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. 2Richard III of EnglandRichard III of England1452–1485 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  3. 3Amerigo VespucciAmerigo Vespucci1454–1512 · Historical Figures22 decades
  4. 4Mehmed the ConquerorMehmed the Conqueror1432–1481 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures2 decades
  5. 5Zheng HeZheng He1371–1433 · 🇨🇳 China · Historical Figures8 decades
  6. 6Henry VII of EnglandHenry VII of England1457–1509 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures7 decades
  7. 7Louis XII of FranceLouis XII of France1462–1515 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  8. 8Charles VII of FranceCharles VII of France1403–1461 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  9. 9Charles VI of FranceCharles VI of France1368–1422 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures4 decades
  10. 10SkanderbegSkanderbeg1405–1468 · Historical Figures7 decades
  11. 11Henry VI of EnglandHenry VI of England1421–1471 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  12. 12Sigismund, Holy Roman EmperorSigismund, Holy Roman Emperor1368–1437 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  13. 13Richard II of EnglandRichard II of England1367–1400 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  14. 14Edward IV of EnglandEdward IV of England1442–1483 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  15. 15Henry IV of EnglandHenry IV of England1367–1413 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  16. 16Matthias CorvinusMatthias Corvinus1443–1490 · Historical Figures22 decades
  17. 17Juan Ponce de LeónJuan Ponce de León1460–1521 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures20 decades
  18. 18Murad IIMurad II1404–1451 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures11 decades
  19. 19Prince Henry the NavigatorPrince Henry the Navigator1394–1460 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures15 decades
  20. 20Henry IV of CastileHenry IV of Castile1425–1474 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures22 decades
  21. 21Alfonso V of AragonAlfonso V of Aragon1396–1458 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures21 decades
  22. 22John CabotJohn Cabot1450–1498 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures16 decades
  23. 23Bayezid IIBayezid II1447–1512 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures3 decades
  24. 24Elizabeth WoodvilleElizabeth Woodville1437–1492 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures20 decades
  25. 25Margaret of AnjouMargaret of Anjou1430–1482 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  26. 26Isabella of Aragon, Queen of PortugalIsabella of Aragon, Queen of Portugal1470–1498 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
  27. 27Albert II of GermanyAlbert II of Germany1397–1439 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures0 decades
  28. 28Isabeau of BavariaIsabeau of Bavaria1370–1435 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  29. 29Ferdinand I of AragonFerdinand I of Aragon1380–1416 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures17 decades
  30. 30Sejong the GreatSejong the Great1397–1450 · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Historical Figures0 decades
  31. 31René of AnjouRené of Anjou1409–1480 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures3 decades
  32. 32Mehmed IMehmed I1386–1421 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures0 decades
  33. 33James I of ScotlandJames I of Scotland1394–1437 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures3 decades
  34. 34Anne NevilleAnne Neville1456–1485 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures6 decades
  35. 35Eric of PomeraniaEric of Pomerania1381–1459 · Historical Figures0 decades
  36. 36Ferdinand I of NaplesFerdinand I of Naples1423–1494 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures16 decades
  37. 37Muhammad XII of GranadaMuhammad XII of Granada1459–1533 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
  38. 38Vlad II DraculVlad II Dracul1395–1447 · Historical Figures0 decades
  39. 39Isabella of ValoisIsabella of Valois1389–1409 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  40. 40Władysław III of PolandWładysław III of Poland1424–1444 · Historical Figures0 decades
  41. 41PachacutiPachacuti1391–1471 · Historical Figures9 decades
  42. 42Christian I of DenmarkChristian I of Denmark1426–1481 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Historical Figures0 decades
  43. 43Simonetta VespucciSimonetta Vespucci1453–1476 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures10 decades
  44. 44Diogo CãoDiogo Cão1452–1486 · Historical Figures0 decades
  45. 45Casimir IV JagiellonCasimir IV Jagiellon1427–1492 · Historical Figures0 decades
  46. 46Alfonso II of NaplesAlfonso II of Naples1448–1495 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures3 decades
  47. 47John VIII PalaiologosJohn VIII Palaiologos1392–1448 · Historical Figures0 decades
  48. 48Elizabeth of LuxembourgElizabeth of Luxembourg1409–1442 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures1 decades
  49. 49Cecily Neville, Duchess of YorkCecily Neville, Duchess of York1415–1495 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  50. 50Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of YorkRichard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York1473–1483 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  51. 51Juan de la CosaJuan de la Cosa1450–1510 · Historical Figures21 decades
  52. 52Martin BehaimMartin Behaim1459–1507 · Historical Figures15 decades
  53. 53Vicente Yáñez PinzónVicente Yáñez Pinzón1462–1600 · Historical Figures14 decades
  54. 54Barbara of CilliBarbara of Cilli1392–1451 · Historical Figures0 decades
  55. 55John II of CastileJohn II of Castile1405–1454 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures0 decades
  56. 56Mara BrankovićMara Branković1416–1487 · Historical Figures0 decades
  57. 57Bartholomew ColumbusBartholomew Columbus1460–1515 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures16 decades
  58. 58CharlesCharles1459–1496 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures11 decades
  59. 59Christopher of BavariaChristopher of Bavaria1416–1448 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures4 decades
  60. 60Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of RichmondEdmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond1430–1456 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  61. 61Eleanor of Portugal, Holy Roman EmpressEleanor of Portugal, Holy Roman Empress1434–1467 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  62. 62Louis II of NaplesLouis II of Naples1377–1417 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures22 decades
  63. 63Philippa of EnglandPhilippa of England1394–1430 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  64. 64Clarice OrsiniClarice Orsini1453–1488 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Historical Figures22 decades
  65. 65John, King of DenmarkJohn, King of Denmark1455–1513 · 🇳🇴 Norway · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  66. 66Túpac Inca YupanquiTúpac Inca Yupanqui1441–1493 · Historical Figures0 decades
  67. 67Uzun HasanUzun Hasan1423–1478 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures2 decades
  68. 68Frederick IIFrederick II1412–1464 · Historical Figures22 decades
  69. 69Ernest of SaxonyErnest of Saxony1441–1486 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  70. 70Elisabeth of HabsburgElisabeth of Habsburg1436–1505 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Historical Figures0 decades
  71. 71Beatrice of PortugalBeatrice of Portugal1373–1409 · Historical Figures22 decades
  72. 72Askia Muhammad IAskia Muhammad I1443–1538 · Historical Figures0 decades
  73. 73Sigismund, Archduke of AustriaSigismund, Archduke of Austria1427–1496 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  74. 74René II of LorraineRené II of Lorraine1451–1508 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures15 decades
  75. 75Albert VI, Archduke of AustriaAlbert VI, Archduke of Austria1418–1463 · Historical Figures22 decades
  76. 76Radu cel FrumosRadu cel Frumosdied 1475 · Historical Figures0 decades
  77. 77Margaret of Denmark, Queen of ScotlandMargaret of Denmark, Queen of Scotland1456–1486 · Historical Figures9 decades
  78. 78Ruy González de ClavijoRuy González de Clavijo1400–1412 · Historical Figures15 decades
  79. 79Edward of Middleham, Prince of WalesEdward of Middleham, Prince of Wales1473–1484 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Historical Figures0 decades
  80. 80Francisco de AlmeidaFrancisco de Almeida1450–1510 · Historical Figures1 decades
  81. 81Đurađ BrankovićĐurađ Branković1377–1457 · Historical Figures0 decades
  82. 82Filippo II, Duke of SavoyFilippo II, Duke of Savoy1438–1497 · Historical Figures1 decades
  83. 83Alexander JagiellonAlexander Jagiellon1460–1506 · Historical Figures0 decades
  84. 84Ercole I d'EsteErcole I d'Este1431–1505 · Historical Figures0 decades
  85. 85FrancisFrancis1470–1495 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figures0 decades
  86. 86Pedro Arias DávilaPedro Arias Dávila1440–1531 · Historical Figures19 decades
  87. 87Martin I of SicilyMartin I of Sicily1374–1409 · Historical Figures0 decades
  88. 88HHHüma Hatun1400–1449 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Historical Figures0 decades
  89. 89Albert IV, Duke of BavariaAlbert IV, Duke of Bavaria1447–1508 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures0 decades
  90. 90Albert IV, Duke of AustriaAlbert IV, Duke of Austria1377–1404 · Historical Figures0 decades
  91. 91Cymburgis of MasoviaCymburgis of Masovia1394–1429 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  92. 92Albert III, Duke of BavariaAlbert III, Duke of Bavaria1401–1460 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figures22 decades
  93. 93Eberhard I, Duke of WürttembergEberhard I, Duke of Württemberg1445–1496 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  94. 94Louis III of NaplesLouis III of Naples1403–1434 · 🇫🇷 France · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  95. 95Diogo DiasDiogo Dias1450–1500 · Historical Figures0 decades
  96. 96David II of TrebizondDavid II of Trebizond1408–1463 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  97. 97João I of KongoJoão I of Kongo1440–1506 · Historical Figuresnot measured—
  98. 98Martín Alonso PinzónMartín Alonso Pinzón1441–1493 · Historical Figures14 decades
  99. 99Tristão da CunhaTristão da Cunha1460–1540 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Historical Figures1 decades
  100. 100Nicolás de OvandoNicolás de Ovando1451–1511 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Historical Figures20 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.