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. 1Henry V of EnglandHenry V of England1386–1422 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians1 decades
  2. 2Louis XI of FranceLouis XI of France1423–1483 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians8 decades
  3. 3Lorenzo de' MediciLorenzo de' Medici1449–1492 · Politicians22 decades
  4. 4Girolamo SavonarolaGirolamo Savonarola1452–1498 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  5. 5Ivan III of RussiaIvan III of Russia1440–1505 · Politicians8 decades
  6. 6Charles VIII of FranceCharles VIII of France1470–1498 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians11 decades
  7. 7Charles the BoldCharles the Bold1433–1477 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  8. 8Mary of BurgundyMary of Burgundy1457–1482 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  9. 9Cosimo de' MediciCosimo de' Medici1389–1464 · Politicians22 decades
  10. 10Tomás de TorquemadaTomás de Torquemada1420–1498 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians22 decades
  11. 11Philip the GoodPhilip the Good1396–1467 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  12. 12John HunyadiJohn Hunyadi1407–1456 · Politicians19 decades
  13. 13Vasily I of MoscowVasily I of Moscow1371–1425 · Politicians5 decades
  14. 14Giuliano de' MediciGiuliano de' Medici1453–1478 · Politicians22 decades
  15. 15Richard of York, 3rd Duke of YorkRichard of York, 3rd Duke of York1411–1460 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  16. 16Piero di Cosimo de' MediciPiero di Cosimo de' Medici1416–1469 · Politicians11 decades
  17. 17Afonso de AlbuquerqueAfonso de Albuquerque1453–1515 · 🇵🇹 Portugal · Politicians4 decades
  18. 18Gonzalo Fernández de CórdobaGonzalo Fernández de Córdoba1453–1515 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians15 decades
  19. 19James III of ScotlandJames III of Scotland1451–1488 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians0 decades
  20. 20Caterina SforzaCaterina Sforza1463–1509 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians3 decades
  21. 21Galeazzo Maria SforzaGaleazzo Maria Sforza1444–1476 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  22. 22Anne of FranceAnne of France1461–1522 · Politicians1 decades
  23. 23James II of ScotlandJames II of Scotland1430–1460 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians0 decades
  24. 24Richard NevilleRichard Neville1428–1471 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians21 decades
  25. 25Filippo Maria ViscontiFilippo Maria Visconti1392–1447 · Politicians22 decades
  26. 26Charlotte of SavoyCharlotte of Savoy1441–1483 · Politicians0 decades
  27. 271st Dalai Lama1st Dalai Lama1391–1474 · Politiciansnot measured—
  28. 28Sultan CemSultan Cem1459–1495 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  29. 29Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of WiltshireThomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire1457–1539 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  30. 30John of CapistranoJohn of Capistrano1386–1456 · Politicians17 decades
  31. 31George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of ClarenceGeorge Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence1449–1478 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  32. 32Francis IIFrancis II1435–1488 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians12 decades
  33. 33AlfonsoAlfonso1453–1468 · Politicians22 decades
  34. 34Francesco FoscariFrancesco Foscari1373–1457 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  35. 35Jacqueline, Countess of HainautJacqueline, Countess of Hainaut1401–1436 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians5 decades
  36. 36Saint CasimirSaint Casimir1458–1484 · Politicians0 decades
  37. 37Ernest, Duke of AustriaErnest, Duke of Austria1377–1424 · 🇦🇹 Austria · Politiciansnot measured—
  38. 38Yolanda de AragonYolanda de Aragon1384–1442 · Politiciansnot measured—
  39. 39Jean de DunoisJean de Dunois1403–1468 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  40. 40Margaret of YorkMargaret of York1446–1503 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians11 decades
  41. 41Nicholas of FlüeNicholas of Flüe1417–1487 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politicians14 decades
  42. 42Beatrice d’EsteBeatrice d’Este1475–1497 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians4 decades
  43. 43Sophia PalaiologinaSophia Palaiologina1455–1503 · Politicians0 decades
  44. 44Albert III, Duke of SaxonyAlbert III, Duke of Saxony1443–1500 · Politicians0 decades
  45. 45Joan of NavarreJoan of Navarre1368–1437 · Politiciansnot measured—
  46. 46Arthur III, Duke of BrittanyArthur III, Duke of Brittany1393–1458 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  47. 47Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of BurgundyIsabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy1397–1471 · Politicians8 decades
  48. 48Bianca Maria ViscontiBianca Maria Visconti1425–1468 · Politicians22 decades
  49. 49Jacques CœurJacques Cœur1395–1456 · Politicians0 decades
  50. 50John I AlbertJohn I Albert1459–1501 · Politicians0 decades
  51. 51Andrea GrittiAndrea Gritti1455–1538 · Politicians22 decades
  52. 52Moctezuma IMoctezuma I1398–1469 · Politicians0 decades
  53. 53William CaxtonWilliam Caxton1422–1492 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politicians22 decades
  54. 54Piero SoderiniPiero Soderini1450–1522 · Politicians22 decades
  55. 55Leonardo LoredanLeonardo Loredan1436–1521 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians21 decades
  56. 56Charles VIII of SwedenCharles VIII of Sweden1409–1470 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades
  57. 57Joanna II of NaplesJoanna II of Naples1373–1435 · Politicians0 decades
  58. 58Ladislaus HunyadiLadislaus Hunyadi1431–1457 · Politicians0 decades
  59. 59Vasily II of MoscowVasily II of Moscow1415–1462 · Politicians0 decades
  60. 60Marfa BoretskayaMarfa Boretskaya1450–1503 · Politicians13 decades
  61. 61Enrique III of CastileEnrique III of Castile1379–1406 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Politicians0 decades
  62. 62Zağan PaşaZağan Paşa1450–1464 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politiciansnot measured—
  63. 63Sejo of JoseonSejo of Joseon1417–1468 · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Politiciansnot measured—
  64. 64Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of CambridgeRichard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge1385–1415 · Politicians0 decades
  65. 65Eleanor of AlburquerqueEleanor of Alburquerque1374–1435 · Politicians9 decades
  66. 66Piri Mehmed PaşaPiri Mehmed Paşa1458–1532 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politiciansnot measured—
  67. 67ÇHÇandarlı Halil Pashadied 1453 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  68. 68Ladislaus of NaplesLadislaus of Naples1377–1414 · Politicians0 decades
  69. 69Álvaro de Luna, Constable of CastileÁlvaro de Luna, Constable of Castile1390–1453 · Politicians22 decades
  70. 70Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of GloucesterHumphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester1390–1447 · Politicians0 decades
  71. 71Ulrich II, Count of CeljeUlrich II, Count of Celje1406–1456 · Politicians0 decades
  72. 72Frederick IFrederick I1425–1476 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Politicians22 decades
  73. 73Ferdinand II of NaplesFerdinand II of Naples1467–1496 · Politicians0 decades
  74. 74Joan BeaufortJoan Beaufort1404–1445 · Politicians0 decades
  75. 75Hedwig Jagiellon, Duchess of BavariaHedwig Jagiellon, Duchess of Bavaria1457–1502 · Politiciansnot measured—
  76. 76Cristoforo MoroCristoforo Moro1390–1471 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Politicians22 decades
  77. 77YOYejong of Joseon1450–1469 · Politiciansnot measured—
  78. 78Anthony, Duke of BrabantAnthony, Duke of Brabant1384–1415 · Politiciansnot measured—
  79. 79Gian Giacomo TrivulzioGian Giacomo Trivulzio1440–1518 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians22 decades
  80. 80Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of NorfolkThomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk1443–1524 · Politicians22 decades
  81. 81Pedro González de MendozaPedro González de Mendoza1428–1495 · Politicians22 decades
  82. 82Magdalena of ValoisMagdalena of Valois1443–1495 · Politicians21 decades
  83. 83Charles I of AlbretCharles I of Albret1368–1415 · 🇫🇷 France · Politicians0 decades
  84. 84Girolamo RiarioGirolamo Riario1443–1488 · Politicians6 decades
  85. 85Kara Ahmed PashaKara Ahmed Pasha1450–1555 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  86. 86Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of BuckinghamHenry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham1455–1483 · 🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Politiciansnot measured—
  87. 87Sten Sture the ElderSten Sture the Elder1440–1503 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades
  88. 88GAGedik Ahmed Pasha1450–1482 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politicians0 decades
  89. 89Bona of SavoyBona of Savoy1449–1503 · Politicians5 decades
  90. 90QaitbayQaitbay1416–1496 · 🇪🇬 Egypt · Politiciansnot measured—
  91. 91Giovanni il PopolanoGiovanni il Popolano1467–1498 · Politicians0 decades
  92. 92Francis Phoebus of NavarreFrancis Phoebus of Navarre1467–1483 · Politiciansnot measured—
  93. 93Giovanni MocenigoGiovanni Mocenigo1409–1485 · Politicians22 decades
  94. 94Eleanor of ViseuEleanor of Viseu1458–1525 · Politiciansnot measured—
  95. 95Eleanor of Naples, Duchess of FerraraEleanor of Naples, Duchess of Ferrara1450–1493 · Politicians22 decades
  96. 96Engelbrekt EngelbrektssonEngelbrekt Engelbrektsson1390–1436 · 🇸🇪 Sweden · Politicians0 decades
  97. 97Gian Maria ViscontiGian Maria Visconti1388–1412 · Politicians0 decades
  98. 98Elisabeth, Duchess of LuxembourgElisabeth, Duchess of Luxembourg1390–1451 · Politiciansnot measured—
  99. 99İsa Çelebiİsa Çelebi1378–1403 · 🇹🇷 Turkey · Politiciansnot measured—
  100. 100Blanche II of NavarreBlanche II of Navarre1424–1464 · Politiciansnot 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.