalaṣādī1412–1486 · Academicsnot measured—
  58. 58GAGeorge Amiroutzes1400–1470 · Academics0 decades
  59. 59Paul of VenicePaul of Venice1369–1429 · Academics1 decades
  60. 60TPTheophilos Palaiologosdied 1453 · Academics0 decades
  61. 61PParameshvara1380–1460 · 🇮🇳 India · Academics0 decades
  62. 62Ulrich ZasiusUlrich Zasius1461–1535 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics0 decades
  63. 63Niccolò PerottiNiccolò Perotti1429–1480 · Academics0 decades
  64. 64Prince HyoryeongPrince Hyoryeong1396–1486 · Academicsnot measured—
  65. 65Elia del MedigoElia del Medigo1458–1497 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academics12 decades
  66. 66EMElijah Mizrachi1455–1526 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academics0 decades
  67. 67John of GłogówJohn of Głogów1445–1507 · Academicsnot measured—
  68. 68Chen BaishaChen Baisha1428–1500 · Academics2 decades
  69. 69Ibn Ghazi al-MaknasiIbn Ghazi al-Maknasi1437–1513 · Academicsnot measured—
  70. 70Balthasar, Duke of MecklenburgBalthasar, Duke of Mecklenburg1451–1507 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academicsnot measured—
  71. 71Johannes NiderJohannes Nider1380–1438 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics0 decades
  72. 72Nicholas Leonicus ThomaeusNicholas Leonicus Thomaeus1456–1531 · Academicsnot measured—
  73. 73JOJohn of Segovia1395–1458 · Academics1 decades
  74. 74Robert GaguinRobert Gaguin1433–1501 · Academics1 decades
  75. 75GVGiorgio Valla1447–1499 · Academics0 decades
  76. 76Hızır BeyHızır Bey1407–1459 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Academics0 decades
  77. 77SSripadaraja1404–1502 · Academics0 decades
  78. 78MIMuhammad ibn Falah1400–1461 · Academics0 decades
  79. 79BRBartolomé Ramos de Parejaborn 1440 · Academics0 decades
  80. 80YSYi Suhyŏng1435–1528 · Academicsnot measured—
  81. 81SvātmārāmaSvātmārāma1400–1400 · 🇮🇳 India · Academics0 decades
  82. 82Stanisław of SkarbimierzStanisław of Skarbimierz1365–1431 · Academics0 decades
  83. 83Paul of MiddelburgPaul of Middelburg1445–1534 · Academics0 decades
  84. 84Catherine de PallanzaCatherine de Pallanza1437–1478 · Academicsnot measured—
  85. 85Filippo BeroaldoFilippo Beroaldo1453–1505 · Academics4 decades
  86. 86Manavala MamunigalManavala Mamunigal1370–1443 · Academics0 decades
  87. 87PBPrathivadhi Bhayankaram Annangaracharya1430–1500 · Academicsnot measured—
  88. 88HHHan Hwak1400–1456 · Academicsnot measured—
  89. 89Marcantonio ZimaraMarcantonio Zimara1460–1523 · Academics7 decades
  90. 90JCJohn Chortasmenos1370–1431 · Academics0 decades
  91. 91YAYohanan Alemanno1435–1504 · Academics0 decades
  92. 92JOJohn of Falkenberg1385–1430 · Academics0 decades
  93. 93ACAndronicus Callistus1400–1486 · Academics0 decades
  94. 94Jan StandonckJan Standonck1453–1504 · Academics0 decades
  95. 95Christian of PrachaticeChristian of Prachatice1368–1439 · Academics0 decades
  96. 96Jakob KöbelJakob Köbel1462–1533 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Academics4 decades
  97. 97Francesco Cattani da DiaccetoFrancesco Cattani da Diacceto1446–1522 · Academics19 decades
  98. 98John BrugmanJohn Brugman1400–1473 · Academics0 decades
  99. 99FCFazio Cardano1444–1524 · Academics0 decades
  100. 100Peter of RavennaPeter of Ravenna1448–1508 · Academics0 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.